Traveling Internationally with Coronavirus
Hey everyone! So, it has been a little while since my last blog. Over the quarantine, I spent a lot of time researching new destinations & opportunities for you all when the time came to travel safely again. During this time, I learned a lot about what airlines & resorts were doing in response to the pandemic and to ensure the ultimate safety and security for passengers and guests (in particular, my beloved all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean). Several destinations are open to U.S. travelers (Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic to name a few) and are taking the proper precautions with sanitation, cleanliness, and social distancing. And certain countries (such as Jamaica) will require a negative PCR test within 10 days of traveling in order to travel. Make sure to take a look at the country’s entrance guidelines prior to booking any trips or traveling so you know what to expect and if there are any pre-travel authorizations or tests you need.
I, myself, have not traveled internationally yet since the pandemic developed, but plan to soon. However, I had the opportunity to interview a friend/client of mine (Matt Prusz) who traveled to Mexico a few weeks ago. He was able to provide me some insight on policies and his experience at the resort, and even gave me some reassurance that it is still safe to travel! Here are some of the questions I asked Matt about his trip to Mexico:
What airline(s) did you use for your trip? And what resort did you stay at? The airline we used was Southwest and we stayed at Barceló Maya Riviera-Adults Only (Mexico).
What differences did you see with airport procedures (both in the US & in Mexico) related toward COVID, social distancing, and safety procedures? At the airport, they made sure everyone was wearing a mask and they tried their best to keep everyone 6 feet apart while waiting in line. On the airplane, everyone was asked to keep their mask on if they weren’t eating or drinking. They reported that they would do a deep clean of each aircraft every night.
What differences did you see with procedures conducted by the resort (activities/entertainment, dining, accommodations, check-in, etc.)? There was a reduction in the number of activities offered by the resort, for example the nightly shows were cancelled. This was due to the number of people that would have gathered in one spot for the show. While at the buffet, guest were required to keep their masks on when obtaining food but they were allowed to take them off when sitting at their own table. The buffet was served at the food stations by the staff.
Were masks required during your entire stay at the resort? Masks were required when walking around inside. Outside at the pool and beach masks were not required. At restaurants, masks were required when not at your table.
What safety measures, cleaning, and social distancing practices were administered at the resort? Did you feel comfortable and safe (from exposure or contraction) during your trip? At the resort, they asked everyone to stand 6 feet apart when waiting in line and would provide masks to any guests that did not have one. Additionally, they had hand sanitizer out at multiple public locations such as the bar and buffet. Yes, I felt very comfortable and safe during the entirety of my trip! The resort did an amazing job cleaning everything and took every precaution & measure to allow us guests to enjoy our vacation instead of having to worry all the time if it was safe or not.
Did COVID prevent you from participating in any activities on the resort that you had the opportunity to participate in during previous trips to this resort/previous trips to all-inclusive resorts? We were unable to attend the nights shows that we had previously been able to attend. Otherwise, we were allowed to do everything else!
Many resorts & destinations are offering deals to guests during this pandemic. Was it worth the price you paid to travel internationally during the pandemic? Yes definitely! The resort and travel price was very affordable. That was the main selling point for us on this trip.
Would you honestly and comfortably be able to recommend that others travel to all-inclusive resorts during this time? Yes! Everyone has their own individual comfort level. For us, we felt safe the whole time we were traveling and at the resort. I felt comfortable socializing with other guests and meeting new people. When I got back, I got tested (which was not a requirement, but for my own sake and the safety of those I interact with daily) and I was negative for COVID.
Do you have any recommendations for individuals that may travel to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean (particularly with safety/sanitation tips with COVID)? I would recommend people to bring their own thermos and plenty of masks. If you have your own thermos, you can guarantee that it is clean enough for your own personal standard. Additionally, you have more space for your drink. It's also a good idea to bring plenty of masks since it is easy for your masks to get lost or dirty.