A Travel Agent’s thoughts and advice on Traveling amidst a Global Pandemic.

2019 brought record numbers when it came to Flights, Cruises, Resorts and overall Vacations. Then from out of nowhere and hiding in the back corner of the room, along comes Covid 19 - Full Stop! We’re three quarters of the way through 2020 and what do we have to count for it? We have been scolded. Told to stay home (with good reason)…..”go to your room” and whatever you do “Don’t talk to anyone”. We’ve essentially been grounded by our parents, our bosses and mostly by our friends. I need a hug!

It gets better…

As a Travel agent I am inundated with emails from every supplier known to man…updates, cancellations, changes, refunds…and the ones I watch for the most are the ones that address when can we travel again?

It’s anyone’s guess as to when we will return to 2019 numbers. The predictions for a full recovery is somewhere between the middle of 2021 to the middle of 2023. One good outcome from all of this is that the industry as a whole is stepping up their game.

What are we doing….

The Cruise ships are pulling out all the stops and adding a host of additional cleaning as are the Resorts, Hotels, Motor Coaches and everyone in between. We need to do the same. If you need  to travel on a bus or a plane or to a hotel then you need to step up your game as well. Wash your Hands, keep you distance from others (where possible) and wear a mask…..where have I heard that before? Many of my Travel colleagues have already taken to the sky or travelled between provinces or towns and they report back to us to give us a heads up on what to expect. For the most part the process has been simple with some places performing temperature checks and health questions. Airports are empty, Busses are half full and Hotels are only at 15 - 25% capacity so keeping your distance should not be a problem in most cases.

When can we Travel…..

Well that’s the million dollar question. For 2020 I think the answer is simple. Keep it to Canada ( our borders are closed anyway).But as far as 2021 goes, my crystal ball says not for the first couple of months. Though places like Europe have opened up its borders to Canadians. We still have a 14 quarantine in place for travellers returning to Canada.

Here’s the Best news…

Start planning now. If you are a seasoned traveller then you should know that the absolute best prices and perks are available right this minute. The Tourism industry is suffering and they want you back in a big way so take advantage of the Sales, the Perks and the Savings. Book with a Travel Agent ( I know a good one) as we can guide you through the process and get the very best for your hard earned dollars.

Robert Marcoux
robert@getawaywithcompass.ca
@travelwithrobert.ca

SUBMITTED BY:

Robert Marcoux
robert@getawaywithcompass.ca
@travelwithrobert.ca

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