Is Now the Best Time to Travel?

2020 has been a year of travel chaos, but for the few intrepid adventurers out there, it’s been heaven. Empty airports, empty tourist-traps, lowered prices to deal with the lack of tourists. Most international travel plans have been put on hold, for understandable reasons, but if your government is allowing travel, it might be a good time to start planning your bucket-list. 

The Flying

Flying in a plane is one of the riskiest activities in terms of COVID-19, due to the close proximity to many strangers. However, this risk can be greatly mitigated if you’re flying to a destination that has strict test requirements (i.e. no negative test, no flight). This makes flying safer than you might think. Depending on your flexibility and risk tolerance, you can even book flights now at a lower price for a post-vaccine future, with great deals if you can find them. Airlines are also offering free change fees and cancellations, which normally come at a cost of several hundreds of dollars. Airlines are still required by law to offer refunds, so if a flight is canceled, you don’t need to take credit or vouchers. 

The Airports

Many airports are quite empty and if you wear a mask and regularly sanitize you can mitigate some risk, but getting to the airports can be problematic, as you might have to take public transport to get there. Taxis and even public transport options like trains can be very expensive too, but with web apps like Parkon.com, you can reserve a parking lot and pay for long-term parking at an airport for very cheap rates thanks to their price comparison partnerships. They also offer free cancellations, because traveling in this time involves a lot of uncertainty. 

Flexible Accommodations

It isn’t well known enough that most hotels will haggle with you on prices, especially for last-minute stays. In a time where they’re seeing their footfall decline dramatically, they will be even more likely to negotiate. This is great for travelers, as they are able to secure 5 star hotels at 3 star prices, or even cheaper in some locations. 

Mental Health

2020 has been a hard year on almost everybody’s mental health, but planning a trip can be a good emotional boost in these trying times. The enjoyment of a holiday starts in the planning phase, and if you’re getting groundhog day syndrome due to social distancing and a non-existent social life, having that mid-term focus can really brighten your short term. 

Many Destinations Open to Americans

There are many brilliant destinations across the world that are open to Americans, so you can check off your bucket list or go on beach, sports, or cultural holidays with very little tourist interference. 

Those who have gone traveling during this time have said many important cultural locations are far more enjoyable without the busy crowds, although you should always check the destination first – some places have shut their doors as staying open with such a lack of tourists might not make the best economic sense.