The Best Time to Book a Flight

Above, over the Nevada desert en route to Las Vegas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Planning on doing some air travel this year?

You may be wondering, When is the best time to book your flights? Well, Travel + Leisure has posted an article on just that. It covers both domestic and international flights.

They begin it with:

Finding the best flight deals is a bit of an art form, but there's also some science — or at least economics — involved. There are only two definitive rules: Flights open for booking about a year in advance, and the airfare will change often between then and takeoff. So, as a general rule of thumb, you'll want to book plane tickets well in advance, as prices spike sharply in the days preceding the flight, taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.

But there are many variables that impact the dynamic pricing patterns of plane tickets, including the destination and time of year. In some cases, you can book just a couple of weeks in advance, while in others, you're better off reserving months ahead (such as a trip over a big travel holiday, when demand is high).

While travel has been upended by the pandemic for the past two years, we're seeing numbers return to normal — in its January 2022 Consumer Airfare Index Report, airfare tracking site Hopper predicts airfare will reach 2019 levels by April 2022. That said, given the general uncertainty regarding potential new variants, travelers are still holding off on booking flights until their travel dates approach, much as they did in 2020 and 2021. 

Nonetheless, good deals are still all about big-picture timing, and while travel logistics are more in flux these days, most airlines now waive change fees, making it easier for travelers to book well in advance and shift plans later, if need be.

The bottom line is that scoring the best flight deals can be tricky — and the pandemic's impact on travel and the airline industry has added more than a few challenges. But we're here to help you find the best flights for your upcoming travel. Our first tip: Start tracking flight prices as early as possible so you can keep an eye on cost fluctuations. Use Google Flights or Hopper to receive price change notifications about your tracked flights. 

To read more, go here. 

State Dept. Cutting Back On Advisories

Above, Narita Airport's international arrival lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There appears to be more evidence that things are slowly creeping back to "normal". It has been announced by the U.S. State Department they are cutting back on "Do Not Travel" advisories.

According to TravelPulse:

The United States Department of State announced on Thursday that it would cut back on “Do Not Travel” advisories for international destinations after public health officials announced a change in how they will assess COVID-19 concerns.

According to Reuters, State Department officials said the update would leave only 10 percent of the nearly 120 countries and territories at “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” which includes all risk factors, not just coronavirus infections.

“We believe the updated framework will help U.S. citizens make better informed decisions about the safety of international travel,” a State Department spokesperson said.

To read more, go here. 

Travel + Leisure's 50 Best Places To Travel In 2022

Above, the Saikai Bridge in Kyushu, Japan. Kyushu made the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we're in a new year, it is time to start thinking about where to go on vacation. Naturally, all this hinges on whether or not coronavirus and all of its variants will die off any leave us all alone.

Travel + Leisure has 50 best places to travel in 2022, internationally and domestically. Some of them I have been to already. There are some I am looking into.

They begin with:

Planning new adventures as a new year approaches is always a thrill, but finding the best places to visit in 2022 is unique. After two years of border closures, cruise cancellations, and travel restrictions galore, 2022 is the year we hope to get back out there, uninhibited (albeit vaccinated and COVID tested), return to our favorite destinations, and cross new ones off our lists.

Though the hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic, many properties used the forced downtime to renovate rooms, add new amenities, and expand outdoor spaces to offer even more once guests return. 2022 is when many travelers will venture further from home, and even overseas, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, finally reaping the benefits of these valiant efforts.

Although COVID variants remain, regulations are still evolving, and precautions must still be taken, many of the destinations we chose for 2022 offer what we believe travelers are looking for in a post-pandemic world, from hotels with private accommodations to destinations teeming with fresh-air activities. Others, like Las Vegas, are for those who are ready and raring to make up for all the social time they missed — with a few splashy headliners, including Adele and the Raiders, thrown in for good measure.  

To read more, go here. 

Countries Requiring COVID-19 Boosters

International travel (well, travel in general) is dicey right now at best.

Last year, we were told that two vaccine jabs would fully vaccinate us from COVID-19. Now they're saying that boosters are needed.

Some countries are now requiring booster shots for travelers in order for them to be fully vaccinated and allowed in.

TravelPulse has a list of countries requiring boosters.

They begin with:

Remember when we thought getting two COVID-19 jabs would render us safe and free to travel the world again? Not so, it seems. As the pandemic wears on and the virus mutates in ways no one could predict, the situation calls for more.

At least, that seems to be the belief among several foreign countries that have in recent weeks begun requiring international visitors to show proof of a booster shot in addition to their original COVID-19 vaccine series. Travelers with upcoming plans may find that the definition of “fully vaccinated” has suddenly been altered.

To read more, go here. 

WHO: Travel Bans Proven "Ineffective" So Lift Them

Is common sense finally creeping into the World Health Organization?

It seems that way as they are calling for countries to lift their travel bans as they have proven to be ineffective in stopping the spread of coronavirus and its variants.

Japan is one nation who has a total travel ban in place. The omicron variant has hit there despite the travel ban and other restrictions.

According to a post in Study International: 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for countries to lift their international travel bans amid pandemic-related travel restrictions. In a statement, the agency said: “Lift or ease international traffic bans as they do not provide added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress experienced by States Parties.

“The failure of travel restrictions introduced after the detection and reporting of Omicron variant to limit international spread of Omicron demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such measures over time,” read the statement. 

They suggested implementing travel measures such as masking, testing, isolation or quarantine and vaccination. The statement said countries should not require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for international travel due to limited global access and inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. 

To read more, go here. 

CDC Adds Eight Destinations To Highest Travel Risk Levels

International travel is not the smartest thing to do right now. Anyone planning an overseas trip at this time should have their head examined. Imagine getting sick with COVID-19 overseas and the travel insurance one purchased doesn't cover it?

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added more countries to their list of highest travel risks.

According to TravelPulse:

Spain and seven other destinations have been now designated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the highest travel risk level, encouraging American travelers to not travel to these countries.

The CDC has been measuring the travel risks of each country due to the coronavirus pandemic. The greater the transmission in a country, the higher their risk level. The highest level, Level 4, is given to a country that sees more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents within the past 28 days.

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Loosens International Tourist Requirements

Above, performers at a Honolulu luau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In four more days, the state of Hawaii will be welcoming international tourists

But, there will be some required things to do before one can board a flight to the islands.

According to CTV News (Canada):

The U.S. state of Hawaii will accept all vaccinated international travellers under new federal requirements that are set to come into effect Nov. 8.

A statement Tuesday from Hawaii Gov. David Ige says non-U.S. citizens travelling directly to the state from an international destination must show both a vaccination record and negative COVID-19 test result – either a NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) or antigen – within three days of boarding a flight.

Airlines will screen passengers prior to their departure. Foreign passengers who fail to meet both requirements will not be allowed to board their flight.

However, the state will not apply any other requirements for passengers flying directly into Hawaii from an international destination.

Similar rules will apply for U.S. citizens flying to Hawaii internationally.

 To read more, go here.

Have You Checked Your Passport's Expiration Date Lately?

How much time do you have left on your passport until it expires?

The average person (who doesn't use their passport that much) likely doesn't know when it expires. I have to renew mine next year and have already noted when to start the process in my phone's calendar. It seems not that long ago that I renewed it, but it has been about nine years already. I last used it two years ago during my cruise to Havana, Cuba.

Above, yours truly at Havana's Plaza de la Revolución two years ago. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Travel + Leisure has an article on how long the process takes to renew a U.S. passport.

They begin it with:

Before you even think about booking that bucket-list vacation, there's one thing you need to do right now: Double check the expiration date on your passport.

It's vital to make sure your travel documents are valid for at least six months past the dates of any planned international trips. Since passports are valid for up to 10 years, it's understandably easy to forget when exactly it needs to be renewed (especially if you don't use it all that often). This seemingly small detail could result in a travel disaster.

To read more, go here.