6 Tips For Planning a Vacation in 2022 (the COVID-19 Edition)
Ah, remember 2019? Those were the days. No masks. No variants. No need to track (the constantly changing) travel restrictions. No tears shed over cancelled vacations.
Travel was as easy as picking the date, making the bookings, and taking off on your next adventure. Alas, those days seem to be long gone.
Today, I’m going to share six tips for planning a vacation in 2022.
1. CONSIDER YOUR RISK LEVEL
I’m not going to sugarcoat it—travel can increase your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. Especially if you are an unvaccinated traveler.
If you’re at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or live with someone who is high risk, you should consider that risk before you plan your next vacation. Some may need to avoid travel altogether; others may be comfortable with taking additional precautions. (Roadtrip, anyone?)
Ultimately, the choice whether or not to travel is a personal one. Do what’s best for you and your family.
2. CONSIDER WHERE AND WHEN WISELY
Be sure to do your homework before you pick a destination for your vacation.
First, consider whether you are allowed to travel to a particular destination. (See step #3, below.) Next, consider whether you should travel to that destination. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
Understand the COVID-19 situation in any destination you may be considering for your vacation. Use the following resources to help guide your decision—COVID-19 Country-Specific Travel Advisories and COVID-19 State-Specific Travel Advisories.
Once you’ve selected your destination, look to avoid peak travel times (read: Thanksgiving and Christmas) for your vacation dates.
3. KNOW THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
If you’re like me, then many of your favorite international cities may still seem woefully out of reach. While more countries are open to U.S. travelers, only a handful of countries are open without restrictions.
If you’re hoping to plan a vacation abroad, you’re going to be looking at an ever changing list of entry requirements and travel restrictions (including the requirements to reenter the United States). As if getting there and back won’t be complicated enough, you could still be looking at mask requirements, regular COVID-19 testing, and the like once you’ve made it to your vacation destination.
While planning a vacation abroad right now is hard, it isn’t impossible. Our members get instant access to our COVID-19 travel planning checklist (that I used myself to plan my vacations to France, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2021).
If you’re planning a vacation domestically, entry requirements have died down a bit—even despite the newest COVID-19 variant. The only true outlier is the State of Hawaii and for good reason.
Across the United States, you’re more likely to see travel restrictions in big cities. You may, for example, have to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test result to attend large events or enter restaurants.
In short, be a responsible traveler. Take time to become familiar with the travel restrictions while planning your vacation. And once you’re on your way to your vacation destination, be sure to abide by them.
4. READ THE FINE PRINT
Coming from an attorney, I know it may sound a bit cliche, but it’s true—read (and make sure you understand) the fine print for all of your vacation bookings.
For flights, your best bet is to avoid booking through third party platforms, like Orbitz. You’ll also want to be sure you can answer the following questions about your flight:
What’s the cancellation policy for this class of ticket?
In what scenario am I entitled to reimbursement?
In what scenario will I receive a voucher?
If so, under what circumstances?
For hotels, it’s the same story. Skip the third party platforms, and opt to book directly with the property for added flexibility.
Some short-term rental companies have offered additional flexibility for their vacation rentals. Airbnb’s extenuating circumstances policy, for example, allows guests to receive a refund under one limited circumstance: either you or your host is currently sick with COVID-19.
For any other COVID-related circumstances, your Airbnb host’s cancellation policy will apply as usual.
Set on Airbnb? Search for more flexible cancellation policies using Airbnb’s filters.
But, if nothing else, be sure to read our tips before you book your next stay with Airbnb.
5. BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR PLANS
Be flexible because the reality is that your vacation plans may very well change. You might end up facing a new COVID-19 variant, a delayed or cancelled flight, or even newly updated travel restrictions in your vacation destination.
That must-visit restaurant may have an unexpected COVID-19 exposure and need to close. Even worse, the city you’re visiting on vacation may go into lockdown or add an early curfew. Make sure you’re ready to roll with the punches.
Before you make the decision to book a vacation (particularly a vacation abroad), have a serious conversation with yourself—Is this vacation going to cause me more stress? Will a logistical roadblock ruin this vacation experience for me?
6. WHEN IN DOUBT, USE A PROFESSIONAL
As you can see, even a few years into this pandemic, things continue to evolve at a rapid pace.
If you want to start planning your next vacation and are hesitant to pull the trigger, reach out to a travel planner. A travel planner can help you understand the current travel policies and provide you with some much needed peace of mind.
Feeling inspired? Be sure to watch our free video guide on 5 Tips For Finding Your Next Flight (without breaking the bank).
Your Connect,
Gabriella
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