VIAKU Travel Update
Like many of you I'm excited and ready to start traveling again and am already planning my first “vacci-cation.” However I'm getting a serious case of “travel planning whiplash” from the positive/negative travel news cycle out there. Last week the CDC cautiously gave a green light to travel for those who are fully vaccinated saying that traveling both domestically and internationally was low risk. This week the State Department issued "Do Not Travel" advisories to 80% of international travel destinations. This week airlines began adding international routes to their flight schedules to countries such as Croatia, Greece and Iceland which are planning on re-opening their borders to US travelers again pending negative Covid Tests or proof of vaccination.
You are no doubt wondering: When can I go? Where can I go? How can I go?
DOMESTIC TRAVEL
Within the US the CDC says you can travel freely with minimal risk once you are fully vaccinated. No COVID testing or quarantine required. However no vaccine has yet been approved for children under the age of 16. Also some states and local governments may choose to keep some COVID capacity restrictions in place based on the state’s current COVID situation. This summer many destinations are filling up quickly including popular vacation destinations such as Florida, California, Wyoming, Montana, Maine and Hawaii. We anticipate seeing the same pressure on national parks, campgrounds and vacation rentals as last summer and an increase in air passenger traffic as more people are vaccinated and willing to resume leisure travel. My guidance for domestic travelers this spring and summer is once again to be flexible and to travel safely. Once you are vaccinated, travel within the US should be pretty easy with a few caveats. Demand for beautiful outdoor destinations will once again be high. With tour operators switching focus again this summer to setting up tours to popular US destinations there will again be more competition for limited hotel space. In addition there is also a shortage of rental cars in the US as the major car rental companies sold off large parts of their fleets during the downturn. So yes, you should be planning summer travel NOW!
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
International travel is also permitted by the CDC – but only to countries that are allowing US travelers – and unfortunately Canada along with most of Europe, Asia and Africa are asking Americans to stay home. Some countries are welcoming US citizens with proof of a negative COVID test including most of the Caribbean, Mexico and Costa Rica. In Europe a handful of countries including Albania, Turkey, Croatia and Montenegro have put out the welcome mat but others, including Iceland and Greece, are planning on opening up to fully vaccinated travelers later this spring. Several countries in Africa are also welcoming US visitors. No matter where you travel, you will still face country specific COVID requirements such as mask wearing along with various levels of closures or capacity restrictions at restaurants and major tourist sites. Also upon your return you will be subject to the regulations for passengers arriving into the US which currently requires a negative COVID test result taken no more than three days before you board your flight. My guidance for international travelers is plan to be flexible. Flexibility will be key as countries continue to experience virus surges and mutations and implement travel restrictions accordingly. I estimate travel to Europe this summer (June – August) a 50/50 proposition. To improve your odds, make sure you are fully vaccinated; plan travel to an “open” European destination and/or plan to travel in late summer or fall. Overseas hotels and tour operators are again offering increased flexibility including lower deposits and later payment dates. Much will depend on how Europe manages the current surge, new variants of the virus and individual country vaccination rates. “Vaccine Passports” are being widely discussed among concerns about vaccine equity and health and data privacy. Proof of vaccination will also very likely be required by cruise lines in order for international cruising to resume.
AND IN OTHER TRAVEL NEWS…
The backlog of passports is causing long processing times. Passport processing times are currently running 10-12 weeks! If you need your passport in less than 10-12 weeks due to international travel plans, you can pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport. If you plan to expedite your application, send your application using USPS’ Priority Mail Express services. Expect to receive a passport in 4-6 weeks when applying for expedited service. Most acceptance facilities such as post offices, clerks of court, and libraries are open and accepting passport applications. We encourage you to apply by mail when possible because it is a safe, contactless option for certain services. It may take up to 4 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is “In Process.” During these 4 weeks, your application is delivered to a mail facility, your payment is processed, and your application is scanned and sent to us. If your passport status update says “Not Available,” your application and supporting documents are safely on their way to us.
Cruise lines are signaling a restart. While other segments of the travel industry are poised to rebound, cruise lines are still in limbo. While the CDC is still restricting the operation of cruises from US ports, several operators are moving full steam ahead with summer Caribbean itineraries – now departing from ports in the Caribbean including the Bahamas, Saint Maarten, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Many operators including Celebrity Cruises, Seabourn and Ponant are planning routes throughout the Greek Islands while MSC Cruises is offering cruises throughout the Mediterranean. A similar situation is occurring in the UK where a number of cruise lines are offering cruises around the British Isles. For the most part cruises will only be available to fully vaccinated adults. Crystal Cruises, Norwegian, Viking, and Celebrity Cruises are just some of the cruise lines introducing vaccine requirements for adult passengers. Royal Caribbean has made vaccines compulsory for some routes, including the Caribbean, while Carnival Cruises has yet to announce any such measures. Buffets have been discontinued and entertainment may be limited, as cleanliness takes center stage. Expect to see more high tech - from virtual lines and contactless payments to thermal temperature checks and UV sanitization, to minimize in-person contact on board.