Written by: Samantha Higgins
The coronavirus has shaken up the landscape of 2020. In particular, the travel industry has really suffered because things are unsafe around the world. Let us take a very close look at five factors that impact whether you should start making travel plans for the future yet.
1. Destination
To start things off, these travel plans largely depend on your destination. Some countries are hotspots for the coronavirus such as the US. If you have a trip to California or Texas in mind, you definitely want to postpone this. On the other hand, many countries in Africa have been relatively free of the virus. Your travel plans to these regions might not need to be delayed by much. As you are making your plans, monitor the number of cases in your target destination. If this number is trending upwards, stop your plans in their tracks. If this number is trending downwards, proceed with your travels as it should reach a reasonable threshold before long.
2. Cruises
Although it’s true that you shouldn’t go on a cruise right now, cruises might be up and running sooner than you might imagine. Comprehensive testing can ensure that the ship is full of uninfected people. Because it will be out on the water for weeks at end, there’s no risk of COVID-19 being introduced to the ship. In particular, you can already make pans for smaller cruises. For example, you might search for the best Alaskan cruise line if you want to explore the depths of Alaska. At the very least, you can reserve your spot on these ships for when cruises do return to the market.
3. Hotels
Just like cruises, there’s no harm in planning a stay at a hotel already. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll simply have to cancel for no expense on your part. Hotels are taking some of the strictest measures to ensure that the pandemic doesn’t get out of control. They are locations where visitors can remain in quarantine for up to two weeks. If you need food or other goods, they can be delivered right to the doorstep of your room. When planning, you want to be in constant communication with the staff of the hotel.
4. Airlines
Another industry that is particularly lenient is the airline industry. These airlines understand that many travel plans are up in the air due to the coronavirus. You can book flights right now and cancel if you need to. As discussed above, you should go ahead with making these travel plans. There are little to no repercussions if you do have to withdraw. Moreover, when travel does come back online, there will be a massive rush to secure flights. You’ll be at an extreme advantage if yours has already been booked months in advance.
5. Future timeframe
Last but not least, you have to specify the timeframe you are talking about in the future. If the future refers to three months from now, your travel plans probably need to be reconsidered. All signs indicate that COVID-19 will still be around at that time and that counties will not be ready to reopen. However, if you’re talking about six months or longer from now, there’s no reason your travel plans can’t take place. By that time, hotels and resorts will have even better coronavirus regulations in place. As long as you approach travel with caution, you should be able to enjoy a relaxing vacation with your family.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are a couple of factors that impact whether you should start making travel plans for the future yet. The pandemic has had its ups and downs, and certain areas of the world are not safe quite yet. If you do make travel plans, you should do so with caution.
