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New Bern airport officials forecast holiday journey rates to meet pre-pandemic figures, irrespective of the national surge in omicron variant conditions. “I just overheard there becoming an oversold flight,” explained Andrew Shorter, Coastal Carolina Regional Airport director. “You can find much more electricity for individuals seeking …
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The variant has spurred another round of new travel rules and public health concerns. But all is not lost with these tips and advice for how to navigate travel amid the new (variant) normal.
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Just a few weeks ago I returned from my ninth international trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic feeling optimistic that international travel might finally be returning to some level of normal. On that trip to Ecuador, I filled out a quick questionnaire, showed my vaccine card with my passport and was in. To get home, it took less than 20 minutes at the airport to get the antigen test required for entry to the United States.
Then along came the Omicron variant and with it a cascade of fast-changing, confusing new travel rules. And suddenly, as I prepared for a long-anticipated trip to London and France, it felt like 2020 all over again. Because the United Kingdom and France were among the countries erecting strict new testing requirements practically overnight, what I experienced can only be described as a new level of travel misery. One that can be very expensive, mind-bogglingly confusing, and a little scary, even for the most seasoned and intrepid travelers.
Still, with proper planning and research, you can protect yourself from last-minute surprises and reduce your stress and anxiety (at least somewhat).
My saga began two days after Thanksgiving, and just a week before I was set to join 4,000 representatives of the world’s top luxury travel companies in Cannes, France, for the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) conference.
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I had planned overnights in London to break up the long journey to and from Albuquerque, New Mexico. But because I was planning to leave the airport in London, I was subject to the U.K.’s new entry rules, which required me to book and pay for a COVID test to be taken within two days after arrival—even though I wasn’t going to be there that long.
After two hours of searching the internet, I was unable to find an open slot for a test during my 30-hour stop that would guarantee my results in time to avoid the country’s isolation requirements (the U.K. government is asking international arrivals to self-isolate until the results of the post-arrival test are ready). So, I booked the cheapest option a few hours after landing at just under $100 and switched from a downtown hotel to an airport Hilton where I could self-isolate.
As I finished ironing out those plans, France announced that all vaccinated foreign travelers now also have to show proof of a negative test within 48 hours of arriving in that country. So, it was back to the internet to find an antigen test at Heathrow (for an additional $50) that would guarantee my results in time.
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In the end, no one from British Airways or the French government even asked to see the test I booked at Heathrow for entry into France. Others weren’t so lucky. A friend I’d been planning to have dinner with Sunday night in Cannes was denied boarding from Istanbul after being told her antigen test didn’t meet the requirements. (There was a great deal of confusion about whether the test for France needed to be from within 24 or 48 hours of travel—the answer depends on which country you are arriving from.) And a fellow writer from London said his flight from Heathrow was called back to the gate from the tarmac and several people removed because their tests didn’t comply with the new rules.
While I was in London (or rather during my extra-long layover at my airport hotel), the U.K. further tightened its rules, announcing that all international visitors were also going to need prearrival COVID tests within 48 hours. That meant I would now need three tests to get home (for a total cost of around $200). I finally gave up and called Delta Air Lines to reroute my trip home from Nice to Albuquerque with two layovers in Amsterdam and Los Angeles.
Things on the ground in France were (thankfully) a little easier. Once I arrived in Cannes, I went to a local drugstore to get my CDC-issued U.S. vaccine card converted to a European digital health pass, which is required to enter restaurants, bars, ILTM events, and most other public places other than shops. That took less than 20 minutes—but cost another $40.
Overall, from a logistical standpoint, this proved to be my most challenging trip since the pandemic began—in part because I ignored one of my own top COVID-era travel rules: stick to one-country itineraries to avoid having to negotiate multiple border requirements.
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All of the logistical frustrations were on top of my own doubts and concerns about my health and safety with a patchwork of information about the Omicron variant only starting to emerge just as I was due to head out. I had already received a booster shot so I felt reasonably protected, but traveling internationally while a global network of scientists was still racing to figure out how worried we should be about the latest twist in the coronavirus plot did not necessarily instill a great deal of confidence.
Here are some other important lessons learned and general travel tips for how to navigate pandemic travel, especially as new variants emerge:
Of course, the biggest unknown on every international trip is whether you’ll test negative for COVID-19 to get into the countries you are visiting or to get back into the United States. Travelers need to consider what kind of safeguards they have in place, including the cancellation policies for all components of their trip and what they will do if they are stuck abroad for a couple extra weeks in the event that they or anyone in their travel group tests positive.
Fortunately, I aced all my tests and got home safely. But I think I’ll stay put for a bit until we know some more about the Omicron variant and how effective my vaccine and booster are against it.
>> Next: How to Get a COVID Test for International Travel
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Holiday travel suddenly feels more fraught as the world waits for emerging information on the transmissibility and virulence of the new coronavirus variant. Scientists are racing to see if the current vaccines offer protection against Omicron, but many families and other travelers may need to consider a variety of factors now before embarking to see relatives or to experience a change of scenery.
“Once again they will have to make informed decisions,” said Kathy Risse, a pediatrician in Seattle. But unlike last year’s holiday period, Dr. Risse said, “we know so much more about stopping transmission, and widespread testing is up and running.”
For those planning to travel, the basics for protection — vaccinations, masks and social distancing — will help make the trip safer. Here are answers to 12 of the most pressing travel questions for now.
Currently there are no vaccine, testing or quarantine requirements to travel within the United States, whether you fly, drive or go by rail. But masks are still required by the Transportation Security Administration for passengers age 2 and up on planes, trains and buses. Different states, and even cities within states, may have their own mask, testing or vaccine requirements for activities such as indoor dining. Local health department sites or the AARP website are good starting places to research a state’s coronavirus rules.
Again no, but C.D.C. guidelines recommend people delay travel until they are fully vaccinated.
Current C.D.C. guidance does not recommend international travel if you are not vaccinated. If you choose to travel overseas, it can be complicated: Your desired destination may have rules and guidelines that differ from those of the United States. Take Mexico, one of the most popular destinations for U.S. travelers. The country does not require vaccinations or testing for entry, regardless of the traveler’s nationality, while other countries, like Japan, Israel and Morocco, have recently closed their borders to noncitizens. To visit Canada, foreign visitors must show proof of vaccination and the negative results of a PCR or nucleic acid test. (Unvaccinated children can accompany vaccinated adults into Canada but must follow a specific set of protocols including health questionnaires and a virus test.)
Rules for these and other countries can change at any time, so it’s best to keep checking official government websites as your travel date approaches. The Times updates a list of countries open to U.S. citizens and the C.D.C. maintains a list of global Covid hot spots.
Again, it’s complicated. For outbound travel from the United States, vaccination requirements depend on your destination. U.S. embassy sites are good sources of information, as are countries’ tourist and health sites for your desired destination. Age requirements can also vary by destination.
U.S. citizens do not have to be vaccinated to travel back to the United States, but most adult foreign travelers do. Exceptions can be found on the C.D.C. website. Children under 18 are exempted from the vaccination requirement.
The United States recently changed the timing of its testing requirement to re-enter the country. Travelers must now submit a negative virus test result taken within one day of the flight’s departure, instead of the previous three-day requirement for vaccinated fliers. This applies to all travelers age 2 and up, regardless of nationality or vaccination status.
It is important to note that the requirement is “one day” rather than “24 hours.” For example, for a flight leaving on Sunday at 3 p.m., the test needs to be taken anytime on Saturday or anytime on Sunday. This gives fliers more flexibility in scheduling their test for any time the day before the flight, or the day of, rather than timing a nighttime test for a flight the next evening.
Not a bad idea. The Food and Drug Administration has approved 13 home-based Covid tests, and families may want to bring some on the trip to use if anyone comes down with the sniffles or a cough, or to take just before getting to Grandma’s. They may be hard to find in stores or limited to one or two per customer, so don’t leave this errand to the last minute.
Family members may have varying risk tolerances, and at-home tests can help people relax and enjoy each other’s company, Dr. Risse said, “because even though it is imperfect, it adds another layer of protection.”
The C.D.C. specifies which tests are allowed for entry into the United States. Self-tests for the virus are OK if there is an accompanying telehealth service providing “real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection.” Your hotel or local family members may be able to point you to other testing options in the country — like at medical clinics or pharmacies.
Rules vary by cruise line. On Disney cruises, passengers 12 and up must be vaccinated, but that age is moving to 5 beginning Jan. 13. Children under 5 must have a negative virus test taken within three days of departure. Princess Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line are only welcoming vaccinated travelers ages 5 and up. Currently, children under 5 are not allowed on board. Royal Caribbean requires guests age 12 and up to be vaccinated.
There may be additional requirements for cruises docking at other countries. Travelers boarding a cruise in Barbados, for example, need to download the BIMsafe app and follow its directions. It’s best to check with each cruise line for a specific sailing’s current rules and protocols.
Cruise lines have reason to worry, as “their whole image as a sector hangs in the balance,” said Lynn Minnaert, a clinical associate professor at the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality at New York University. “They are taking vaccinations and testing seriously, so passengers who bear in mind the risks and take common sense precautions should have a safe experience.”
The C.D.C. still recommends that people who are unvaccinated or at risk of severe illness (regardless of vaccination status) avoid traveling on cruise ships worldwide, including river cruises.
Theme parks are required to follow state rules. Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida require guests 2 and older to wear masks in indoor locations, lines and enclosed transportation except when actively eating or drinking. Universal Studios in Florida recommends masking indoors but has no coronavirus-focused guest requirements.
Fully vaccinated, as defined by the C.D.C. as two weeks after the second dose, is not the same as fully protected. Breakthrough cases occur but they are generally mild. Scientists are still examining incoming data to determine if the vaccines will protect against the Omicron variant. In the meantime, the advice from the C.D.C. still stands: children 5 and older should get the vaccine to protect them and those around them from getting Covid-19 disease.
Keeping a mask on a young child while traveling can be challenging for children and parents. Here are some ideas to help your child comply with the rule: Practice wearing a mask together days or weeks before the flight so they get used to the feel. Go slow and don’t make it a fight. Try out different masks for comfort and fit. You may bring different ones to “change into” to make things fun or have a matching mask for a stuffed animal. If your child gets agitated on the flight stay as calm as you can because they will take their emotional cues from you. And consider resorting to bribery — more screen time, or bring small wrapped gifts they can open each time they have kept the mask on for some period of time.
It couldn’t hurt, especially if you are traveling to see older or immune-compromised relatives, no matter their vaccination status.
“Families come to me asking for a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer on if they should travel, because they are so tired of making the day-to-day risk assessments,” said Dr. Risse, the pediatrician. But every family needs to make its own decision to travel, based on the importance of their trip, how protected family members are and how much they trust fellow travelers to abide by the masking and social distancing rules that keep people safer. They also need to be aware of the levels of cases at their destination and the level of exposure their potential activities present. That is, eating at a restaurant indoors or staying at a hotel instead of a private residence.
Vivek Garg, chief medical officer for the health insurer Humana’s senior-focused primary care business, encourages travel when C.D.C. guidelines are followed. “It’s important for everyone’s mental health, especially that of older adults, that we socialize with friends and family,” Dr. Garg said.