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Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

Covid Restrictions and Holiday Travel

by | Oct 10, 2021 | 0 comments

Recently a friend traveled from Washington DC to Egypt. She discussed with me the harrowing experience of trying to get a required Covid test for travel. With recent federal guidelines, the need for Covid testing has increased, and availability has decreased. As the holidays are a busy travel season, it stands to reason travelers needing testing during the holidays will also surge.  Here are a few things to think about regarding Covid testing and the holidays.

A surge in Covid testing

Many of the issues involved with the current availability of Covid testing affect the recent executive order requiring Covid vaccination for federal employees. Companies with over 100 employees will be required to comply with the order or face significant fines. As expected, there are many questions regarding the order and implementation that need an answer.  However, the demand for Covid testing has risen, and so travelers need to prepare.

Thanksgiving travel

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s usually one of the busiest times for people to travel.  In 2020, many suggested curtailing travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, and many ignored that suggestion.  In preparation for the upcoming busy Thanksgiving travel season, the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act may require all passengers on domestic airlines to either be fully vaccinated, tested negative, or fully recovered from Covid.

The World and Covid

Preparing for holiday travel

In essence, travelers should be aware of travel restrictions and Covid guidelines. They should know where their Covid testing sites are. Find out if they need to have Covid symptoms or can test as a precaution. Research the timing of their test before seeing friends and family as exposure varies. It’s also good to know the different Covid test options, PCR or antigen.

As with any travel experience, preparation is critical.  Stay safe this holiday season and if you choose to travel, do it safely.

Why choose a bespoke holiday?

Why choose a bespoke holiday?

by | Sep 1, 2021 | 0 comments

A bespoke holiday is one crafted to your needs. In most cases, it is synonymous with luxury travel and excellent service. Because I have traveled for many years, I believe some things or experiences can differentiate between a good trip and a fantastic trip. My recent African safari was one from the Elewana Collection, and here are a few reasons I chose this bespoke holiday.

The Elewana Collection is known for its unique and iconic locations. One of my recent blog posts discussed my stay at the Elewana Treetops, but each place I stayed was equally impressive. My bespoke trip to Tanzania included:

The itinerary of my safari was custom designed and well thought out. Its primary focus was to provide unique experiences in the places visited. Although the itinerary was tailored for me, I could change it at any time. All activities were well organized and timely, and options for bespoke experiences were limitless, including sunset dinners on safari, beach, and other ideal locations.

The trip included all accommodations. Because the trip covered all Elewana properties, the only check-in was on the first day. Every stay after that, we were escorted to the room by our butler. All requests went through the butler, who handled our requests efficiently and timely. It was like having a personal concierge service.

Drinks and meals were all-inclusive. Premium drinks were available for a charge, but the drink selection offered was more than adequate. In addition, the trip included all transportation to and from the lodges and camps, Kilimanjaro airport, and Zanzibar airport. All the scheduled game drives had a personal English-speaking guide for the duration of each destination.

There was no need to overpack as laundry services were available at every destination. The package also included emergency evacuation insurance. However, it did not have travel insurance. Other items not included were gratuities and tips, visas for Tanzania, and flights into Tanzania and from Zanzibar. The resort in Zanzibar provided a driver and guide, but trips to the city were at an additional cost.

If you’ve never had a bespoke travel experience, I would highly suggest one. Not having to worry about different accommodations, making travel arrangements within the country, and sorting out guides and transportation was priceless. It is so worth the expense and can be a most memorable time.

Are you interested in a bespoke travel experience? Check out my trip on Levantr and create your own bespoke travel experience. Let me know.

Travel planning with Levantr.

Travel planning with Levantr.

by | Aug 22, 2021 | 0 comments

Hot air balloon ride in Tanzania

I’ve written much about group travel. I love to travel and sharing it with people I also love is a passion.  Part of what prevents a lot of group travel is coordination.  I recently found a new way to plan and share my trip with Levantr. Check out my Tanzania itinerary and explore my trip and travel planning benefits with Levantr.  You can even download my itinerary and customize it to your trip later.  Here are a few reasons why you should try the tool.

There are many moving parts to planning a trip. Designing it with a group that may have different ideas and visions of the trip can be stressful.  Having an itinerary helps you outline how you envision a trip.  You can summarize places, things you’d like to visit, and any other trip ideas in one place on Levantr. This pre-planning gives the group a better and more visual way of organizing your plans and a more collaborative way to brainstorm for more effective group decisions. Levantr also has sample itineraries if you aren’t sure where you want to travel next.

I like group travel, but I’m not a fan of group texts. I’m also not too fond of the constant notifications that often come in at the most inconvenient times or provide no information or context.  With Levantr, group texts are no longer necessary. Participants can go onto the site and plan with surveys that can show what’s preferred or not preferred. You can ask questions and summarize the responses to make the group travel planning easier. Best of all, you only see information when you choose to go online to view the itinerary instead of whenever someone decides to respond.

I’m an organizer, and I like organizing trips. However, I wouldn’t say I like the minutia of travel planning.  I want to create a trip that I would enjoy.  I then invite others to the trip.  If they are willing to go along with my plans, then fine, we go.  My trip is exactly that, mine. With Levantr, you can share your trip with others.  They can see the trip plans and itinerary in one place.  If they decide to go along, they can.  If they choose to modify the trip to their needs, that’s also an option.  The group can all go on the trip but have or create their itinerary to suit their needs.

My trip to Tanzania had many moving parts.  It was a safari, and I stayed at five different locations during the trip.  The trip included many game drives, walking safari’s, dinners, and sightseeing opportunities.  Much of this entailed early morning times, such as my 4 am departure for my hot air balloon ride.  It also included late evening/night events such as sundowner drinks and a Boma dinner with Massai dancers.  While I prepared mentally for the trip, I realized that many would not be. Therefore, choosing a travel companion was important.

While Levantr will not help you choose your travel companion, it may help prevent some unexpected issues with differences of opinion before the trip.  I invite you to check this option out for your next travel plans.  Let me know what you think.

Travel and stress.

Travel and stress.

by | Aug 18, 2021 | 2 comments

Travel is a stressful situation. As an international flight attendant, I served over twenty years in the travel industry.  I have seen the realities of stress on travelers firsthand. Based on the latest incidences in the travel industry, it seems like travel and stress have increased significantly.  Here are a few thoughts to reduce the stress around traveling, not only for yourself but for everyone around you.

There are many reasons why travel can be stressful. There is a financial strain associated with travel.  Air travel can be expensive and places a burden on many. At the same time, many people think of travel to get away and destress from financial situations.  The reality is that the stress relief expected at the end of the travel experience requires lots of financial planning and logistics many do not anticipate.  Many travelers have worked hard to save and plan for their trip.  Therefore, maximizing every dollar is essential to them.

As a flight attendant, I often heard many frustrated passengers claim, “I paid for this seat.”  The reality is they paid for transportation from point A to point B.  All the service received between is extra.  Even if you preselected a seat, there would be no guarantee that you will be assigned that seat.  In addition, the overhead bin above your seat is not your designated space.  It is a shared space. Hence, frustration and anger when seat selections are not honored, or there is no room in the overhead bin for carry-on luggage.

Covid has brought on the realities of reduced onboard services.  Many travelers are often taken aback by the lack of services.  Again, they assumed that what they paid for was service. This is far from the truth. When travel expectations are unrealized, this creates a stressful situation the traveler has no control over. Most frustrating is the fact that they have already paid for what they believed to be their rights. Expectations do not meet reality and they try to vent their frustrations.

Most importantly, think beyond yourself when traveling.  Those in customer service positions in the travel industry have not met you and have no personal grudges against you.  They work for the company you paid and did not personally receive your hard-earned dollars.  In most cases, they are also trying to save for the experience you are trying to have. Rules and restrictions govern them, and it is their unfortunate job to explain to you those same issues you find aggravating.

So please give grace to yourself and others when traveling.  Remember that the stress you are experiencing is often an everyday reality for the customer service personnel.  Whether they be flight attendants, gate agents, or TSA, they too are only doing the job they were hired to do.

I hope these thoughts have given you pause.  Practice kindness when traveling. It will improve the experience not only for yourself but for everyone else.

Reflections from Tanzania.

Reflections from Tanzania.

by | Aug 15, 2021 | 8 comments

Tanzania safari

What I love about travel is that you are constantly learning. In a previous blog post, I discussed how travel is more than a physical journey. My recent trip to Africa was indeed a learning experience. Here are a few reflections from my trip to Africa.

I truly felt like I returned home. My interactions during my stay were far from customer service, and it was as though I was a treasured guest. Tanzanians were warm, friendly, and genuine. There was a sincere desire to ensure that everything met my needs, not only at my accommodations but everywhere I went. It was a truly unique experience to interact without feeling targeted or a minority. I left Africa with a stronger sense of self-pride and confidence.

“Pole, Pole” Pronounced as Polay, Polay is the Swahili word for slowly, slowly. My new friend Saleh reminded me of this constantly. It was as though I forgot I was on vacation, and he had to remind me that I was. “Pole,” he said. After a while, I started to remember that the journey was just as fulfilling as the destination. I now plan for this phrase to be a part of the new me. I will take life slowly and enjoy the ride.

An African massage on a safari is not the desired perk! However, it is one you will absolutely want to experience. There are no paved roads on the safari, and you are in a four-wheeler. “Hold on,” my guide Elle said, and indeed I did. As the engine started, so did the massage. You are slung from side to side as the guide takes you on your game drive. The African massage is complimentary, painful, but extremely rewarding.

I will never visit a zoo! There is no comparison to seeing wildlife up close and personal and in their natural habitat. Patience is indeed a virtue. We waited almost two hours to see the wildebeest crossing the Mara River. The wait was truly worth it, and it’s an experience I will never forget. My guide Stephen jokingly asked me what “Jaz” meant? After a while, I truly understood, “just another zebra.” Sightings were plentiful and awe-inspiring. However, if I never see another Zebra or Wildebeest in my life, I’m good!

“Maisha marefu,” in Swahili, means long life. My new friend Peter set up a beautiful picnic lunch for us as we left Ngorongoro. He said that he could not think of a better send-off than to wish us a long life. I reflect on seeing the vultures in the Tarangire national park, watching the voracious eating of a zebra and the many carcasses left throughout the safari. The phrase “Maisha marefu” was a poignant reminder that life is to be treasured. It summed up my trip in the best way. Pole, Pole is the way to Maisha marefu, unless you are the prey. Lol.

As a lifelong learner, this trip was indeed a learning experience. I hope you will consider a visit to Africa, whether on a safari or a heritage trip. Africa is a destination all EbonyTravelers should take.

Traveling with the USD

Traveling with the USD

by | Aug 11, 2021 | 0 comments

As a frequent traveler, I am aware of the value of the US dollar. It is the most recognized currency in many foreign destinations. The US dollar is also the closest thing to an international currency because it is so widely accepted. However, please know that individual international businesses can decide whether to take the money. Here are a few tips on traveling with the US dollar.

In many countries, the value of the US dollar is high. Many local vendors prefer payment in USD rather than the local currency. However, when using larger bills, you are often given back change from your purchase in the local currency. If you don’t plan a lengthy stay, the money is usually not worth it back at home. It can also be difficult to get a decent exchange rate.

It is good to note that some foreign countries will not accept currency older than a specific date. On my recent travel to Tanzania, a particular vendor would not take US currency older than 2009. I learned that there are no restrictions on banks to accept or reject the USD with further research. In some cases, if older notes are accepted, you may be given a lower exchange rate.

Similarly, many may not take torn or mutilated currency at some foreign locations. There was much concern while shopping in the local Maasai village because a bill had a small corner ripped. While this is a common occurrence in the US, note that foreigners are suspicious of the currency’s being valid when presented for payment elsewhere or at their banks.

Try to travel with currency in small denominations. Small notes are great for tipping, so before you travel, try getting your small bills from the bank as they are less likely to give out damaged or dated currency. With currency from the bank, you are more likely to have your USD accepted wherever you travel.

Has your US currency ever been denied when traveling abroad? Were you even aware of the possibility of your USD not being accepted when traveling? I’d like to know.