How My Travel Outlook Has Changed

I've been seeing a lot of people saying they can't wait to go on vacation. Admittedly, I'm one of them, but unlike before this pandemic started, I have some new reservations. While I'd usually be researching flight prices and things to do right about now, I'm just not in the headspace to be doing that with Covid numbers still on the rise, even with vaccinations rolling out at a pretty good clip. Let's talk about why.

Will I travel this year?

We did a road trip in February, and while it was short, we saw a lot and had a good time. Having an Airbnb was perfect, because it allowed us to get away from home, stay safe when we knew that Covid precautions were taking place and knowing it was a lot easier to clean a few rooms than stay in a hotel where they have to clean dozens to hundreds of rooms in the same amount of time. We had a strict check-out policy, in order to comply with safety regulations of the state and allow for time between guests. This was super important to me. 

We also had a place to come back to with our meals and comfortably eat at a table, or make our own food, which we did half the time, as we hit up the grocery store and also brought food from home. This allowed us to have as little contact with people as possible.

We learned from that trip and will go on another, longer, road trip just Eric and I in the fall. We'll both be fully vaccinated in a few weeks, so we'll be feeling a lot more confident being around strangers, though we still might not be willing to eat inside. We've booked ourselves nights in our timeshare, knowing we'll be comfortable and they are taking the best precautions for the safety of their guests, but I'll also be traveling with antibacterial spray and wipes, and going over everything real quick again before we settle in. In all fairness, this is probably a good idea anyway. If you're staying in hotels, some of the surfaces just barely get touched by cleaning product (like the remote and the phone). 

Our yearly trip to Vegas has been cancelled two years in a row, so we are going to make up for it by driving down from Portland, stopping in Reno going and returning, and seeing some interesting roadside things along the way, including the International Car Forest in Nevada. We'll be masking up everywhere and washing our hands as much as possible, and using sanitizer when we can't. As I did with our previous trip, we'll have food, snacks, and drinks, as well as a Covid bag with garbage bags, toilet paper, paper towels, water, and sanitizing spray. You never know what you might need on the road. 

Why I'm not flying to Vegas

So, shocking no one probably, I have decided that this year is just not the year to fly on a plane. Early in the pandemic last year I said I was fine with traveling wherever, until we learned more about Covid and how it spreads and what it does. I knew I wouldn't be going anywhere pretty soon, but I wasn't sure it was going to last over a year. In fact, it will be two years from my last flight when I finally get on a plane again. 

It's not that I don't think the vaccine is going to prevent me from getting sick. I'm confident that it'll keep me from getting really sick, but I don't trust other people. If I were going to fly out of the country where people have to do Covid testing before they travel, then I would get on a plane in a heartbeat. I don't trust people to not fly when they're sick. And though I'll wear a mask, if they're sitting right next to me, there's no guarantee that I won't pick it up, especially if it's one of the variants that's more contagious, and pass it on to someone who isn't vaccinated. I know by then that people should be vaccinated, but there are some people who legitimately can't be, and others who are immunocompromised that could easily pick up the virus even though they are vaccinated. I'm not willing to be a party to that. 

When most people are vaccinated and we are cleared for non-essential travel again, I'll be back out there, flying all over.

Will I get on a plane next year?

Definitely. I'm assuming by then most people will have gotten their shot(s) and even possibly a booster at that point. My guess is that the world will be more open and travel will be as safe as it possibly can be. 

Will I travel more next year?

Considering by the end of 2021, I'll have only gone two places, and both within driving distance, I'll absolutely be traveling more and farther. I have at least 3 trips planned for next year, and I hope I get to keep all three on the calendar. 

How will we know if we should travel? 

This is definitely a personal choice and to be decided on a case-by-case basis. Right now, I'm still not advocating for elaborate summer trips where you'll be in contact with a lot of people. Here are some questions you should ask:

• Are you vaccinated? Is the rest of your family/travel party? (this should be the #1 question you ask and if the answer isn't yes, then my suggestion is you don't travel for any non-essential reasons.)
• Are Covid numbers trending down at your desired destination?
• What are the restrictions at your destinations? Are you willing to follow them. (If you're not, stay home.)
• Will you feel safe when you get there?
• Is the destination welcoming visitors?
• How is vaccine rollout going in your destination? Are variants prevalent there?
• What happens if you get sick while away from home? (Would it strain the local health system? Would you feel safe being treated there? Does your insurance cover you out of state/country? What if you're stranded for weeks or even months while being treated?)
• Are you willing to test several times and quarantine if it's suggested/required?
• Will you be able to make the most of your trip? Are things that you want to do open?
• Should you get travel insurance that covers Covid-related emergencies? (hint: the answer is a resounding yes.)

Right now, there are a lot of countries are open to Americans, but with restrictions of some sort, though right now it's being suggested that we don't travel outside of the country at all by the State Department, and if we do, to avoid 80% of countries when possible. The CDC is asking for most travel to be suspended/postponed. This sounds like a good idea considering that vaccine rollout is much slower everywhere outside of the U.S. and even here many counties are going back to high-risk. 

Before we know it, we'll be traveling like normal(ish) again, but until that time, I'm happy to continue staycationing at home with our destination date nights and adding destinations to our travel list. 

Where are you most looking forward to when you start traveling again?

How To Save Money When Buying A Car

With all this talk about road trips, you might be thinking about getting a better car that's road-trip ready. The pandemic had lots of rental companies selling off much of their fleets in order to make it through the tough times. Now that travel is bouncing back, those few cars left are in high demand and with high demand comes high price tags. We've seen some rentals as high as $300 a day. So, maybe you were thinking about getting a new car, or at least an upgrade, that can handle more long-haul trips.

Image by Jay Lamping from Pixabay

Buying a car is not a cheap purchase. Whether you are looking at new or old models, they often still cost a few thousand, and that’s without the insurance and tax costs. If you are looking to purchase a car but would like to save some money, it is possible. Here’s how.

Consider a common make and model

Common makes and models are often cheaper to purchase second-hand, plus they are often more affordable to repair if anything were to go wrong. 

If you are considering what repairs may need to be done for your car, new or used, then you can click here to discover more. Certain makes and models will cost more to repair, so buying a common car may be your best bet as it is likely that parts and repairs will be cheaper. 

Avoid buying a new car

Whether you like to buy a car that is suitable for a good old fashioned road trip or one for quick trips to the office and back, buying a used car will save you money. Although new cars are desirable, they will always cost more money. As soon as a car is driven out of the showroom, its value depreciates and is no longer worth what you purchased it for. 

If you do desire a fairly new car, then you are better off buying one that is pre-owned. You can find cars that are only a year old, in like-new condition, with very low mileage for considerably a lot less than the first sale price. 

Do your homework

It can be exciting to go and look at cars in person but you may get over-excited and pay more than what you need to. Doing some homework will provide you with the knowledge you need to find out the best prices for certain makes and models. If you are buying a used car, you may find that buying one with more miles means the price is lower. A few more miles on the clock may not hinder the car’s performance or longevity to a large extent. If you want to save some money and get the best deal, doing some research will help you understand what price is good. 

Pay in full

Paying for a car in full can seem like a huge commitment, but paying monthly installments will incur interest. Taking out a loan for a car, new or used, is a popular choice nowadays. Yet, over the years you will end up paying much more than you would if you were to pay for the car in full. 

It may be worth holding off from purchasing the car for a while if you do not have the money. Waiting a year or two means you can save the amount you will need and avoid paying interest.

Compare prices

The car you are looking at buying may be sold in several local dealerships. It is recommended to look around before committing to the car from a certain seller. A dealership online or a few miles down the road may save you some money. 

Negotiate

Alongside shopping around for the best deal, there is no harm in negotiating on the price. You never know how much money you could knock off the price. If the car is pre-owned as has minor flaws, then you are more than in your right to ask for a discount. Don’t be afraid to ask for a cheaper price whether you are in a dealership or purchasing from a private seller, they might consider your comments and offer you a few hundred dollars off. 

Trade-in your old car

For those looking to upgrade their car, you may be able to trade in your current car for dealership credit. This may not reduce the sale price of the car you want to purchase, but it will significantly reduce the price you will have to pay. 

You can often get more money selling your current car privately, but it will be more timely. If you are ready to purchase a new car immediately and have an old car to trade in, then you can save yourself some money by offering it to the dealership or private seller you are looking to buy from. 

Take it for a test drive

A test drive might be the make or break of a car sale. The car might look impressive but not perform in the way you expected it to. If you still like the car after a test drive but noticed a few issues, these should be reported back to the seller. 

If you are still interested after the test drive but would like them to reduce the price due to a minor issue that occurred during the test drive, then they might do so. You never know what discount you can get if you don’t ask. 

Get Insurance When You Buy a Car
Car insurance is very important for many reasons. The most important reason is that it can help protect you financially if you are in an accident. If you do not have insurance, you could be responsible for paying for all of the damages to your car and any medical bills that result from the accident.

Another essential reason to have car insurance is that it can help you avoid lawsuits. If you are involved in an accident and do not have insurance, the other driver could sue you for damages. This could cost you a lot of money, even if you are not at fault for the accident. If this happens, you'll have to contact a car accident lawyer. This can be a long and dragged-out process you'd instead want to avoid.

Buy just before the new model year

It is common for dealerships to reduce the price of a car just before the new model year. Thus, buying in late summer (around August) or in January could save you quite a bit of money. 

Dealerships reduce the price of cars when they need to hit their yearly sales quota. If they have cars remaining and need them sold, they are more likely to lower the price. If the prices are not lowered when you go to look but you know the new model year is approaching, there is no harm in asking for a lower price. Shopping before the new model year and asking for money off will most likely result in the best deal and most money-saving. 

Or, you could shop after the model year has happened, and prices may be reduced or cars might be put on sale that they know will be difficult to sell due to the newer models.

Utilize these tips if you are looking to purchase a car and want to save money. You never know how much you could save by negotiating, doing your research, or purchasing at a certain time of the year.

Happy King's Day!

Yesterday we celebrated King's Day on our Destination Date Night. I'll be writing up a proper blog post of our staycation and an accompanying post, but for now, I thought you might like to learn more about it, and you can see our photos on my newest Instagram post, Instagram story, or if you're reading this later, you can also see the story posts in my Covid Travel highlights.

Though there was no normal King's Day celebration this year, we watched some former year celebrations and a set from Martin Garrix done this year on the top of a building which was both fun and had awesome views. So, if nothing else we were able to have one of our own dance parties at home that would normally take place in Amsterdam.

While cramming on a boat with a bunch of strangers who are drinking doesn't sound all that fun to me, Amsterdam itself looks beautiful and worth the visit another time of year. 

This week I learned that Holland and the Netherlands are the same thing. For some reason, I thought they were two different countries, but they are not. 

Have you ever been to a city-wide party on your travels?