After a year unlike any we have lived through before, it feels odd to try to look ahead to plan in 2021. But with people getting COVID-19 vaccines all over the country, increased testing, and more knowledge under scientist’s belts, experts are starting to catch a glimpse of a future without the pandemic.

Even so, this is a confusing time to be a traveler. Many of us have not been on a trip in over a year, and are craving new sights, tastes, and experiences desperately. Many hotels and airlines are promising it safe to book a vacation, with their added safety measures. Yet, the CDC and other health officials are still urging people to only travel if necessary. So what should you do?

It is a complicated question with a complicated answer. Really, everyone is right.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert, said that by the end of 2021, the United States could “approach some level of normality.”

Travel restrictions will gradually disappear as people begin to get vaccinated and we get nearer to herd immunity. But this will be a slow process. As Fauci said, “There is no black and white, light switch on, light switch off.”

Essentially, if you must travel for work or otherwise, you can be comforted by airlines and hotel’s added safety and sanitation measures, and strict travelling guidelines. If you want to have a vacation for yourself and/or your family, you should also be fine, but only with proper travelling procedures. No one who is considered at-risk should be travelling any time soon, and while travelling and in a new destination, face mask policies and social distancing measures should be followed.

For booking international travel this year, there is no good prediction for what borders are going to reopen to U.S. citizens. Some destinations though, such as Mexico, the Caribbean, Turkey and Polynesia, have remained mostly open to the U.S. throughout the pandemic and are likely to only get more accessible as time goes on. For these trips, you can feel confident booking in 2021.

Just remember, you can absolutely plan your dream trip this year, but also be sure you plan for if it has to be cancelled! With constantly hanging borders, local mandates, and airline and hotel availability, it is better to be safe than sorry. Try to book with companies that can offer a refund or rescheduling if things don’t turn out the way you wanted. (We can help with that part!)

With travelling in 2021, there are more and more reasons to book through a travel advisor. With all the aforementioned qualms, there is a lot more to consider when planning. If you are using credit card points, you’ll want to be sure of the rules for the program, not just the rules of the airline. Similarly, booking through 3rd party sites (like Expedia and Kayak) makes it harder to receive a refund, cancel, r change plans, The rules are changing all the time for individual companies and airlines, so things can get complicated without due diligence.

But, if you have a travel advisor to do all this research for you, you can be left with a sound mind and get the maximum relaxation and rejuvenation from your trip, without the stressors of planning it.

When it comes to domestic travel, things are a bit easier and more comfortable. If you come across a great deal, contact us at travelsbydonna@knology.net. Follow the same safety procedures as you would with international travel, but be comforted by knowing you won’t run into any outrageous border policies. Of course, be sure you comply with whatever local safety policies, such as a mask policy, are in place.

With 2020 behind us and the bulk of 2021 ahead, increased safety measures, and the spread of the vaccination, we can all hope for a return to travel this year. It may not be time for some vacations quite yet, but a little dose of travel may be just what your optimism needs!

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash