Although many Americans miss being able to travel the world, a majority of them aren’t quite ready to explore just yet. This was made clear in a recent survey conducted by AAA Travel, that found that 67% of their respondents said that they were uncertain about whether they should take a vacation. Many of these respondents stated that their reasoning for being uncertain was due to the ever evolving threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, Americans aren’t sure whether or not they should be visiting their loved ones this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas usually include large gatherings and travel plans that may end up putting people at an increased risk for contracting the coronavirus. Due to this increased risk, 60% of Americans stated that they won’t be traveling to visit family and friends this year, according to a survey conducted by Travelocity.
Be that as it may that a majority of Americans are uncertain about whether they should take a vacation, there are some places around the country that Americans actually do feel comfortable traveling to. In fact, 80% of trips will be to places that are known for outdoor and socially distanced activities.
According to AAA, some of the top road trip destinations this year will include:
- Denver, CO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Keystone, SD
- Portland, OR
- Phoenix, AZ
- Colorado Springs
The CDC has stated that, “Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.” The CDC has also released a list of people who should avoid traveling, including anyone who currently has COVID-19, anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19, people who are at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, as well as anyone who lives with or works with someone who is at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
If you’re uncertain about taking a trip in the near future, do your research before making any concrete plans. Look into the risks that your potential destination may pose, and think about if you’re okay coming face-to-face with those risks. If you are planning on traveling, do your part to keep yourself and others safe by wearing a mask, keeping your distance, and washing your hands. Afterall, we’re all in this together!
COVID-19 Travel Tools:
- AAA COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map: check all of the travel restrictions by state.
- CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker: Check each state’s coronavirus cases over the course of the last 7 days.
- CDC COVID-19 Travel Recommendations: Discover travel recommendations by destination.
