shellyrogersrennTraveling in trying times.
Pre-pandemic travel: Easy-peasy.
It used to be: You want to travel. You decide where you want to travel to. You plan the travel. Then, you just go. It was easy. A little budgeting here, a little planning there, and no problem. But ever since the pandemic hit and the world went on lock-down, travel has become quite the challenge.
Take us, for instance. In December of 2019 my husband and I spent two long and fantastic weeks in Orlando at Walt Disney World. According to Themed Entertainment Association‘s numbers for 2019, there were nearly 57,500 guest per day. That means that Disney World, whose max capacity reaches close to 100,000, was working at about 57% during our trip.
But, even so. 57,500 people coming from all over the world and from nearly every state in the US is still quite a few people to be around. Keep in mind, it was just three months before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to be a global pandemic. So, I have to deduct that there is a possibility that someone at the park had or (had came in contact with) the virus while we were there.
But, it was pre-pandemic and we basically decided we wanted to go. Planned our travel. then just went. Easy-peasy.
2020. The year hindsight will tell us to forget.
Then along came the lock-down. Both my husband and I were in the “essential work” groups so our work life continued as close to normal as possible. But what was to come of our planned vacation for September to Kauai? We had planned and booked the trip during the pre-COVID days and now everything was up in the air. What was going to happen to our travel plans now there was a pandemic to deal with?
Needless to say, Hawaii (and just about every destination in the world), closed to visitors. A vaccine was still a hope and dream and on every news station: COVID panic. In came the great toilet paper shortage of the century. And who can forget the signs and advertisements telling us to wash our hands and cover our mouths. Like, who are these people that weren’t already doing that? It was a time when the only travel that was going on was in and around your own backyard.
Must I add?…Our Kauai trip was bumped to the September of 2021.
The light at the end of the tunnel.
Well, fortunately, a vaccine was created and the people most at risk finally were offered some relief from the fear of the virus. And what with so many people vaccinated, immune, or with anti-bodies from having COVID-19, the world slowly began to open up its iron gates.
There was a light at the end of the tunnel.
Airports began getting busier as people slowly slid back into their pre-pandemic travel routines. Mask mandates are still in full force so be prepared when you plan your trip. Also, please note that although you can wear any type of mask within the airport, many airlines will not allow you to board unless your mask meets their guidelines. Best advice is check with your airline before you leave for the airport.
Hotels began to welcome visitors. And, sure, maybe you didn’t get room service every day: but we at least we were on vacation and conserving water (albeit involuntarily).
Excitedly looking forward.
Excitedly we, also, have begun to get back into the travel mode. So far this year other than the usual road trips, we have been on three trips to Las Vegas.
Depending on where you go in Sin City, you may or may not be required to wear a mask. Even in the areas that require a mask you can still lower it to eat, drink or smoke. In some places, no mask is required if you are vaccinated. In others, regardless of vaccination status you must wear one. While in still others I never saw a policy requiring masks and very few were wearing them. In other words…just bring a mask with you. Maybe you need it, maybe you don’t.
I’ve also made two trips to Gulfport to visit my father. Currently there is no mask mandate in Mississippi, but there are five coastal cities that require masks in public buildings. In addition, you may or may not need one depending on where your travels take you within the state. As of my last trip to the gulf coast in May, masks were not required at the casinos or just about anywhere.
All I know for sure is with the way things are changing on a daily basis i’s nice to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. But, be prepared. You never really can tell if that light is an oncoming train. Just keep your chin up. We will get through this!
Post-pandemic: Hold your breath and hope for the best.
As I write we are just seven days from departure to Kauai and the governor of Hawaii is urging visitors to stay away. What disappointing news! According to the New York Times, there is a 98% increase from two weeks ago. Whaat? Wait. Let me explore further. They are reporting in at “very high” with 36 people per 100,000 getting the virus. That’s .0004%. And strangely enough, there are no (or at the very least very few) reported cases of the flu even though in 2018, Kauai averaged 30 people per 100,000 dying from influenza and pneumonia. That was .0003%. We were in Hawaii in 2018. No one warned us stay away. I am in no way down-playing the severity of COVID-19 but if a majority of Hawaiians are vaccinated and if the reported cases of deaths from COVID-19 in Kauai from December of last year is 3…you do the math.
And saying we do depart as planned, what awaits us upon arrival? As of now masks are mandated at large outdoor gatherings…like our Smith Family Garden Luau and it appears we’ll wear them on our helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian as well as the Star Na Pali Sunset Sail. But a small price to pay for visiting paradise.
So for now, it’s hurry up and wait. We are holding our breath and hoping for the best. Travel since the pandemic hasn’t been easy. We’ve been singing the travel blues. But, a lot of the best things in life aren’t easy. We have three other trips planned for this year with a fourth in the works. We’re crossing our fingers.
Stay tuned for an update.
What are your thoughts? Are you still sheltering in place or ready to get out there and explore? Leave your comments below.
