Are you as excited to get out and travel as we are? Even if the past year didn’t curb your travel entirely, the re-opening of travel destinations and return-to-normal will make travel easier, and busier. If you totally avoided travel during the pandemic, then you are certainly ready to go on vacation. Follow these tips from Travel Agent Cheryl Rudauskas, CTC, with Cheryl's All Points Travel Inc /Travel Leaders for post-pandemic hassle-free travel
1.) Plan far in advance.
As destinations start to open up for travel, we are all anxious to travel, but availability is still limited. You will want to plan early to get the best options and price value. Allow for six to twelve months in advance
2.) Work with a travel professional.
They are your "Trusted Advisor" to keep current on all destinations’ Covid travel restrictions. With many countries opening, they will keep you updated on the countries that are open and travel restrictions. As of now, many countries still have negative Covid test requirements before entering, including the United States, and there can be multiple ways to administer these tests.
3.) Check your passport.
You will need at least six months validity on your expiration date from the date of your return travel. Passports can take longer than normal to process. Renew your passport early so you are ready to travel. Even emergency applications are taking longer than normal to process, and cost double what an application through the mail can cost.
4.) Consider traveling in the off-season.
While off-season deals aren’t as plentiful as they have been some years, you can still save a little money, and avoid crowds and long lines. Ideal destinations are off the beaten path such as Bell Harbor, Maine, Finger Lakes in upstate New York, and even the Caribbean ABC Island of Curaçao
5) Use Technology
You can save yourself time and unexpected delays by using a few handy tools:
- MyTSA to anticipate TSA waiting times at the airport. Available on iTunes and Google Play.
- TSA Precheck for easy airport security screenings. tsa.gov/precheck
- Global Entry for a quicker pass through customs back into the United States after international travel. cbp.gov
