post covid traveling

[Guest]

4 hours ago, latbear4blk said:

If more variants keep coming up, and vaccination levels keep being this low and this uneven not only across the world but also within countries, traveling internationally will imply taking risks for a long time. I cannot (do not want to?) wait. 

I agree. I don't think we'll ever be "rid" of this virus, and as long as we have such a large pool of anti-vaxxers in countries such as the US, variants will keep popping up. One should keep an eye on things, of course, but travel always involves some health risks, as does staying home. "Chris" and I have decided to travel through Switzerland in late August/September. With all the anti-vaxxer dum-dums in the US, being in Switzerland may be safer than staying in the US... 🙄  All the masking during travel won't be fun, but life moves on. I would, of course, rather avoid travel to countries with low levels of immunity/vaccination.

[+ José Soplanucas]

18 minutes ago, Unicorn said:

I agree. I don't think we'll ever be "rid" of this virus, and as long as we have such a large pool of anti-vaxxers in countries such as the US, variants will keep popping up. One should keep an eye on things, of course, but travel always involves some health risks, as does staying home. "Chris" and I have decided to travel through Switzerland in late August/September. With all the anti-vaxxer dum-dums in the US, being in Switzerland may be safer than staying in the US... 🙄  All the masking during travel won't be fun, but life moves on. I would, of course, rather avoid travel to countries with low levels of immunity/vaccination.

Just let me clarify that my major concerns are not my health, as reasonable measures (vaccines, mask, etc) make me feel safe enough. My concerns are more related to unexpected changes like what just happened to me, being forced to extend my visit to Buenos Aires beyond the original plan because of regulation changes, or local crisis related to the pandemic that may affect traveling plans.

[Guest]

I hear you. I hope they change the rules for returning to the US, which haven't changed in almost a year notwithstanding tons of new data and science: testing needed to return even for those vaccinated (but not for those previously-infected, even though vaccination provides better immunity). I'm worried one of us will be pegged with a positive test, which has consequences even though there's no scientific basis for that. Most of Europe's countries' rules are more recent, so don't require testing for those vaccinated. 

[+ nycman]

6 hours ago, Unicorn said:

I'm worried one of us will be pegged with a positive test, which has consequences even though there's no scientific basis for that.

Honestly, after getting vaccinated, that was my biggest fear while traveling during the pandemic.

A "positive" swab can strand you "on vacation", potentially in a very expensive location. 
In addition, you’ll be at the mercy of making last minute flight plans which can be astoundingly expensive.

If you’re going to travel during the pandemic, I suggest you throw logic out the window. 
Most countries, including our own, are following emotion and politics more than they are logic and science.
It’s the nature of the beast. Fighting it will only make matters worse.

I was once swabbed twice less than 6 hours apart because the person in charge of checking in passengers on an international flight either couldn’t tell time, do math, or both. It was hard to tell which. In the end it was, "look you’re either getting swabbed again or you’re missing your flight. Your choice. Period"

Math, logic, and science be dammed!

Edited July 19, 2021 by nycman

[+ Charlie]

I finally decided that we will leave the home county in August (we haven't been out of Riverside County in the past 18 months) because I can't stand the extreme desert heat here much longer (a mild day is anytime the temperature doesn't go over 110F). At this time of year, we usually drive up the east side of the Sierras and through Oregon to the coast. But now there are huge wildfires on that route, so I expect to drive straight west to the ocean, and up the coast, perhaps as far as the Olympic Peninsula, in search of ocean-cooled weather, which is what matters more than anything else to me right now.

I am beginning to wonder if we will ever get back to London, which we had planned to visit in 2020, then in 2021. Cases are rising there again, even the Health Minister is ill with COVID, and Boris Johnson is self-isolating again, as everyone is supposed to do in the UK if they have had contact with someone who tests positive, even if both of them are vaccinated. As others here have mentioned, I am less worried about catching the virus than about getting stuck in a situation where the travel schedule gets expensively screwed up by regulations that change while one is en route.

[+ Axiom2001]

On 6/26/2021 at 10:57 AM, keefer said:

@Axiom2001 do you mean this ?  National Museum of African American History and Culture? if yes, it is an amazing space, a number of their exhibits are overwhelming   -- Highly recommended

 

Thank you.  My very, very best friend of many years plans to pay for my visit this coming September/October.  He wants to celebrate a very special birthday that I had last year although I'll be one year older.  I've booked plane tickets as well as our nicely located hotel.  Now I have two months to decide on my five day itinerary as well as restaurants to frequent.

[keefer]

1 hour ago, Axiom2001 said:

... He wants to celebrate a very special birthday that I had last year although I'll be one year older....

It's never too late to celebrate your 21st 😉