Travel can be very unpredictable in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic. As vaccination rates rose and cases fell in the spring and summer, many popular destinations opened to U.S. visitors, and people started booking their long-awaited vacations accordingly. But with increased hospitalizations and rising concerns about variants in recent months, many of those same destinations have imposed new restrictions on nonessential travel from the States. While this is disappointing for would-be travelers, it’s particularly upsetting for those who have already booked their dream trips to these places and are unsure how to proceed. But the good news is, they have options. HuffPost asked experts what travelers should do if new restrictions in a particular tourist destination affect their upcoming travel plans. Below, read their recommendations for steps to take if you find yourself in this situation.
Do thorough research.
Before taking action, ensure you fully understand the new restrictions and what they mean for U.S. travelers. “If you’ve planned a trip to a destination and you see a headline announcing a change, there are a couple of things you should do,” Willis Orlando, a member operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights, told HuffPost. “First, be thorough. Be sure to check official government sources as news headlines have tended to oversimplify or exaggerate restrictions.”
Orlando advised consulting the U.S. Embassy’s website to get complete, up-to-date information for your destination. You may find that your trip is still feasible with the proper preparation. It’s also essential to do this research periodically in the time leading up to your travels. Be prepared for further updates or changes. “Entry requirements and restrictions can change quickly, so make sure to always check official government sites a few days before your departure,” said Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of the travel app Tripscout. “Don’t rely on old blog posts or the research you did while booking.”
Check the flexibility of your bookings.
Once you understand the rules at your destination, determine the options for your flight bookings, accommodation, and other aspects of the trip. “It depends on what the restrictions are,” said Phil Dengler, co-founder of The Vacationer. “If it is a quarantine rule for international travel or something else that will severely affect your trip, you need to be aware of refund policies for your itinerary.” Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to pandemic travel. “Ideally, you book a stay at a hotel offering free cancellations close to your start,” Dengler. “Even if you do not, you still may be able to get your money back or reschedule your stay. I recommend asking the hotel for a refund. If they say no, ask about credit to rebook for different dates. If they refuse to budge, dispute the charge with your credit card company.” He noted that most major carriers no longer have change fees with flights, and you may have the option of a cash refund or an airline credit.
