Holiday Travel in the Midst of a Pandemic

Perry Como never could have guessed what 2020 travel would look like when he sang Home for the Holidays. If he had, then surely much of the lyrics would have been very different. Certainly, the 2020 holiday traveler has concerns that go well beyond heading home for some homemade pumpkin pie. Nothing against pie, but most are preoccupied with other concerns related to the pandemic and how to travel safely.

Putting the issue of pumpkin pie aside, there are some positive points regarding this year’s holiday travel season. For example, as of the writing of this article, travel is still an option. That being said, prudence is the key to staying safe during the 2020 holiday travel season.

Travelers need to obey any travel restrictions in place. If traveling within the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keeps tabs on where in the country COVID-19 spikes are occurring along with travel recommendations and restrictions. This information is divided by state for easy reference. In addition, don’t travel if you are not feeling well, or if you’ve been in contact with somebody that has been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

The CDC highly recommends wearing face masks not only on planes and other forms of public transportation (where they are usually required) but also at all transportation hubs such as airports, bus depots and train stations. Make sure that when you wear your mask, that it is being worn so that it properly covers both nose and mouth.

The traveler’s responsibility doesn’t stop when the destination is reached. Once at your holiday destination, additional decisions need to be made as to the risks at stake and the proper ways to mitigate that risk. If out at a gathering, the CDC recommends common-sense protections such as the proper wearing of masks and frequent use of hand sanitizer. If possible, try to maintain at least six feet of space between yourself and others. Limit the length of time you interact with others. Also, according to Advisory Board, keep in mind that COVID-19 spreads more easily at indoor versus outdoor gatherings.   

Under the law of supply and demand, travel costs may be less expensive due to the pandemic curtailing the number of travelers this holiday season. For example, holiday airfares are down nearly 25% compared to 2019 prices according to cheapair.com. Likewise, per nerdwallet.com, prices have fallen significantly in regards to the hotel per night cost.

In Summary

Holiday travel is going to be different in 2020 as compared to any other year on record. The good news is, as of the writing of this article, you can still travel as long as you take precautions as required by law or recommended by the experts. If you do travel, it’s likely that your travel budget will take you further as compared to 2019.

A Valid Suggestion

Given the nature of the pandemic, travel restrictions could change overnight. Also, it’s possible you could get ill prior to departure and be unable to go on your scheduled trip. In essence, times are uncertain. So how do you protect your travel investment? One valid suggestion is to take some of the money you saved through lower travel costs and use it to purchase travel insurance. That way, if you end up not being able to go on your trip, at least you won’t lose all the money you’ve invested in said trip.

The Travel Insurance Experts^™ at Travel Insurance Center^® specialize in finding the best travel insurance options for your specific needs and budget. If you have questions or are in need of travel insurance, don’t hesitate to reach out by clicking here, or by calling 1.866.979.6753.