Railbookers is registering a spike in demand for travel in the latter half of 2023, with more than half of all bookings in the last six weeks departing before the end of December, reports the rail specialist tour operator.
According to data beginning July 1, nearly 54% of Railbookers’ bookings were for trips with departure dates in 2023.
And, says the company, the trips are not just long weekend getaways, with an average duration of eight nights for those same-year vacations.
The last-minute trips are even more appealing to Railbookers’ customers, with 57% of those vacations booked departing in July, August, or September of this year.
Among its Canadian customers, Railbookers is seeing top destinations booked including Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Spain.
“The demand for last-minute bookings in 2023 is unbelievable, even as we head towards the final few months,” says Railbookers President & CEO Frank Marini. “More than half of our trips booked in the last six weeks have been for travel in 2023.”
Expanded hours
In response to the demand, Railbookers says it has recently extended its reservations department’s hours of operation, with Rail Experts available for instant quotes and bookings from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST.
In addition to trains, Railbookers also offers hotel and sightseeing options for clients and can customize journeys for clients (including cruise extension trips).
Interactive map
Meanwhile, Railbookers has unveiled a new interactive online map for its brands, Railbookers and Amtrak Vacations. The innovative tool allows users to navigate and learn more about train routes, stations, hotels, and attractions in their desired destinations worldwide.
Once an itinerary is selected, the map narrows on each city destination, showing the train station, major attractions, and their proximity to the thousands of hotel options available across both brands. Hotels can then be selected for more information, showing photos, amenities, specific location details, and much more. Each day of the chosen itinerary is also outlined with a description of the day-to-day sightseeing and activities included with the trip.
The map also allows travellers to visualize the train routes they will take when selecting their desired vacation, helping to seamlessly connect each city along their journey.
The interactive map for Railbookers can be found at https://www.railbookers.ca/destinations/view-by-map, while Amtrak Vacations’ interactive map is located at https://www.amtrakvacations.ca/trip-planning/search-by-map.