“The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.”

Eminem

So much has changed in the world since I wrote my last post after leaving Chile. Little did I realize that would be my last international trip for a while, possibly a long while. Since then, I bought myself a Peloton bike, we have a new POTUS, the first woman VP, and COVID is still here.

We finally have a vaccine to help us fight this deadly virus, but even with vaccines, not all countries are open to tourists, and navigating the complex rules for each country make international travel somewhat unappealing – even for this experienced traveler.

In March 2020 when the initial lockdowns started, it didn’t bother me much. Being an introvert, I didn’t miss going out after a busy work week, but as the months went by, something was missing, and still is. Travel. My heart ached every time a new issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine showed up in my mailbox. By the end of June, I decided it was time to travel, albeit only in the United States, I would still explore new places. I went on five trips before the next COVID surge. I explored Carlsbad, Santa Barbara – twice, Cannon Beach, and visited friends in Raleigh/Durham.

I initially wrote this piece in late November 2020, but as COVID cases surged after Thanksgiving, I felt it was socially irresponsible to publish it. Now with the vaccine there is hope, and I’m ready to travel again. I already have four trips planned in the coming months, although none are international. Friends have gone to Costa Rica and Aruba; I’ve done quite a bit of research on Belize, but I find I’m just not ready to travel outside US borders. Many countries are still struggling to get vaccines, let alone give them. Even US destinations like Hawaii take research and COVID testing if you don’t want to quarantine. You need to remember the vaccine isn’t 100% effective in preventing the disease. It is effective in keeping you from severe illness and death. So you gamble, do you go someplace where a negative PCR test is required and find out you’re actually positive, you just don’t know it? Do run the risk of being quarantined in your hotel room looking at the beach? If you travel international, a negative test could be costly, as you won’t be able to board your plane back home to the US until you test negative.

So what lessons did I learn while traveling during the pandemic in 2020?

• Be honest with yourself – We are in the middle of a pandemic, everyone is in different states of fear, acceptance, denial, and complacency. Are you really ready to travel? Are you going to be nervous the minute a person sitting on the plane next to you sneezes? Are you comfortable enough to be out of your “bubble”? Can you live with the travel ordinances put in place? If your destination requires a mask when out in public, you need to be respectful and wear a mask. If you disagree with any of the rules set forth by your host location, the airlines, the restaurants, and the attractions you plan to visit –stay home, you’re not ready to travel.
• Do your research – Once you pick your destination, go on their government website, and read the guidelines. Bookmark the site, and check back frequently, as the rules change daily. Do your research on the airlines you plan to fly, the hotels you plan to stay at, the attractions you plan to visit, etc. They are not all running their businesses the same. Many hotels have suspended cleaning service during your stay. This was fine with me, I don’t clean my house every day, and I didn’t want anyone in my “space” once I checked in.
• Be flexible -You need to realize not all tourist attractions are open, and some may be open when you book your trip, and close down once you arrive. Hotels and restaurants are doing their best to provide good service. Give them a break if your room isn’t ready on time, or if your table service is a bit slower. We are all in this together! Realize that although you may want to eat at a specific restaurant, they are booked for the next month. Which brings me to my next lesson…
• Make reservations – As much as you need to be flexible, you need to plan ahead. This is especially true for restaurants, wineries, and attractions you really want to visit. Wineries in California are still doing tastings, but they are by reservation only, and they book up quick, so plan ahead. When I went to Santa Barbara I booked my tastings almost a month in advance, and I’m glad I did, many places I went to were “sold out” a couple weeks ahead of my travel dates.
• Refundable Fares- When making your plans, you need to decide, do you want the cheapest price, or do you want to be able to cancel if you should get sick, the city closes down, or the attractions you want to see are suddenly closed. READ THE FARE RULES! Not all “refundable” fares are refundable with cash. Some will give you a credit to be used within a certain time period. Others, even if COVID causes a lockdown will not give you a refund – you are booking at your own risk during a pandemic.
• Travel Insurance, Tour Rules & COVID Testing – Read the fine print on any travel insurance you purchase, not all cover for COVID related cancellations. If you book a guided tour, read the tour company rules; they are putting the responsibility on the traveler to know them. A friend recently booked a hiking tour for June 2022 in Europe; as we talked about the various travel insurance requirements I’ve seen imposed by some countries, she read through her tour company’s site, and found she needs $200,000 of travel medical insurance, including medical air evacuation coverage. In addition, it is her responsibility to know if the host country requires a quarantine period once she arrives, and to “plan accordingly” when booking her arrival flight to account for the extra time, if needed. Even the most elite credit cards that have travel insurance included with their perks do not have $200,000 worth of coverage. This adds to the cost of your trip, not to mention the $100-$200 fee you may be charged for a PCR test if required, both inbound and outbound. Although some places are offering testing for free – make sure they are an approved company and will get you the results on time. Watch the timing of your COVID test. Recently a co-worker’s husband had to get an additional test when going to Hawaii for business as he didn’t account for his layover time in Los Angeles. His initial test, although close, was out of the timing needed to comply with the rules.
• International Travel – I haven’t traveled internationally, but I’ve done a lot of research. Although it is still possible to travel abroad, even this travel enthusiast is a bit dissuaded by all the research and planning it would take to pull it off successfully. If you decide to travel abroad realize you are now on your own. The US government is no longer arranging flights to evacuate US citizens. It is a good idea to know where your US consulate is in your host country and have their phone number handy. If I were to travel abroad I’d probably use a reputable travel agent to help me navigate the countless rules I’d have to adhere to, and to help me if I were to get stranded once out of the US.

Now that I’m vaccinated, I’m ready to give travel again. Let’s hope this vaccine stays effective – fingers crossed. I plan on posting last year’s trips to Santa Barbara and Cannon Beach. Two destinations I highly recommend. My trips planned for the coming months are San Diego, Monterey/Carmel Valley, home to the 413, and Rochester for my cousin’s wedding. So stay tuned for more travel adventures with this 413 travel girl – she’s back!

Ciao~