Who remembers last year’s Thanksgiving? Too afraid of Covid to travel, we became a nation of solitary diners hunkering down to a box of takeout, perhaps salvaging our meal with a good bottle of wine. My brother in Florida never got out of his pajamas. He watched the Macy’s parade and nonstop football; dinner was scrambled eggs and toast. I was lucky–my neighbor loves to cook and treated us to shrimp etouffee. More than any other holiday, Thanksgiving is the time for sharing traditions with those we love. For many of us, the 2020 holidays created traditions we’d just as soon forget.
This year Americans are on the move
This year promises to be the year we get even. With our vaccinations, booster shots and money in our pockets, Americans clearly are ready to get out of town. Trips within the U.S. are the most popular holiday destination this year. Many are making up for having missed their families last year. Others are heading to the beach. Think Mexico, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, the Turks, Caicos and Aruba.
Travel insurance is a good way to add a financial safeguard to a trip
While vaccines are readily available, Covid remains a concern for travelers. Travel insurance that includes coverage for Covid-related problems is the No. 1 search by consumers before buying a policy, according to Squaremouth’s data.
The best pandemic travel insurance includes valuable Covid-related coverage for trip cancellation, medical emergencies and medical evacuation. There are plans that offer primary medical coverage, meaning you won’t have to use your own health plan first. If you are traveling overseas, Covid medical coverage is available—it’s likely not included in your existing coverage.
Another useful coverage is “cancel for any reason” travel insurance. This coverage gives you the flexibility to cancel your trip no matter the reason. You get reimbursed 50% or 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs under a “cancel for any reason” claim.
A hard travel lesson to learn
Many people are not aware of this regulation. Your passport has to be good for at least three months from your departure date. If it isn’t, you will not get your boarding pass. One of my friends learned this bitter lesson the hard way. He and his partner were boarding a plane for a three-week trip to Spain and Portugal in Dec. His passport expired in February. They had everything booked—Airbnbs, car, etc. They lost everything. Check the expiration date on your passport.
Traveling offshore for the holidays
If you’re looking to venture beyond the U.S. this holiday season, make sure you check the destination country’s entry requirements well before you depart for your trip. If you don’t meet the requirements, you won’t be allowed in. They sneak in little forms that need to be completed before you leave or land. If you’re flying through London Heathrow Airport, there’s a London Locator form that has to be completed online or you can’t get on the plane. Be careful and research these requirements.
I’ve traveled internationally several times in the last six months
It takes planning and stamina. Every foreign country requires a PCR test. You will need to get the (negative) results back before you leave. The results must be good for 72 hours. I flew into Bucharest, Romania. My PCR test had to stretch across a few time zones and days. Think ahead.
Covid travel also can be stressful and expensive. In a trip home from Mexico City, they didn’t like the PCR test results that I got at the Red Cross in St. Miguel de Allende. They made me get another one at the airport in Mexico City, resulting in my missing my flight. I had to purchase another ticket for $750 that routed me through Guadalajara for three hours, putting me into SFO at 10pm. All this for what should have been an easy four-hour flight home.
RELATED CONTENT: Itching to Get Away? Travel in the Time of COVID
Create a Living Trust before you leave
Regardless of where you’re traveling this holiday season, we encourage everyone to create or update your Living Trust before you leave. When creating your Living Trust with Guideway, you’ll work with a dedicated specialist who is available for questions and support throughout the process. We’ve been in business since 2003 and have expanded to three Bay Area offices–Dublin, Oakland and Walnut Creek. More than 60% of our business comes from referrals and repeat business.
Our comprehensive Living Trust package includes a Power of Attorney and Advanced Healthcare Directive. We provide a hard copy as well as a soft copy of your documents. More questions? Contact us today.
Guideway services the entire Bay Area
Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Alameda, San Leandro, Castro Valley Newark, San Lorenzo, Concord, Alamo, Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Tracy and Fremont. Our clients also live in the Napa Valley, Benicia, Vallejo, Martinez, Fairfield.
RELATED CONTENT:
Your Living Trust: Avoiding the Pitfalls
Is It Time to Check Your Beneficiary Designations?
No comments:
Post a Comment