If you missed my last post about being a Nomadic Camper, in 2020, it is estimated that ovDon't Let 2020 Take Your PTO Too!er 40% of working adults are not using their PTO allotments for the year. The reasons behind workers from being shy about using their time off range from feeling guilty because they're already spending time working from home and being worried that they may be furloughed first because they took time away from work.
Speaking from experience of working for a completely remote company for the last few years, time off is just as important when you're in your home all day as it is when you're working at an office. When we work remotely, we need a variety just like we would get when working in an office. Spending time working from a coffee shop patio or the park may help get us fresh air and some human interaction, but it doesn't wholly rejuvenate us. Add in the deeper complexities of social distancing, and we have a less than fulfilling experience.
As we get closer to the end of the year, I've started to hear from those with expiring PTO looking for safe travel options. I am frequently asked what options are open for travel and if destinations are taking COVID-19 seriously.
Over the last several months, I've seen destinations across the globe take COVID-19 related precautions to allow them to remain open. If you're starting to think about ways to use your PTO, I've included a short list below a few destinations and what they have done to help keep travelers safe.
1. Central Florida Theme Parks - The theme parks have led the way to propose and implement scalable methods for keeping the public and workers safe. At every dry theme park: masks are required when doing anything besides eating or drinking; temperature checks are quickly done before you enter the resorts or theme parks; countless hand wash and sanitizer stations have been installed; pavement markings are a constant reminder to social distance. Each theme park has created their own COVID-19 response policies, if you're interested in traveling to one of these destinations, send me a message, and we can go over the specifics.
2. The Bahamas - The Bahamas is known for its crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. The country has been welcoming tourists for the last few months with a few rules to keep everyone healthy. The Bahamas has plenty of all-inclusive resorts available to make an enjoyable stay, and even with their Vacation In Place policy, you have full use of the resort amenities. If you're thinking about a trip to the Bahamas, you'll want to check out the country's COVID-19 Travel Updates.
3. Las Vegas - With no current travel restrictions, Las Vegas is open to all, with each resort doing its part to make the city a safe place to play. As we'd expect to see, each resort is encouraging social distancing between players, requiring facemasks when in public, encouraging frequent hand washing, and cleaning gaming tables and machines. Like we see in Central Florida, each property has added its own twist with how they've implemented the changes, but overall, they are consistent between each location. As you're considering your Las Vegas getaway, check out the Vegas Smart COVID-19 responses.
4. Aruba - Besides being one of the most rainbow-friendly islands in the Caribbean, the country has been welcoming Americans since July 10th. The country has mask mandates, testing requirements before entry, and has placed limits on groups' size. The beautiful beaches are open, with amenities at each resort varying based on the respective company's own response plans. Dreaming relaxing on a beach in Aruba, check out the county's entry requirements here.
A common thread across all destinations is that any travel that happens this year will be much more relaxed and subdue than we may be used to. Many locations continue to limit groups' size and restrict which kinds of venues can be open. For example, in Aruba, bars and night clubs aren't open yet, but in Florida, they are reopening on September 14th.
If you're a cruiser at heart, we are still in a holding pattern to find out what the CDC will do at the end of September. The bright spot of hope is that MSC and Costa have been operating in Germany and Italy for the last few weeks and have shown success at managing cruising in a COVID-19 world. As soon as I hear about an update to cruising, I'll share it with everyone!
Rainbow Getaways is a full-service travel agency that specializes in travel for the LGBTQ community and our allies. We partner with destinations across the globe to fully customize each getaway. If you're still trying to figure out what to do with your PTO this year, schedule your free consultation today. Together, we'll find the perfect way to get you some R&R that doesn't involve your home.