As the number of Californians fully vaccinated increases and COVID-19 positivity rates continue to decline, it is only natural that we should all look to travel. Where we can go safely and how we get there remain moving goals. That’s why we’ve put together important points that you should consider before you set off, fly or sail away.
1. Path to recovery
The U.S. travel industry’s financial losses last year were staggering – $ 492 billion in revenue, or $ 1.6 billion a day, according to the US Travel Association. The good news? Airlines, hotels, tour guides, restaurants and attractions that have survived are ready to take you safely to the places you have dreamed of, especially if you are vaccinated against COVID-19.
2. Vengeance journeys
“Revenge Travel” is a new buzz phrase as people plan to take revenge on the pandemic by booking trips on the bucket list later this year and beyond. Virtuoso, the luxury travel consultants, recently surveyed travelers and found that 82% of them will be ready to travel in 2021; 93% said they will never take travel for granted again. And most people are willing to spend more money to have a bigger and better trip than they have in the past.
Extended families gathering to go to an exotic location is a trend, as is people planning “do-over vacations” (another hot trend in the travel industry) by celebrating milestones that happened during the pandemic. Think of big birthdays, anniversaries, graduations – don’t forget and celebrate a little late now.
Many use travel agents instead of booking online themselves because of the professionals’ inside knowledge of what’s open, what’s safe, and (most importantly) how to handle cancellations if something goes wrong.
3. Vaccination records
Together with vaccinations there is talk of “vaccine passports”. The European Union has already announced plans for a “Digital Green Certificate” that it will use for vaccinated EU citizens, as well as those who have a recent negative test or have recovered from COVID-19, to travel more freely. China has already introduced a digital passport, Japan has one in the works, but the US is not planning a national initiative for a vaccination passport.
It is entirely possible that since 2021 opens to travel, many countries will require proof of vaccination to enter the country. In other words, Americans who choose not to have a COVID-19 vaccine may have limited options to travel internationally.
4. Countries open to Americans
Fully vaccinated Americans ready to board and fly a plane are finding that more and more countries are allowing entry without quarantine. Recently, this list included Anguilla, Barbados, Belize, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Georgia, Guatemala, Israel, Iceland, Montenegro, Nepal, Poland, Seychelles, and Slovenia. Other countries were open to US travelers during much of the pandemic, with recent negative tests, including the Bahamas, Botswana, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Polynesia (Tahiti), Kenya, the Maldives, Mexico, Peru, Turkey and the Turks and Caicos.
But many places on the bucket list remain off-limits to US citizens, including Australia and New Zealand, the European Union, and even Canada. Therefore, when planning an international trip, make sure that the country you plan to visit accepts the passport you are carrying.
5. “Responsible” travel decisions
As we venture out into the world again, new travel perspectives come to the fore. Think of zero-carbon footprint travel, environmentally conscious and conservation-oriented travel, and places where wildlife protection has expanded.
Responsible travelers also absorb the experiences of the indigenous peoples in the countries they visit, and the countries also absorb those who came first. For example, Queensland and the rest of Australia have invested resources in Aboriginal travel guides and adventure and arts centers that celebrate this ancient civilization.
6. The changing look of travel
As the pandemic raged, many things changed in the travel world, from hotels that dramatically shifted cleaning and security protocols to airlines that didn’t occupy the middle seats. And while some things are declining (don’t expect to purposely find empty middle seats on a U.S. airline), parts of the travel landscape have changed permanently.
Many hotels continue to offer COVID-19 tests on site so that travelers can easily get tested before boarding, while both boutique hotels (e.g. Nobu Ryokan Malibu or Lido House Newport Beach) and small cruise ships (Maine Windjammer Cruises, European Waterways Barge Cruises) have added full buyouts to keep an entire family or group safe.
Airbnb and Vrbo suffered badly during the pandemic, losing many hosts who were unwilling to rent to strangers. So expect that by 2022 there will be far fewer apartment rentals in most travel destinations that will last well into summer.
Uber and Lyft have also lost thousands of drivers (as well as billions of dollars) who were unwilling to drive strangers during the pandemic. So keep in mind that getting a lift while on vacation can be problematic in many places.
7. Cruise? To be vaccinated!
After the nightmare of the people locked in their cruise ship cabins in the early days of the pandemic, many travelers are rightly reluctant to set sail again. Unsurprisingly, cruise lines large and small are also hesitant to fill a ship with potentially infected guests. So the new cruise paradigm is simple: in 2021 (at least) fully vaccinated people aged 18 and over will be able to sail, unvaccinated people stay at home (children don’t need to be vaccinated on most cruise lines).
COVID-19 vaccines are now required 14 days prior to boarding all Princess, Norwegian, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Oceania, Viking, the new Virgin Voyages cruise line, and virtually any other cruise ship, large or small, sailing to rivers, seas or seas returns oceans this year. No vaccine = no cruise.
8. Pandemic Pampering
While there has been “pandemic pampering” in recent months – think of outdoor yoga classes on rooftops and in parks – there was a lack of indoor spa and wellness treatments such as massages, facials, peelings, waxings, hairstylings and mani-pedis pathetic from our life. Famous U.S. destination spas – including Miraval in Tucson, Golden Door in Southern California, and Canyon Ranch in Massachusetts – saw bookings spike in 2021 after implementing pandemic protocols. International wellness destinations like Careyes in Mexico find something similar – people are ready to be pampered again, be it with yoga with a view of the ocean or indulging in a world-class spa.
9. Travel bubbles
While the US and Mexico kept their borders mostly open during the pandemic, Canada is still closed to Americans. It is possible, however, that as summer progresses and infection rates continue to fall, a “travel bubble” will develop between Canada and the United States. The idea applies to two countries that have both controlled the pandemic and are opening up recreational travel between those countries. Australia and Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, and Taiwan and Palau (in Micronesia) are three examples of this trend.
10. Travel Insurance
As many travelers have learned the hard way, when a pandemic strikes, all bets are made. Which meant that many would-be tourists lost significant deposits on pre-booked tours, paid heavy fines for rebooking airline tickets to get home before borders or airports closed, and maybe even contracted COVID-19 and the Medical care or even emergency transport abroad had to bear costs for emergencies.
All of these things are usually covered by travel insurance, which is an important investment in these uncertain times. Before purchasing, be aware that insurers are adding certain “epidemic” benefits or exclusions to their policies. So read the fine print before signing up.
11. Traveling with children: plan ahead, wait a little
While it looks like the U.S. is about to open up and breathe freely as the coronavirus pandemic wears off, those with kids at home need to know a few key facts before planning a big trip with the kids in tow.
People aged 16 and over can safely get the vaccine against COVID-19, but the younger group is still waiting for the safety studies to be completed. More and more children are now contracting the virus. For example, in the week of April 8-15, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported 88,497 new cases in children – 20% of all new cases. So it is clear that children are still prone to the disease.
But here’s the good news: you rarely need to be hospitalized, and only 0.03% of cases result in death.
