How to Make Decisions About Travel Right Now
Deciding whether or not to travel right now is a deeply personal decision and one that’s more complex than ever.
Below, we’ve outlined the factors we help clients think through when making this decision. This is not intended as medical advice and it’s not a flowchart that will give you a definitive answer; rather, it’s a list of questions to ask yourself when determining whether or not to move forward with a trip and what factors may influence destination selection.
Health
Have all parties in your travel group been vaccinated? Have people who want boosters been able to receive them?
Does anyone in your travel group have an underlying health condition that means, even if vaccinated, they might have a more difficult time dealing with a COVID-19 infection?
Is anyone in your travel group over the age of 60?
Is anyone in your travel group under the age of 12?
LOGISTICS
Is everyone in your group able to easily obtain a pre-departure COVID-19 test within the required time periods (usually 72 hours prior to arrival for PCR tests or 48 hours prior to arrival for antigen tests)?
Is everyone in your group comfortable using the internet and able to navigate entry websites and passenger locator forms? We’ll provide as much help as possible but, with certain destinations, we’re not able to actually log in as you to help you obtain your pre-travel clearance.
ANXIETY
Is anyone in your group going to be so anxious about the possibility of contracting COVID-19 that it will detract from the experience for them?
WORK
Is everyone in your group able to work remotely for 10-14 days in quarantine, should they unexpectedly test positive on their pre-return COVID-19 test?
EXPECTATIONS
Is everyone in your group comfortable with the fact that the experience of travel right now is objectively different? Lines are longer, service is slower, most hotels and resorts are understaffed a bit or have less experienced staff…patience is more important than ever.
FINANCES
Virtually every aspect of travel is more expensive now than in 2019: the supply of destinations is limited and demand is higher than in 2019. As a result, hotels and resort pricing is very high, and airfare (in particular, business class) is going to be more than you remember.
In summary: we can’t tell you how to make a decision based on how you answer the questions above - we can merely guide you in considering the factors at play right now. Travel is definitely possible and incredible travel experiences are happening, but each traveler’s risk tolerance is different and each set of circumstances are unique, so we urge you to think carefully about where and when to travel right now.