In the course of 3 months, COVID-19 has upended “normal life” as we know it. Almost everybody has been affected in one way or the other, and it is unclear when we will be able enjoy those turquoise waters of the caribbean, or go backpacking through Europe again.
Many travelers are looking for answers to these million dollar questions: when will we be able to travel again? Is my summer trip affected? What are my options? Can I get a refund if I have to cancel the trip I planned 6 months ago? When will all of this be over?
While we may not have all the answers, the team at Run Away Travel is here to offer assistance where we can. From our research, we’ve created an extensive list of all we know about the travel industry and will continue to update this page each week.
What we know: Destinations
- Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Riviera Maya are expected to open the second week of June. The resorts will take precautionary measures to keep visitors feeling safe and at peace.
- The Dominican Republic has kept its land, air, and sea borders closed since March 17th and has extended its closure until June 2nd. The majority of the resorts in Punta Cana are expected to open July 1st and the rest will open around July 15th.
- Restaurants, bars, museums and exhibitions have begun reopening in Florence, Italy since May 18th in phases ( June 1st for other regions).
- Greece will be opening hotels to foreign visitors on June 15th, however, travelers will initially have to be flying in through Athens (ATH). The country’s other airports — such as Santorini (JTR) and Thessaloniki (SKG) — will open to international arrivals traveling from July 1st.
What we know: Airlines
- Hotels, airlines, and tour operators have all taken a hit, with many companies offering credits in lieu of full reimbursements in order to keep the industry afloat.
- Airlines have received bailouts from the government, while other travel companies are asking for additional COVID-19 relief funds.
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While some airlines are still operating flights around the world to cater to essential travel, many airlines will remain mostly grounded well into summer.
- Nonetheless, airlines are implementing safety protocols to ensure the safety of passengers. Measures include frequent aircraft cleaning, blocked-off middle seats, temperature checks, and touchless kiosks to name a few.
If you are a Run Away Travel customer that has had their travel plans change or impacted due to COVID-19, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our travel specialists. We are here to help!
