Leisure Travel in a Locked-Down World
As the world endures the coronavirus pandemic, vacation-going and leisure travel have not stopped. Whether travelers are adventuring domestically, internationally, or locally, they’ve adapted to COVID-19.
Esmeralda Salvador, hopes to make travel a staple in her life. "I can't wait to travel the world and learn about new cultures, but for now as a student I can do quick day trips." October 25, 2020 at the bluffs in Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Johaira Dilauro/The Corsair)
In early 2020, health experts and government officials developed safety guidelines for essential travel. Today in the U.S., The Center for Disease Control (CDC), offers a variety of safety guidelines on how to pump gas, use a public restroom, stop for food, and more. In all scenarios, they strongly advise that travelers social distance and wear a mask, but ultimately they recommend “staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19,” according to their website.
Laura Lasko is an international student at SMC who’s used COVID-19 restrictions to her advantage. She explained that traveling is a big hobby of hers and taking online classes has allowed her more flexibility to go on trips. “During quarantine, I went to Lake Tahoe. I went to Washington DC, Arizona [and] Las Vegas,” said Lasko who was also in Sweden at the time of this interview.
Recently, Lasko visited Dubai for a getaway with a friend where they rode camels, safely enjoyed the nightlife, and explored the city. “It was for fun because I've been quarantining for so long. I just needed some sun, so me and my best friend decided to [go].”
For anyone a part of the SMC community who wants to travel internationally amid COVID-19, Lasko had a few recommendations. “I think you should follow the country's restrictions that you [go] to, so just read through that. When I was in Dubai, you had to have this app for COVID, or in certain countries like in America, you have to wear a mask...so respect the rules and take precautions like using hand sanitizer. If you feel a little ill then stay at home.”
Lasko mentioned that Dubai required the public to wear masks and that incoming travelers from the U.S. needed to test negative for COVID-19 before entering the city.
International travel is limited for U.S. citizens and travelers who spend more than 14-days in America. Non-essential travel, recreational activities, and tourism are prohibited for U.S. citizens in a few nations including Canada and Italy. Mexico is prohibiting non-essential travel across the Mexico-American border through Nov. 21, but they have no COVID-19 restrictions for travelers flying into the country.
Other restrictions for travelers from the U.S. include a 14-day quarantine upon arrival, as enforced by Ireland, and a negative COVID-19 test that's taken within 10 days of departing the U.S., as enforced by Jamaica.
Domestic travel within the U.S. also has restrictions from state to state. New York is one of a few states that requires a 14-day quarantine period with some exceptions. Hawaii recently stopped enforcing a 14-day quarantine at the end of October, resulting in an increase of COVID-19 cases statewide. The new requirement is a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Other states including Nevada, California, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Florida, have no interstate COVID-19 restrictions.
Ingrid Devi Dasi is an SMC international student from Israel. Over the summer they went on a domestic trip from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon. They intended to drive but with the civil unrest that resulted from racial and political tensions, they felt safer flying to Oregon.
“As a trans person. I don't know how people will react to me in more rural areas,” said Devi Dasi. “I was just [thinking of] my safety and it’s been cheap so I can just fly.” Devi Dasi credits their affordable transportation to the pandemic as they were able to book a round-trip ticket for about $220 with American Airlines that would typically cost over $400. American Airlines also allows flyers to make changes to their flights free of charge, which is another benefit stemming from the pandemic that multiple airlines have adopted, including Delta Air Lines and JetBlue.
Devi Dasi admitted that it was a trip they needed. Portland was a place they always wanted to visit and its beautiful nature allowed them an opportunity to relieve some stress and anxiety. “I had the biggest natural high of my life seeing those green lush trees,” said Devi Dasi. “For me, that has been a life-changing experience.”
Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Big Bear, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree are cities that are local to Santa Monica and offer COVID-19 friendly accommodations for day trips and multiple-day getaways. They are travel destinations where tourists are able to participate in a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, camping, sightseeing, shopping, eating, and more. For more information on these cities, visit California’s tourism marketing website, www.visitcalifornia.com.
For updated COVID-19 safety guidelines from the CDC, visit www.cdc.gov, and visit the U.S. Department of State website for International COVID-19 travel restrictions.
