21 Reasons to Travel in 2021

There are 1,000 reasons to do nothing, but you only need a few great reasons to do something. Especially something unforgettable, like taking a mind-blowing trip in 2021 to that place you’ve always wanted to go. How many great reasons, exactly? 21.

Why 21? Well besides being a lucky number, the blackjack number, and the I-can-finally-order-a-beer number, it’s also the number of dollars you need to book that trip with EF Ultimate Break—if you do it before prices go up on October 1st. Yup, you heard right, for a limited time, the required deposit to lock in travel highs has been lowered to unheard of lows—but more on that later.

Whether you’re an international newbie thinking about leaving the country for the first time, or you’re an experienced group travel savant looking to check another continent off your bucket list—here are 21 reasons to take a trip with EF Ultimate Break in 2021.

Maybe you spent your 2020 quarantine in the kitchen, baking every tasty treat from sourdough starter to sourdough finish. You’re low-key the reason the stores ran out of flour for a little while there. Whoops. Well now you’re ready for the real thing: French breads, pastries, croissants, and macarons. Get the butter, you’re going to Paris.

It seems like once a year there’s a sensationalist news story about how Machu Picchu is closed forever. Done. Adiós. No more Machu. Fortunately, that’s usually just clickbait—the reality is that the Peruvian government is worried about tourists trampling the ancient, sacred site, and they want to be cautious. But regardless, why take that chance? See Machu Picchu while you’re positive you still can.

Didn’t I say we would get to this? Well, here we are! No matter where you want to go in 2021 (or 2022 for that matter), all it takes is $21 to lock in the lowest prices, when you book by October 1st. That’s like the cost of a nice meal. And it guarantees you a spot at the lowest price on a trip where you can have many of the nicest meals (and nicest memories) of your life. Whaddya got to lose? That’s right, just $21, that’s what.

In 2021, we’re leaving astrology behind and we’re getting really into the Chinese Zodiac tradition. Isn’t that right, guys? Maybe we’ll try out tarot cards too, I dunno. 2021 is not just the Year of the Ox, it’s the Year of the Metal Ox. As in resilient, strong, determined—you get it. If that’s not a sign that you’re taking charge and taking a trip in 2021 after a dismal 2020, I don’t know what is. Don’t forget, the ox pulls the carriage, not the other way around.

Venice is beautiful, and don’t let anyone ever tell you any different. Did you see those photos of how pristine the famous canals became back in April due to a lack of visitors? Well guess what else got a break: the beautiful singing voices of the gondoliers who paddle you down the river serenading you in the most vowel-y and flowery Romance language: Italian. Now the gondoliers are ready. They miss you, they need you, and they’re ready to sing to you again while you eat gelato and cruise Venice.

Maybe you’re not quite sure if you’ll be ready to go on a trip in 2021. That’s a-okay! We get it. Add Travel Protection during checkout and you'll be able to switch trips or dates until 60 days before departure.

We can feel it. We’re rooting for you. Your followers are rooting for you. You’re on the verge of being the next Addison Rae or Lil Huddy. All you need now is to show those followers all of the cool places you go. This Greek beach? That Irish village pub where you’re leading a sing-a-long? Those zip lines in Belize? It’s all just your life now. Make it happen in 2021.

You’ve exhausted every streaming service’s offers on travel documentaries. Netflix, Hulu, Prime, some others mere mortals have never even heard of. You’ve seen it all. You can feel it in your bones when a sightseeing scene is coming next. Get off the couch and put all that new knowledge to use on a trip. Those destinations are a lot better in 3D. Check out where you can go next year.

First of all: our condolences. Second: there are plenty of fish in the sea—especially when you expand that sea to include other countries. We hear the locals are pretty cute in that place you’ve been meaning to visit. And hey, if you book your trip, and then you get back together with your ex, you can always change your rooming situation to be with them, up to 60 days before you go.

Your roommate is sick of you calling the bathroom “the loo,” your parents can’t understand why you end all phone calls with “cheerio,” and you’ve developed a serious tea habit. You’ve got to get to London before you lose your jolly proper mind, and newsflash—that umbrella won’t fly you there. But we will, and we’ll show you all around town, from A to Zed.

And it’s ours, too! After 2020, you could use a little luck. You’re hoping a trip in that luckiest of years, 2021, might stand a chance to be a good time. We’re making sure of it. Some say there’s no luck involved, we’re just really good at delivering the perfect trip you’ll remember forever.

Worried that your vacation will be hindered by hygiene protocols? Don’t be. We’re making sure that every trip is everything it can be, and we’re only working with suppliers who follow CDC & WHO safety protocols to a T. Whether it’s your bus, your bed, or your breakfast table, we’re making sure you have nothing to worry about.

Seriously, if Instagram doesn’t see those fresh kicks or that new dress soon, you’re at risk of spontaneous combustion… or so I hear. And you can’t just post a pic of them. They need a purpose, an epic backdrop. May we suggest those cobblestoned European streets or Thai beaches as your runway?

Okay, hear me out—if way less people than ever have been visiting the Swiss Alps in 2020, then perhaps—perhaps—they haven’t been weighed down by tourists and have been able to grow higher than ever in 2021. Okay a scientist is telling me this is not how mountains work, but, hey, one thing is scientifically confirmed: the view from the top is as beautiful as ever.

Like I said, the deposit needed to lock in your spot at the lowest price is only $21. And then you have the freedom to change trips or push back your date later on. Up to 60 days before your departure. So say you just found $21 in your pocket. Be strong, don’t spend it on a new succulent, you don’t need any more succulents. Invest it in the 2021 trip that will blow you away.

Every time you hear about the Great Barrier Reef in the news you smell marmite and your head turns south toward the Land Down Under. These are symptoms of a rare ailment known as Australia-mania. The only known cure? Making like a kangaroo and taking a hop down to Australia to see it all for yourself in 2021.

You don’t need to have a shrine in your house dedicated to beloved Planet Earth narrator David Attenborough (though it’s ok if you do, I won’t tell) to know that nature is amazing. And if you just can’t take it anymore, and you need to go on a real safari and see a dang elephant in the wild in person, we’ve got you. Check out our Kenya: African Safari trip in 2021. You won’t be disappointed.

One of the best things about booking for 2021 now is the extra time it gives you to pay for your trip. Book now, then pay the rest over the coming months, with no interest, and no fees. The longer you have until your trip, the less you have to pay per month, the more money you can keep in your pocket, the more sweet, sweet travel anticipation you can treat yourself to.

Not so fast, not so far. Did you know we have trips to the wide-open outdoors close to home? Yep, Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies, and the US National Parks of the West are some of our newest trips. Adventure is close to home, indeed. A great opportunity to check out some insane volcanoes, peer into the Grand Canyon, and finally find out what poutine is all about in 2021.

Get yourself a trip with an emphasis on wide-open spaces and natural beauty. Maybe hike the Canadian Rockies or the Irish wilderness. Zip line above the canopy in the Costa Rican rainforest. Lay on a Greek beach with a glass of wine. Whatever you do, feel the breeze, get out of the house, and enjoy the finer things Mother Nature has to offer.

2020 is reason enough to take a trip in 2021. The amount of pent-up wanderlust in metric tons among world-travelers past and present is simply astronomical. Frankly, it’s at dangerous levels. We’re all in this together, and we’ve all been stuck at home waiting for the day we can safely get back out there. 2021 most definitely holds that day. Time to treat yourself to the anticipation of your next trip.

So what do you think? Convinced? Taking a trip can be the exact sort of cathartic release you need after an extremely stressful 2020. If you’re looking for something to look forward to in 2021, a trip can’t be beat. Go ahead, start by browsing your options.