Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Anyone else travel recently or in near future?
Old 06-09-2020, 08:40 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
2017ish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,504
Anyone else travel recently or in near future?

With international travel, this is looking like a mainly domestic travel year for us. With an unusual amount of last minute planning.

We did a week on the road to visit friends/relatives in mid-May. About 1000 miles (TN to MO, etc.) Was interesting to see differences in mask wearing depending upon locale. (Big cities vs. rural wide spots on the state highways) Not bad driving on interstates and major state highways, as there are sufficient places open for provisions, gas, and restroom breaks.

This past week, flew to Colorado to meet up with friends at a VRBO for a week of hiking, etc. Air travel is definitely impacted more by the virus response. No food/drink service to speak of, and very limited service in the airports due to lack of traffic. (United, AA, and SWA, however, were all flying at close to full capacity into Denver--with SWA limiting itself to only 67% of normal capacity right now)

Next week, we fly to Alaska for 5 weeks, including 20 days RVing. They've just removed the 14 day quarantine requirement, as long as you have a negative virus test within 72 hours of arrival (and some other requirements, including retesting in 7-10 days after you get there). Thanks to the pandemic, we were able to get nice campsite in Denali with a month notice, as well as the RV rental. If that destination is on your bucket list and, like us, you were putting it off for later, this may be a good time to hit it. (Air fare up and back was very attractive, although instate flights were not terribly marked down.)
__________________
OMY * 3 2ish Done 7.28.17
2017ish is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-09-2020, 09:25 PM   #2
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: xx
Posts: 53
Just back from 6 days enjoying the Oregon coast in beautiful Cannon Beach. We stayed in our RV. Enjoyed 2 restaurant meals, one outdoor and one indoor. Daily coffee shop visits. Multiple shop visits (with masks). Lots of time spent walking the beach and local hiking was much needed for us and for our pups. We encountered many happy people, visitors and locals alike. No fear, no mistrust. Just lovely.

Edit to add: heading to Chicago over 4th of July for family visits. Flights involved, so more precautions there.
ItsAllGood is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 12:54 AM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
njhowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,931
3 trips planned for mid-August through mid-September.

1. Visit relatives (DW's side of the family) for a gathering/event in Birmingham, AL - flying in to ATL and driving from there.

2. Visit mom in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

3. Disney, FL

Was able to get great pricing from Southwest for each of them.
njhowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 12:59 AM   #4
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: S. California
Posts: 776
Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsAllGood View Post
Just back from 6 days enjoying the Oregon coast in beautiful Cannon Beach. We stayed in our RV. Enjoyed 2 restaurant meals, one outdoor and one indoor. Daily coffee shop visits. Multiple shop visits (with masks). Lots of time spent walking the beach and local hiking was much needed for us and for our pups. We encountered many happy people, visitors and locals alike. No fear, no mistrust. Just lovely.

Edit to add: heading to Chicago over 4th of July for family visits. Flights involved, so more precautions there.

May I ask which RV park, and would you recommend it? We will be up there in summer 2021 with our RV.
ElizabethT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 04:39 AM   #5
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,156
I just completed getting my new TSA approved driver's license from the DMV...what a hassle. We have plans (and reservations) to visit Sandals South Coast in Jamacia for our third time (we love the wide open spaces, low occupancy, and laid back attitude). This will be happening in mid December, but we are still in flux as to how many restrictions will be in place, or if there will be a second wave that could affect our plans.

We are taking the camper to a local State Park for 4 nights starting tomorrow...1st time of the year.
ckelly78z is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 05:27 AM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Bryan Barnfellow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,045
Planning our first trip of the year: a week in September in Menton, France (Cote d'Azur). We are craving the seaside and early September should be lovely there. It's only a 4.5 hour drive by auto. The latest we can cancel at no charge is Aug 1, so we'll see how things are looking then and decide.
__________________
FIREd, April 1, 2015. My Retirement Benefits Package includes: 6 months vacation, twice a year.
Bryan Barnfellow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 06:04 AM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
njhowie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,931
Quote:
Originally Posted by ckelly78z View Post
I just completed getting my new TSA approved driver's license from the DMV...what a hassle.
https://www.tsa.gov/real-id

Quote:
REAL ID deadline extended.

Due to circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the national emergency declaration, the Department of Homeland Security is extending the REAL ID enforcement deadline by a year. The new deadline for REAL ID enforcement is October 1, 2021. Read the announcement.

Beginning October 1, 2021, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.
njhowie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 06:44 AM   #8
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,156
Quote:
Originally Posted by njhowie View Post
My standard drivers license was expiring on Friday (I turn 55), so it was time to renew anyway.
ckelly78z is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 06:48 AM   #9
gone traveling
 
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 147
Flying Southwest next week. They are requiring masks and I don't think they're doing the cattle herd lineup anymore. Glad to have TSA PreCheck.
JustVisitingThisPlanet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 07:44 AM   #10
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 249
Last week we spent 4 nights in the Trinity Alps area near Coffee Creek, CA. We are self contained in our truck top pop up camper. Got some good hikes in to lakes and the north fork of Coffee Creek. Was good to be away from internet and just enjoy nature. Had the NF campground all to ourselves. We are planning a trip to the Steens Wilderness in NE Oregon late June.
Mango1956 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 07:59 AM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
ugeauxgirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Rural Alabama
Posts: 1,353
We're in Utah right now. It was originally an extended family vacation, but mom and dad cancelled the lodge we were going to stay in after they got COVID. We're are responsible for getting our own airline tickets so we just kept ours. It's been wonderful.

We have had to make some changes. Zion was going to be a pain to get into so we're not going there this trip, and the Hoover Dam is still closed. Today we're hiking to see petroglyphs and tomorrow we're renting ATVs and doing a 40 mile trail! Grand Canyon Friday, and then back home.
__________________
Projected retirement--2020 at age 48 (done!)
ugeauxgirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 08:43 AM   #12
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
RetireAge50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,660
Currently hanging out on the Columbia river. Biking, bird watching, and golfing. Next week up to the mountains near Leavenworth WA for some motorcycle trails. Then over to the ocean.
RetireAge50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 09:38 AM   #13
Dryer sheet aficionado
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 49
Next week we're going to Miami for a few days. I was open to going anywhere and was surprised it was one of the cheapest destinations to go to flight wise and hotel wise. I've always wanted to go, so I'm really looking forward to it.
Speed Racer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 09:48 AM   #14
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
2017ish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,504
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustVisitingThisPlanet View Post
Flying Southwest next week. They are requiring masks and I don't think they're doing the cattle herd lineup anymore. Glad to have TSA PreCheck.
They are calling up 10 at a time for boarding. Not bad.
__________________
OMY * 3 2ish Done 7.28.17
2017ish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 09:57 AM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
audreyh1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,019
We’re planning a long road trip in about a month to check on things at home, before returning again.
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
audreyh1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 10:17 AM   #16
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: S. California
Posts: 776
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustVisitingThisPlanet View Post
Flying Southwest next week. They are requiring masks and I don't think they're doing the cattle herd lineup anymore. Glad to have TSA PreCheck.
I hope you'll report back on this. Just spent about an hour reading feedback from recent fliers claiming that US airlines, including Southwest, are not enforcing anything COVID-related. The reports indicate that not even the flight attendants are consistently masked, forget about the passengers.

(NY Times, yesterday online)
ElizabethT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 10:40 AM   #17
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
2017ish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nashville
Posts: 2,504
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElizabethT View Post
I hope you'll report back on this. Just spent about an hour reading feedback from recent fliers claiming that US airlines, including Southwest, are not enforcing anything COVID-related. The reports indicate that not even the flight attendants are consistently masked, forget about the passengers.

(NY Times, yesterday online)
Based solely on our two SWA flights Nashville/Denver, this was not true. They weren't obsessive if you were eating or drinking, but definitely enforcing masks on boarding/unloading. Didn't see anyone without mask when flying, but didn't pay that close of attention. Attendants were always masked--even when they were seated in back behind the restrooms.

Of course, given the quality of masks most were wearing, there is the question of futility--but that is another matter.
__________________
OMY * 3 2ish Done 7.28.17
2017ish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 11:05 AM   #18
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 297
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElizabethT View Post
I hope you'll report back on this. Just spent about an hour reading feedback from recent fliers claiming that US airlines, including Southwest, are not enforcing anything COVID-related. The reports indicate that not even the flight attendants are consistently masked, forget about the passengers.

(NY Times, yesterday online)
7 days ago I flew from Denver to Anchorage on UA. All passengers wore masks as instructed (except for eating or drinking). One was provided if a traveler didn’t have one. All flight attendants wore masks. All middle seats wound up being empty. UA sent a message the day before stating the plane was “full” and offered rolling the flight over to another day. I suspect this was done to give people the option of delaying for another less full flight, but that is just an assumption on my part. Hardest part of travel was the limited food options as many restaurants/fast food places weren’t open in the airport. That might have changed by now.
Gremlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 11:45 AM   #19
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
ugeauxgirl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Rural Alabama
Posts: 1,353
On our flight to Vegas everyone wore a mask for boarding and exiting the plane. I saw a few people sleeping with no mask, and eating, but for the most part, everyone had them and wore them. I saw an occasional person walking in the airport without the mask on, but it was either in a pocket or around the neck. Better compliance than anywhere else I've been.
__________________
Projected retirement--2020 at age 48 (done!)
ugeauxgirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2020, 11:53 AM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ExFlyBoy5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
I have tickets on AA for Alaska at the end of July. I was hesitant at first, but the ticket prices were ridiculously low, so pulled the trigger.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
ExFlyBoy5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anyone Else Get An Unexpected Check From The US Treasury Recently ? ownyourfuture FIRE and Money 16 06-21-2019 12:51 PM
Question about the economy, stock market, and near future LOL! FIRE and Money 47 12-10-2018 03:21 PM
Biloxi - Anyone been there recently? thefed Travel Information 2 11-03-2010 09:14 AM
Help me predict the near future... malakito FIRE and Money 3 06-16-2005 10:56 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:50 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.