The stay at home orders imposed on all of us for the last three months have taken a toll. Many people have lock down fatigue, and the only cure for most is travel. For my clients, I’ve definitely seen the pent-up demand to go ANYWHERE. But should we?
In this crazy time where most of the world has been staying at home, we’ve still been talking about travel. I've written about virtual travel, the future of travel, how travel will stay the same, how it will be different, and how companies are working hard to make sure we can travel as soon as possible.
But there is still no vaccine, no cure, no proof that antibodies make you immune, and no proof a person can’t be infected twice. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and we aren’t out of the woods yet. There are thousands of new cases being reported each day, second waves of the virus being reported, and people are still dying. So before you make a decision on the subject, here are a few things to consider before you decide to travel.
Do You Really Need to Take The Trip?
Right now, the CDC, U.S. Department of State, and most international organizations and governments are recommending that we avoid all non-essential international travel. Domestic travel has opened for the most part, but now some states are restricting people from states where the virus is highest.
How Tourist Ready Is Your Destination?
Just because a city has started the process of reopening does not mean it’s ready for tourism. For some places, reopening will be a slower process than others. In many destinations, tourist experiences are closed or restricted. Most early stages of reopening are not designed for tourism; they are designed for the cities themselves and the residents of those cities to start easing out of lock-down.
Travel Experiences May Be Riskier Than They Appear.
If you’ve been watching the latest news on travel, you’ve probably noticed the big push toward domestic travel- road trips, national parks, camping, etc. These options are all safer ways to travel, but that doesn’t necessarily make them safe. There are a lot of levels between self-driving your own car a few towns over to visit your family and renting that RV with a group of friends and plotting out a road trip across multiple state lines. We have to be mindful of the workers- store clerks, park rangers, hotel staff, etc. When we choose to travel, we are potentially making the same choice for others we come in contact with–whether they like it or not.
What’s the Current Virus Situation at Your Destination?
Before you head out on any trip, do your research for the destination you’re headed and consider the risks. The level of risk and the ability to cope with the virus can change drastically between countries and states, but even from city to city, and shouldn't be overlooked when planning a trip.
If You’re Feeling Sick, Please Stay Home.
COVID-19 affects people differently and several of its symptoms are so generic (fever, headache, dry cough, diarrhea, etc) that it’s hard to know for sure if you’re coming down with a plain cold or the virus that causes COVID-19. Stay home, assume it may be the virus, and don’t travel. Remember, even if you’ve already had COVID-19, the jury is still out on whether or not you can get re-infected, and we’re still waiting for proof that having antibodies makes you immune. Now, more than ever, we need to be responsible travelers.
Book Early.
There is a distinct possibility if you wait until everything is completely open, your 2021 trip will quickly become your 2022 destination. As I’ve re-booked my clients, availability has already become an issue. Most travelers who were supposed to travel in spring and early summer have rescheduled their travel dates, so many accommodations are already booked. Unfortunately, as hotels and resorts fill, the demand affects rates, so you will pay more for your vacation. My biggest recommendation is to book your trip for 2021 NOW! This is especially true for Alaska, Hawaii, and River Cruising.
We are always here to help. If you would like to talk with us about the current travel environment, we are just a phone call or email away.