We are living in uncertain times. These are uncertain times for the people in Seattle, New York City, Milan, Wuhan, and anywhere that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of Americans have been forced to cancel their travel plans and are now learning to leisure at home. 

Canceled travel plans are a small price to pay compared to the devastating effects many have faced because of the virus. In no way are we complaining. We are grateful for the healthcare workers that have kept us safe.

Many parts of the world are on lockdown and restrictions on travel have been put in place to keep us safe. For many of us, planning a trip is therapeutic and gives us something to look forward to. The promise of exploring somewhere new each time we pack our bags gives us hope that the world one day will return to normal. 

It would be irresponsible of us to suggest that you travel right now given the current conditions, so we won’t. Instead, we are going to offer some advice on how to plan your post coronavirus vacation for the later months of this year and into 2021. 

We suggest that you hold onto your travel dreams – not canceling but postponing and looking forward to the future journeys ahead of you. 

Fall is the New Summer

Many experts agree that September 2020 – December 2020 might bring a slowing down of the pandemic. This summer might be an excellent time to plan a trip for later on in the year or early next year. 

TravelZoo Senior Editor Gabe Saglie explains,” Summer could be when we really start to see the onslaught of some great opportunities for travelers — fantastic value, a lot of deals,” he said. “But when we take those trips will probably shift a whole season. Fall is the new summer for a lot of folks.”

People may also decide to travel to Rome Georgia instead of Rome Italy. Travel experts expect to see more people staying closer to home instead of taking trips abroad.

Take advantage of low gas prices and the peace of mind that comes with traveling in your own car and plan a road trip. When you plan your post Coronavirus vacation as a road trip you can explore destination right here in the states that you’ve never seen before.

Wanderlust Will Return

Wanderlust will return and we will soon find our way traveling around the world again. To ease any concerns we’ve put together a helpful guide to commonly asked questions about how to plan your post Coronavirus vacation or tip.

How Do I Plan For Travel in Uncertain Times? 

There are many different restrictions placed on people with varying degrees of intensity. Self-quarantines of 14 days have been advised for people traveling to global hotspots. Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia have completely closed their borders.

In France, people cannot travel 200 meters outside their home for any reason unless given special permission. 

The situation is constantly changing and evolving. Keep your eye on The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The U.S. State Department and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites. Staying informed from these trusted sources is the best way to learn about travel restrictions.

While leisure travel isn’t advised at the time once restrictions are lifted it is a good idea to take a look at the government policies of your own country and the one you will be traveling to keep yourself safe. 

Different journeys, routes, or flights may not be available for some time even after the restrictions are lifted so it is always a good idea to read the fine print and cancellation policies of your hotels and airlines. 

A good travel planner or travel agency has never been in higher demand than now. However, if you do choose to book your own trip make sure you read everything and look for hidden clauses and conditions.

Many travel companies offer a hotline that you can call to have your questions answered. Take advantage of this. If though you may be very well versed at planning travel at this time it’s always a good idea to double-check everything and ask even if you think you already know the answer. 

Consider Purchasing Travel Insurance

I’m not going to pretend to be an expert on travel insurance because I am not. However, I would recommend finding an appropriate provider at this time to speak to about the benefits of travel insurance. Look closely at each provider and decide if they would cover travel conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Keep in mind most travel insurance policies will cover instances of unforeseen circumstances but not necessarily fear-based cancellations.

There are many different insurances to choose from and we suggest that they are worth taking a look at. Planning a trip is an investment on your part and if you can you should cover it. 

Is it Okay to Fly?

The coronavirus pandemic isn’t going to just disappear one day. Rather it will slowly decline overtime at a different rate in different places. If you begin your trip at a time when coronavirus is still present in many different parts of the world there are a lot of things to keep in mind. 

The CDC tells us, “because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses, and other germs do not spread easily.” 

What Experts Say About Air Travel

Many travel experts agree that the level and extent of current cleaning practices onboard air travel is unprecedented. They also agree with the CDC and add that the air filtration systems are similar to a hospital-grade system and are quite impressive. 

My general recommendation for air travelers is to always take an extra step and wipe down your area and surfaces first before taking your seat. This includes your tray table, seat, window, or any area that you may come into contact with. 

But how will air travel look once the pandemic begins to decline? Paul Tumpowsky, founder and CEO of Skylark and a leading global luxury travel air expert thinks that airlines will become more flexible than ever before for loyal customers and those who are the first to book post coronavirus trips.

“Hundreds of thousands of travelers are holding nonrefundable airline credits from postponed vacations and flight cancellations that have to maintain the original destination of travel,” he mentions.

“Some of these credits are set to expire 12 months from the ticketing date, but [I think] the airlines will be flexible in some ways, like extending the credits’ expiration dates, but not others, like modifying destinations.

This will lead travelers who have already spent the money to travel sooner, or at least, as soon as they can. Many of the airlines will likely extend elite frequent-flier status and benefits for some time in an effort to maintain loyalty with their frequent traveler base—but expect some of the fringe benefits that had just returned in 2018 and 2019, like free snacks in economy, to fall to the wayside.”

While the risk of infection is relatively low in flight, keep in mind that airports and other travel hubs need to still be navigated with caution.

Follow the best practices offered by the CDC and WHO to minimize your risk of infection if you are flying this fall or next year.

Can I Plan a Summer Vacation?

The thing is we don’t really know. Circumstances should get better or they could get worse. It’s only natural to look forward to summer travel after spending so much time indoors. It is hard to say either way at this point if traveling is a good idea. 

If you do plan a trip for the summer months be sure to make a contingency plan as well. It’s best to have a plan B for both the timing and location.

Consider all possible outcomes if you do choose to plan a trip this summer or else you could face disappointment. 

If you are just itching to travel somewhere perhaps now is that time to explore places closer to home. Maybe there is a place that you’ve always wanted to see but never had the opportunity to travel to.

The United States has some beautiful national parks right in our backyard. Take that long drive up the Pacific Coat that you’ve always put off or hike part of the Appalachian Trail.

Plan Your Future Travel Bucket List

Don’t worry, we will travel again. When we are given the all-clear from officials the world will still be there waiting for us. 

So why not take this time to dream big about future travel plans? Dream up a journey and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Whether you want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or learn about sushi in Japan, dream up a trip that will keep you inspired and hopeful for the future. 

Revamp your future travel bucket list. We are so lucky to have the world at our fingertips so shake off the isolation blues and get planning. Have you ever been to India during Diwali, the Festival of Lights?

Maybe you want to return to Europe. Celebrate Beethovan’s 250th birthday in his home town of Brussels and visit the famous chocolate factories and beer cellars. Whatever your ideal travel adventure is take this time to plan it out and look forward to your future journeys. 

The Desire to Travel Will Always Be There

Though many borders are closed today soon again they will reopen. Right now let’s continue talking, sharing, and caring for our neighbors. Show solidarity with the communities of people where we have been in the past and the places we dream of visiting one day soon.

This much is true: we will find that connection again in new places and new faces if we commit to responsibly doing so. 

Take a look at our travel articles on Day Trips from Florence and the History of Pasta to help spark ideas for your travel bucket list. Leave us a comment below and tell us where you intended to plan your post Coronavirus vacation. We’d love to hear from you!