HONEYMOON
YOU CAN STILL BE EXCITED about planning your honeymoon or destination wedding Weddings have been difficult to navigate during the COVID pandemic but travel has changed completely. Many couples spend years or months planning their wedding and the honeymoon is time when they can relax, decompress and unwind. While weddings have resumed to a somewhat normal basis, many couples have decided to postpone their long-awaited honeymoon. Some are concerned with traveling during a pandemic, but a lot of people are worried about getting stuck in other countries during these unprecedented times. The GREAT news is that travel is NOT shut down. In fact, many countries and states are open for business and there are great deals to be had if you want to travel. Premier Bride of Northeast Florida reached out to several of our top travel agents in our area for their advise on travel during this time. Lori Osgood (LO) with Cruise Planners and Shawnee Doster (SD) with Palm Travel Group provided some amazing tips and feedback if you are thinking about packing your bags and dusting off that passport. We asked both agents what countries are the easiest to travel too at this time and here is the long list of places they recommend: • Aruba
• Dominican Republic
• The Bahamas
• French Polynesia
• Barbados
• Greece
• Belize
• Grenada
• Bermuda
• Ireland
• Bonaire
• Jamaica
• British Virgin Island • Maldives • Costa Rica
• Mexico
• Curacao
• Panama
PremierBrideFlorida.com
Keep in mind that most countries are requiring that you present a negative COVID PCR test within a certain number of hours prior to travel or to show proof of vaccination. Some countries require a special travel insurance too. Shawnee believes Mexico has the most flexibility. You don’t need a COVID test to travel into Mexico (but it’s not a bad idea to get one). To return to the USA, you need to test negative. Many resorts are providing these tests free of charge. If you are positive, you need to stay in Mexico until negative. WHAT SHOULD COUPLES CONSIDER Both travel agents agree to use a professional to help you navigate any restrictions and special considerations you need to be aware of. A good travel agent can assure and advise on destinations. But compliancy is the client’s responsibility with regard to testing and filling out forms per destination prior to arrival. Lori Osgood adds that couples should not settle! If the country you really want to visit is not open, plan something smaller and keep planning the trip you have always wanted for a later date. Shawnee added that being fully vaccinated is a safer course of action for clients who want to travel internationally. As for countries that you should avoid, they suggest visiting the U.S. Dept. of State’s website to see what the current travel conditions are for the country that you are looking to visit and any updates and travel advisories on the horizon. Requirements are changing all of the time, so working with an agent will help you navigate the ever changing situation. SUMMER/FALL 2021 • PREMIER BRIDE • 139
