Summer 2020 - Where should we go?

Photo Credit: The Everyday Escape, LLC

June 20th marked the first official day of summer. Ah…. If you're like me then sun, sand and beaches come to your mind. The kids are out of school, the weather is warm and beautiful and you’re looking forward to getting away for a much-needed break. The idea of relaxing, unwinding and recouping from a busy school year, work schedule, or just overall hectic life sounds amazing. Queue the travel planning, swimsuit shopping, bag backing, and trip taking!

Uhh…… oh wait. Yeah, that’s right. COVID happened, 2020 happened, chaos ensued. As you’ve slowly awakened from your daydream stupor you realize that it was just that… a dream. While the trip to Hawaii, family cruise vacation, or trip to Europe and beyond had to be put on hold, you realize that you’re not quite sure what you’ll do. Your original plans for Summer 2020 have been squashed, there’s no denying it. You saved, planned, and with the help of hopefully me, your travel agent, you executed what was supposed to be the perfect getaway in this milestone year. You did your homework, you made those sacrifices, your calendar countdown continued its meticulous task of excitedly counting down the months, weeks, days and hours until you and yours were going to ABC destination and enjoying every moment. But wait, you still want to get away. Your family needs a change of scenery because while quarantine has helped you all to get closer (ok, a bit too close on some days), you still want to break up the monotony of puzzles, Zoom playdates, and family Skype sessions. You’d like to get out there and explore a little. You’d really like to get away and relax. You NEED to get away and relax.

But how?

Well, I have some answers for you. Don’t despair. You may not end up sipping piña coladas on the beaches of Bora Bora, or sailing the seven seas aboard the cruise line of your choice, but you can still have that unplugged relaxing vacation that you hoped for. It’s just going to look a bit different this year. So what can it look like? Well, let me give you a few options that you CAN do - and like I always recommend in my posts, please contact a trusted travel advisor (like me) to walk you through your options. You want to makes sure you're safe and secure and travel industry professionals will help guide you in the right direction.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Option #1: Stay stateside! Did I just let the air out of your balloon? I know, I know… I’m guilty of this myself. When I want to get away, I really want to get away. I’m happy to jump on a plane, ride several hours (or more) and go check out an amazing exotic destination. But… that isn’t a viable option for many right now. One thing I am remembering throughout this process myself is that there are many beautiful places here in the US that I have yet to visit! When I look at a map, there are major regions of states that I’ve yet to discover! And with unemployment on the rise and economic security on the decline, I know that budgets are tightened more than before. Have you been to all 50 yet? Looking for that tropical getaway? Want to explore the Wild West? There are many places that I can recommend for you to explore where you’ll see something new, make long-lasting memories, and 'escape the everyday'. Wanting something historic? Remote? Metropolitan? Serene? There are places here in the US that fit the bill and will provide you with many great experiences! Contact us and let us know where in the US you’d like to go and we’ll help you get there!

Photo Credit: The Everyday Escape, LLC

Option #2: Go International (with some exceptions). *Some* international destinations are open (as of this writing on June 23, 2020)*. Other countries are blockading their borders as if aliens from space are trying to invade their country. Mexico, Antigua, St. Martin and many others are just a few that are open as of this writing. Other places like Jamaica, Barbados, and even Canada are taking a more cautious approach and delaying their opening dates by a few weeks or beyond. Canada, for example, is not allowing anyone to enter until July 21, 2020 at the earliest and when they do open their borders for non-essential travel, they will be requiring a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Now, that may work for some, but for most, it won’t. This is where having a travel advisor at your ready is beneficial. Give us a call, text or send us an email and we can check if the destination of your choice is accepting tourism or not. And if they are, we’ll also let you know what to expect when you get there. Don’t go blindly - we’re here to help!

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Option #3: Stay local and Staycation! Think you’ve seen everything your city, county or state has to offer? Have you really seen it all? I doubt it! I bet there’s a place near you that you’ve thought ‘Eh, I’ll go eventually’ while you hurry and scurry to look for somewhere else. But, if you’re still restricted with travel, budget and/or time, pick somewhere nearby you haven’t seen. Go check out that little town, or those shops or those restaurants an hour or two away that you’ve always heard your friends or family talk about. Want to make it a bit more special? Make it a weekend getaway! Pack a small bag, load up the car and head out on a mini-vacation or staycation. We can help you with your hotel plans, car rentals, excursions and even setting up that special dinner out - so let us know where you want to go and we’ll help get you there.

Are you looking for specific US-based destinations to visit this Summer 2020? We're working on a piece (coming VERY soon) that will give you several different ideas for where to plan your stateside summer vacation. Subscribe to our blog, follow us on social media, or contact us to be alerted of our next post!

* things are CONSTANTLY changing! Reading this later? (yes even a day can make a difference) Let us know and we can check the destination of your choice to check what the most up-to-date information is for that locale.

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