It is true that the travel industry has taken a nosedive in this pandemic. It would also be true to say that because of the adverse strain placed on travel, many have altered or shelved their vacation plans for an undetermined future date. Those affected in my family circle are no exception. Our annual travels cover distances in North America, Caribbean, and Europe. Since the pesky virus struck, the majority of our international movements have been surreptitiously curtailed. While we are longing to return to normalcy, to see familiar faces and to go to places of interest, our newest concern is the vaccine.
That conversation runs the gambit in my family’s chit chat every week, as it still monopolizes the airwaves in the USA, and in other countries around the world. Who should get it? Are there enough doses? What are the options? A plethora of questions and opinions surrounding the vaccination, among other topics, are discussed in our social media forum. The skeptic, the die-hard, the optimist, the wait-and-see, express their opinions from time to time. The memes, the videos, the satire are all part of the expressions. It is not only the funny stories that grab our attention, even though they help to ease tensions, but the latest news pertaining to the distribution of the vaccine is shared. Some kin have already received their shots because of their line of work and a few because of age.
Just recently I viewed a video clip on social media that talked of imminent changes to affect travelers. It is being considered that in the future persons will be required to present vaccination documentation before they are allowed to fly, and conversely without proof, they will be grounded.
Currently, the decision to take the vaccine is a matter of personal choice. However, for those of us living abroad that choice may soon be moot. Even though I have traversed to places most dream of, or are on a perennial bucket list, my wanderlust is far from satiated. The world is still my oyster. Indeed, I am grateful to have visited exotic destinations, experienced different cultures and explored lands where now the pandemic is raging, but when all is said and done, taking the shot may be the only way home for me.
Community Peeps, I am sure your family conversations are along the same vein. As an experienced planner, it is easy to fulfill a bespoke itinerary, but harder to recommend a safe haven from the virus. As travel bans are eased from country to country, will you renew interests in visiting those places you have always wanted to go? If necessary, are you prepared to meet any new requirements in order to travel? Please share your thoughts in the comment box below. Also, remember to stay safe, wear your mask, physical distance and sanitize.
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Itinerary Planner
Travel can be one of the contentious points that causes anxiety on Thanksgiving Day, whether by car, bus, train or plane. Arriving or departing, your visitor’s safety is paramount. This year was touted to be one of the heaviest travel days, and from all indicators, that prediction was a bulls-eye. Thanksgiving-eve and Day, cars flowed in every direction like red and white blood cells flowing up and down a vein. More people hit the open road to join family and friends than in previous years. A contributing factor are low gas prices.
invitation list. You can choose friends, but you cannot choose family members. That said, there may be wariness in extending invitations to break bread especially when you know some members don’t get along. Even though the day is all about thankfulness, some personalities are not always willing to put their differences aside and may cause some tension which will overshadow the day. This possibility is cause for concern if you are trying to accommodate everyone, not wanting to choose one over the other.
location like Barbados, Bora Bora, Maui, Santorini, Tahiti, or some other island that wreaks romance. You want this vacation to be indelibly written on her mind and be remembered as the best everrr for the rest of your lives. So, I propose you spend this vacation with the girl of your dreams discovering what love language she speaks. You can practice a motivator each day to see which one(s) she responds to the best. Don’t know what to do? Here are some easy suggestions to start you off. Bear in mind, you can practice all the love languages in one day, but if you are on a five-day holiday why not assimilate one each day.
chocolates, or a beautiful piece of jewelry in the signature baby-blue colored box you know she has been eyeing for a long time. She may squeal with delight, I would, and by this reaction or even the lack there of, you may know whether you are on to discovering gifts as one of her love languages. Giving her a gift when she least expects it may warrant a reaction that is priceless. After all, everyone loves a good gift and if it is given in a unique way, the story will be retold for weeks, months and years to come.
the back or on the shoulder may be interpreted to mean, I support you, or we are connected. These physical touches transmit a sense of loving appreciation. Show her you are attentive by occasionally holding her hand, recline against her shoulder, or lay your head on her lap.
making it sound trite. If you express sentiment grudgingly you may come across as cold and your words forced. Therefore, choosing your words, delivery and timing are key to making sure your person feels loved and respected. Use a candlelight dinner in a cozy restaurant to talk of all the qualities that you find fascinating about her. You don’t have to be untruthful, you only need to be sincere. Let her know you appreciate the little things she may think are mundane but that means the world to you. Let her know how well she does them and because of that you have learned to stay in your lane when it comes to certain areas where, in your book, she’s the expert.
lapping in the ebb and flow, feel the gentle breezes as they rustle through the palm trees, enjoy the glow of the evening’s sunset, or you can set an appointment to receive a full body massage for two and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the deep kneading that often lulls you to sleep. No words are necessary. Being there and quietly sharing the moment is the perfect finale to a five-day trip.
Travel Itineraries 