Hello 2021! It is the last day of the month and while it did go by quickly, many days felt like Groundhog Day! In a normal year January is one of my busiest months. The holidays are over, spring break and summer vacations are on the horizon and clients are ready to plan their next great adventure. I also spend much of my time in the first quarter of the year preparing and packaging documents for winter vacations and I really have missed doing that this past month. Boy did that change this year!
With no travelers this month, it surely has felt different in the office. February has a few couples traveling in the US, which seems to be the growing trend of the moment. Truth be told, there are still many uncertainties when it comes to traveling, however that is where I can come in handy. So, how have I spent the month of January….educating myself!
I have spent time reading every article and news brief I can get my hands on and am thankful for Mike for staying on top of this for me as well. I have listened in on webinars and worked on certification courses to sharpen my skills and learn about new destinations.
Here are a few of the latest updates within the travel industry:
Cruises are globally paused and will be until at least May 2021. While I am hopeful to see cruises return this summer, I am not sure how long it will take ships to become fully operational or the requirements passengers will have to abide by when boarding in the future. As details are published, I will be sure to share. I had numerous guests cruising in the first and second quarter and the majority opted to move their cruises to 2022 dates.
The biggest announcement this month came from the CDC and began on January 26th. This new law requires all travelers returning to the United States from an international location to be tested 72 hours prior to returning to the United States. Click here to read the full link from the CDC. So, what does this mean for travelers? With European borders and many other countries worldwide off limits, the Caribbean and Mexico are indeed open for business. Many resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico quickly implemented onsite testing, allowing guests to have little interruption to their vacation to get tested. Testing at some resorts is free and others offer options for a small fee. If you were to test positive before returning home resort have made accommodations for quarantine areas at either no cost or reduced cost depending upon the resort. These processes have been put in place to make clients comfortable to travel and enjoy some fun in the sun!
If you are not ready to venture outside the United States just yet, there are plenty of great places to explore. The last few weeks have provided me the opportunity to help several families plan vacations in Key West and various National Parks for spring break and summer travel. If you have some US locations on your bucket list, I would be happy to help check them off later this year or help you start mapping out a plan for 2022!
My crystal ball continues to be hazy, but I am hopeful that with the vaccine rollout we will see a better return to travel later this year.
Stay safe, wear your masks, and wash your hands!
Until next time! ~ Courtney
With no travelers this month, it surely has felt different in the office. February has a few couples traveling in the US, which seems to be the growing trend of the moment. Truth be told, there are still many uncertainties when it comes to traveling, however that is where I can come in handy. So, how have I spent the month of January….educating myself!
I have spent time reading every article and news brief I can get my hands on and am thankful for Mike for staying on top of this for me as well. I have listened in on webinars and worked on certification courses to sharpen my skills and learn about new destinations.
Here are a few of the latest updates within the travel industry:
Cruises are globally paused and will be until at least May 2021. While I am hopeful to see cruises return this summer, I am not sure how long it will take ships to become fully operational or the requirements passengers will have to abide by when boarding in the future. As details are published, I will be sure to share. I had numerous guests cruising in the first and second quarter and the majority opted to move their cruises to 2022 dates.
The biggest announcement this month came from the CDC and began on January 26th. This new law requires all travelers returning to the United States from an international location to be tested 72 hours prior to returning to the United States. Click here to read the full link from the CDC. So, what does this mean for travelers? With European borders and many other countries worldwide off limits, the Caribbean and Mexico are indeed open for business. Many resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico quickly implemented onsite testing, allowing guests to have little interruption to their vacation to get tested. Testing at some resorts is free and others offer options for a small fee. If you were to test positive before returning home resort have made accommodations for quarantine areas at either no cost or reduced cost depending upon the resort. These processes have been put in place to make clients comfortable to travel and enjoy some fun in the sun!
If you are not ready to venture outside the United States just yet, there are plenty of great places to explore. The last few weeks have provided me the opportunity to help several families plan vacations in Key West and various National Parks for spring break and summer travel. If you have some US locations on your bucket list, I would be happy to help check them off later this year or help you start mapping out a plan for 2022!
My crystal ball continues to be hazy, but I am hopeful that with the vaccine rollout we will see a better return to travel later this year.
Stay safe, wear your masks, and wash your hands!
Until next time! ~ Courtney