should i stay or should i go?

“Darlin’, you’ve gotta let us know!”

Okay, well, our clients don’t usually call us “darlin’” (there are exceptions), but we’re getting lots of questions from clients that are all variations of one main question — is it a good idea to travel right now?

Of course, ultimately, it’s up to each traveler to decide for themselves whether they’re comfortable traveling right now. But we can provide information and resources that can help you ascertain your tolerance for the hassles and risks of traveling. And we can also rely on our industry relationships with our network of preferred travel providers to try to ease the stresses of traveling during a pandemic.

In case you’re on the fence about future travel plans, here are some of the questions we’re getting right now.

Do I need a COVID test prior to travel or prior to my return?

For outbound travel, the answer depends on where you’re going. After the United States was removed from the EU’s “safe” list, travel to Europe became much more complicated, because every country in the EU adopted a new and different entry protocol. And even for domestic travel, states like Hawai’i have had shifting entry protocols during the pandemic. Some destinations require a test before travel, even if you’re fully vaccinated. And travel home to the US from an international destination definitely requires a test prior to your return. We have the tools and resources to tell you whether travel to your destination is possible, and what type of test you’ll need to take your trip. When you book with us, we’ll have all of that information prepared for you as part of your itinerary.

What if I test positive or contract COVID while traveling?

Since there are safe and effective vaccines available, being fully vaccinated is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re able to travel. Of course, there is always the possibility of a “breakthrough” case, but if you’re vaccinated, the science tells us that your vaccine will make the symptoms less severe, and you won’t likely need to be hospitalized in a foreign country if you’ve been immunized.

But, in addition, if you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan, most of those plans will cover you for cancellation if you get sick, or if you have a qualifying “trip interruption” event at some point on your trip. Note that unless you purchase Cancel for Any Reason (“CFAR”) coverage, you won’t be covered if you cancel just because you don’t feel safe. And those CFAR policies usually only pay out at 50% or 75% of the total trip cost. The CFAR policies are also usually quite expensive.

Do I need a vaccination in order to travel?

Well, that depends on where you’re going. Some countries won’t let you in if you’re not vaccinated. Most cruise lines won’t let you sail on any of their itineraries unless you’ve gotten your shots.

What if the border closes and I can’t get home?

Unlikely. Airlines have resumed regularly scheduled transatlantic and transpacific flights. And even when the border closed last time, there were arrangements made to grant some lead time so that people could return home before things shut down. So, this should not be a concern for most people, we think.

Is it safe to travel?

Travel always entails a certain amount of risk. Heck, just leaving your home and walking to the corner entails risk these days. The only person who can answer that question for you, is you, yourself. However, there are resources available to you —the US State Department can tell you whether there’s a terror threat. The CDC website can tell you if there’s a sustained community spread of COVID in your destination. And once you’ve reviewed all of the neutral impartial information at your disposal, you can decide for yourself what your tolerance is for those risks.

But for us, we’ve made the calculus that we’re comfortable traveling. Tom and David are on a cruise in the Bahamas right now, in fact—one where everyone is fully vaccinated. Erin just came back from a month of travel, including an Alaska cruise. And Heather is traveling, as well! Knowing what we know, we’re comfortable being out in the world with our vaccinations and our test results. But you’ll have to make your own decision about what you are comfortable doing right now.

And if you’re ready to start planning, we’d love to help with that, of course. Travel is more complicated than it’s ever been, and we’ve got the resources to take care of you when you’re on your next adventure. Just let us know when you’re ready to start making a plan!