Navigating these fluctuating travel restrictions

DAYDREAM ACHIEVER

As a Certified Travel Advisor an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor and a CLIA Master Cruise Counselor, Zac Wilson is the owner of Daydream Vacations Travel Agency in Granbury, www.DaydreamVacations.com.

The most important part of your travel plans is abiding by the requirements or restrictions for travel to your destination.

If you watch the news, or browse social media, you’re probably aware that COVID travel restrictions are changing constantly across the globe. This can cause a lot of confusion for travelers, cause you to miss your trip, or even worse you could lose a lot of money. Travelers need to prepare and protect their travel investment.

My first recommendation is for you to use a professional travel advisor. The best ones are members of ASTA, the American Society of Travel Advisors. It’s important that your advisor be up to date on the daily changes in travel regulations. This person can guide you through the process for your travel and help you when changes occur — especially last-minute surprises.

Second, I recommend you check the travel websites for both the travel destination and the U.S. State Department at Travel.gov.

You need to completely understand the requirements for your travel. For example, does the destination require COVID vaccination, COVID testing, both, or neither? How do they want you to share your health information? What happens if you test positive?

You also need to be aware of the requirements for you to return home to the U.S. Currently, all international travelers flying into the U.S. must provide proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to boarding the plane. That means that if you test positive, then you can’t come home. You’ll need to quarantine in destination until you’re clear to board the plane with a negative test result at the end of your quarantine.

Third, you need to be prepared for changes. For example, with the recent increase in the Delta Variant many destinations changed their requirements. Imagine you booked a cruise months in advance knowing that all you needed was proof of a vaccine, but when you show up to board the ship you are surprised that they are now requiring you also show proof of a negative test result. Uh oh! You don’t get to cruise, and worse yet you just lost a large nonrefundable amount of money.

How do you avoid this catastrophe? Your travel advisor will be aware of the updates and inform you. You should be checking regularly for updates. Or you can heed my fourth recommendation.

My next recommendation is the most important. Buy travel insurance! The best kind is Cancel For Any Reason, if you can get it. Read it carefully and know what it covers and what it doesn’t. 

Lastly, I received a great tip from a friend who owns a famous river cruise line in Europe. She travels to different countries regularly. No matter where she is flying to, she gets a COVID test 72 hours prior to departure. If the country you’re traveling to does not require a test when you book the flight, but a day before you go, they update their requirements to include a test, you won’t be surprised and struggling to find a last-minute test that can provide results quickly. This little surprise has canceled many travelers’ trips last minute; but her plan keeps you traveling!

zac@daydreamvacations.com | 817-559-7150