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I’ve been vaccinated. Where can I go?

It started in mid-February: we’d receive phone calls that went pretty much like this.  “Hi, how are you?  We just got our second shot and now we want to get out of here.  Where can we go?” After almost a year of being “stuck” at home, many of our clients are now vaccinated and ready to start traveling again.

Those who received their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine tend to be first in line to plan their next adventure. And many other clients – who due to age or availability may not have access to the vaccine yet – are reaching out to plan their imminent escape from their “Working From Home” monotony.

With infection rates dropping while vaccination rates rise, that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting brighter.

What to expect when traveling now?

You probably know that it takes about two weeks after you’re fully vaccinated for the maximum protection afforded by today’s COVID vaccines to kick in.  (At Q, we are travel professionals, not medical experts. Please ask your physician whether it is safe for you to travel.)

And while you may be safer from COVID, please don’t think that COVID measures no longer apply to you. Responsible travelers will continue to follow local guidelines for social distancing, wear their masks, and protect fellow travelers who may not have been vaccinated yet, as well as themselves.

Also, flexibility is a must. As infection rates and local circumstances change, so will entry restrictions or testing requirements. While most travel providers offer more flexibility than usual in terms of cancellations or changes, you also need to mentally prepare yourself that your trip may not happen, or may not go exactly as initially planned.

So what are some of the travel trends and popular destinations we’re seeing? In today’s issue, we’ll talk about the last-minute, short haul trips and destinations our clients ask about right now:

South Florida Resorts

With many borders closed and snow buffeting Chicago and other locations in the USA, clients pine for some sun. That has resulted in (many last-minute) reservations for beach resorts in South Florida, such as oft-awarded Aqualina Resort in Sunny Isles (perfect for families or couples, but also for social distancing with only five rooms and suites per floor) and the historic Breakers Palm Beach (with its ultra-exclusive 25-room boutique hotel-within-a-hotel, Flagler Club, if you want even more privacy). Want something more contemporary? Eau Palm Beach features colorful Jonathan Adler interiors and one of the best spas in the USA.

Bahamas and Caribbean

Many countries are still off-limits to US travelers. But some all-time favorites like Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Anguilla, are welcoming us. Those who are comfortable crossing the border need to be aware that a PCR test before departure is required in most cases, and also when returning to the USA. Many of our hotel partners will facilitate these tests onsite, and in some cases even pay for them. For example the Grand Velas luxury beach resorts in Riviera Maya, Los Cabos or Riviera Nayarit include the best food I’ve ever tasted at an all-inclusive resort, as well as your COVID-test before you fly back to the USA!

Worried about testing positive and getting stuck in quarantine before returning home? Well, should that happen at the gorgeous Rosewood Baha Mar Resort in the Bahamas, you can quarantine up to 14 nights courtesy of the Baha Mar resort, with a $150 per day allowance for meals. Alternatively, you can be flown back to the USA on a private plane.

We’ve also seen interest in Puerto Rico peak: as a United States territory, no PCR test or immigration procedures are required when returning to the US mainland. Our clients also like the idea of combining history (San Juan is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas); adventure and nature (the El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service) with excellent hotels and resorts.

American River Cruises

While ocean cruises from the US are still paused, American Queen Steamboat Cruises is about to restart its river cruises on the Mississippi and other American waterways.

Important to know: American Queen Steamboat is one of the first cruise lines to require that all guests and crew are fully vaccinated against COVID from July 2021 onwards, which brings an extra level of comfort to clients.

Also important: there has been a huge run on these American sailings, so availability on some departures is very limited.

American Experiences: Road Trips and Southern Charm

While we’ve seen a distinct drop in travel to big American cities like New York or Chicago, smaller Southern cities like Charleston, South Carolina or Savannah, Georgia are hugely popular right now.  Not surprising, considering they offer culture, history and fantastic (outdoor!) culinary experiences and great hotels.

Some clients say they prefer to drive rather than fly, so road trips have been appealing too, for example on parts of Route 66, or along Highway 1 in California, or the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville and the Blue Mountains.  And with our partners at Relais & Chateaux, we have been able to set up “Route du Bonheur” road trips along fantastic, typically small lodgings with spectacular restaurants.

Culinary enthusiasts have also been flocking to the amazing (and almost always sold out) Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain in Tennessee.

American Experiences: Ranches and National Parks

The quest for space also means that National Parks and dude ranches in America’s “Wild West” are sought after. Ranches range from historic to spectacularly luxurious, and from Ted Turner’s private ranch to an entire Western village for your group’s private use.

The Islands of Hawai’i

Quarantine restrictions initially made Hawaii a bit less accessible, but now the state’s Pre-Travel Testing Program allows individuals to proceed without quarantine.  So if Pacific breezes and gorgeous scenery are on your wish list, talk to us. Here are some Hawaiian resort options to whet your whistle.

Brand-new: “Sunshine and Serenity Cruise” in the Bahamas

Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises is moving Crystal Serenity from Europe to the Bahamas.  While cruises from the USA are not yet authorized, starting in July, Crystal will offer weekly cruises from Nassau or Bimini exploring some of the lesser known island gems of the Bahamas. Ideal for those who are fully vaccinated (a new requirement on Crystal), Crystal Serenity offers a reasonably priced luxury cruise “fix” alternative to staying at home.

Our next post will be about travel further afield – both in time and distance.

It is exciting that more places are slowly opening up to welcome visitors. We realize that not everyone is ready for travel yet. Of course it is a personal decision. We just want you to know that, when you feel that the time is right for you, the team at Q will be here to help.