It’s hard to believe that it’s November already. I’m partial to the month of October, as it’s my wedding anniversary month. I’ve been lucky enough to be married to my husband for 27 years now. It’s been a great ride so far and I can’t wait to see what the next 27 or more bring us. We try every October to travel for our anniversary, and believe it or not, this year was no exception!

Travel is possible now, but it is still a very personal decision for many.

It’s no secret that the travel industry has been turned upside down this year due to COVID. Slowly but surely, travel is coming back, and destinations are welcoming tourism. In the last 2 months I have visited both the Dominican Republic and Mexico. I visited both to check out resorts and have firsthand experience with the current travel protocols. I did extend my stay in Mexico and had Steve join me for an early anniversary getaway. I also rode out Hurricane Delta, but that’s another story for another time. Long story short, my resort was far enough south we did just fine through the storm.

Both of the destinations I visited (the Dominican Republic and Mexico) are doing a good job of managing tourism with regards to protocols and expectations. As of this time, neither destination requires a COVID test as a stipulation for entering the country, but both have health screening measures in place.

Getting to the destinations obviously involved air travel. I experienced 2 different airlines and had positive experiences on both. Some airlines are still blocking the middle seats, some are not. Flights are starting to fill to maximum allowable capacity on the flights. Several months ago, flights were largely empty, or cancelled. While many airlines have dramatically decreased their flight schedules world-wide, the flights to popular tourist destinations are increasing again. Masks are required in airports and social distancing is requested. I had a couple of hours before my flight out of Houston recently and stopped counting after I had counted 200 hundred of those little round social distancing stickers throughout the airport. I decided I was bored at the airport, but not that bored! Masks are required on flights for all guests over a certain age. Each airline has their own age policy, so it is important to check prior to flying. Airlines are not making any exceptions to their policy. If there is some reason you, your loved one, or children cannot wear a mask, flying may not be the best option at this time.

In many destinations, shared transportation to resorts is being limited to only those families or guests traveling together, otherwise, private transportation is being highly recommended if not required. Masks are often required in the transfer vehicle; this is to help protect the driver as well as the guests.

Resorts in destinations accepting tourism have multiple health and safety protocols as it relates to guest safety and staff safety. Resorts have very strict criteria that has been imposed by their local and national governments that they must comply with in order to open and accept guests. At this time, all resorts have a guest capacity limitation and it varies from 30% – 60% depending on the local government requirements. Most resorts have implanted some form of “touchless” check-in procedures and all staff throughout the resorts are wearing Personal Protective Equipment. Hand sanitizer is plentiful and will be offered any time contact is required or prior to dining. In some areas, theaters, bars and nightclubs are not yet allowed to be open, so the resorts are being creative with the use of open air or outside venues for evening entertainment and activities.

Dining has also evolved with increased precautions to prevent the spread of viruses. Resorts no longer have true buffets; all buffets are either staff assisted buffets or have turned in to more traditional dining with wait staff. Most resorts are not using paper menu’s if they can avoid it. QR codes are now the norm in most restaurants, much like we have seen here in the states. You can use your smart phone camera to hover over the QR Code and you will get a prompt to open the menu. Mexico is also using this technology for health screening survey at the airport.

Some activities and tours are limited in some destinations, but more and more are coming back with each passing week. In the beginning, it was mostly only outdoor activities where social distancing could be easily accommodated. We are now seeing more and more facilities, attractions, and activities being adjusted to accommodate social distancing. Many destinations do require the use of masks if in public places, so it is important to check prior to your activity.

As of now, there are several Caribbean destinations and a few other international destinations open to travel. Travel requires with regards to COVID testing requirements vary significantly and are changing often. I spend hours each day checking for changes and updates to make sure all guests are well informed.

If you would like to see specific travel information for a variety of airlines, cruise lines, resorts, or other travel related information, feel free to check HERE

If you have questions about a specific destination and are ready to plan your travel, I’m here to help you when the time is right for you.

Happy Travels,

With family vacation time quickly upon us, it is not hard to start feeling overwhelmed preparing for the big trip. Whether still in the planning stages or the actual trip preparation stages some simple guidelines can make a big difference.

During the planning process one thing to remember is not to confuse price with value, this often leads to overspending on vacations. Know your vacation budget up front, while it is not always known what a trip may cost, everyone knows what they are willing to spend. Remember to consider all details, not just the cost of “booking the trip” but the anticipated spending in destination as well. Too many times vacationers overspend on vacation for things that could have been purchased at a lower cost during the planning process.

Another key decision in the planning process is to determine if this is a trip “for” the kids, or a trip “with” the kids. These are very different types of vacations. If traveling with small children, check in to family services available on the cruise line or at the resort. Some cruise lines and resorts carry items such as diapers, play pens, etc. and will allow you to reserve items in advance. If traveling domestically, consider shipping items to your destination.

Always take any medical, physical, or dietary special needs in to consideration. Not all hotels, resorts, or cruise lines are equipped to handle all needs. If traveling with an infant or very young children, it is important to keep them in mind when planning the family vacation. For example, most cruise lines and resorts children must be fully potty trained to be in the pools. Regarding kids’ programs on cruise ships or at resorts, the minimum age is often two or three years old. If anyone in the family has mobility issues, knowing the size of the resort, terrain of the destination, or if the hotels have elevators can be crucial details. Dietary considerations should also be addressed during the planning stages if possible. For example, someone with severe food allergies may run in to issues at resorts that have mostly buffet style food.

Air travel can be exciting yet frustrating when traveling with younger children. Airport security can be quite the process these days. TSA has great information on their website including an entire section about traveling with children that has helpful videos. If traveling with any strollers, car / safety seats, wheelchairs, walkers or any other assistive devices, remember to practice manipulating them before travel. Taking quiet toys for children to play with in the airport and on the plane will help pass the time for them. Always remember to bring ear phones or ear buds for any electronics, other travelers don’t always have the same taste in movies or music. For longer flights, bring child friendly foods that only require boiled water such as Ramen noodles, or macaroni and cheese.

There are a couple of tips that can be helpful regardless of destination or how you are getting there. With the popularity of cell phones these days, no one is ever without a cameral. Each morning I recommend taking a family picture, this can be crucial. If anyone in the family gets separated it can induce immediate panic. In moments of panic, remember something as simple as the color of someone’s shirt seems like a daunting task. If you have a picture to look at, you don’t have to “remember” details. Having a picture on your phone is also helpful as it can be instantly shown or shared to others to assist in a search if needed. Another tip is to always make multiple copies of photo ID’s. Keep a second copy separate from the original and leave another copy behind with someone you trust. Lost ID’s are more common than most people think. Having a copy of your lost ID can streamline the process for getting home if an ID is required to fly or even use a credit card. In some countries it is common practice to see an ID with every credit card transaction.

It’s summer, the most popular vacation season of the year, it’s time to enjoy a stress-free family vacation!

Happy Travels,