Considering a holiday trip? Don’t get yourself locked in.
Last Friday, I had an eye exam and found that my glasses could correct to 20/20 vision. And as far as I can tell, that eye test is about the only thing about 2020 that’s clear to me. The travel industry remains in its COVID-19 funk, with no recovery in sight.
Since my last update, the shadow of COVID-19 continues to hover over every aspect of travel, and the latest news is that the virus is staging a roaring comeback in both the U.S. and Europe. Places that had reopened are closing down again. Quarantines remain in effect. And we still have neither a reliable vaccine nor an effective cure. If you’re still thinking about a holiday season trip, the overarching mantra is “don’t lock yourself into a trip you might not be able to take.”
As of this writing, the industry seems to be rallying around the idea of quick, on-the-spot testing as the touchstone of survival and future growth. United Airlines is experimenting with preflight testing on flights to London and Hawaii, and other lines have initiated similar tests. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which had banned cruise ships from U.S. waters, announced a regime through which cruises in U.S. waters could resume — a regime that includes preboarding, destination and onboard testing and processing, onboard quarantine capability, and a bunch of other requirements. Several destinations areas around the world require a negative test as a condition of admission or quarantine exemption.
The test option is hampered by the basic problem that no world or national authority has specified which test or tests qualify. Some tests require that samples be sent to a laboratory for diagnosis — a process that can take up to a week and cost more than $100 a pop. So far, nobody seems to have developed a cheap, reliable, immediate-result testing system that can be administered by anyone, not just a qualified medical professional, and that is widely accepted by the many governments involved. Again, as of this writing, the U.S. Department of Transportation seems to have abandoned any interest in developing and deploying useful COVID-19 guidance.
Anyone traveling over the next few months still has to contend with the virus situation — both at home and at a destination. Currently, most of the U.S. and much of Europe are experiencing a surge of virus infections, and many are on various stages of lockdown. Currently, some states have relaxed quarantine requirements for travelers from other states. But Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont retain some combination of mandatory or recommended quarantine or recent test for any traveler from a state with a high COVID-19 rate — and that’s a lot of states; Kansas and Kentucky have more limited requirements. But with the resurgence, these requirements are moving targets. If you plan any sort of trip out of your home state, be sure to check on the situation in your own state and any states you plan to visit before you leave home.
But if your wanderlust overcomes your caution, winter sports areas and nearby beaches remain attractive options — as testified by the way airlines are busy ramping up schedules to sun-sand-surf destinations in the U.S. and neighboring Caribbean areas. Theme parks, on the other hand, remain iffy. Although many are opening, some — notably Disneyland Anaheim — are opening without rides. And a theme park without rides calls to mind Cole Porter’s line, “Picture poor Mister Heinz, my dear, without a pickle.”
All in all, two ongoing recommendations remain paramount.
Check testing, quarantine and shutdown status of any destination before you plan to visit.
Avoid any nonrefundable payments for any travel service until you’re 99% sure you’ll be able to make the trip without disappointment and quarantine.