Galapagos or Alaska? Travel now?

[goodcat]

I am itching to travel. I originally was going to Europe, but decided against it due to instability from geopolitics.

I am thinking Alaska or Galapagos instead. I have been to both already, but loved both. I am trying to decide which one to do right now.

Also, does anyone have trepidation about travel in June? Even if NOT to Europe?

 

[Marthasor]

I am only doing domestic travel for the time being to keep, ever-changing, testing and vaccination requirements, to a minimum.

 

[sayhello]

I am only doing domestic travel for the time being to keep, ever-changing, testing and vaccination requirements, to a minimum.

Same here. I just don't want to have to deal with it for now. Plenty of stuff to see in the good old USA!

I am itching to travel. I originally was going to Europe, but decided against it due to instability from geopolitics.

I am thinking Alaska or Galapagos instead. I have been to both already, but loved both. I am trying to decide which one to do right now.

Also, does anyone have trepidation about travel in June? Even if NOT to Europe?

Because of the above mentioned unknown, ever-changing wrinkles regarding testing and other requirements to enter other countries and return to the US, I'd recommend Alaska so that you don't have to deal with any of that.

Sayhello

 

[McCrae]

I am only doing domestic travel for the time being to keep, ever-changing, testing and vaccination requirements, to a minimum.

Come to the U.K… no testing required, no masks on flights.

 

[sayhello]

Come to the U.K… no testing required, no masks on flights.

Not if it's a US airline. We still have a national mask mandate. Doesn't matter what the destination is.

And you still have to test to get on the plane to go back to the US no matter what airline you fly or where the flight departs from.

Sayhello

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Come to the U.K… no testing required, no masks on flights.

The rules can also change at a moment’s notice. We are supposed to go to Germany this summer but who knows if it will actually happen given everything going on in the world.

I will say that our pre-trip AbD so far has been…underwhelming… Putting aside the itinerary changes, we have asked a number of questions and cannot get simple/straightforward answers (eg we are not using Disney transportation from the airport because we are arriving early. When/where do we meet the guides?).

Alaska is relatively easy to do independently, if you decide to go that route. Plus that way you are in control of your plans and can cancel as needed. We went one summer with about 2 weeks’ advance planning and it worked out fine. The best thing we did was a float plane to a bear viewing experience. Well worth doing if you can find something similar.

 

[aggiedog]

We are going to France in May, on a trip that initially planned pre-pandemic. It's just dh, me, and another couple. It seems to be on track so far.

We've been trying to decide what to do about family vacation later this summer, and have decided I don't want to go anywhere that requires testing to get there or back. Aside from trying to maintain flight plans (our France trip seems to be stable, but we've had several other flights canceled, or changed beyond recognition), I don't want to deal with what happens if one of the kids tests positive when leaving/returning. As long as dh or I wasn't extremely sick, we could leave the other in a hotel to come home for our responsibilities. We couldn't do that with one of the kids, even if 2 of them are technically adults. That's just too much uncertainty. We still haven't decided what to do.

In you case, I'd do Alaska.

 

[McCrae]

The rules can also change at a moment’s notice. We are supposed to go to Germany this summer but who knows if it will actually happen given everything going on in the world.

I will say that our pre-trip AbD so far has been…underwhelming… Putting aside the itinerary changes, we have asked a number of questions and cannot get simple/straightforward answers (eg we are not using Disney transportation from the airport because we are arriving early. When/where do we meet the guides?).

Alaska is relatively easy to do independently, if you decide to go that route. Plus that way you are in control of your plans and can cancel as needed. We went one summer with about 2 weeks’ advance planning and it worked out fine. The best thing we did was a float plane to a bear viewing experience. Well worth doing if you can find something similar.

The U.K. has been far ahead of other EU countries in vaccine and booster roll out. Our vulnerable citizens are starting to receive a 2nd booster, making that 4 jabs in total. All Covid restrictions in England have been removed. We were able to avoid the last round of lockdowns that most other EU countries were forced into.
The reluctance by large numbers of EU citizens to be vaccinated is the main reason why they are having more problems than the U.K. Despite this travel to the EU isn’t really that difficult, the process for vaccinated people going through border control is pretty easy. The risk however remains that they EU countries could easily be forced into a 5th lockdown.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The U.K. has been far ahead of other EU countries in vaccine and booster roll out. Our vulnerable citizens are starting to receive a 2nd booster, making that 4 jabs in total. All Covid restrictions in England have been removed. We were able to avoid the last round of lockdowns that most other EU countries were forced into.
The reluctance by large numbers of EU citizens to be vaccinated is the main reason why they are having more problems than the U.K. Despite this travel to the EU isn’t really that difficult, the process for vaccinated people going through border control is pretty easy. The risk however remains that they EU countries could easily be forced into a 5th lockdown.

There are still testing requirements to travel internationally that don’t exist domestically. So even if the UK drops their entry requirements - and there’s no guarantee they won’t come back when whatever the next wave hits - that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to test to come home. I think a lot of people are reluctant to get stuck in a foreign country after testing positive.

The UK has also changed rules on the fly to the detriment of travelers in the past. Eg last summer we were talking to a UK family in Mexico. The rules changed while they were on vacation, so they needed to scramble to fly into the US so as not to get stuck quarantining going home. Even if all restrictions are down now I’m just not that confident that they will be gone forever, so I would rather not take the chance unnecessarily.

 

[abdgeek]

I am itching to travel. I originally was going to Europe, but decided against it due to instability from geopolitics.

I am thinking Alaska or Galapagos instead. I have been to both already, but loved both. I am trying to decide which one to do right now.

Also, does anyone have trepidation about travel in June? Even if NOT to Europe?

Having already had my flights to/from Bali this summer canceled by the airline, I second sayhello’s recommendation to travel somewhere in the US until things are more stable—that’s what I’m doing until at least one of my international trips that I’ve already booked goes. Based on my family’s recommendation, I decided to go back to Hawaii instead. I also have friends who have elected to travel to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands because they don’t have to retest to return. My trips to Fiji(booked by me) & New Zealand(ABD) that were booked last year will remain until ABD cancels. However, I made sure to book refundable air fare in case the trips don‘t go.

Only you can decide what your tolerance is for the logistics necessary to travel to and return from the Galapagos or any other international destination. If the country has a level 4 advisory, you definitely need to determine whether you feel comfortable taking care of things yourself if something happens or you test positive and can’t return. As my sister cautioned me, don’t expect any help from the government because they already told you not to go.

 

[McCrae]

There are still testing requirements to travel internationally that don’t exist domestically. So even if the UK drops their entry requirements - and there’s no guarantee they won’t come back when whatever the next wave hits - that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to test to come home. I think a lot of people are reluctant to get stuck in a foreign country after testing positive.

The UK has also changed rules on the fly to the detriment of travelers in the past. Eg last summer we were talking to a UK family in Mexico. The rules changed while they were on vacation, so they needed to scramble to fly into the US so as not to get stuck quarantining going home. Even if all restrictions are down now I’m just not that confident that they will be gone forever, so I would rather not take the chance unnecessarily.

You are of course right that rules can change. Today the legislation which allowed Covid restrictions has expired in the U.K. The Government no longer has the legal power to force lockdowns, restrict movement , make people wear masks. You are not even asked to self isolate if you have Covid. Covid is no longer the threat it was… more people die from the flu on a daily basis in the U.K. Whilst things can always change the risks of coming to the U.K. are very low Compared to other countries.

 

[Orion Nebula]

Those are such polarizing destinations... lol

 

[sayhello]

There are still testing requirements to travel internationally that don’t exist domestically. So even if the UK drops their entry requirements - and there’s no guarantee they won’t come back when whatever the next wave hits - that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to test to come home. I think a lot of people are reluctant to get stuck in a foreign country after testing positive.

THIS.

Only you can decide what your tolerance is for the logistics necessary to travel to and return from the Galapagos or any other international destination. If the country has a level 4 advisory, you definitely need to determine whether you feel comfortable taking care of things yourself if something happens or you test positive and can’t return. As my sister cautioned me, don’t expect any help from the government because they already told you not to go.

And THIS.

Sayhello

 

[AquaDame]

If you can't risk being stuck in Ecuador longer should you test positive I'd agree with going to Alaska since you won't have to test before heading home.

If you get sick though... WOULD you fly home right away..? You certainly aren't supposed to with Covid...

Ecuador has a high rate of vaccination - the Galapagos are 100% vaccinated 18+. It is compulsory in all of Ecuador as well unless you have a documented medical reason specifically against the vaccine. We went on a trip back in January and have booked a return trip for this winter to see the other half of the islands. I'm more afraid of the flight again (phobia) than catching covid at this point, though I would really appreciate it if we'd drop the testing requirement to come home now as long as we're dropping all the safeguards on our home turf anyway.

 

[aggiedog]

I'm fully vaccinated and boostered, and caught covid this winter. As we know, omicron was able to get past the vaccination and still cause infection, though thankfully not as severe. Unfortunately, variants can still happen, which may or may not be more or less transmissible or severe. I'm not sure a fully vaccinated destination is a guarantee there won't be problems.

That's not keeping from traveling, per se. It is keeping me from bringing my entire family someplace. Strange pandemic math, that.

And no, I wouldn't fly home if I did test positive, but the more people in our group to potentially test positive, the more risk there is of adding 7-14 days to our trip for some of us.