Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure. Those who have made their decision and are ready to embark on a new adventure, we have some advice for you… Here are four mistakes to avoid while traveling during COVID: 1. Adding Numerous Countries to Your Itinerary When you start planning your adventure abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's best to stick to one or two countries until the virus is well under control. You'll be able to relax on your adventure without worrying about additional transits, quarantines, testing requirements, and ever-changing guidelines. Here's your chance to take the time to really get to know a place and embrace the art of slow travel. 2. Not Checking Cancellation or Change Policies Before Booking Flights Most of us have heard the stories of travelers who lost thousands of dollars on a canceled vacation in 2020 that wasn't covered by travel insurance. Beware when purchasing insurance policies during the pandemic, as many programs do not cover claims arising from COVID-19. Look for information directly on the company's website. Many carriers are offering exceptional change and cancellation policies during the pandemic. Policies do vary by airline and business, If using a travel agent for your bookings and for some multi day tours, make sure you are aware of their policies as well. 3. Forgetting to Get a COVID-19 Test Before Flying, and for Departure This might be the most important item to check off your list. You will not want to forget to schedule your test before a trip abroad no matter where you're traveling, since entry requirements can change in an instant and often do. Most countries that mandate a test require a negative certificate that has been issued within 72 hours of boarding. Schedule a test two mornings before your departure, so that you receive your certificate the same evening and can print it out in preparation for your flight. And as for your return to the U.S., it is now mandatory by CDC regulations that ALL public entering present a negative COVID test. 4. Waiting to Fill Out Your Paperwork in Person No one likes filling out paperwork, and you'll see a lot of it while flying during COVID — sometimes multiple forms for entry into one country. A smart way to handle this is to print and fill them out in advance. Protocols for airports and countries vary, so be prepared for anything and everything, including potential visits to the immigration office for more questioning (and possibly missing your connecting flight). Even if you've filled out the paperwork in advance, keep a pen handy. Some entry restrictions are changing so fast that a country can make a switch in their forms on a moment's notice. This new traveling environment is new for all of us, it’s something none of us have experienced before. But as experts on the past “normal” of traveling, we can assure you we’ll be able to differentiate and guide you in the right direction and know what exactly you can be doing to avoid having a hard time planning your getaway as COVID regulations are still taking place. Give us a call or email us today to receive more of our help, and Let’s Get Busy Livin’! Safe Travels, Dan.
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We know it is often difficult picking which products will serve you best when traveling. Here at Get Busy Livin’, we are always looking for products that will stay with us in the long run, are economically friendly, and will be perfect for our needs, whether it is a quick 2-day business trip, or a 2 week family vacation.
Here are some of our favorite carry-on bags we love to use, and recommend when going on a getaway. 1. Away Carry-On This is a strong and sturdy suitcase, and it looks smart. The handle is long, and slides out easily, doesn't rattle around like other flimsier models. Wheels are good quality. The body is quite durable and scratch resistant, the zipper is good quality, oh and there's even a lock. It holds a lot of stuff for how small it is, and it is expandable which is helpful for people who sometimes overpack. With a 39.8-liter capacity and some tight rolling, you will be able to fit approximately five-days worth of clothing in an Away carry-on, if you’re not taking big coats. It has a zip compartment for shoes, accessories and toiletries, as well as a water-resistant laundry bag to pack away your dirty clothes. If you’re not into a capsule wardrobe, there’s a compression pad to help you out. This is definitely one of our favorite bags, and we hope you look out for it! Buy: ($225 Regular Price) here 2. TravelPro Platinum Elite Carry-On This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, with high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.The large pocket on the front of this bag opens up folder style just as it should, perfect for those who typically rummage through it while standing at the airport or hotel lobby. It spins and moves like a dream. The hardware is well integrated into the design; with the deep color and leather trim, this is a formal looking suitcase. The interior is both thoughtful and attractive. This is a great bag that will definitely meet most of your traveling purposes! Buy: ($217 Regular Price) here 3. IT Max Space Carry-On You’ll never have to pick between weight or packing capacity again with this MaXpace collection from IT luggage carry-on. MaXpace boasts a modern twist on hyperlite luggage while maximizing packing capacity. This original design doesn’t cut any corners – literally! With a unique base and top platform, this collection allows you to pack out the entire dimensions of your luggage without losing valuable corner spaces. It is suitable for any travel, with great spinner wheels! You definitely want to give this one a try… and we’re sure you’ll want to get every color after. Buy: ($70 Regular Price) here 4. CALPAK Oh-Joy Carry-On This amazing, kid-friendly bag with a fun patterned interior is the perfect size, rolls easy, and adorable to look at. The colors and gold accents are so fun and even without packing cubes it's super easy to keep organized with the pockets, zippers, and straps. Buy: ($165 Regular Price) here If you’re still unsure of the right path to help you pack, we’re happy to help with some more recommendations. Give us a call or email us today and let’s Get Busy Livin’! Safe Travels, Dan. Tourism for the rest of 2021 and 2022 will ultimately come down to one thing: How safe will travelers feel? Safety will include some key elements such as infection & vaccination rates, public safety and strong public health systems
If the infection rates in a nation are already extremely low, or if nearly everyone is vaccinated, the results are the same: There’s very little chance that visitors will be infected by someone living there. If we can also ensure visitors are vaccinated, the chances of either infecting, or getting infected will minimize. 1-2. Australia and New Zealand These are examples of nations that have almost eliminated COVID-19 as a major internal threat. According to the latest Johns Hopkins data, their infection rate per 100,000 people (100K rate) is 114 for Australia and 49 for New Zealand. The 100K infection rate for the United States is 8,800—almost 180 times that of New Zealand! 3. Southeast Asia This section has very low 100K infection rates: Vietnam (3), Thailand (38), Hong Kong (147), Hong Kong (147), Malaysia (971), and Singapore (1,052). Many cruise ships traveled to these places before the pandemic. Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore specialize in medical tourism and have hospitals with Western-trained physicians that rival the best of ours. While these nations are not very far in providing vaccinations, they have the resources to vaccinate in at least the tourist areas very quickly. 4. The Med and the Middle East This is the third region that will probably prove to be very popular for tourism by summer. Israel leads the world in vaccinations, with 58% of its residents already vaccinated. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is second, with 35% of its residents already vaccinated. A great option for those looking for a destination with high percentages of its residents already vaccinated! 5. Japan Japan (100K rate of only 346) is likely to pursue early tourism by ships and trains aggressively to take advantage of the infrastructure improvements it made for the Olympics. Circumnavigation cruises around Japan will hopefully go mainstream for the first time, and may include stops in Okinawa and in South Korea. Our hope, as many of other’s, is that once more nations begin to increase their vaccination rates, more and more repositioning cruises will start to visit more nations. If you’re still unsure which destination is the perfect pick for you, and your family, make sure you give us a call today and Let’s Get Busy Livin’! Safe Travels, Dan. According to the new American Express Travel: Global Travel Trends Report, everyone is still keeping hope alive, and things to look forward to are using travel as that gateway. Are you excited to travel soon?
People not only want to travel again, but are already hard at work planning their dream post-pandemic getaways. And whether that’s somewhere cold, or a beach getaway to destress from the past year, it’s something that mant, including myself, have on our minds. What will be our next trip? How will we deal with COVID regulations? Will our next traveling experience be “normal”? And although these are all thoughtful questions, and needed for the next experience, people miss traveling so much that 76% of respondents surveyed are creating their destinations wish list for future travel even though they might not be able to travel yet, and are unaware of what the future of traveling upholds. Results from a survey taken across seven international markets and American Express Travel booking data expressed that 87% of people said that having a trip planned in the future gives them something to look forward to. Some are even missing traveling so much that they would book a trip right now, even if they have to cancel it in the future! With people's newfound freedom to work from anywhere, the freedom and flexibility of being able to live while traveling the globe, a very promising future awaits the traveling experience. The Pandemic has left us all feeling and wanting to get back to our old selves, try out new things, explore new spaces, and live our lives to the fullest. Traveling is something I’m sure we can all agree is in our bucket lists. If you’re interested in learning more about how you could be preparing for your next vacation, feel free to give us a call or email us today and Let’s Get Busy Livin’! Safe Travels, Dan. |
AuthorDan Laiosa, Archives
August 2021
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Rüdiger Stehn