biden administration lifts inbound testing requirement

Good news, Huckleberry Travelers! The requirement to present a negative COVID test prior to returning to the US will be lifted at Midnight on Sunday.

The requirement to test negative before returning to the US had a real chilling effect on US Travelers’ willingness to leave the country, for fear that they’d get trapped abroad with no way to get home.

Considering that COVID is already widespread in the US, it’s clear that travel restrictions weren’t actually doing anything to stop the spread of the disease. But in addition, the testing requirement was really hurting the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. We’re especialy grateful to our industry trade association, ASTA (The American Society of Travel Advisors), for their efforts to protect our industry.

Keep in mind that entry protocols and testing requirements are still all over the map. Some destinations, like Japan, still aren’t open to tourists. And sorting through these complicated regulations can be a chore. But we’re here to help. Here are our best recommendations:

1. Use a Professional Travel Advisor.

We can easily access the information that you need to manage the complexities of travel. But when you retain us to plan your trip, resist the urge to piecemeal it. If you’ve booked part of your trip on your own, we’re not able to assist with bookings that we didn’t make. And by coming to us with something that’s partially pre-booked, you’re virtually guaranteed to pay more than if we worked with the suppliers in our network to access bundled wholesale rates. If COVID disrupts your travel plans, we want to be able to help; but if we’re not administering all of your bookings on an itinerary, our ability to assist may be limited.

2. Put Insurance in Place.

We will always recommend putting a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place when you travel. COVID hasn’t disappeared, even though the inbound testing requirement is suspended. If you get sick right before your vacation, or if you need emergency medical assistance when traveling, Travel Insurance can really protect you. Not to mention coverage for trip delay and trip interruption, lost or stolen personal effects, medevac, and much more. Always buy the insurance. It’s really important.

3. New Trips for Summer are Going to Be Almost Impossible.

Even before the testing requirement was lifted, parts of the world have extremely limited invetory of hotel rooms and rental cars. If you’re still hoping to plan a trip for June, July or August, and you haven’t yet started working on it, prepare to be disappointed. Prices are high (because of supply and demand), and the industry is still short-staffed, so things take longer than ever to confirm. If you can start planning your trip at least six months in advance, that’ll help ensure that you’re having a better travel experience at a price that won’t break the bank. NOTE: There may be exceptions — we’re seeing some great promotions on cruise itineraries, especially in Europe. Unpacking once and your boutique hotel travels with you—that’s a great way to avoid sky-high hotel prices.

Of course, we’d love to help you plan your next vacation. Reach out to us, and we’re happy to get started!