Travel in the time of COVID
This past July, I took my first international trip since 2019. For someone who has traveled globally 5-6 times per year for the past 13 years, this trip could not come soon enough! Like many travelers, I couldn’t wait to get on a plane again and head to a new destination but I also had my concerns about how the experience was going to be traveling internationally since COVID had changed our ability to travel so drastically over the past year. As someone in the travel industry, I did my due diligence and read everything possible to ensure we filled out all the proper paperwork before we arrived and followed all of the correct protocols. Of course, I was overly prepared because I wanted our experience to be as painless as possible since we didn’t know what to expect. I packed a week ahead of time which for me is a big deal considering I hate packing and the night before our flight I checked us in. We were lucky to find out that we could upgrade to 1st class for just $50 each, which makes a huge difference for two tall people! Tip #1 always ask about 1st class the night before in case they have extra seats, you never know what kind of deals you can get. The extra legroom is always appreciated. All masked up, armed with hand sanitizer and Wetwipes, we arrived at the airport at 5 am for a 7 am departure. Surprisingly, the check-in process was easy breezy. I was expecting long lines but we were done in 10 minutes (thanks to TSA Pre-Check, which I highly recommend).
Our flight to Mexico was smooth sailing and when we landed, it didn’t take too long to get through customs and immigration and get our bags. FYI – all that paperwork I filled out ahead of time, was also given to us on the plane so we were covered no matter what. By the time we arrived at our hotel, we were ready to eat, drink and relax. However, our check-in process at the hotel did take some time as we had to also sign up for our COVID PCR test (something I was not looking forward to since I hadn’t done it). A negative PCR test is needed for re-entry into the U.S. If you are staying at a resort that offers the test, I highly recommend that you sign up as soon as you arrive so that you don’t have to worry about getting it scheduled while you are sipping your mojito’s on the beach.
For the next three days, we enjoyed time with family and friends. It was a much-needed vacation after the craziness of this past year. I was happy to see how much our family was able to relax and forget about the difficulties we all had endured for so long. 21 members of my family invaded Maya Riviera and we had no agenda but to enjoy each other’s company and soak in the sun. We spent most of our time in the pool, some explored Chichen Itza, others went ATV and boat riding, while the rest of us enjoy the soothing touch of a massage. Our nights were full of food, fun, laughter, and enjoying some local tequila!
The morning before our departure, crossing our fingers, we all went to take our PCR test. Again, fast and easy. It was not as bad as I thought, the feeling was just a little weird but it only lasted a few seconds. By the time we finished breakfast, we already had our results back. Thank God, everyone came back negative. Our last day together was all about pool time!
Traveling back home was just as easy. We loaded our PCR Test results onto the app Verifly and got through the lines very quickly. I do recommend that if your airline uses an app like this, use it as it saves you time and gets you through the lines quicker. The process was so fast that we even had time to enjoy some duty-free and souvenir shopping. For me, duty-free shopping is time I use to find out if I want to change from my staple perfume or try something new! Our flight home was uneventful (which is what you want) and we made it home without any hassle.
All my concerns about traveling during the time of COVID were unnecessary. There may be some extra paperwork depending on where you are traveling but it was so worth it to take the leap, get on a plane, and enjoy another country for a few days. For those of you who are still hesitant to take that trip you were dreaming about during our lockdown, DO IT! Be smart, be safe, and let go of your fears. It is not as bad as you think. Traveling to a new place always rejuvenates and brings joy to the soul and we could all use that right about now!
