It’s unbelievable that all of us have been cooped up for over a year, face masks, social and physical distancing, and looking for the right vaccine, et al, we should now be ready to move into the post-epidemic planning for a post-Covid holiday.
Let us see what that might look like…
For many, if not all, the places we might think of visiting, masks are mandatory, so plan to pack at least three or four – you will need them. Then be prepared to have very, very recent test and proof you have been vaccinated, you could be asked by the airlines, cruise lines, trains and tour buses, even taxis to show proof.
To plan an international holiday – especially something exotic and out of the “typical” there may be a required 7-to-14-day quarantine once you get there. And if your destination requires couple of connecting flights and landings in several international airports – you will have to plan for more delays and potential problems – many of these will be bureaucratic and you will get frustrated, but unfortunately the local health officials have the last word, therefore plan to comply with what they want you to do, unless you wish to forgo where you want to be and enjoy the local jail.
Maybe you should plan a something simpler, like a domestic trip – where the only concern will the airline and the airports. That will open the door to all the 50 States with over 400 national parks, state parks, great cities and interestingly the American island – Hawaii, Puerto Ricco and the U.S. Virgin Islands – all stunningly beautiful and major international destinations.
However even those are not as “smooth sailing “as before Covid-19.
What else can we think of – how is about what we should call Home-Travel or Home-Based-Holiday.
Let us look at that. Every city and State have things to see and enjoy, each is well attuned to tourism – although much of that has been promoted to the international visitors versus promoting and we are enjoying our own cities, neighborhoods and all the great “must see” sighs we have in our own city and state.
This is not to discourage you from your more exotic plans -many things and requirements will change as we move on – however make sure you know the issues that you may have to include in your plans.
Choose your destinations -possibly a two week stay in Seychelles, cruise in Tahiti, great gourmet and music visit to Dakar, or a fashion week in Cape Town or is it a Kenya Safari – which ever- look up their websites and look for their entry requirements. All will differ, with some requiring a quarantine of 7-to-14 days upon arrival.
Once you narrow down your destination, get together with a qualified travel professional who specializes in the destination. This may be your local travel agency or a tour operator specializing in the destination you wish to visit. Again, the Google search will help you find the expert. These professionals will guide you as to how to get there, what to enjoy once you get there.
You should get to know which airlines will get you there (travel agent will advise you on this), but it will be better or safer for you to find out yourself what the airlines require, what the airports require as well as what the U.S. wants upon your return home.
And final note – make sure you get travel insurance and check the U.S. State Department advisory page for your destination. Go to Department of State’s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel – you may be surprised at what they will tell you, and since you will be on the U.S. State Department site sign up for the STEP service they provide. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel destination alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
If you need specific info contact our travel editor at [email protected] with any problems your homework uncovered.