Do we stay or do we go?
how much of a risk taker you are. Any kind of international travel plans, even for 2021, still seem risky, but only you can decide what to do.
If you do take the risk, you might face a twoweek quarantine on site before starting your vacation. For now, this also includes Hawaii.
As for domestic travel, it’s also a fluid situation. The CDC website offers advice for minimizing risks, such as picking up food curbside at restaurants, keeping a six-foot distance from others, and wearing a face mask in public. By following these guidelines in relatively uncrowded spots, the risks are fairly low.
Are road trips safe? Check out AAA’s COVID19 map at TripTik.AAA.com for upto-date suggestions, including camping and RV’ing ideas.
What about rental cars? They’re fairly low risk, especially since rental car companies have instigated rigorous cleaning procedures. As a caution, do wipe down high-touch areas with disinfectant cloths.
Hotels were mostly considered to be essential businesses and have stayed open, although more to health care workers and COVID-19 patients than to leisure or business travelers. Even with the hotels’ cleaning process, travelers should bring their own wipes to disinfect doorknobs, light switches, phones, etc.
What’s happening with vacation rentals? Airbnb, VRBO and others were temporarily banned, but those bans are gradually lifting, state by state.
One of our biggest travel concerns is flying. The rules on flying may differ by the day, the airline and even individual flights. It’s best to research flights on your own. Even the requirement of the wearing of masks varies.
What about cancellations and refunds? Again, it’s individual. If the cruise line, tour company or airline cancels, you’ll get a full refund. But if you’re the one wanting to cancel, you could end up only with credit for a future use.
Is travel insurance worth the cost? Here’s something to consider: If you’re insuring your trip because of COVID-19, you’re probably out of luck, unless you buy a “cancel for any reason” policy, which usually costs 40% more and often pays out only 50% to 75% of your total expenses, compared with the full cost paid by regular policies. So, most trip protection policies won’t refund you if you back out because you’re afraid to go, but obviously will still pay for the usual reasons. Check the fine print.
If you’re looking for family fun places in California, Disneyland has announced the reopening of Downtown Disney on July 9, then the park itself and California Adventure on July 17. Great America and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom have not announced their reopening as of this writing.
Yosemite National Park is doing a phased reopening. Check their website for the most current info.
Every article I read offered the same basic advice in order to enjoy getting out into the world again: Be informed, take precautions, have reasonable expectations, and exercise patience.
And have fun! Columnist’s note: My primary source for this column is a June 10 Wall Street Journal article by Barbara Peterson and Deborah Dunn, “Is It Safe To Travel Again? Your Coronavirus Questions Answered,” which you can easily find online to read their more complete compilation of information.