Let's make a plan! We've got to have a plan!

What do you say we not let this pandemic take us down, huh? 

I know we aren’t supposed to travel. 

But, can we least start the planning? I mean, what else do we retired ladies have to do during this unusual stage of life? Right? (wink-wink). 

So go ahead, make the plans, even if you have to re-schedule three times, (as I myself have had to do). Most companies are lenient in the cancellations right now and are waiving change fees. It was currently announced that analysts predict a 6% increase in summer travel bookings beginning in March. Those fee waiving policies are predicted to lesson beginning in May. So now is the time to get things finalized and my advice is to get travel insurance. It won’t help if you are too concerned to travel and simply change your mind, but it will help with proven illnesses, etc.

I like to start by choosing the next two places we are interested in visiting, one international location, usually requiring more than one mode of transportation and also one closer to our home. 

Then I research the heck out of them. 

Reviews of activities, history, costs and attractions sites are obviously important, however many forget to look at Weather (rain, ice snow, humidity) in that particular locale at the time of visitation and Elevation.  For me, this is Super important. Bad weather or altitude sickness, always destroy a long awaited adventure. 

Another thing that puts a huge damper on a leisurely vacation is a crowd.  If you are set for a relaxing vacation, nice romantic restaurants or quiet beach time and there is a bike rally or a car race happening in a nearby town, your plans will be ruined. 

Don’t plan on Disney World during Spring Break season!! 

Don’t go anywhere near Sturgis, South Dakota in August.

Feel like a trip to Indianapolis area at the end of May? No Way!

Popular Beaches in Florida in March??? Forget it!

Perhaps a Boston trip during the third week of April.  No, never mind.

Costs and crowds will be exasperated. Hotels full. Noise Loud.

If you don’t enjoy port-a-potties and waiting in long lines, then you’ll want to be aware of national events. 

So pay attention to what is happening socially in your chosen location. 

I use Yelp, Trip Advisor, LonelyPlanet, TravelLocal, Tours By Locals and a few other road trip apps.  You’ll find the ones that you like, too.

As a former travel agent, oh so very long ago, I love the planning stage. I am admittedly over detailed; spending way too much time researching down to and including train timetables, ticket prices for activities, entrance fees, shuttles and bus fair. I try to buy “in advance” so as to eliminate the unpleasant situation of getting there only to find our chosen event is sold out.  I can put too much time into this and find that I have to treat it as a project and limit myself to just a couple of hours a day. But I feel it’s productive time and investment in our future. 

It’s a good idea to look into those forgotten airline points, credit card points, hotel awards, even cell phone plans have point systems now. And what about any gift cards you have for national restaurant chains? If you want to redeem restaurant gift cards for airport layovers, always double check that the airport locations will take them. Some will and some won’t.

Think long and hard about anything you have acquired in the past. Start making your list.

We once realized we had acquired flower points from 1-800-flowers and this was wonderful to cash in for flowers and chocolate covered strawberries in our room.   Ooh, just think what you could have waiting on your arrival!! Or waiting for somebody else’s honeymoon or anniversary! So look into the points you have accumulated and see where those points will take you.

 Stock up now; low prices and great deals.

I hate to say it, but this is the PERFECT time to take advantage and purchase your air/rail/bus tickets as well as hotel/spa packages or accommodations in a VRBO or AirBNB.  The travel industry is practically desperate right now and is offering their bottom line prices to entice travelers, so their businesses may stay afloat.

If you are a frequent traveler, this sort of time spent will help to avoid your travel withdrawal. It does for me as well as many of my friends.

I know many are thinking,  “I finally retired and now I can’t pursue my dream to travel”. 😫😫

Well, this will help with that, too. 👍🏼

Get started by choosing a “covid-friendly” out-of the way place for right now, closer to home, a drivable place. 

A small, family run business, VRBO or AirBnB makes it great for cooking and eating in. You can discover new recipes using local fresh foods. Take this chance to renew old hobbies and learn new activities. Small excursions sightseeing make wonderful photo opportunities and art/craft inspirations. You can stay safe and help the economy, too.

Rent a lovely home or clean, cozy cabin. We do this and enjoy walks, ATV rides, books, warm nightly fires, jet-skis, movies, cooking, boating and interesting day trips in nature. This is all a total mental and physical boost. 

Most VRBO/AirBnB have grills outside and full kitchens for eating in, daily. Using the drive through online ordering at local stores for purchasing fresh fruits, veggies and meats, works great. You’ll experience a change in weather, smells and scenery but barely encounter other people. We find that we spend lots of time on our get-a-way patios, taking in the sounds of nature. In doing this, we can go from 100+ degree desert, to forest, or to sand and sea.  It’s invigorating and eliminates covid stress and confinement. Long walks on the sand, hikes, or swimming help us to sleep well at night and even the change in local and cable TV channels are a nice change of pace.  We recently spent an evening re-watching Cagney and Lacey and Barney Miller reruns in Mund’s Park, AZ. What a hoot! While very simple, it takes away those pandemic doldrums, alleviating the mood, and it involves simple planning.

 We are always sure to practice all the recommended safety precautions and we have not been sick. Yes, we have been tested. We are very pro natural and preventive medicine. We have a regimen we go through prior, during and after we return. We exercise, get plenty of fresh air, maintain our gut health, good nutrition, rest well and are faithful to our vitamins and minerals.  I am not advocating that anyone travel at all. It’s just my preference and I expect others to respect my preference as I respect others.  

And can I just add… Thanks Goodness for Face Time and Zoom to share everyone’s small getaways to bring about some joy and smiles with friends and family. A Friday night Happy Hour Zoom call with 6 couples on 6 different mini-vacations does a body good and makes for great laughs and conversation.

 Currently in the Southwest, Spring is upon us.  This begins the best time for hiking, biking, golf, fishing, visiting city gardens, picnics, boating, kayaking, camping, attending the national parks and just about any outdoor sport or activity. Short local daily jaunts are rejuvenating. 

If international travel plans are in your future, besides the research mentioned above, I also like to take the time to learn just a few words of the country’s language such as Bathroom? Please. Thank You. Check Please? Help! 

I think it’s fun to do, challenging and good for this old brain. The time is now to begin learning those words. I feel better knowing, in the event of an emergency in a foreign land, we are able to call our US version of 911. 

My husband always makes an effort to understand the international currency wherever we go, too. Also, their weights and measure system, the mile per hour on the highways, the phone systems, the electrical outlets and time differences. That’s his mental challenge.

And above all else, if traveling internationally, make sure to check the expiration date on your passport!

It’s also good to follow-up on those ‘former’ well planned past trips that have been rescheduled over and over since Covid hit.  Get those re-booked out into the future.

Concert postponed? Yes, it’s happened to us, too. That’s why I am in constant contact as to any new options on a monthly basis. Get those new dates on the calendar.

I enjoy something pleasant and fun to focus on, to plan for, to pass pandemic time. I feel confident that we will be ready to go when the time comes. I bet you will, too.

So watch those travel shows and documentaries, pick up a book on your chosen destination and check out the many, many travel blogs. 

Take ample time to pick and choose just exactly where you want to go, what you want to do, where you want to stay and ask yourself what you can safely do while there. 

Get a notebook, Get busy. Formulate a plan! Stay mentally active! Be ready to go when the time is right.

I fully believe our mental health is just as important as our physical health. To plan and research a trip or new place means we are looking toward the future. And that, I know, is good for us.

Hopefully, someday, somewhere, we’ll run into each other. 

In the meantime, Happy Planning.

For Us, these are drivable locations with choices of “loner” activities, and nice fully furnished rentals. Ideal for Covid Get-Aways.

Look Ma, No People!

Montecito, CA.

Safe, Northern Getaway AirBnB, in Cottonwood, AZ. Lots of outdoor time and some good wines, too.

Just us and the seals. Southern CA. coast.

Parker, AZ. Drivable, quaint, quiet, single activities in the area. No crowds. YAY, Jet-Skiing!!

Dannette Hunnel, a retired travel professional, worked as a Travel Agent, an Airline Reservation Supervisor, an Airline Group and Convention Sales Liaison before going to Project Manager in Airline Global Distribution Services and Technology for both WorldSpan Affiliates and OneWorld Alliance Members. She retired as a Senior Airline Analyst. Dannette and her husband have each enjoyed traveling for 50 years.  Follow along for unique, tried and true advice.