Here it is, plain and simple.

Do Not Travel Right Now.

The State Department has just announced this afternoon a Level 4 advisory globally.
It would be extremely foolish to ignore that.

We are at the point where everyone has a moral responsibility to do everything possible to help stop the spreading. Now is the time to be kind to family, friends and neighbors and be thankful for what we do have, each other.

J5Travel are bunkered and hunkered down (below) in Mooresville, NC working feverishly to ensure we are doing the best for our clients, hopefully with postponing travel, but also cancelling if it is the requested option. We are here for you now, and we will be here for you on the other side of this. Bear with us if some of this takes time. We have a few shortcuts up our sleeves, but there are still monstrously long wait times in getting results for you, particularly with airlines. Please make note of this enormous benefit when you come to book your travel in the future. Booking sites and airlines are nigh on impossible to reach right now. You do not have to be on hold at all if you book with a travel advisor, and we advocate for you with every single booking if there's the slightest chance of improving your terms and conditions in extraordinary situations like this. We have had considerable success with this as we have supplier relationships that matter.
We have created a list of resources for you on our website HERE to give you shortcuts to airline, hotel, and cruise line updated policies as they come in, along with various links on the facts of what's occurring. It is by no means comprehensive, but we will be adding to it as our time permits.

Our advisor network's Facebook Group is an amazingly uplifting forum right now, as we attempt to revive everyone's spirits collectively, and a post about our favorite travel movies (which we will all be watching a lot of in the coming weeks), reminded me of last years blog I composed based on Pixar movie quotes. I think it's time to revisit it, with a few edits to keep it current.

1. "Adventure is out there!" – Up

I probably shouldn't be using a Pixar image without copyright permission (again), but just look at that face of Ellie from Up. That's how I feel whenever I am off on a trip.
I will share with you my personal number one adventure dream, that I will make a reality.
I really want to experience Mongolia (still true). It's probably not likely until 2021, but we have a supplier with a deep itinerary that will immerse me in Mongolian culture which still revolves around a nomadic heritage with the family ger (yurt) at the center, and with horses as the only transport. I may need to learn to ride to partake.
Update - horse riding lessons coming as soon as possible.

2. "To infinity … and beyond!" – Toy Story
Well it's not quite infinity, but for anyone with $250,000 to spare you can now book a 90 minute flight to the edge of space (below) with Virgin Galactic. Richard Branson's SpaceShip Two has now completed fully fledged space flight testing, and Branson himself will take a flight sometime soon. Commercial flights may well start before the end of the year (well that didn't happen, so a slight postponement). Virgin are likely to be the first in what has become a race to turn space into the next tourism frontier. Where to next?

3. "When something is too hard there is always another way." - Finding Dory
I may be the only one in the world who would link this quote to flight schedules, but I find the challenge of difficult air routes and matching them to reasonable airfares or even points awards as my personal crusade to make someones dream come true. Somehow, with enough clicking around the internet, I can nearly always make flights work, and I love being able to do that.
Update - even I can't make this work right now, but when the world is open again, give us a shot.

4. "The wilderness must be explored!" - Up
Yes it must, and that's why we are looking forward to Africa later this year and Galapagos next year. But really, I just wanted to use an Up quote again so I could link to the more literal vision of Carl and his house floating away tied to hundreds of balloons. We have sent quite a few clients now on an early morning balloon ride over Florence (below), Italy, and it's been the highlight of their Italy trips. Be bold with your plans.
Update - Africa was incredible as we reported on. Unfortunately, Galapagos is already postponed as we conserve our operating funds.

5. "If you focus on what you left behind you will never see what lies ahead." - Ratatouille
I know I'm getting a little philosophical this week, but this is one I actually live by. I don't look back except at the photos. I like to plan for what's ahead and I ask you to consider the same. If I didn't, then Victoria Falls (our own photo now below) would not be on our horizon along with many other destinations.
To finish with a last quote from Ellie in Up - "Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one."
Update - hmm, what lies ahead? I choose to see travel and my bucket list is only going to get longer during this enforced hiatus.

If you need any travel advice in the current situation, click here to let us know.

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