wyatth707

Yo, it's been two years since COVID hit the travel industry hard. But with vaccines rolling out and travel restrictions easing up, we're starting to wonder: how much longer do we have to worry about this thing ruining our vacays? So, what's your take? How much do you feel COVID is still impacting your travel plans in 2023? Are you still hesitant to book trips or are you ready to hit the road (or the skies) with the proper precautions in place?

downinit

Only after effect at this point for me is higher airfares and poorly staffed airports/endless labor issues. Unfortunately, I do not see either of those concerns being resolved at any point in the foreseeable future. Hopefully the reopening of China will eventually cause TPAC airfares to go back down, and increased travel options across the board will result in lower TATL airfares.

Every single person who survived COVID is now three years closer to death than they were when it all went haywire, and for many of us, those three years should have been in the prime of our lives. Most of us are willing to live with the risks and want to make the most of whatever time we have left. For those still cowering in fear, what else do you honestly expect to happen? It has become endemic and just about all of us have been exposed to it multiple times by now. Those with an immune system incapable of fighting it off are mostly dead now. It is time for the rest of us to live out the rest of our lives. It is just one of many illnesses floating around that will kill us off when our body starts to fail us, for whatever reason. I do fear for when the next truly deadly pandemic emerges, as there will be very little collective will to counter and fight it. Fortunately, many of us will probably be dead by then, as these things tend to be few and far between.

Rl00605

to be honest, 2023 is going to be a normal year for me minus that airfare is so much more expensive. I travelled a bit during 2021 and the price comparison is day and night.

tai4de2

This post reads like it was written a year ago.

It’s been three years, not two.
Vaccines were rolled out years ago.
Travel restrictions started to be eased… last year or earlier depending on location.
Travel has been booming for months at least.

What ‘precautions’ did you have in mind? For me: not only do I not take precautions, I resist them.

sfgiants13

The only way it affects me is I actively avoid places with restrictions

papacheesy

I mean I wear a mask when on planes now. Does that count?

hurnik

Until the CDC gets rid of the 5-day quarantine, it makes travel extremely difficult. Pay a bunch of higher prices and get trapped somewhere because you can't fly back until the 5 days pass (at a min).

Global Adventurer

I never stopped traveling. I just took the required covid tests to enter certain countries. However even right now there's still cruise ships that require vaccines and testing so i still can't go on a cruise. I'm hoping those restrictions change soon so i can cruise before this winter. But, i still wear tight fitting masks regardless.

Badenoch

The only changes to my travel are avoiding those places and carriers that still have restrictions. Otherwise COVID will not affect my travel whatsoever in 2023. I am fully vaccinated and then some so will not be taking any precautions beyond what is required by law.

84fiero

Same with me!

It didn't even really affect my travels in 2022 other than a trip early in the year where masks on planes were required one some legs (although loosely enforced mostly).

NLNO

Not much, if any at all. Personally 2023 will be a record travel year for me.

Admiral Ackbar

Zero, have not let it affect me ever since travel re-opened in 2021. Keep informed and go with the flow.

florens

Zero. Back to normal and it is good that way. Finally.

stingray11214

Not much for me, except I am avoiding airlines that have a mask mandate. No way in hell am I wearing a face mask for 16-18 hours on a plane. It is time for the world to grow up.

wooootles

I take a jab every 6 months, so much that they're running out of space on my CDC card. Also N95 and face shield the entire time, and a little more judgy on people who don't wear masks.

Just kidding. COVID hasn't affected my travel patterns since last year.

I guess you can maybe connect the dots that the high fares in Asia can ultimately be traced back to covid, and thus I haven't returned to Asia since Jan 2020, so there's that.