What it’s worthwhile to find out about planning journey proper now

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(CNN) — New year, new view, new travel plans.

Now is the time when many people usually plan the outings of the year around school calendars and family events and nice weather and big festivals and exhibitions and concerts. Once again, Covid-19 didn’t get the memo.

As we head into the third year of the global pandemic that has Omicron spreading around the world, there are STILL a number of variables to consider.

Can we even make travel plans now?

Yes, definitely says CNN medical analyst dr. Leana Wen.

The biggest ticket to smoother travel

In fact, those with some additional immunity to Covid could be in a very good position to see the world.

“Those who have been vaccinated and then recently received Omicron are not likely to become infected again any time soon. It would be perfectly reasonable for someone in this situation to plan travel,” Wen said, reminding people to be careful when returning and to quarantine and test beforehand to see anyone who is medically vulnerable.

No, you should not try to get infected. Here’s why.

Fortunately, those who are vaccinated and refreshed are also in a good place to travel, said Wen, who is an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management in George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising people to delay travel until they have been fully vaccinated for some time. Though the agency didn’t add the booster to its definition of “fully vaccinated,” it is recommends one if you are eligible.

So does travel consultant Dave Hershberger, for a different reason. More and more travel destinations include boosters in their travel rules.

In AustriaFor example, in addition to proof of vaccination, visitors need proof of a booster vaccination or a negative PCR test. The Czech Republic allows travelers with increased travel volume Bypassing a test requirement for vaccinated arrivals.

Getting your shots is “the first box to tick if you’re traveling right now,” said Hershberger, owner of Prestige Travel in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Despite the ongoing disruptions and complications to travel at the moment, the outlook is vastly different than it was a year ago when the vaccines were just rolled out.

“If you travel now, if you’re vaccinated, you probably won’t be taken to the hospital,” Hershberger said.

Travelers who have received booster shots can bypass the tests to get to the Czech Republic, where Prague is a top draw.

Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images

Basics: research and testing

Travel restrictions change, change again and change again. Using a travel consultant can save you a lot of time.

It’s taking two to three times longer than before the pandemic to organize the same trips, Hershberger said.

Whether you hire a consultant or do it yourself, patience is key.

“This isn’t a 2019 trip. This is different, and it’s probably going to stay for a while, and so you have to be flexible, you have to do your research.”

“And if you check out a month, you have to check out again two weeks later, and you have to check out again a week before you leave,” Hershberger said.

Even before Omicron, Ashley Les, a travel consultant at Protravel International, steered cautious travelers toward direct flights to places that needed testing before travel.

That’s how almost everyone on the flight has recently tested negative for Covid-19, she said CNN Travel before the vacation. They won’t fly that domestically in the United States, she noted.

Now she suggests even more testing.

“Even if your destination doesn’t require a test, TEST!” Les said via email this week. “That’s how you know you’re traveling Covid-free.”

Les also suggests minimizing interactions with other people a week before your trip.

It’s also a good idea to pack a few quick tests in your suitcase to “calm your mind” when you’re feeling sick, Hershberger said.

What you do when you arrive at your destination is just as important as the precautions you take during transportation.

Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images

The other safeguard: insurance

Testing upon return from international travel has become standard for travelers from the United States and many other nations. And it’s gotten pretty easy in many places, Hershberger said.

“It’s not very difficult to do. If you are in a resort area, getting it done is very easy. If you’re on a cruise, they do that for you,” he said. Here everyone is Details from the CDC on acceptable testing for entry into the United States.

The real challenge comes when you test positive, which is not uncommon for Omicron in vaccinated individuals.

Then you have to extend your travel and quarantine for some time – often at your own expense, unless you have travel insurance.

“I wouldn’t think of traveling without some sort of third-party travel insurance that’s going to help me with something like this,” Hershberger said, particularly about international travel.

Hershberger was recently in Argentina, where visitors who test positive are required to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for seven to 10 days, “at the rate of $400 a day, plus you paid for a doctor who comes in”.

So travelers could spend an additional $4,000 or more to extend their trip. The right insurance policy from a provider like Travel Guard, Allianz or Travel Insured International would cover that.

SquareMouth.com allows users to compare travel insurance quotes from different providers.

Les agrees that “travel insurance is always a must”.

Choosing a travel destination

But we do know that people regularly travel to and from countries whose risk levels are constantly ebb and flow based on their Covid case numbers. Wen calls the CDC classifications “a useful tool.”

“Transfer rates are a guide,” Wen said. “Another question is what precautions are required and followed at the place you are going and the third question is what you want to do once you are there.

“Planning to visit many attractions and go to indoor bars? This is very different than going somewhere where you lie on the beach all day and don’t want to interact with anyone. This is very different. Those are very different levels of risk.”

And taking precautions in the places you go is also important. A place that requires proof of vaccination for restaurants or sports venues makes these types of activities safer for you.

bottom line

Of course, standard safety precautions still apply – carry a quality N95, KN95 or KF94 for air travel and when in crowded indoor areas, and follow the rules of your destination.

Rolling with the unexpected is the pandemic way of life, and travel is no exception.

“If you’re the kind of person who can’t handle last-minute changes, I would suggest you stay home for a while,” Hershberger said. “You have to be able to go with the flow.”

Top image: General view of Mount Fitz Roy, near El Chalten, Argentina, on August 29, 2021. (Ronaldo Schemadt/AFP via Getty Images)