Every day, we’re talking to more and more of our clients who are really eager to have this whole COVID-19 thing in their rear-view mirror. And, hey—we’re with you, for sure. But right now, the most important thing is for people to stay home and stay safe. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps now that will put you in a position to hit the ground running (or flying, or hiking, or kayaking or boarding-trains-ing) once it’s possible to embark on your next grand adventure. So, here are five things you can do right now that’ll put you in a great position to travel, once it’s safe to get out and go!

Renew or Get Your Passport

Generally, you’re going to need 6 months of availability from your last date of travel, in order to travel to most parts of the world. Right now, you might have plenty of time on your passport, but once we get on the other side of the COVID-19 outbreak, and you’re ready to book some travel, will you still have six months validity? Take a look, now, and think about renewing your passport. Or, if you don’t already have your passport, this would be a great time to dig through your records for your birth certificate, take your photo, and apply for that magical document that will let you explore the world once you have it in hand.

Unfortunately, the Passport Office has temporarily stopped processing passport applications for the time being, except in emergency cases. And once they resume processing, there’s likely to be a backlog. So, this would be the best time to get your application in, so that you’re at the head of the line when the log jam starts to clear.

Did you know that you don’t have to leave the house to get your passport picture taken? We’ve got access to a service that will let you take a passport photo at home, submit it electronically, and get your document by mail! While you’re at it, think about getting a passport card, as well! That card can be used to travel on many cruises that depart from the US, as well as to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. Plus, even though REAL-ID requirements have been pushed off for a year, a passport will make it possible for you to have a compliant identification card for domestic travel, as well!

Apply for Global Entry or Clear

Now’s the absolute best time to do this. It’s still the case that there are long waiting times for appointments for your TSA Interview if you’re applying for Global Entry. So, get the ball rolling, and by the time we’re all out-and-about, you’ll have an appointment already scheduled. Global Entry includes TSA Pre-Check, so if you don’t yet have Pre-Check, this is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

And consider adding Clear to your Global Entry or Pre-Check membership. In case you don’t know the difference, we’ve broken it all down for you in this post. But the upshot is, while pre-check will get you an expedited security screening, and Global Entry will get you through passport control more quickly on your way home, Clear makes it possible for you to skip the line while you’re getting your i.d. checked at the airport.

Update Your Bucket List

When you’re suddenly not able to explore the world, it immediately makes you realize how much we take the ability to travel for granted. Well, now’s a great time to start to make a plan for all of those places you want to see, once we’re able to travel again. If you’re longing to explore Machu Picchu, to go on a safari in Africa, to explore the ruined temples of Angkor Wat, or set foot on Antarctica, why not start plotting it out?

And, if you’d like help with that, you might consider joining the Huckleberry Travel Bucket List Club. For club members, we’ll curate your bucket list, keep that list updated, and provide a full year of travel planning and booking for no additional fees. Plus, your first year’s membership includes a deposit on your first bucket list adventure.

Since people aren’t able to travel right now, and because we want to make sure that club members get the full value of their membership, anyone who joins before June 30, 2020 will get a free extension of their first year’s membership until December 31, 2022—that’s two and one-half years of fee-free travel planning, bucket list curation, and all of the other travel amenities for the cost of one annual membership. Terms and conditions apply, so if you’d like more information about joining the club, including pricing and amenities, contact us!

Start Learning a New Language

If you’ve traveled abroad, recently, you’ll know that it’s really not necessary to speak the local language in order to have a fantasitc time. In fact, we’ve been a smidge frustrated when we try our best to speak the local language, only to have a shop clerk, waiter or bartender immediately launch into English. And yet, there’s a lot to be said for making an effort and bucking the stereotype of Americans as People Who Don’t Try Very Hard.

There are so many ways to start learning a language at home. Whether it’s an app on your phone, an online course, or even one-on-one language instruction over video or skype, you can easily master the basics of a new language without leaving home. So, why not get started!

Establish a Relationship with a Travel Advisor

So many travelers who used to book travel on their own have realized, lately, that working with a travel advisor is so much better than winging it on their own. Even if you’re the type of person who really enjoys researching and planning your own travel, working with a travel advisor can be a huge help. We do more than just book travel for our clients. Through our professional relationships in the industry, we have access to tools and resources that aren’t available on consumer booking sites. We have access to preferred pricing from suppliers, that often comes with added amenities when we book your arrangements. And, if you get in a jam, we act as your advocates with the travel suppliers you’ve booked, because we have a relationship (and a phone number and contact email) for the suppliers we book.

If you book online, and your transfer to the airport doesn’t show up, or your flight gets canceled, or a pipe has exploded at your hotel, let’s face it—that online booking engine isn’t going to follow up with you about it. And, probably, you’re not going to even be able to get someone on the phone if you tried.

But, if you’ve booked through us, we’ll pick up the phone or call you back right away, and we’ll act as your advocate. When travel is more difficult than ever before—because of pandemics, geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events, and other disruptions—don’t you want a travel professional with industry connections working for you? In the same way that your financial advisor looks after your financial investments, a travel advisor is there to take care of your investment in your valuable vacation time and travel experiences.

Now is a great time to reach out to a travel advisor to start talking about your future travel. The three of us at Huckleberry Travel would love the opportunity to work with you, and to start building an ongoing relationship. We want to be your travel advisors for life, and the more we can connect with you, the better able we’ll be to provide the kind of service and advocacy that will make your travel truly hassle free. So drop us a line!

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