Are you planning holiday travel this year? If so, here are a few things to remember.
If your holiday travel plans include flying, chances are those planes are going to be full. TSA tells us domestic travel is at 90% of pre-pandemic limits.
This also means airports are going to be busier. More people. Take plenty of masks and social distance yourself. Take the correct face masks. You need ones that cover your nose and your mouth. Check the CDC guidelines to see which ones are the best. If you are unsure, check out this site https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html
Don’t forget your hand sanitizer. Keep one with you, put one in your carryon, have an extra in your luggage. You will not regret having more than you think you need.
More and more your holiday travel plans will include being asked to take COVID-19 tests. Before. During. After traveling. Plan accordingly so you know which tests are accepted and where you can find them.
Some hotels are requiring rapid tests upon check-in and some even then ask for another one in five days.
Check the testing and vaccine requirements for your destination included in your holiday travel plans. You may need to make appointments for testing. You also may have to wait to get your results.
If you cross international borders, you may be asked to quarantine for 10 to 14 days. If you test positive, plan on being quarantined.
It seems not every airline and every hotel have the same requirements or take the same precautions when cleaning. For safe holiday travel, take sanitizing wipes so you can clean your tray tables, doorknobs, TV remote, light switches, and anything else you need to touch.
The best thing you can do for your holiday travel plans is to get vaccinated.
Gearing up for a couple’s trip takes a lot of planning and preparation, and if you aren’t careful, it can also take a lot of money. However, there are some fabulous options. From stateside weekends to cheap getaways in countries like Cancun, the Dominican Republic or Jamaica that won’t break the bank but will leave you and your significant other with a lot of great memories.
If you want to include some friends, you can save even more by getting group rates or splitting the cost of a vacation rental. You can also save on all the things you need for the trip by looking for discounts, promo codes, and cashback opportunities. By shopping smart and planning well, you can create a memorable, fun adventure trip without spending a ton of cash. TravelsandEscapes offers some resources to help you get started:
Double-check your phone
While most people want to unplug during their vacation, you’ll still want to be reachable by your friends and family members in case of an emergency, so making sure your phone has the right plan for your needs is essential. The last thing you want to do is get caught in an unfamiliar place and find out you have no service! Talk to your provider to find out if your phone will work abroad, and then see what sort of interim plan they offer if you’ll be out of the country. Many give affordable pricing for short trips.
Share the cost
Traveling can be pricey, but if you split the cost with some friends or family members, you can stay in affordable and comfortable hotels or rentals. Look for deals on sites like VRBO and Expedia; you can usually even find extra savings with a coupon code.
When deciding who to travel with, think about a couple that would be a great addition but keep in mind that you should all be able to get along, and everyone should have similar endurance levels when it comes to trying new things or being active so no one is left behind. Find out beforehand how much they want to spend and work out an agreement before the trip gets underway so there will be no confusion or hurt feelings down the road. If you’re going to stay in a place that has a kitchen, you can even share the cost of groceries and reduce your travel budget a bit since you won’t be eating out as much.
Plan ahead of time
Planning a trip takes some time, so give yourself plenty of it in order to make sure you’re able to book the events or activities you’re interested in, particularly if you plan to travel internationally. Look online to find out the rules of each destination beforehand; for instance, you may need certain vaccines, or you may not be able to bring food and drink along to certain places, or you might have to pay for some activities separately within one main event. Planning well will allow you to be prepared and will cut back on your last-minute or unforeseen expenses.
Keep in mind that you may still want to have emergency cash on hand during the trip, so this should be worked into your budget. While you should have some on hand, have a plan for friends or family to wire you money in the event of an emergency. For example, if your credit card is stolen in Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, you can easily access quick cash from a variety of locations. Fees are zero to none with a service like Remitly, and your family can count on secure transfers.
Putting together a fabulous couple’s trip on a budget is a great way to bond with your significant other, and it can also help you broaden your horizons a bit. By planning well and shopping smart, you can ensure that everyone has a great time without the stress and expenses that can come with a major trip.
By now, you may have been vaccinated for COVID-19 virus and have a record of that. Do you know what to do with your vaccination card when traveling? Take a look at some of the most recent suggestions concerning your vaccination record and traveling.
Should You Have Your Vaccination Card With You When Traveling?
Travel and medical experts agree that it is a good idea to keep your card with you. You may also want a digital copy. Your original paper card is what you will need to travel anywhere that requires proof of vaccination. Why? Because of now the US does not have a universal digital health pass or vaccine passport.
Should I Laminate My Card?
Most experts agree to NOT laminate your vaccination card. Once it is laminated, nothing can be added to it. Instead, you could put it in a plastic sleeve where you could remove it if necessary. That way, if new boosters are required your card is easily accessed.
Is a Photo of my Card Enough?
Sometimes a photo of your vaccination card is okay. Many times, restaurants accept that. If you are going to use a photo, remember to take a picture of both sides.
Can I get a Digital Copy?
Each state maintains its own records. So, your digital vaccination card may or may not be easily obtained. Check with your healthcare provider to see how to obtain this.
What is a Vaccine Passport?
This is basically any documentation that shows you have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Many countries only accept US travelers if they have been vaccinated and can show proof.
Do I Need Proof of Vaccination to Travel Domestically?
Not right now. Hawaii does require a 10-day quarantine if you do not have proof of vaccination.
For me, traveling with a resealable bag is essential. Why? There are so many uses for one. Here are some of my favorites.
Traveling with a resealable bag in your suitcase is a good idea. Maybe you went swimming and your swimsuit is not quite dry. Instead of trying to wrap it in your laundry bag, zip it up and keep everything else in your suitcase dry. What if your socks are smelly from the last hike you took and you didn’t have time to wash them? Seal them in the bag and nothing else smells like dirty laundry.
Traveling with a resealable bag in your carry on is essential if you have lots of stuff you want to have handy during a long flight. By using this, you can place the entire bag in the seat pocket in front of you. Hand sanitizer, headphones, your phone, your book, glasses, a bag of almonds, and other things you want within reach fit nicely in here instead of stuffing them individually in the seat pocket in front of you. That way your things do not come in contact with any leftover germs in the pocket.
Traveling with a resealable bag in your purse or carry-on bag is a good place to put things you want to find easily and quickly. If you are like me, my carry-on bag is full of lots of stuff. I do not want to try and find a small item that has fallen to the bottom of the bag, especially when I am in a hurry. Need a pen to fill out a customs’ form? What about lip gloss for the dry air on the plane? How about keeping them in the resealable bag?
There are many reasons for traveling with a resealable bag. Do you have any favorites?
It seems summer is still here in parts of the country. But, it is time to think about fall and holiday travel.
It is always a hectic time to travel but add in the pandemic and it will become even more hectic. So, what do you do?
Book Early
As usual, fall and holiday travel will get more expensive the longer you wait. If you are thinking of Thanksgiving travel, the time to book is now. Same goes for Christmas travel.
Rental Cars
Perhaps you have read rental cars are hard to find and reserve, especially at the last minute. It would be a good idea to rent one now for your fall and holiday travel. If you can rent one with a refundable reservation, even better.
TSA Pre-Check
If you are not already a TSA Pre-Check member, there are several reasons to register now before your fall and holiday travel. Security lines at the airport are long and will get longer this holiday travel season. With Pre-Check you do not stand in the regular security line. This means less time in line and less close contact with others.
Prepare for Extra Time in Lines
TSA has a staffing shortage. Combine that with more travelers this fall and holiday travel season and that means lines will be longer in security and at check in at the airport.
Also, prepare for longer lines at hotels. Staffing shortages seem to have affected all areas of the travel industry.
Check all Travel Requirements
If your fall and holiday travel destination is international, sign up for STEP https://step.state.gov/. Find out what each country requires, what is required to come back to the US, and what you need to do. Also, check with the airline to see what their requirements are.
Know CDC Travel Guidelines
Right now, the guidelines are to delay travel if you are not fully vaccinated. If you need to travel and are not fully vaccinated, follow the CDC’s domestic travel or international travel recommendations. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
Check out if you are traveling with children younger than 12 what is best. Also, be sure to check mask requirements.
You should know by now that wearing face masks when flying is required. Did you know the airlines’ mask mandate has been extended through January 18, 2022. It is possible it will continue to be extended beyond that date.
What does that mean for you? All travelers two years of age and older need to wear a mask whenever inside a U.S. airport or onboard an airplane, regardless of vaccination status.
Flying
Airlines can issue fines of up to $3,000 and ban non-compliant fliers for life, making it an expensive mistake to refuse to wear one.
Did you also know that wearing masks when flying can be different on different airlines? Bandanas and scarves are generally not sufficient. Some airlines have more restrictions for cloth face coverings or masks with vents. All airlines indicate that face shields may be worn in addition to a mask. Keep in mind wearing a face shield is not an alternative to wearing a mask.
If you are traveling in the US, the CDC has issues specific requirements for what constitutes an acceptable mask when flying. Most US airlines follow these guidelines and some have added even more specific requirements.
These are a few airlines I found that have specific requirements for wearing masks when flying.
Alaska Airlines allows cloth masks made with two or more layers of breathable fabric. Gaiters are allowed if they have two layers or are folded to make two layers. Masks that do not cover your nose and mouth are not accepted. Likewise, masks cannot have any slits or exhalation valves.
American Airlines lists masks or 2-layered secured cloth as acceptable face coverings. Unacceptable face coverings include balaclavas, bandanas, gaiters, scarves, ski masks, and face covers with exhaust valves or vents.
Delta Airlines specifies that the type of mask allowed onboard follows CDC guidance. Permitted masks include disposable surgical or medical masks, cloth masks with tightly woven fabric, valve-free respirator masks (N95 or KN95), fabric masks with a clear plastic window, and gaiters with two layers. Any mask with an exhaust valve is not permitted and, like other airlines, bandanas, scarves, ski masks, and balaclavas are not sufficient.
Frontier Airlines states that face coverings must fit snugly over your nose and mouth and must be secured under the chin. Open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing vents are not allowed.
Hawaiian Airlines says any mask must meet CDC requirements. Cloth masks should be made with two or more layers of breathable fabric, which do not let light through.
Jet Blue requires travelers to wear masks that do not have any vents or exhalation valves. The airline also states that personal face/body tents or pods, personal air purifiers, ozone generators, and masks connected to tubing or battery-operated filters are not allowed.
Southwest basically follows the CDC guidelines to a tee. Masks must completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly with ties, ear loops, or elastic bands that go behind the head. Clear masks or cloth masks, medical masks and N95 respirators are allowed, as well as neck gaiters with two layers of fabric. Masks may not have any exhalation valves.
Spirit states that masks must have at least two layers of fabric such as disposable non-medical face masks, or multi-layered cloth. Open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing valves or mesh material are not appropriate.
United Airlines says travelers are required to wear a mask with no vents and bandanas are not permitted. Masks must be worn at customer service counters, airport lounges, gates, baggage claim, and on board during the entire flight.
Air France requires flyers to wear a surgical mask or an FFP1, FFP2, or FFP3 type mask without an exhaust valve. Cloth masks are not authorized.
Finnair says you must have a surgical mask or a valveless FFP2, FFP3, or another valveless mask following the equivalent standards, such as an N95. Masks made of fabric are not accepted. If you’re just flying within Europe, kids under 7 years old don’t need a mask, but all passengers above 2 years old must wear a mask when flying to/from the USA.
Lufthansa says you must wear either a surgical mask, FFP2, or KN95/N95 mask. Cloth masks are no longer permitted for flights to and from Germany.
Swiss requires these face masks, FFP2, KN95, or N95 standard, or surgical masks. When flying within Europe, children under 12 years of age do not need to wear a mask, but all passengers over the age of 2 must wear a mask when flying to/from the USA.
Are there any exceptions to wearing face masks when traveling?
The CDC lists a narrow subset of individuals who may be exempt from wearing a mask for medical reasons. This includes people with certain disabilities or requirements that would not allow them to wear a mask safely. Individuals who want to request an exemption must contact the airline for the procedures to be followed. Some airlines require you to fill out forms and send a physician’s signature up to a week in advance.
If you are thinking of making holiday travel plans this year, here are some things to think about.
Are you flying? If so, book your flights as soon as you can. This means in the next day or two. Seriously. You have probably read about current flights being disrupted and those have the potential to disrupt your holiday travel plans even more. Last minute flight changes seemingly happen regularly, prices increase as we get closer, and more families just want to travel.
Santa Catalina, CA
Where are you staying? If your holiday travel plans include Airbnb or VRBO instead of hotels, these companies have already begun to sell out in some popular vacation sites.
If you plan on venturing outside the US, check your passport. If you need to renew it plan on about 16 weeks turn around time. Same goes for a new one. Expedited service is no better. Think about where you are going. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months at the time of travel. Check your expiration date before you make those holiday travel plans.
London Tube
Do not forget about COVID-19 restrictions. Check, check again, and check once more for any testing and quarantine requirements before you finalize any holiday travel plans. Each country has its own requirements, even if you are just passing through on a connecting flight. Be sure to check closer to your departure date as well. You may need a digital health pass like France requires. You should have copies of your tests, vaccinations, etc. Make several copies to be safe.
Also, remember the US still requires a negative COVID-19 test for all returning passengers entering, over the age of two.
If you plan on taking gifts on a flight, remember you cannot take wrapped gifts. TSA will probably inspect them. It would be best to ship them in advance.
Recently we flew to Denver for a long week-end. This was only the second time flying since the pandemic started.
What surprised us and what were our expectations?
First, TSA. In the TSA Pre-Check line, a man in front of me tried to argue with the TSA agent about his ID and his Pre-Check status. The argument didn’t last long as another agent stepped in to take care of him.
Next, the airport. The Denver airport was packed with people. There was no social distancing, no room for it. Announcements were made repeatedly about wearing masks at all times and what type of masks were acceptable. People adhered to this for the most part. We saw several people with their masks pulled down until another announcement was made.
Now, the plane. Both ways the plane was full. We expected that. The flight attendants on Southwest were beyond friendly and helpful. With all the negative press about people on planes, we did not have any of those on our flights. Announcements were made multiple times about keeping your mask on unless actively eating or drinking. As usual, passengers got up when the seat belt sign was lit…nothing different there. The choice for drinks was limited. Five choices were given and we were asked to hold up a finger to show which choice we wanted. One finger for Coke, two for Diet Coke, three for Seven-Up, four for water, and five for coffee. Most people complied.
We were surprised by the number of people in the airport. Was that unique to Denver? Hard to tell as it was a holiday week-end.
Will we fly again? Sure, as long as people comply with the guidelines.
It always helps to know a few simple travel tips, especially when going to a new place. It seems like every time we travel, we learn a few more simple travel tips. Sometimes these come from seasoned travelers and sometimes from locals.
Here are just a few of our favorite simple travel tips.
Les Baux runis
Understand Money
We look up the exchange rate when we travel outside the US. We will get some Euros or currency from our local bank before we leave. That way we have some cash in case we need it as soon as we land. It is a simple travel tip that can save you money especially after a long flight.
If we need more cash once we are there, we use ATMs. The best ones are either located in a bank or right outside a bank. Try not to use an ATM in an airport or train station as the rates will probably be higher. Also, do not use the currency exchange counter at the airport, unless you are confident the exchange rate is what it is supposed to be.
We use a credit card associated with our bank. This simple travel tip allows us to dispute a false charge if necessary. When asked if we want the charges to appear as the foreign currency, Euros for example, or US dollars, we always choose US dollars.
Understand Guided Tours
We have found that guided tours can be a wonderful way to see certain sites. The best simple travel tip is to book it ahead of time, especially in a high tourist area. That way when approached by multiple guides trying to sell their tours, we already have ours booked. We use a reputable website or tourism bureau to find the best fit for the site we want to visit.
Understand Restaurants
This simple travel tip will most likely offer you the best meal. When looking for a place to eat, we tend to avoid restaurants with the menus outside that are written in English only. Why? Typically, this means they cater to tourists. Even though we are tourists we prefer to eat local foods.
If you are not sure of what the menu says, use Google Translate, https://translate.google.com/ to help you. Some of our best meals have been in restaurants where we were not quite sure of the items listed.
Another simple travel tip regarding restaurants is to find ones that are not right near popular tourist attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, Sagrada Familia, the Louvre, the Spanish Steps.
We have many more simple travel tips for a later post. Right now…we cannot wait to travel again.
When traveling, there are essential items to pack in your carry-on bag. Depending on how, where, and when you travel you might have favorites or additions to this list.
Getting ready to travel
Essential Items to Pack
A toothbrush is one of the absolute essential items to pack. This is especially important to me if I am flying, but also is essential if I am on a driving trip. I want a toothbrush handy in my carry-on bag.
Medications are another of the essential items to pack and have handy. If you are flying, TSA highly recommends not putting any medications in checked luggage. These may be as simple as pain meds or your prescription meds. Both are important.
Portable charges are not only handy, but essential. You have no idea if the airport has outlets or if they are all in used. Keeping your phone charged is handy if you need to contact the airline about a change of flight.
Some extra clothes are always essential items to pack. Of course, this depends on how long your trip or flight is, but who doesn’t like some fresh clothes to wear?
I take a reusable water bottle. This could be as simple as buying a bottle of water once you are through security or bringing your own from home. Empty of course.
Extra face masks are definitely essential items to pack. Since you want to change your regularly be sure to pack plenty in your carry-on bag.
Speaking of masks, if you need to block out light so you can get some rest, then sleep masks might be essential items for you.
Since I do not like being cold, essential items to pack for me include shawls. They do not take up much room in my carry-on bag. You may want to include a lightweight blanket instead.
Some essential items to pack for some people include a good set of headphones to block out noise. This is important on long flights to get some rest or to watch your favorite movie.
Small bottles of hand sanitizer, hand wipes, and lotions are all essential items in my carry-on bag. I can clean my hands, the tray table when flying, and the door handle when driving.
Why Pack These Items?
Face it, flight delays seem to be getting more frequent. Cancellations can happen to just about any flight. Plan on being without your checked luggage and carry the essential items with you. If you are driving, your luggage may be out of reach or in the back of the trunk. If you have these essential items in a bag closer to you, your trip can be more enjoyable.
