Omicron Travel Update

Here is a crucial Omicron travel update.

If you are traveling overseas soon, you must read this.

Well, here we go again; a new strain of the Covid virus, a media complex with seemingly nothing else to talk about, and a bit of panic and confusion in the traveling public.

Here are a few things you should know:

Covid Problems Have Been infinitesimal for International Travelers

We have had hundreds of our clients traveling overseas (predominantly to Europe), and we’ve had just a very few issues in the very early days of June.  We expected a few bumps in the road when travel restarted, but we’ve been pleased that the travel industry’s Covid prevention protocols have been working so well.

Frankly, the only complaint we get from our clients is understanding the ever-changing protocols for each country.  We do our best to keep on top of these changes and keep our clients updated.

Take a peek at this comment from Carolyn and Shepherd:

I am so happy I used Roaming Boomers for my travel planning. Because of the pandemic, there were many changes to our original plans. Roaming Boomers navigated through all the ups and downs of planning a vacation in the confusing time of traveling during a pandemic. They were always understanding, accommodating, and professional, offering knowledgeable advice along the way. They always answered questions in a timely fashion. I appreciate all their help, even up to the time right before we departed and needed to fill out forms. I honestly never felt too stressed about our trip because I knew Roaming Boomers would be there to help me.

To read more of our client testimonials, please CLICK HERE.

Get Your Booster Shots

It seems reasonably clear that these Covid variants are coming from unvaccinated populations.  As I understand it, Omicron came from South Africa, where their vaccination rates are only in the 20% range.  Further, it seems that the first person to get the Omicron virus in the U.S. was vaccinated but was showing very mild symptoms.

So, vaccinations and booster shots are imperative to my way of thinking. My beliefs are further bolstered by the fact that a college buddy, who refused to get the vaccination, is currently lying in the hospital at death’s door.  We’re praying for his recovery.

Further, as the evidence mounts for the efficacy of the vaccines, we are beginning to see a few countries require that your last Covid vaccination was no more than 9-months ago.  Hence, country’s seem to be on a path to requiring booster shots for entry to their borders.

An Uptick in Travel Cancelations

We are experiencing a few cancelations to destinations like Hawaii, Austria, and Germany.  Hawaii is overly cautious, but Austria and Germany are experiencing an upswing in new cases as they struggle to get their populations vaccinated.

Biden’s New Travel Changes for U.S. International Travelers

I just received this alert from the American Society of Travel Advisors:

• Effective December 6, all U.S. citizens, regardless of vaccination status, will need to show proof of a negative COVID test taken within one day of travel or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days before they board their flight. Previously, all vaccinated travelers were required to produce a negative viral test result within three days of travel to the United States. Unvaccinated U.S. citizens were to show negative tests taken within one day of departure. The test can be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), such as a PCR test.

• The federal mask mandate on public transportation, including international travel, will be extended through March 18, 2022. This includes transportation hubs such as airports and indoor bus terminals. Fines for noncompliance are a minimum of $500 and up to $3,000 for repeat offenders.

To read a recent Wall Street Journal article on these changes, please CLICK HERE.

The new one-day Covid test will be more of a challenge, but if you’re traveling with a reputable travel brand, they will have a solution provided for you so that you can make your flight back home.

Travel Insurance

I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it; if you’re traveling overseas during Covid, you must buy travel insurance to protect your investment.  If you pop positive on a Covid test one-day before sailing, you’re going to be turned away, and you’ll likely lose your travel investment.  To read my recent article on travel insurance and Covid-19, please CLICK HERE.

Summing It All Up

With the constant change in the rules, some folks are inclined to wait until Covid is completely gone from the world scene.  While I’m not smart enough to know if that will ever happen, it seems reasonable to me that travel can still occur if you are flexible with changing guidelines, you’re up to date with your vaccinations, and you possess a bit of an intrepid spirit.

And, of course, as your travel professionals, we are prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder with you to keep you informed and help smooth out the bumps.

We have record bookings in place for 2022, and we can’t wait to read the testimonials from thousands of you exploring the world.  As we say, “Life’s a trip. Let’s go have fun!”

For more information about our travel services, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.

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