2020 may just finish with some real travel for me personally. I'm fully sensitive to the fact that setting foot on an airplane or in a foreign land is not for everyone right now, but this is my passion and job and it seems like circumstances are just changing enough that you may be reading some trip reports soon. Remember those?
I don't want to elaborate too much for now, as it's very possible that events may still foil the plans, but with luck I will be seeing Los Cabos (Mexico), California, Doha (Qatar), Uganda and Dubai (UAE) before the end of the year. Most international travel in the foreseeable future for USA citizens is going to require a negative Covid test shortly before departure, and I'm prepared for that along with all the extra protocols required that I will be strictly adhering to. I also absolutely promise to report back factually and with complete integrity on what the heck the travel landscape really looks like out there.
The Top 5 below today features countries that are currently
open to US citizens
albeit, of course, with the added measures.
Before the Top 5, I want to highlight again our favorite private local tour operator, Context Travel, who in regular years delight many of our clients with their experts in cities all around the world. They have pivoted their business in 2020 as well as any travel supplier out there and are providing valuable income still to many of their network of scholars and specialists by offering Virtual Seminars and Workshops and even a whole line of specialist courses. If I started listing them it would be unfathomably long, but please check out their offerings. For those of you missing the sights, the sounds, the tastes, and the LEARNING that goes along with travel, this is my absolute top recommendation right now.
Click the photo below to check out ALL the possibilities and plan your 'virtual trip'.
Personally, I am going to be knee-deep in Sicilian Arancini Balls this Sunday morning!
The link for that one is HERE if you'd like to join me.
Dang it, one more great seminar if you're into wine, and I don't know anyone who isn't these days... French Wine: from Bordeaux to Burgundy with Andres Medrano
Top 5 - Yes, They Are Open!
It goes without saying that there are different entry protocols for each of the countries below. I'm not going to list those requirements now, but it is an extremely part of our role now as advisors to ensure you have the full facts on what is needed well before any plans are confirmed.
We complete all this research for you, and the knowledge bank is growing every day.
1. Morocco (above)
From Tangier on the Strait of Gibraltar to Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara, this North African country ranks high on traveler wish lists. The High Atlas mountains are great for trekking, mountain biking, and more and Marrakech (below) is always in fashion. Yves Saint Laurent made his second home here and fans can explore his gardens as well as the new Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech. Most luxury hotels are planning to reopen in the first 2 weeks of October.
2. United Arab Emirates (above and below) |
3. Croatia (above and below)
Walk along Dubrovnik’s city walls, overlooking the sapphire blue Adriatic. In seaside Split, wander the ancient Roman streets of Diocletian’s Palace, dating to 300 AD. Head to the Istrian Peninsula for more beaches, fishing villages, vineyards and olive groves, or inland to Zagreb, a cultural capital with more than two dozen museums. As we discovered ourselves 2 summers ago, Croatia just keeps on giving. The people are warm, you can have fun on land and sea, and the food is extraordinary.
4. Maldives
This tropical paradise and diver's heaven is open for the complete escape we are all craving right now. All resorts in the Maldives are their own island -- and it's quite a task to help you choose the right one for you. The waters are warm, the visibility on dives is incredible, and the Maldives is considered one of the globe's top honeymoon destinations for its beauty and serenity. Just taking a sea plane from Male to your resort starts a truly breathtaking vacation experience.
5. Mexico
Along with several Caribbean islands, Mexico has been reopened to US citizens for a couple of months now, and feedback from all my advisor network contacts has been very positive on just how seriously hotels and resorts are treating the health protocols while managing not to diminish the overall guest experience.
From Los Cabos (above) to Cancun, Mexico’s Pacific and Caribbean beaches invite travelers to bask in the sun and adventure on land and sea. And in between, beautiful cities, ancient Mayan ruins, and charming, centuries-old colonial towns such as San Miguel de Allende (below) await. Mexico’s wide appeal and stunning versatility make it an eternal favorite for travelers.
If you might be ready to "Book Your Bubble" please hit the button below.
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