The CDC recently warned against travel to Mexico due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases. The United States is in a very similar situation, too. So is it possible to travel to Mexico safely during the pandemic?
There’s a lot more to consider when deciding to travel nowadays, regardless of the destination. Can you stay safe and healthy? What is the tourism industry doing differently to prevent the spread of the virus? What should you know ahead of time, and what can you do to stay safer? What should you bring on your trip, and how can you travel responsibly? To unravel the latest pandemic travel news and trends, I joined my good friend and fellow travel writer and travel blogger Meagan Drillinger (you may already follow her amazing travel blog, DrillinJourneys.com) for a live Instagram chat, which is now also viewable as a travel video on my YouTube channel.
In our talk, we answered questions from viewers and sharde our insight and travel tips, which is based on research and our own recent visits (we’ve both visited Mexico recently, as part of our jobs to report on the realities of travel today). We also touch on the latest hygiene protocols and travel tips from the Dominican Republic, too, since I just visited there, as well.
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PANDEMIC TRAVEL TIPS: What It’s Like to Fly JetBlue to Punta Cana During the Pandemic
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You should watch the video to get all the details, but here are a few key takeaways:
• It’s probably better if you don’t travel yet. Most people should not be traveling during the pandemic. These are unprecedented times, and there is risk involved with any activity outside your home. It’s even more important to stay safe if you are immunocompromised or in another high-risk group, or if you are around someone who is. You’ll be able to travel more freely and safely again (within a few months, if all goes well) — and a lot of hotels, tour operators and airlines have become more flexible about changes and cancellations, so it’s gotten easier to book a vacation for the future and still make changes if the conditions aren’t quite right. You can still dream about travel, research your next Mexico beach vacation, even book the airline tickets and hotel reservation — but it’s probably better to choose dates that are a few months in the future, not right now. We’re getting closer to better days, I promise!
• If you do decide to travel, educate yourself and know what to expect. We’ve highlighted the major steps that hoteliers and the government in Mexico have taken to minimize the risk for travelers and locals — from health questionnaires to temperature checks and sanitizing door mats (I’ve found a lot more safety-minded steps taken in Mexico than in the United States, to be honest). You don’t need a COVID-19 test to visit Mexico (or the Dominican Republic) from the United States, but you should know about the forms, the temperature checks and what hotels, tour operators and airports are doing.
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MEXICO TRAVEL TIPS: How do Mexico Hotels Compare to U.S. Hotels During the Pandemic?
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• Be responsible if you travel. Whether you’re visiting Mexico, the Dominican Republic or anywhere else, be responsible and do what you can to protect yourself and others. It is absolutely impossible to take a “vacation” from the pandemic at this time. So just because you’ve checked into a glamorous, all-inclusive Mexico beach hotel and feel like you’re in a dreamy paradise, you still need to follow the protocols that have been proven to protect. Wear a face mask when in public. Practice social distancing. Use hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Think not only of yourself and your loved ones but also the many people who work in the travel, tourism and hotel industries. They need to work to support their own families and follow strict hygiene protocols. You won’t see a hotel employee in Mexico without a mask. But their good efforts aren’t as effective if you’re wandering around without a mask. We all need to take care of ourselves and each other to get through this. In a matter of months, we will be breathing more freely again.
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MEXICO HOTEL REVIEWS: Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos Offers Style & New Hygiene Protocols
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