Coronavirus - Blanket Ban Lifted on International Travel

I came across a crazy story last week that the U.S. State Department lifted its blanket international travel ban for Americans to travel abroad. (see below)

I thought that was really odd as I am hearing about rising coronavirus numbers in India and Brazil and new outbreaks in European countries. New Zealand just reported its first coronavirus case in over 4 months.

 

So I read deeper and learned that the ban that was lifted was the level 4 warning that the State Department applied to all countries back in March. A level 4 warning prevents Americans from recreational travel to the specified country or in this case all countries. Now the State Department has set the warning level based each country's specific situation. This is the way it was before the coronavirus pandemic. For example, now Mexico and Brazil are still ranked at level 4, but most European countries have a level 3 ban and some Asian countries are ranked level 1.

 

The positive is that people can begin to dream of international travel again. Having dreams and hopes has been proven to be an endorphin booster - make a person feel good.

 

However, just because our rankings have changed, that doesn't mean foreign countries will allow Americans in yet. Spain has not lifted its restrictions on prohibiting recreational travelers from the U.S. even though the State Department gives them a level 3 ranking.

 

The negative is that for Americans who want to travel abroad the situation has become more complicated.

 

When we were told we couldn't go anywhere, we removed the idea of international travel from our mind and started planning the great American road trips.

 

When a situation is unclear, we spend countless hours and time researching or worrying about whether or not we can really book that international trip.

 

Still, the State Department decision shows that the world is trying to return to normal. Hopefully, we can all return to normal sooner rather than later.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2020/08/07/state-dept-lifted-its-blanket-international-travel-advisory-what-does-that-mean-americans/

Travel During the Great Coronavirus Reopening

Cities, states, and even countries are reopening to tourists. Not all, but many. 

On June 15, most European countries opened their borders to residents of its member countries. Spain waited until June 21. And on July 1, the Europeans will tentatively open their borders to international tourist for the first time in four months.

There are stipulations like a country's infection rates have to be held in check before they allow tourists from that country. Unfortuantely, the U.S. does not meet that criteria. Similarly, in the U.S. there are certain states and areas that are blocking residents of other states from visiting. Key West authorities arrested a woman and sent her back to mainland Florida for trying to visit. New Mexico said they love tourist, just not right now.

And cruise lines? Oh, the poor cruise lines. Spain has said no cruise ships can dock in any Spanish port for the foreseeable future. Norwegian cruise lines said all cruises are suspended at least through September. That is the entire summer season. Although they are making exceptions for the Pacific Northwest. And a week ago, the first Danube-Rhine river cruise made it without mishap.

https://www.cruisetradenews.com/first-european-river-cruise-resumes-sailings-post-coronavirus-recovery/

However, Greece welcomed one of its first international flights a couple of weeks ago from Qatar and 12 people on board tested positive for Coronavirus.

We are not out of the woods yet.

Last week, I cancelled my family's 3-week Spain trip that was to depart July 8. I poured over news reports daily grasping for an inkling of hope regarding Europe's reopening. But with a potential quarantine for travelers, U.S. infection rates increasing, the need for reciprocal travel arrangements (the U.S. is still blocking travel from Europe), and constant flight changes to a point where I would have to literally time travel backwards three hours to make a connection, I figured it was time to call it.

Fortunately, I was able to cancel everything and get full refunds except one hostel in Spain. Somehow I overlooked that property's no cancellation policy. If that is all it costs me, I am ok with that. 

Now to make new plans. Isn't that half the fun?

Take care.

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

Coronavirus Fishing, Protests, and Curfews

"Curfew in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.," my cell phone buzzed with the message. Time 5:15 p.m., Sunday night.

A long way to reach this prize.

My fishing trip would leave from Ventura at 6 am Monday morning, meaning I would need to leave at 4 am - during the curfew.

Let the adventure begin.

After my Cabo San Lucas fishing trip was cancelled due to the travel ban between Mexico and the U.S., I was happy to see last week that California sportfishing was reopening June 1st.

Even better, my two teenage sons had agreed to join me.

I booked 3 tickets last week for the first day of fishing , understanding that all passengers would need to wear masks, the boat would be booked at half capacity, and social distancing would be enforced.

Then things got more interesting - protests and rioting began.

I was not too concerned about making our trip as we would be driving two blocks from my house on to the freeway at 4 a.m. to Ventura and figured there was little risk of getting caught in a confrontation with police or protestors.

Then the curfew message hit my phone. 

I tried to cancel with the sportfishing company, but they said, "There are no refunds because we are in Ventura County and there is no curfew here."

What to do? Lose the money? Lose the opportunity to get my teenage vampires out of the house and see the sun for the first time in weeks?

I told the boys if I can find a hotel in Ventura County, be ready to leave within 45 minutes. The boys were more amped up over something other than a video game in quite awhile. 

I found a Marriott in Oxnard (Ventura County) that was taking reservations and was able to use my points for the reservation. (I love mileage programs.)

The race to beat the curfew was on.

At 6:05 pm we were in the car and on the freeway, clothes, fishing poles, tackleboxes, and snacks packed.

Then we hit the protest.

Waze alerted me that the freeway was at a standstill  in Thousand Oaks. As we got closer to the little red line, symbols of police cars dotted the Waze map. I looked to see what businesses were just off the 101 Freeway on Moorpark - The Oaks shopping center. Crap. We found a protest. Not only that, Waze rerouted us off the freeway.

Oh my goodness, how many times has something gone wrong in a movie because travelers were rerouted off the freeway.  Sure enough, Waze us drive the city streets right past the mall, protestors, and police officers. Fortunately, it was a peaceful protest.  Cars honked in support and we were soon past and 20 minutes later arrived at our hotel.

In the 6-story hotel, only a half dozen lights were on in the windows. It appeared there were very few occupants. At check in, there was a barrier at the front desk to enforce social distancing. The front desk asked me to put my drivers license and credit car on the desk and step back. She stepped forward, checked us in, put our room key on the desk and stepped back. We stepped forward took the key and went to our room.  The new normal for checking in?

Of course in an empty hotel, a couple was placed in a room right next to ours.  To make matters worse our rooms shared an interior door for when large groups share rooms. I was not concerned about the coronavirus seeping through the cracks of the door, but I could hear every word the couple spoke. When my son asked if they were watching a porno next door I'd had enough, smiled, and said no. The front desk accommodated my request to change rooms.

Talk about an educational trip for my sons.

On the boat, a deckhand started off the trip with a speech that everyone needed to wear a face covering, keep their distance, and you could only be in the galley if you were eating. They would be strict because they did not want officials to suspend fishing again.

People abided by the rules for the majority of the trip. At the end of the long day (11 hours), most people kept their masks on, but people did sit next to each other on the way back due to the limited seating and really high seas rocking the boat. It was like, sit down or flip over the side of the boat.

Better have a seat - big waves!

More excitement for the boys.

When we got into my car, I read a text from my mom saying the curfew started at 5 pm. It was 5:30 pm. I figured that unless law enforcement locked down all of the freeways into Los Angeles, I would be able to make it home.

There was no traffic and we made it home in record time.

An amazing adventure.  Thank goodness I didn't take that Miami road trip last week. Who knows which state I would be stranded in today.

Things happen for a reason.

Be safe and take care.

Posts Tuesday and Saturday

Coronavirus QR Coded Beaches

Europe, and Spain specifically, are churning out interesting travel rules everyday as they try to figure out how to restart the tourism industry. Tourism accounts for 10 - 30 percent of some countries' GDP. According to The Guardian, it accounts for 12.3% of Spain's GDP.

Some of the more interesting Spanish travel rules include:

• Popular beaches in Spain will be mapped into 6-foot-square grid pattern which visitors will have to reserve ahead of time using QR codes
• 14-day quarantines for international travelers
• Buffets banned
• Temperature controls at hotel entrances
• The Canary Islands requiring tourists to carry a digital health passport

Wow. Everyday brings out new travel news.

The outlook for my July trip to Spain continues to dim.

A month ago recreational travel between the US and Mexico was banned until May 20. Then two weeks ago, Mexico closed all non-essential businesses in Baja California until May 31st.

Two days ago, Delta airlines cancelled my June 4 trip to Cabo, although they have not cancelled my return flight.

When I called Delta, the recording said the wait time to speak to a representative was four-and-a-half hours. I decided not to wait. It's not like I was in a hurry to book the voucher or credit as there was nowhere I could fly. I wanted to ask where I could find the credit or voucher online for my cancelled flight as it had yet to appear in my SkyMiles account.

I see photos of people on full flights, but I wonder where these people are going? Hotels, museums, campgrounds, and national parks are closed.

My buddy is hoping to reschedule the Cabo trip for the end of August or September. Will travel restrictions be removed by then?

Los Angeles just announced that the ban on all non-essential workers has been extended to the end of July, but beaches and hiking trails have opened.

Is this a sign campgrounds will open this summer or remain closed.

Currently, you can run, walk and swim at a Southern California beach, you just can't sit on one.

Perhaps we will go the QR code route.

Crazy travel times indeed.

How have your travel plans changed because of the coronavirus?

Take care and be safe.

Posts Tuesdays and Saturdays