This Week in Travel, January 29, 2021 – Your Weekly Roundup

Here’s your weekly roundup of the travel related stories that caught our eye this past week.  Starting with the latest Covid-19 developments:

The new requirement for a negative test for all incoming travelers to the US from abroad went into effect on Tuesday, January 26.  Here’s how it impacted one of the first US citizens returning home: https://thepointsguy.com/news/entering-us-negative-covid-19-test/?utm_source=TPG%20Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1941783&utm_usr=557c74c44e56e69989e09769c9f644d073e59796761952dcb04c1703f5b39a77&utm_msg=eb29ec93b68c440987979be7b5ef10be&utm_date=2021-01-27.  Surprisingly smooth!

As Zach notes in his report, getting that negative test in time for your return flight can be a challenge, and it will be up to the traveler to make sure they have the proper documentation.  An Exceptional Traveler will have a plan and at least one backup plan!  Several hotels around the world are stepping up and offering the testing on premises in order to expedite the process.  Here’s what some Hyatt resorts are doing:  https://www.afar.com/magazine/hyatt-offers-free-covid-testing-at-mexico-caribbean-hotels.  Look for this trend to continue as hotels and destinations try to make it easy for all of us to start visiting them again.

Because of the new testing requirement as well as the spread of multiple new variants of the virus around the world, the US State Department offered its strongest warning to date about international travel:  https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/us-state-department-covid-warning-overseas-travel.  This is yet another signal that the Biden administration is taking a much more aggressive approach in its attempts to curb the spread of Covid-19.

There don’t appear to be any major changes in terms of where we can go this week, but I did stumble upon another good resource for the specifics for each country.  Wendy Perrin’s travel website is following the situation very closely and features this ongoing report https://www.wendyperrin.com/countries-reopened-to-u-s-travelers/.  It’s updated at least a couple of times each week.

Now, onto some of the other stories we found interesting:

Armchair trip of the weekend:  If you’re dreaming about or planning a trip to one of our National Parks, there’s a new book just out that will be a huge help.  National Parks Maps takes you to each of the 62 parks and provides indispensable background information.  Here’s a quick review:  https://redtri.com/national-parks-maps-book/.

The case for booking summer travel right now:  https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/travel-summer-airlines-psychology.html.

Practical matters:  This is a great time to enroll in the expedited travel program that suits you best.  We think that Global Entry is the best choice for anyone traveling internationally.  Here are the pros and cons:  https://www.cnbc.com/select/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry-vs-clear/.  And we highly recommend getting one of the travel credit cards that will pick up all or some of your fee.

This could be a game changer for your next trip to Spain:  https://xtratravels.com/spain-launches-low-cost-bullet-train-from-madrid-to-barcelona/.

For your really long term planning. . .New mini-Concordes in the works https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/as2-supersonic-jet-florida-hq/index.html

Credit card sign-up bonus of the week:  150,000 Hilton Honors points for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card  https://frequentmiler.com/several-hilton-cards-now-offering-up-to-150-150k-points/.  If your preferred hotel is Hilton, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Travel plus wine equals a terrific trip (as long as you’re not driving).  Here are five great areas to explore https://www.forbes.com/sites/corrinaallenkiersons/2021/01/26/five-winery-escapes-that-embrace-the-slow-travel-trend/?sh=38d907fb54c3.

While we’re on this subject, many wineries are offering virtual tastings to take your Zoom happy hours to another level.  Check out the site of your favorite wines and see what’s available.  We did a virtual tasting with an up and coming somm, D Thompson, a couple of months ago.  He kept us entertained and educated. . .at least until our taste buds got a little too numb, after which we were just thoroughly entertained.  You can reach him on Instagram @ddrinkswine

Tired of Zoom meetings and conference calls?  Perhaps an underwater wonder is just the antidote for communication overload.  Dive in here https://www.travelbinger.com/6-oddest-unusual-underwater-attractions-on-this-planet/.

Blog recommendation of the week:  https://www.wendyperrin.com/  More than just a blog, this comprehensive travel website offers news, tips and much more.  Wendy is a superstar in the world of travel, and we learn something every time we visit her site.

Are there go-to sites or articles that have caught your attention recently?  Please share them with us by leaving a comment below.  Thanks for being a part of The Exceptional Traveler community!

Newport, RI, September 2020