Planning to Travel? What You Need to Know About Shifting Covid Rules.

By Tom Roussey

Recent TSA numbers show, at least from an air travel perspective, the number of people going on trips has gone down during the Covid wave, fueled by the Omicron variant.

But with Omicron numbers now falling, travel experts with AAA say they are seeing big demand from people wanting to travel as early as spring break.

Those experts warn, however, this year’s “new normal” is different even from last year’s “new normal,” so travelers need to plan and be prepared.

For instance, some cruises that required vaccination last year are now requiring booster shots as well, depending on where the ship goes and how long the cruise is. Also, AAA experts say Covid testing requirements vary from country to country and are constantly changing.

“There’s a lot of changes that occur, so it’s really important that you stay up to date,” said Amy Short, manager of travel strategic partnerships and online sales for AAA.

“Many countries have made it much simpler, where you can take a proctored at-home test -- those are the same rapid tests that you would take at home, except there is a medical facility watching as you’re doing it -- and then that gives you the necessary QR code or certified test to show that you tested negative so you can continue on.”

Short says when countries require a Covid test can vary from within 24 hours of traveling to 72 hours, so it’s important to make sure you know what the requirements are.

Other changes travelers may notice include at hotels, where if you stay multiple days room cleaning is now sometimes done only by request rather than automatically. Also, since there have been issues involving rental cars, AAA recommends reserving one well before your trip.

AAA says it can be very helpful to use a travel agent/advisor for help navigating the complications Covid has brought to traveling.

AAA says it is seeing a lot of bookings domestically for Hawaii and Alaska, and as has been the case throughout the pandemic, national parks are expected to be popular again this year. But they say if you’re willing to go to a city you may find some deals, especially during the week.

“Cities that were high business travel areas [pre-pandemic] like New York City and Chicago typically had very high hotel rates during the week,” said Brenda Hunsberger, senior vice president of travel services for AAA. “Because corporate travel has still not returned to its pre-Covid levels, we’re seeing hotel rates in those cities be lower during the week in some cases than even during the weekends.”

AAA also recommends buying travel insurance, but warns to make sure you know exactly what it will cover. For instance, will it cover you if you test positive for Covid while away and have to quarantine? Will it cover medical emergencies? Will it protect your flight?

“It’s really about finding the coverage that really fits your needs regarding the trip that you’re going to take,” said Chip Morgan, vice president of leisure travel for AAA. “It will provide a lot of peace of mind to you.” https://wjla.com/news/coronavirus/planningtravel-what-you-need-to-know-aboutinternational-covid-restrictions-aaa-new-yorkchicago-hawaii-alaska-at-home-tests Image credit: travelnoire.com