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It’s the holiday season, which means travel is ramping up. At the same time, the new Omicron variant is complicating plans, and restrictions are changing daily.
Kathy Stewart, travel agent at Tiger Travel, suggests checking entry requirements early and often. It’s essential to know requirements and recommendations based on your vaccination status, where your trip originated, and your destination. Pandemic-related requirements differ by country and aren't exclusive to air travel. (And yes, airports and airplanes still require passengers to wear masks, so plan accordingly.)
Many rental car companies, trains, ships, and attractions may require proof of vaccination or a negative test. AAA’s COVID-19 travel restrictions map and TripTik.AAA.com are helpful resources to understand closures, recommendations, and requirements while traveling in the U.S.
If you're traveling with kids, timing is key. Brad Seeker, a local parent, suggests traveling during nap time or at night. Be prepared to make more stops—if possible, at kid-friendly places, such as zoos and parks. (Also, consider downloading apps that help will help find the cheapest gas and cleanest bathrooms.)
"We make sure the kids have games or movies downloaded, and we’ve done travel journals," says Erica Blomgren, a parent of three. “When my kids were younger, we always traveled with a ‘bag of tricks’ that were planned to break up the trip. They alternated between games and snacks and were always things we didn’t normally buy at home. Traveling was their favorite part of the vacation."
