What’s it Like Out There?

First off, a big thank you to everyone that subscribed in our opening wave this past weekend!  I’ll always be grateful for the “charter members” that took the time to see what we’re doing and follow along for the ride.  If you like what you see here, please recommend us to your friends and family.  Thank you!

One of the side benefits of the email blitz was connecting with a lot of you.  It was a good chance to catch up and hear about some of the trips you’ve taken in the past or hope to take some time in 2021.  Although Mrs. Exceptional and I have some travel planned in the next few months, we haven’t left Ohio since early September and we haven’t flown anywhere in almost a year. . .that has to be my longest stretch in 45 years!  So if you’re like us, you’re wondering “What’s it like out there?”

Daughter #3, Ms. Exceptional J, has flown a handful of times in the last few months, including her recent flight back to NYC after a couple of weeks in Arizona.  She reports that the number of passengers on her flights and in the airports have been steadily increasing, with many middle seats occupied on her most recent flight.  The Phoenix airport was pretty crowded and masks and social distancing were not as well observed.  Upon arrival at JFK. . .people were pretty pushy while disembarking, just like in pre-Covid times.

She had flown to Phoenix a couple of weeks ago, rented a car, picked up her three friends and drove up to their Airbnb in Sedona.  This was a workcation for the group, so they weren’t planning to do much besides a daily hike and a weekly trip to the grocery store.  Despite (perhaps because of) the high level of infections in Arizona, most people wore masks, although there were still some bare faces.  She and her friends were able to venture out for some great hikes among Sedona’s red rocks, as well as a quick day trip up to the (snowy) Grand Canyon.

South rim, Grand Canyon, Photo by Janie Madden

I also spoke with my friend Steve, who just returned from a ski trip in Park City, Utah.  He called the trip “liberating” after so many months of staying at home.  “When you board the plane, you’re given a large alcohol based wipe to clean all of the surfaces around you, which made me pretty comfortable.”  The Denver airport was very crowded, as was his flight from Denver to Salt Lake City.  Steve’s group of about a dozen avid skiers stayed at a vacation rental home and made breakfast and dinner at home (a couple of chefs were part of the group, so they ate very well).

The logistics at the ski resort were a bit of a challenge, but not enough to have a major impact on the fun.  “We had to make reservations to ski each day, which we did in advance. . .no problem.  We also had to make a reservation for lunch on the mountain, and it was difficult to get the times we wanted.”  Food choices were limited, and there were lines of people waiting to be seated.  On the slopes, the lines for the chairlifts were longer and slower, as groups of skiers were separated.  “But the skiing was still great!”

One of the most searched travel destinations this year is Key West, Florida, where my mentor and friend Evan spends his winters.  He and his wife are still very careful, but they have ventured out for some outdoor dining in their almost tropical climate.  The locals all wear masks, but that’s not necessarily true of the tourists.  Comparatively speaking, Key West has one of the lower infection rates in the country, according to a recently published map focused on Covid-19 spread in the US. (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html#clusters).

Many of you have reported delaying your travels until summer or beyond this year.  But, an equal number of you are contemplating a trip this spring, and are wondering where it might be safe to go.  Here’s what I’ve been able to glean from both my research and conversations:

• Go somewhere where you can be outside. Whether it’s hiking or skiing or just strolling along a beach, it’s pretty easy to maintain social distancing.  And if you’re comfortable, dining al fresco in a warm climate can be a wonderful treat for those of us shut inside for the last three months.
• If you’re a skier or other winter sport enthusiast, you can enjoy the great outdoors pretty safely. Just make sure you talk with someone familiar with how your destination is coping with Covid-19.
• Driving somewhere is safer than flying somewhere. A lot of studies show that there has been minimal spread from air travel, but there’s also been minimal air travel for the last ten months!  Exceptional J’s story of a pushy and packed deplaning is cause for concern.
• If you do fly, one direct flight is preferable to connecting flights. Remember, Delta is the only US based carrier that still leaves that middle seat open, at least through March 31.
• Major hotel companies have enacted stringent cleaning policies, and you can elect little or no room service during your stay. As long as you’re not spending a lot of time in a hotel lobby or bar (as wonderful as that might sound), you should be pretty safe.
• Airbnb, VRBO and others have also mandated enhanced cleaning requirements, so that may be a strong option as well. It’s pretty easy to find your way to a standalone unit with little or no contact with anyone

You should continue to make sure that any reservation you make is cancellable and refundable.  We just don’t know how things will look in a couple of months or even in a couple of weeks.  And have a backup plan, just in case.

Lastly, it’s up to each of us to determine our own level of risk tolerance.  The last thing you need to do is arrive at a destination and be unable to enjoy yourself.  Your risk tolerance – and accompanying comfort level — is the most important factor of all.

If you’ve traveled recently or are contemplating a trip, how are you juggling all these variables?  Or do you think it’s crazy to even consider venturing out?  Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below.   We certainly don’t have all the answers, and we’d love to hear what you’re thinking.

Photo by Mohamed Ali on Unsplash