Globetrotting
Foreign and Domestic
Safe planning can bring the world to you in 2021
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an I travel in 2021? Where can I travel? How do I find the information I need to travel safely and responsibly during these everchanging times? As someone who has traveled several times over the past year, I can help navigate these questions for you. Of course rules and policies can and do change. Always check the official resources for the most up to date information. Each state has its own rules on traveling there and what services are open. If you know where you want to go, one of the quickest ways to find current information is on that state’s official tourism board website. For example, it’s important to know that Hawaii requires proof of a negative COVID test that was properly performed by an approved location. If your test is not from a place on their list you will not be allowed on the plane. There are several countries currently open to American travelers. Mexico is popular as people are traveling south of the border. There are few requirements for entry and many want to escape to the warmth climate found there. Tanzania is also open with no entry requirements — my spouse and I traveled there in October for a safari. It was just our driver, the Safari animals and us. We were respectful of social distance and it was an amazing trip. Many other countries allow entry with proof of a negative COVID test. Some allow entry with quarantine upon arrival. This can still work if you 6 D ESTI N ATI ON G OL FE R
BY MICHELLE WICKS CYPHER
plan on staying long term. Some countries offer options to encourage telecommuters to stay and work for six months or longer. In that case, after quarantining for two weeks, you are there living as a local and following the same COVID protocols as the residents. Rules and restrictions often are modified so it is important to monitor the situation closely before and while traveling. You can mitigate the risks even when it is not required. Be responsible and have a COVID test before you embark on your journey. You can do an antigen test, which provides quick results so you know you are negative before you depart. Additional precautions we took included outdoor dining where proper steps were taken by the eateries. We also love activities such as hiking, golfing, and time on the beach. To be responsible we always wore our masks, maintained social distance, washed our hands and used sanitizer. Before traveling, be prepared to quarantine if you do contract COVID or have symptoms. You should have insurance to cover your care and unexpected costs. Be mindful if your employer demands that you quarantine upon return. For international travel, you are required to have a negative COVID test to board the plane back into the U.S. so you need to know where you can get tested once you are there. Don’t forget to pack plenty of masks and sanitizer. TSA allows you to
carry 12 ounces on board and extra medications in case of quarantine. Many airlines have reduced or eliminated food service during COVID — pack food and an empty water bottle to fill once you are through security in the airport. As a participant in the Book with Confidence Program, I had access to their 55-page document, which walks through traveling every step of the way. It covers essential items you need to know regarding flights, baggage claim and ground transfer upon arrival. It also covers best practices while dining and even how to properly enjoy the beach. Again, please don’t view this story as the exhaustive source of information but as motivation to gather all you need to know to travel safely. The resources are there. Many are easy but you might need to be a bit vigilant in pulling together all you need to know so you can enjoy globetrotting during these interesting times. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michelle Wicks Cypher is a professional travel agent who has circled the globe. She writes and shares her expertise with her clients and friends via her business Travel There and Back. Among many travel services, her and her husband Michael focus on designing golfspecific experiences. They can be found at TravelThereAndBack.com or on social media.
