Cautiously planning upcoming travel
As more and more folks start to receive vaccines, COVID-19 infection rates will hopefully begin to decline. In turn, all of us who have been itching to travel should soon be able to hit the skies or the roads again.
Pepe and I have carefully selected locations for the next few trips and booked hotels/flights. Although our 2021 travel will differ largely from our past trips, we are still spending some time away from home to reconnect with new experiences and nature. Our typical Cancun visit and cruise are on hold until most likely 2022. When planning Pepe’s birthday trip for March, I did look at Cancun, Dominican Republic, and Florida as possibilities. However, it’s either that folks are still traveling in masses to these locations or resorts are not suffering for visitors because prices are still as high as pre-COVID, if not higher. Not worth the price or the risk if we cannot enjoy the resort and beach as it should be enjoyed.
After three months of research, I’ve finally booked his birthday trip to Finger Lakes Wine Region in upstate NY. Stay tuned for more once it’s closer to travel time, or once we’ve actually taken the trip! Rather not give away any surprises I’m trying to hide from Pepe.
Anyhow… as you work up the guts and take that leap of faith to book your next trip, here are some tips based on my experience…
Destination selection - choose carefully and settle only once you’ve read all the fine print on travel to and from that destination. International travel has more restrictions than we think! So, read the airline requirements, country requirements, resort/hotel requirements…and then read the guidelines/requirements for coming back to your state. Make sure you have a plan if testing or quarantine is required once you arrive to your destination or once you return to the States. Not all COVID test centers can return your results within 3 days! If you’re traveling to a resort, check if they are offering on-site testing.
Figure out what’s open - Are restaurants and bars open at your destination? If so, what are the restrictions on reservation requirements and hours of operation? Many businesses have shortened their hours to accommodate less staff, and decrease in patrons. Several are not allowing walk-in guests. Many are still only doing carry-out, or operating at a low capacity for indoor/outdoor dining.
Hotel selection - Housekeeping is no longer daily to prevent the spread of germs. Laundry service may not be available depending on the hotel/resort. Continental buffet breakfasts have turned into to-go muffins and coffee. Room service may have converted to deli sandwiches. Read the updates on the hotel’s website prior to booking and avoid surprises at check-in. Pay a bit extra and get that travel insurance or book a refundable room, just in case!
Booking a trip is no longer just a click and done. Allow yourself extra time to read and familiarize yourself with any updates due to COVID. Once booked, stay on top of any new restrictions that may go into place before your trip. Hopefully, restrictions begin to lift soon so we can travel stress free. But, until then… let’s give ourselves a bit extra time when planning the next adventure.
Most of all, enjoy your getaway once finally at your destination. After all that planning, researching, staying on top of new restrictions, you deserve some R&R!
