The New Landscape of Travel |
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Travel is returning and looks entirely different now. Vaccination plays a key role for travelers being permitted entry to many countries and sailing with cruise lines. From digital vaccine passports and a global verified system to ensure health security to the meaning of the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories, the information you want to know in planning your next trip. Who and what is open? Travel tips, latest offers, and my interview with ShoutoutLA! |
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COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
In collaboration with Forbes Travel Guide, Sharecare, a digital health company, becomes a platform where health security across the hospitality industry is verified to comply with public health protocols and best practices against COVID-19. Whether it be a hotel or destination, a badge of Sharecare health security VERIFIED is a passing mark to guarantee guests and employees' highest level of safety. Los Cabos is designated as the world's first Sharecare VERIFIED destination.
Digital vaccine passports or sometimes called immunity passports are still in the work and hoping to be fully integrated with all travel partners soon for the anticipated surge in travel starting this summer and onward. The passport is an app, or online certification, that displays a traveler’s COVID-19 test result or vaccination record. The goal is to streamline the process of validating a traveler’s COVID-19 health status by airline staff or border control. What does this mean for you? Shorter wait time in line at airport check-in!
It is not uncommon for countries to require travel insurance specifically for COVID-19. Be sure your travel insurance has specific wording of “COVID-19 coverage” or has a letter accompanying the policy stating coverage of COVID-19 as a medical condition. It is an additional cost that most of us rather spend on something fun for the vacation. In reality, travel insurance is to protect you from the unknown and potentially incredible costs due to unprecedented events. My advice is to ask yourself, “When things go wrong: What’s the plan?”
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WHO AND WHAT IS OPEN?
The world slowly...
Direct flights into Croatia are confirmed for this summer. If Northern Lights is still an item on your bucket list, Iceland is open. From the world-famous Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, Egypt now welcomes you to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The $1 Billion Museum is also the largest archaeological museum in the world. Sail the Nile river afterward if that fancy you.
Starting this May, vaccinated travelers will be permitted entry to Greece and the same for France as the country will begin to lift travel restrictions ahead of schedule. As one of the top 10 countries in the world for scuba diving, Belize welcomes visitors who are fully vaccinated without proof of negative COVID test.
Tahiti is opening this May to USA and Canada only. This means less competition from other nations in the world and an even better chance of having the island to yourself! Scroll to the end for an exclusive offer from Live Travel for a trip to Tahiti.
Dubai has been a popular destination throughout the pandemic and as a layover en route to Kenya or Tanzania. If you plan a visit to Dubai starting this fall, you're in for a treat with The Expo Dubai World Fair running from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. With 192 countries and more than 60 shows daily, visitors will get their fill of live entertainment and experiences from innovation and technology to arts and culture and future of food! We can curate this experience just for you!
Who here loves cruising? Cruise ships such as Crystal Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian confirmed to sail starting this summer are receiving opposition from the U.S. Senate. Changes are moving at a fast pace. We will keep you posted!
Other destinations you have on your mind? Give us a call at 626-733-7874.
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As your Travel Specialist,
it is my pleasure to help and serve your needs.
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THE U.S.DEPARTMENT OF STATE TRAVEL ADVISORIES
How do you interpret them?
The advisories are an accumulation of well-established statistics in regard to the general health of a country. The level of advisory changes from level 1: Excercise normal precautions to level 4: Do not travel. They serve as advice and not enforcement for travel. The advisories are most helpful when used according to specific conditions and needs of the travelers.
An example is State Department assigning a level 4 to Puerto Rico, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advising against travel to the country meanwhile CDC stating that those who are fully vaccinated can safely travel within the U.S. The advice is for those who are not vaccinated likely to be at a higher risk than those who have. By categorizing Puerto Rico as level 4 creates a potential confusion that the country is unsafe to travelers altogether.
The biggest confusion surrounds the latest news of the U.S. State Department updating 80% of countries worldwide to fall under the State Department’s Level 4 advisory when there was no “reassessment of the current health situation in a given country,” according to the State Department. Since there was no reassessment, the question would be what measures were used to determine the countries, safe for a visit before, now deems unsafe to travelers.
Jamaica is also on level 4 for the high crime rate in specific areas of Kingston and Montego Bay as well as due to COVID-19. I visited Negril, Jamaica three weeks ago. I am fully vaccinated and scheduled my travel more than two weeks after my second dose. The country couldn’t be more vigilant in following COVID-19 protocols. Most impressive is the presence of airport personnel at every entrance to ensure travelers use alcohol sanitizer before entering the terminal. The resort has a capacity restriction and holds strict adherence to wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and implementing curfews. I felt safe during the entire stay as I would at home.
State Department Advisories are good but should not be the sole source to guide you in the planning of your trips. The safety of your travel is dependent on the region(s) of the country where you plan to visit, the participating activities, and of course, a common sense among other factors including but not limited to:
- Whether the visiting countries are accepting international travelers and the required COVID-19 protocols are in place.
- The presence of any verification such as Sharecare VERIFIED badge to guarantee the highest level of COVID-19 safety
- The country's COVID-19 condition and progress.
- Access and capacity of medical facilities in the country and specifically the region where you will stay.
- Your own health, COVID-19 vaccination status, and medical conditions if any.
- The coverage of travel insurance.
- Your length of visit.
- The country where you are prior to visiting the final destination.
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Passport Check the expiration date of your passport. Take a photo of your passport and email it to yourself or your travel advisor. The expiration date is valid for at least six months past the dates of any planned international trips. Passports have a life span of up to 10 years so it is easy to forget the renewal date, especially when they are not used frequently.
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Advance Planning Travel demand is on the rise and will continue stronger into 2022 and onward. Availability and pricing will be competitive. If possible, plan and reserve your trips in advance. Book Risk-Free as travel partners offers low deposits and relaxed cancelation policies. Millions of people, like you, can’t wait to travel to their favorite destinations or simply anywhere they are allowed to enter! Some counting down to book as soon as they receive their second shot of COVID-19 vaccine.
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Travel Specialist Will stopping over in Dubai en route to your final destination of Tanzania require additional COVID-19 documents? Now more than ever, use a travel specialist. It is no longer the task of booking but the knowledge and connection for updates, staying on top of the changes, at times minute by minute, and the creative solutions to unprecedented issues in the world of post-pandemic travel.
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Flexibility COVID-19 protocols could be different between cities and countries, even airlines, that a mishap such as a wrong type of COVID-19 test from one place could translate to extra time and cost for the entire trip.
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7 Nights Danube River cruising with Crystal Cruises in the all-suite, butler-serviced ship with roundtrip all-inclusive fare from $3,499 per guest. Zero single supplement. First-ever offer from Crystal Cruises.
7 Nights cruise to Tahiti with Paul Gauguin Cruises exclusive for Live Travel.
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