Your Guide for Getting Back to Luxury Travel in a Post-COVID World
Safety & Security Update
With hopes of the world going back to (a new) normal slowly starting to become reality, our travelers are more excited than ever to explore. We’ve (thankfully) seen a record business in the first half of 2021, and the latter half of this year is poised to look much the same. While things are looking promising, with many borders cautiously opening back up to travel, there are still a number of ever-changing factors to keep your eye on when planning trips in the post-lockdown world.
This guide will introduce you not just to ways to stay on top of special requirements and rules that different countries have with regards to travel, such as quarantine and testing requirements, but also guide you through a bit of what you can expect as you travel in 2021 and beyond. Remember that we at Lily Pond Luxury are here to help you each and every step of the way!
Understand What is Required of You (and How Your Travel Advisor Can Help)
Most non-US destinations still have quarantine and/or testing requirements in place, and all travelers, even those who have been fully vaccinated, must still complete and submit negative test results to re-enter the United States no fewer than three days prior to re-entry, per CDC guidelines.
These rules are complex and ever-changing, and we do our best as advisors to not only stay on top of these regulations, but also to educate you, as travelers, about what actions you can expect to take, from testing and authorization forms to insurance purchases and even medical evacuation coverage.
The below is a blend of actions you, the traveler, can take, and actions that we, the advisor, can take on your behalf.
Generally speaking, you, the traveler, must complete all health tests, fill out all travel forms, obtaining insurances, and are responsible for submitting test results in a timely fashion to comply with travel regulations. Should you fail to complete any of these items, you may be subject to trip cancellation by the hotel or airline, quarantine requirements, or additional on-the-ground testing and fees.
As much as we’d love to streamline any and all aspects of your travel, the above are personal requirements that often involve complex health statements and certifications of your current health and behaviors leading up to the trip.
We are happy to not only design the perfect trip, from hotels to activities and special moments, but we can also conduct specialty services that have grown far more popular in the wake of the pandemic. Yes, we can purchase your travel insurance, your medical evacuation insurance, ship your luggage, buy your airline tickets and more – these are all value-added items your travel advisor is perfectly equipped to help you with! We’ll even schedule your pre-return covid tests (often done right on the resort grounds) prior to your return, as desired.
We will do our best to advise you of requirements at your destination prior to booking travel, as well as prior to departure, and of course answer any questions about a destination, a property’s COVID protocols, and more.
Traveler Resources – Restrictions, Testing Requirements & More:
While not an exhaustive list, the below are links to reputable channels we often use to cross-check traveler requirements.
Visit Sherpa and get depth information on requirements specific to you. Upload your dates of travel, vaccine status, country of entry and more, and the website will share the current travel guidelines with you. It’s free, doesn’t require membership, and very comprehensive – it’s also used by partners like American Airlines.
This is the airline industry’s most widely adopted mobile health passport and can help travelers ensure that they have fulfilled all requirements necessary to travel between specific destinations. Customers input their origin and destination and will be prompted to upload the necessary documentation to the app. The app will then confirm or deny that the location-specific requirements have been met. The app is intended to give travelers peace of mind that they have done everything that they need to do, however, travelers should still read up on what is expected of them just to make sure. We think of this as slightly more comprehensive than Sherpa, and the first step towards a “vaccine passport” concept.
Government Websites
To get the most reliable and up-to-date travel requirement information, we’d suggest US government websites. For Americans, a large database of destinations’ exit and entry requirements can be found here.
Testing, Simplified
If your destination requires testing, you may be able to use Vault’s rapid at-home testing kit. PCR compliant (it even works for Hawaii, one of the strictest spots), this test is $119 per test and is a simple saliva-based test that can be done at your computer.
To re-enter the United States, travelers will also need to take a negative test no more than 3 days (72 hours) prior to boarding their flights home. This can be a PCR or an antigen test, and most resorts have onsite medical teams that can administer the tests and have you back to your regularly scheduled activities within the hour! We’re happy to set up your appointment, or many can be done onsite when you arrive at your property.
Insurance
Yes, insurance is hot right now! The most important question to answer: it rarely covers a pandemic, unless you booked travel before the issue became “known.” One of the things we all learned from COVID is that it’s important to plan for the unexpected, as resorts and airlines tend to be getting less and less flexible when you ask to go outside of standard policy.
From comprehensive plans like Travelex or Allianz that are “gold standard” for insurance, we also can quote specialized insurance policies for everything from COVID evacuation (COVAC) to hospital and terrorism transfers (MedJet).
Insurance, while expensive (usually five percent or slightly more of trip cost) covers a variety of items, from medical emergencies in destination (when your usual health insurance may not cover) to lost luggage, coverage for missed connections and travel delays, and even emergency evacuation. While this can be tempting to skip, it’s a cost that’s well worth the spend if you have to claim against it. You can also use it to recoup travel costs if you have to cancel a trip prior to travel, such as because a family member became ill, you lose your job, or get into an accident prior to travel. You can generally buy insurance up until about a day before you travel, but it will only cover pre-existing or known conditions if you buy within two weeks of the first deposit on your trip – when you book your hotel or airfare.
Additional benefits for specialized insurance cover COVID evacuation, hospital transfers, and more.
We walk clients often through the nuances of specific plans, so feel free to ask for more assistance as part of any full-service planning process. We can also quote and book insurance as a one-off benefit as part of our hourly fee concierge programs. Our rates tend to be better than the general public, so there is a benefit to using your advisor for this service.
Lines, Sold Out Rental Cars & More
Yes, lines, higher-than-average prices and shortages in certain areas (like rental cars) are now normal parts of travel. Many travelers are shocked by high prices and certain destinations, like national parks, that have been sold out for months and months. Yes, everyone wants to travel.
For many hotels, it means even off-season (like the Caribbean in summer) can be full or sold out, rental cars are expensive or unavailable, and restaurants are booked months in advance. It’s a combination of demand, reduced capacity or occupancy, and in some cases, businesses raising rates to make up for a year of not having guests. We are happy to try to negotiate or suggest “alternate” options that are suitable within your budget and style, and of course, ways to make your budget go further, such as sharing a private villa with friends and family vs. each taking individual suites.
We suggest you budget for spending 20 to 40 percent more than in the past – particularly over peak dates – and try to plan early. Now, summer, is a great time to think about next spring break, summer break, and even use our long-range “Dream Designer” service to do some forecasting for your travel budget and bucket list destinations in the next 3-5 years. We offer this customized service for clients looking to maximize their travel experience and hit the best places at the best times.
The Bottom Line
Packing your patience is key – we are eager to help you travel safely and in style, and to make sure our partners help you have a fantastic visit, no matter where you wish to go!
While it feels like things are starting to go back to normal, a lot of countries are still struggling to contain the virus and get vaccines out. As a result, not every destination is at the same level of ‘normal’ as the United States. Thus, it remains of utmost importance for travelers to stay up to date with the requirements of the places that they are visiting. While one advantage of using a travel advisor is that they always stay up to date with these guidelines, clients are still responsible for researching specific requirements, filling out forms and scheduling their own tests.
We look forward to hearing from you, and as always, please reach out with any questions!
