Some things to keep in mind for traveling during 2023
COVID-19
Though, most of us, if not all of us, would like to forget about the pandemic, a lot of places haven’t. Native American reservations have strict COVID-19 guidelines still in place to protect their communities; we learned this the hard way.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Pack reusable or disposable masks where they are easily accessible.
- Pack hand sanitizer.
- Look for COVID-19 guidelines on your destination’s websites.
- Look for location specific COVID-19 signage. (ex. signs outside of gas stations)
- Stay 6-feet apart from people, just in case. Some people are still worried about getting COVID-19 and other illnesses.
- Respect the communities you are in and the people around you.
Passports
This blog is more for US Travel, however, if you do plan to travel abroad or road trip through our northern or southern borders, I have great news.
This year, 2023, the US is planning to allow online passport renewals. You can fill out all the forms needed right on your computer. In addition, you will be able to upload a photo from a digital source (i.e. cellphone, tablet, or computer). This is way more convenient than going to Walgreens, CVS, or the Post Office.
Best of all, you won’t have to stand in line at your local post office. You can find the full details at this link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html
Higher Prices
Our family has noticed the higher prices, have you? These prices are not limited to the grocery store or the gas station. If you plan to travel in 2023, you will likely notice that the prices of accommodations, flights, rental cars, entertainment, and food at restaurants have increased, too. Accommodation prices are expecting to rise by 60%, compared to last year.
We keep these things in mind when we are planning for our trips. Sometimes, we can’t avoid some of the higher prices, however, we do try to plan alternative solutions.
I’ll have a post, soon, on road tripping economically.
Plan Ahead
If you are planning to travel, expect others to be too. We thought that traveling to Southern Utah in September 2022 would be less crowded, but we were wrong. I had not booked any hotels, and most of them, priced $250 or more, were booked. We even had trouble finding a campsite at a dispersed camping location, Smithsonian Butte Scenic Byway, near Zion National Park.
According to a poll on Booking.com, approximately 60% of adults are planning a vacation within the next 6 months. About half of those who plan to travel are going to be doing it during the off-season. So, don’t wait to book that cruise, flight, or hotel. The sooner, the better.
Excursions and tours are expecting to take on less tourists per tour. This is a left over from the COVID-19 restrictions. Like me, a lot of people have enjoyed fewer crowds, and we are seeing that when booking tours. If you plan on taking an excursion from your cruise ship or all-inclusive resort, make sure to book it in advance. The same goes with booking tours at various destinations.
When I booked our stay at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, I also booked a ghost tour for myself. I booked the early November tour in the beginning of October, and there were only 2 tickets left. To my surprise, everyone who bought tickets attended the tour, which made it a little crowded in some of the tight spaces.
May 2023 be filled with lots of excitement and wonderful adventures!
