For those of you waiting, what would it take to get you there?

[Jennkneefir]

Hello all!

Curious about the thoughts/opinions of those who are still waiting on booking a trip. What need to happen with covid, prices, flight cancellation madness, etc, etc, in order for you to feel comfortable booking and taking a trip?

I am firmly in the uncertain category, and trying to figure out what it would take for me to feel comfortable travelling again. The uncertainty of potentially being stuck somewhere (and unable to return home) is contributing, but i think i've just gotten so used to being at home all the time that the idea of going somewhere is a big mental barrier. I think i will need to get used to eating out/shopping/experiencing things locally, which means our covid numbers need to drop a bit still.

What are your thoughts? zero judgement for those who are travelling. Just curious where your comfort line is to help me think about my own!

Thank you!

 

[CaptainCook]

We've booked a March Break trip only because we have proof of prior infection/don't need to test in order to travel. We're going to a low-key beach area without crowds, have recent 'immunity' and feel pretty good that we will be able to avoid getting sick again.

We'd like to go to Europe this summer but to really commit to it, I'm looking for 3 things:

1. No testing to enter Europe
2. No testing to leave Europe (I'd be OK with testing on arrival)
3. Sustained lower case numbers. If they're on par with last summer, great, I would go. If there's a new variant by then and we're in the midst of a new wave... forget it.

I feel pretty good that these things will happen - I'm guessing the testing will be gone by about May which will give us plenty of time to book an August trip. We already have the hotels booked, but will wait on plane and train tickets until we're pretty sure we're going.

 

[marchingstar]

Vaccines for children under 5.

 

[disneyfreak89]

We booked a trip 6 months ago to Tennessee for end of March in hopes that things would be improved. We are still waiting to see if the border eliminates completely the testing required to return and if not that at least for the fully vaccinated. We might still cancel if that doesn't happen. If one of those things happen we will go and still wear our masks to shop, buy groceries and get take out and not eat inside a restaurant. It's not ideal but its a getaway. We won't feel completely "safe" to travel until covid is under control.

 

[bababear_50]

I'll share but please don't judge as these are my personal thoughts and I am sure they seem crazy to others,,but they are still mine.

I am so up and down on this topic that sometimes I wonder if I will ever travel again.
Travel was to be a big part of my early retirement plan in 5 months.

I think I will need to do a few local stays at some hotels this Spring/Summer/Fall.
Think of it as a few trial runs.

I need a resort that is in the hundreds ( occupancy) and not thousands.
I need a resort that has a balcony---fresh air. I'd prefer ground floor no elevator.

I've always been a solo traveler(when the kids don't sail in on my plans). Right now I'd welcome their presence.
I'll be traveling wearing a mask and am a bit concerned that anti maskers will comment. I do have a fairly thick skin but I can easily be hurt ( I should be able to figure this out but it's not something I've experienced yet ,,many friends and family however have while traveling).

I don't enjoy eating inside restaurants (never have) so going somewhere where lots of outside seating is available is important to me.
Disney has taken away tons of their outside sitting areas unfortunately.

I will not be traveling ala carry on as I used to. The PPE needed right now requires more space (wipes,hand sanitizer,masks)etc.
Added cost for this needs to be taken into consideration.

I did do a weekend away to Niagara Falls last summer .
But
Roof top Pool/Hot Tub
Private Cabana (Private Dining)
Extra room cleaning
Knew if I got sick I was close to home
Could walk to everywhere we wanted.
Casino---- no kids and everyone had to show a vaccine passport.

I'll add thoughts as I work this out
*****************************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************
Edited to add

My genes for travel were passed to my youngest son and during Covid I have had to learn to
Let it go!
He has been to
Montreal
British Columbia
Mexico
Cuba
and next week is headed to Arizona..... yeah it makes me both happy and super anxious at the same time.

*********************************************************************************************************************
*********************************************************************************************************************

**I am also trying to figure out the pros and cons of a week away or if it would be better to just go away for 2-3-4 weeks in one trip.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Future airline travel ...flexibility is going to be a consideration. I know my sister is flying to the Dominican Republic in March and everything she got through the Travel agent is refundable up to a certain date and then Travel vouchers are offered,,, she is ok with this.


Right now I am hanging tight with my small point contracts with DVC and renting out the reservations ,,,I'm giving it more time before I decide what to do with the contracts. Much better (not as risky) to rent the reservations to locals or residents of the USA right now.

Any future Hotel reservations for me will have to have a defined cancellation policy.

Hugs
Mel

 

[mort1331]

We were in WDW the day they closed and drove home next day. We have not travelled since. For us it hasnt been worth it. We are both in health care and have seen what can happen. So risk vs reward has not been there for us.
Now we were booked for Hawaii march break,,but yours truley screwed up the dates so cancelled. I think for us it was a blessing. We probably would have gone,,but still been a little nervous. We are now scheduled for end of July. We feel very good about this. The way the numbers are going, all of us fully vac'd, and Hawaii being one of the better states with how they are handling all this. We would still be nervous about Florida or Cali.
We are also thinking about east coast this summer and visit family there, but we will drive and feel ok with that.

 

[podgirl]

Hello all!

Curious about the thoughts/opinions of those who are still waiting on booking a trip. What need to happen with covid, prices, flight cancellation madness, etc, etc, in order for you to feel comfortable booking and taking a trip?

I am firmly in the uncertain category, and trying to figure out what it would take for me to feel comfortable travelling again. The uncertainty of potentially being stuck somewhere (and unable to return home) is contributing, but i think i've just gotten so used to being at home all the time that the idea of going somewhere is a big mental barrier. I think i will need to get used to eating out/shopping/experiencing things locally, which means our covid numbers need to drop a bit still.

What are your thoughts? zero judgement for those who are travelling. Just curious where your comfort line is to help me think about my own!

Thank you!

I think your plan of getting used to shopping/eating out locally is a perfect place to start.

We’ve now cancelled two WDW trips due to the testing to get back into Canada. I have a trip booked for this summer that I’m hopeful will go ahead. Last summer we went to Vancouver and had a super time-did some boat trips, bus up to Whistler, bus tours, etc. I teach littles and we’ve had a lot of teachers get Covid recently, so I’m comfortable going out and about. But I have friends that I’m not sure will ever feel comfortable travelling again.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

We were ready to book a cruise for April 2022 just a few weeks ago....8 days southern carribben....cruise deal was fantastic....airmile flights also were great....BUT the thought of needing a negative covid test to get on a plane to the USA, another negative covid test to be able to board the cruise and then ANOTHER covid test to be able to fly back home is all too much. The added cost of these covid tests is of course one consideration, but also having to have contingencies in place in case we test positive in another issue altogether.

We're both triple vaxed, so don't have worries catching covid here....but the added stress of "what if we test positive" while on vacation has us staying put for now.

We'll wait until at least the Fall of this year before even considering a trip (especially by air). Being recently retired, the added opportunity to travel by car will likely open up some opportunities to explore that we didn't have time to do before.

Disney has been off the radar for the past few years given the inreasing high costs as compared to a cruise, but since it holds such speacial memories for us, I'm certain we'll will go back at some point.

 

[samsteele]

Cost, testing and close quarters on airplane and bus have all contributed to no WDW vacation since pre covid. However, think I'll just have to jump off the deep end maybe this fall. Ideally, I'm looking for a free dining offer or some kind of modified free dining to justify the price increase for less at the parks. I'm reasonably certain a very, very slim free dining offer will drop in the next few weeks for a tiny August/September window. Then I'll work on the return flight out of Toronto plus airport shuttle, etc. I also think it likely that testing for return to Canada will end by at least this summer so that will be another barrier behind me.

I'm keeping in mind a backup travel plan. There are some good cruise deals out of Canaveral and a week onboard Royal Caribbean, etc would be a perfectly acceptable consolation prize. That would kick my fall travel date into late Oct/early Nov to avoid hurricane season as chancing that weather at WDW is one thing. Having my Caribbean cruise gutted another.

 

[Hopeful8]

We booked two trips for this summer, Cape Cod and NC. Truly hoping that testing requirements are dropped by then. Our NC would be very hard to cancel as it would have to be rebooked for us to get a refund (which happened before fairly easily), Cape Cod balance is due in May so just waiting until then to make a decision but gosh, I really want to go away! (like everyone else!) I don't feel comfortable with all the testing requirements to come back, and the potential to test positive and be stuck somewhere - if they removed that, I would travel.

 

[KCMA]

We are done waiting… we are booked for ten days this April and are going forward with the trip…we are driving as it will be a while before we fly down (we prefer to drive anyways) .. we are fully vaxxed and will be as cautious as we can.. get our test to come home if it still needed at that time. 7 weeks today we will be enroute!

 

[Etch]

We have a trip booked to Universal for March Break.

Right now I'm waiting to see what the new travel rules look like as of Feb.28th. There are lots of details in the current rules that were not mentioned in the press release. I'll make a decision once I know for sure what we're getting into. For now, it looks like I will cancel the flight and drive instead.

 

[musika]

We aren't in a position where we can isolate for additional days in a foreign country, so until the testing to re-enter is gone we won't be leaving Canada. We're tentatively planning to attend a wedding in Ontario this summer. Our first trip out of province in 2 years (!!) is to NB (we're in NS) next month. I'm not really anxious anymore about travel within Canada, but certainly not ready yet to go international.

 

[Jennkneefir]

We've booked a March Break trip only because we have proof of prior infection/don't need to test in order to travel. We're going to a low-key beach area without crowds, have recent 'immunity' and feel pretty good that we will be able to avoid getting sick again.

We'd like to go to Europe this summer but to really commit to it, I'm looking for 3 things:

1. No testing to enter Europe
2. No testing to leave Europe (I'd be OK with testing on arrival)
3. Sustained lower case numbers. If they're on par with last summer, great, I would go. If there's a new variant by then and we're in the midst of a new wave... forget it.

I feel pretty good that these things will happen - I'm guessing the testing will be gone by about May which will give us plenty of time to book an August trip. We already have the hotels booked, but will wait on plane and train tickets until we're pretty sure we're going.

Would you only consider booking with a short notice cancellation policy? I agree about not booking with a new variant/new wave, but i'm feeling a bit lost on how far in advance to book.

 

[Jennkneefir]

I'll share but please don't judge as these are my personal thoughts and I am sure they seem crazy to others,,but they are still mine.

I am so up and down on this topic that sometimes I wonder if I will ever travel again.
Travel was to be a big part of my early retirement plan in 5 months.

I think I will need to do a few local stays at some hotels this Spring/Summer/Fall.
Think of it as a few trial runs.

I need a resort that is in the hundreds ( occupancy) and not thousands.
I need a resort that has a balcony---fresh air. I'd prefer ground floor no elevator.

I've always been a solo traveler(when the kids don't sail in on my plans). Right now I'd welcome their presence.
I'll be traveling wearing a mask and am a bit concerned that anti maskers will comment. I do have a fairly thick skin but I can easily be hurt ( I should be able to figure this out but it's not something I've experienced yet ,,many friends and family however have while traveling).

I don't enjoy eating inside restaurants (never have) so going somewhere where lots of outside seating is available is important to me.
Disney has taken away tons of their outside sitting areas unfortunately.

I will not be traveling ala carry on as I used to. The PPE needed right now requires more space (wipes,hand sanitizer,masks)etc.
Added cost for this needs to be taken into consideration.

I did do a weekend away to Niagara Falls last summer .
But
Roof top Pool/Hot Tub
Private Cabana (Private Dining)
Extra room cleaning
Knew if I got sick I was close to home
Could walk to everywhere we wanted.
Casino---- no kids and everyone had to show a vaccine passport.

I'll add thoughts as I work this out
*****************************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************************
Edited to add

My genes for travel were passed to my youngest son and during Covid I have had to learn to
Let it go!
He has been to
Montreal
British Columbia
Mexico
Cuba
and next week is headed to Arizona..... yeah it makes me both happy and super anxious at the same time.

*********************************************************************************************************************
*********************************************************************************************************************

**I am also trying to figure out the pros and cons of a week away or if it would be better to just go away for 2-3-4 weeks in one trip.

************************************************************************************************************************************************
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Future airline travel ...flexibility is going to be a consideration. I know my sister is flying to the Dominican Republic in March and everything she got through the Travel agent is refundable up to a certain date and then Travel vouchers are offered,,, she is ok with this.


Right now I am hanging tight with my small point contracts with DVC and renting out the reservations ,,,I'm giving it more time before I decide what to do with the contracts. Much better (not as risky) to rent the reservations to locals or residents of the USA right now.

Any future Hotel reservations for me will have to have a defined cancellation policy.

Hugs
Mel

All of that sounds super reasonable to me. We have been extremely covid cautious as well. My mom (soon to be retired ICU nurse) went to Mexico over christmas and spent the entire trip anxious and worried. She said that the trip was both nice and awful all rolled in one, so i understand your hesitancy and concerns.

Something a friend planned was a 1 week stay away with an option to extend by an additional week +. She planned her "trip A" which was a one week trip then fly home, but she also planned some contingencies in case someone in her party contracted covid and they were stuck away longer than they had planned. All were able to work remotely so they all brought their work stuff with them and budgeted as if they would be there for 2 weeks, etc.

 

[Jennkneefir]

We were in WDW the day they closed and drove home next day. We have not travelled since. For us it hasnt been worth it. We are both in health care and have seen what can happen. So risk vs reward has not been there for us.
Now we were booked for Hawaii march break,,but yours truley screwed up the dates so cancelled. I think for us it was a blessing. We probably would have gone,,but still been a little nervous. We are now scheduled for end of July. We feel very good about this. The way the numbers are going, all of us fully vac'd, and Hawaii being one of the better states with how they are handling all this. We would still be nervous about Florida or Cali.
We are also thinking about east coast this summer and visit family there, but we will drive and feel ok with that.

Were in the same boat as far as family visits + driving. Have had a few trips over the last two years where we drove to see folks and stayed with them. The first little bit was a bit anxiety inducing (could we have asymptomatic covid and be giving it to grandma, etc), but the family time was worth it.

 

[Silvermist999]

We are cancelling our March break WDW trip, no out of pocket costs as we were using WestJet credits and our room only reservation is fully refundable. The good thing is I didn’t buy the park tickets yet. I remember happily booking the trip last summer, things were starting to look up, we thought, since we were all fully vaxxed.

We haven‘t been on a plane and haven’t stayed at any hotel since 2019, even in Canada. The risk of one of us testing positive and being stuck somewhere out of country, or worse, needing urgent medical attention or hospitalization for anything, is what is keeping us at home.

But we are still talking about doing a summer trip somewhere. Not sure where yet, maybe Hawaii, or maybe WDW to make up for lost time (to make up for our cancelled trip when my youngest wasn't even a teen yet, and now he is almost 16!). For now, we will just wait and see what will happen everywhere, including here, when all the mask mandates eventually get dropped. If everything is fine, we will travel this summer.

 

[tlcdoula]

I am also all over the place with my thoughts. We did goto DL this past November but ended up having to change plans and drive down. I felt way better driving down than flying so that all worked out better for my comfort level.

I would like to see testing dropped for coming home before we go again. The thought of being stuck in a hotel room for another 10 days and the stress of rebooking flights etc is to much for this Type A girl.

When we went this past Nov masks were mandatory for indoor but we wore ours all day. We never felt like anyone even noticed we had ours on and honestly I plan to keep wearing a mask next time we go. I have had a hard time not going to Mexico the last two years and watching everyone around me go away and defrost so we are looking at going in early November and then I have booked a room for the first week of December for DL. We have our first grandbaby coming early April and my daughter wants to do a trip with him when the weather is cooler etc. Of course this is all up in the air and while we are planning on going everything I book will be cancellable incase the case numbers are high or new variant who knows what next fall will bring.

 

[BlancheNeige7]

We have finally decided to go to WDW in March! What kept us from going in the past...

• increased cost with a lesser experience
• testing requirements and the troubles of a positive test
• unvaccinated children (they are now )
• making reservations that cannot be canceled without penalties

 

[mort1331]

We are cancelling our March break WDW trip, no out of pocket costs as we were using WestJet credits and our room only reservation is fully refundable. The good thing is I didn’t buy the park tickets yet. I remember happily booking the trip last summer, things were starting to look up, we thought, since we were all fully vaxxed.

We haven‘t been on a plane and haven’t stayed at any hotel since 2019, even in Canada. The risk of one of us testing positive and being stuck somewhere out of country, or worse, needing urgent medical attention or hospitalization for anything, is what is keeping us at home.

But we are still talking about doing a summer trip somewhere. Not sure where yet, maybe Hawaii, or maybe WDW to make up for lost time (to make up for our cancelled trip when my youngest wasn't even a teen yet, and now he is almost 16!). For now, we will just wait and see what will happen everywhere, including here, when all the mask mandates eventually get dropped. If everything is fine, we will travel this summer.

come join us end of July,,,dvc rooms booking quick