Accepting Reality

I think that's a great/ healthy attitude - and if things change in a way you don't expect, you'll be pleasantly surprised (and hopefully you'll be able to move up the trip). I think the key is being flexible, but realistic. Really getting the hang of a new language takes time - I took about 2 years of Italian classes and many years of German (it really paid off). All this time can absolutely be spent productively - there is lots of "life to be lived" beyond traveling.

That's the smart thing to do. Europe will still be there in 2022.

Flexibility is clearly a requirement to go on living - I was reminded of that over and over in 2020, and it’s great that you’ve got projects and goals upcoming, even if you’ve reset your travel calendar a bit further. Keep on living, as the alternative isn’t going to get you in any future Chelsea Flower Show (even if you’re “pushing up daisies!”), and you’ll know when the circumstances will be right for your next trip.

We’ve reserved flights for late September 2021, but no other transportation, lodging, activities yet, and can cancel if needed, but we’re waiting just a bit more to see what develops. Although 70 is just a number, and it’s sometimes a startling number, but it’s younger than 73, so we’ve all got to keep on going over the next couple of years. Happy 2021 (and beyond)!

Good for you for persevering to keep a positive and healthy outlook.
For language, would you be in a position to work with a tutor..albeit virtually? Also, despite being 'tone deaf understand it also is lack of exposure to attuning our ears to a new language. That means watching foreign language films without subtitles and listening daily to French radio for 15-20 minutes. Sure, you won't understand it at the beginning, but it will atune your ear and over time, the language lessons will start to sound familiar and you will start to pick up on what you are hearing on the radio. With the internet, you can stream radio stations from around the world.
Also use this time to solidify other hobbies and activities that will give pleasure when travel may not be as available or physically possible. I know you do have a lot going on in your day, but maybe birdwatching or sketching could be a new long term hobby.
Happy New Year.

That is a GREAT attitude and I'm going to steal it!!! 👍 😊 Thank you!

I agree that planning for 2022 is more realistic. The only way to slow the ageing clock is exercise so you can truly enjoy yourself (remember all the walking?) when we can travel again.

Realistically, 2022 is the target date. I wish it were otherwise, but with the relatively slow launch of anti COVID vaccines, Americans will be personae non grata for some time to come.

Not to worry, though, because this will give the wonderful sites and sights in Europe time to recover after a devastating world pandemic and associated hits to the European economy.

Waiting ultimately makes the prize much sweeter.

I think you have a good plan. I don’t expect to travel until 2022 either. Maybe I’m wrong and I’ll have a happy surprise. I am also using my waiting time to learn a language, in my case, it’s Russian. I learn at a slower pace than I did when I was young, but I’m making progress, and I’m sure you will too.

My advice for learning a language is simple: get started and do it every day. There are so many resources out there. You should choose one that works for you, depending on your goals, how you learn best (listen and repeat, read, study, structured lessons, learn just the key phrases, etc), how much you want to spend in terms of time and money, flexibility, etc.

I chose to start with Pimsleur because of its flexibility. When I finished Pimsleur, I decided I wanted to learn in a more structured way. I now have a tutor who I found on iTalki.com and I am very pleased with my progress.

Good luck!

I already started exercising (again). Somehow cleaning horse stalls and feeding the special needs boy four times a day aren’t cutting down the size of my thighs. I'm riding a couple times a week but he's old so we just walk, trot and very little canter. I swear there are days I work harder at it than he does; whip and spurs are necessary tools for lazy pony dressage. Right now because it's cold (60*) we're hand walking around the arena. Yesterday was 3/4 mile. It may not sound like much until you factor in the dirt/sand footing (think walking on the beach) and having a 1100# kite at the end of the lead rope who's trying to bite you. I'll start road walking soon and then the mountain preserve trails.
In the meantime I'm knitting a hooded alpaca sweater for my future trip and have other knitting projects lined up.

Maria, I watch the birds daily: eat the wild bunnies’ food (I feed them several times a day), drop bread in the horse's water so I have to clean it and enjoy the owl who keeps most of the pests away. Thanks for advice for learning a bit of French.

Chriss, you can steal my attitude any time you want.

Good attitude, horsewoofie, and you may surprise yourself by discovering later that late-2021 travel is indeed possible. That's where I'm aiming anyway.

I've used Pimsleur CDs from our local library, plus a phrasebook, to get basic Italian and Spanish for trips there. The phrasebook gives the spelling of words that Pimsleur uses, which helps me understand and remember.

Just a note on the flower show. sometime next year join the royal horticulture society. That gets you the ability to buy tickets for members days. It’s well worth it. We’ve gone twice doing that and I would strongly recommend it versus public days. Especially if it gets hot the flowers start to look really weak by public days

horsewoofie..... I too think that is a great attitude .We had to cancel our March 19 departure as Covid was taking hold so we are looking forward to travelling for sure.

We are solo travelers for Europe so group tours are not an issue. We have just started to fantasize about a trip late fall. But given the current lack of a coherent vaccine distribution plan and the unforseeable, there is no way we will actually take any steps like making reservations or itinerary decisions. Don't want to be dissappointed overall and certainly don't want to get the likely airline notification that plane and schedule has been changed. Too much stress.

it turns out that there is a safe and realistic travel possibilty this fall I am quite confident we can pull something together in short order.

Thanks for posting your ideas.

Realistic and sensible. I’ve followed posts on this forum by folks who have planned trips to Europe for spring 2021 (!) and later in the year. One poster mentioned a fall trip involved a 90 day cancellation notice, meaning the poster would have to decide this summer. How could they possible know unless things go swimmingly well by then? I’m hopeful for 2022, but not investing any money refundable or not until it’s really clear how this pandemic is going. Even “refundable” money can disappear when troubles hit a business as we learned when Eating Europe stiffed us this year on a refundable food tour for 4 people.

I think you have a great attitude about it all. I wish I did. Still feel like I have lost a year of my life by not going to Europe, but when we can get there again, I plan to double up so to speak for the time I missed! In the meantime, yes trying to keep busy with projects and doing some domestic travel.
I do think it’s a bit soon for giving up on 2021. Especially if you are retired and can go as soon as borders are open. I mean they need our tourist dollars right? I have high hopes that when our next president takes office, things will speed up rapidly!
Oh and Horsewoofie, 70 is the new 55!

Great attitude, horsewoofie. I still think Fall 2021 will be possible.

Easy language learning tip: Buy a couple of "travel French" (or Italian) CD's. These are the easy ones with just the common phrases. Then hit Play every time you get into the car, even if it's only for 5 minutes. Listening to these over and over will attune your ear to the new languages. Don't worry about trying to understand it all or repeat at first. Just let it wash over you and it will gradually become familiar so that you can repeat these common and useful phrases. Also, I suggest focusing on one language at a time. Don't worry, it will come if you just keep listening!

horsewoofie, this made me smile:

Right now because it's cold (60*) we're hand walking around the arena.

My daughters and I did a trail ride last week in the snow at 20 degrees -- we thought it was wonderful. But come summer, if it gets anywhere near 80, we're like, oh..... that's WAY too hot, no riding for me. I'm guessing you guys in AZ think that's a pretty nice temp. We humans are funny creatures.

I'm glad you are finding fun, positive things to do, including getting back in the saddle. With being at home so much this past year, I have found myself easily falling into the trap of spending too much time on all the things that NEED to get done -- an absolutely endless list around my house -- rather than carving out some time for things that DON'T (like trail rides). I'm going to try and pay attention to and correct that imbalance as I move forward over the next few months.

I am feeling optimistic about the trip we have planned for next Christmas to Nuremberg, Prague, and Spain. I have made lodging reservations for the trip, but everything is cancelable and no money is due until late November. I won't book flights until summer at the earliest, later if the state of the world is still uncertain. If we need to move the trip, so be it, but I think our chances are good. And it makes me so happy to have reservations in my Booking app!!

The Chelsea Flower Show sounds wonderful..... best wishes that it all works out for you for Spring, 2022. It will be here before we know it.

By the way, thanks to everyone on this forum for these posts. I miss traveling so much, and it's good to hear advice and input from others in the same boat.

Back in March 2020 I was talking to a head guard in some museum or chateau in France. So much has happened, and so much hasn't happened since that conversation, that I can't remember exactly who, exactly where or exactly when. Anyway, he said he had been told by the cultural ministry not to expect international tourism to resume before 2022.

I was shocked. What two years! Are you kidding! Everyone kept looking at three months, maybe four, ok five for sure and we'll be normal.

And we just kept plodding forward. So, I guess you are right horsewoofie, and it looks like this official was right, and we just need to keep plodding along through what is ultimately an historic moment in time.

"It never hurts to look for a little sunshine." Eeyore.

Glad to be reading positive thoughts from everyone. We too, are waiting for 2022, but the dreams and planning never stop.

"My New Year's Resolution is to be positive that I will travel again instead of dwelling on the negative thought that my time is running out."

This is perfect!

If you and SIL decide you want to do more than the Chelsea Garden Show there is a Road Scholar program that starts in Canterbury for a few nights, then to Cheltenham, then finishes in London for the Garden Show. There are garden visits every day from the 2 bases outside London. I've signed up for May 2022 for this one.

https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/22576/Chelsea-Flower-Show-and-Gardens-A-British-Tradition/itinerary/

They are similar to Rick's tours, although have a few more group meals and less free time but are a reliable company. They did have some hiccups with pandemic refunds to start with but they are based in Massachusetts which apparently has strong consumer protection laws.

Thank you for such a positive post! I had already accepted that I won't be traveling until at least fall of 2021 after I retire, but now I feel better even if it's not until 2022. Concentrating on positive thoughts for the new year is a great resolution. Thanks for helping us keep things in perspective. Good luck with the language studies - I agree with listening to your language(s) of choice as much as possible. For me, it's Italian - can't wait to go there again. Happy New Year!

The best outlook I have heard is January 2023 for semi-normal European travel. There are a lot of people in the world who need vaccines. All countries, including the US, will allow in selective travel from certain countries over the next two years. I wish it was sooner. Unless several more pharma companies get into the manufacturing, it will be a long time to vaccinate 80-90% of the world for the virus to lose its momentum.

Threadwear is right. As Dr. F has said, it will take months for vaccinations to impact the pandemic rates. And I think the actual hospitalization rates will be the key criteria for decisions to open up leisure travel overseas, not the number of people of vaccinated. The virus could mutate worse again, or naturally decline, for all we know.

Horsewoofie, I think we all have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. And that means being ready to travel on short notice in case something breaks loose.

Edited:
Thanks everyone for your suggestions about the Chelsea Flower Show and learning languages. New year, new thinking, new goals.

DebVT, that’s just too cold! It’s not even comfortable until 75*! Those of us who have horse(s) at home need to remember the joy of riding and that a dirty stall for a day won’t kill the horse.

Threadwear and Stan, the Black Death (plague) of 1347 lasted four years and killed between 75million and 200million. There were no vaccines then, no social distancing or quarantine. Hygiene was unknown by our standards. I’m sure we have moved forward with pandemic control if people would just take responsibility for their actions and think of others.

Here’s to a much Happier New Year!🥂 and traveling in 2022 if not before 🥳

d'accord that waiting until 2022 is better. I am using 2021 to catch up on visiting friends and family in the USA who I haven't seen since Nov 2019. Then I'll hit Europe again in '22.

I agree that making any concrete (or even not so concrete) plans for spring 2021 is not a realistic thing and will probably lead to disappointment. But just because things are starting overly slow with the vaccine doesn't mean things won't pick up, both in the US and in Europe and make fall travel possible. That's nine months away. Think where we were nine months ago. I certainly wouldn't book anything non refundable for Fall 2021 but I'm going to make some plans. Plans that could be used in 2022 if Fall 2021 doesn't work out. But by just saying 'forget 2021 altogether' you run the risk of other things happening. You could get sick with something totally non pandemic related. There could be a whole new pandemic, or a war, or major volcanic eruptions. How would you feel if it turns out that Fall 2021 is possible to travel (and perhaps even good as there could be less crowds) and you didn't 'bother' to go and then something happens in 2022 and you can't go then. Just saying - If this past year taught me anything its that if travel is important to you, take opportunities when they present themselves, don't pass them by because you never know what's ahead.

So, how do people feel about domestic travel?

The more-contagious mutation of the virus appears to be doing a number on the UK, despite its early start on vaccinations. As of December 28 the UK's highest daily rate of infections (which occurred on that date) was 41,385. The next three days had figures of 53,135 - 50,023 - 55,892. Today's figure (probably final though not yet graphed) is 53,285. This link also provides a bar graph of the daily death count, which is worrying.

The new variant is now in the US as well as a number of other countries. Will it take hold here as it has in the UK? I don't know. But we are not yet seeing the impact of Christmas and New Year's. I think it's very difficult to know how the positive impact of the first few months of vaccinations will interact with the horribly high baseline infection rate, the holiday impact (which is likely to raise the daily case count) and the new variant. All the public-health people seem to be saying we're in for some extremely difficult months. How many such months? I suspect that depends on how quickly we (in the US and in our chosen destination countries) get our act together on the vaccination process.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/uk/

Cases in some places (like South Dakota for example) are down considerably from their peak. I heard one journalist speculate that people in some states that were refusing to mask/social distance, saying it wasn't 'real', etc. finally got scared when their hospitals all filled up and they actually starting see people they knew get sick. And they started 'behaving' and it's making a difference. I'm hopeful that after we see a spike in January based on all the idiots who couldn't behave themselves over Christmas, by then pretty much the whole country will realize that there IS something that they can do to bring this under control. It will help to have the biggest idiot of them all finally out of the daily news after January 20th and sensible people taking the lead on getting this under control, including the vaccination roll out. It's going to take a few months, but barring any new problems I'm hopeful international travel will be possible by late summer/fall 2021. Probably with things like testing before flying, and mask wearing in certain situations.

I'm also curious also about how people think the domestic travel situation looks. For example, would you be willing to do a road trip to places like National Parks this spring? How low would the numbers need to go for you to feel comfortable doing something like that if you haven't gotten your vaccination yet?

Until I can get the vaccine I’m not going farther than the grocery store. It isn’t just for me but for my husband who has mild respiratory problems. I am one of those people who get everything that’s going around—colds, flu, ingrown toenails...I’m more cautious than a risk taker.
I will consider a trip to Washington DC in fall if vaccinated. I’ve never seen the Smithsonian museums, plus it’ll be a good time to celebrate the election after the crazies go home.

Here's to Washington for you. If you are thinking of staying for a week or more then consider Alexandria as a base. We've done it twice, rented townhouses in a very pretty area of homes built just after the war (Shirlington?). Quiet, leafy and pretty, and many restaurants just across a walkway over a highway close by. Public transportation into the city by bus and subway.

As the experts and elected leaders seem to be getting it all wrong, I suggest the forum create a manifesto outlining the allowable and not allowable and send it to our representatives for enactment. That will stop this thing in its tracks.

I think you're joking, James, but I disagree with that characterization. I think the scientists have generally done a good job with new information as it becomes available, and a lot of elected officials have tried to point us in the right direction. It's not reasonable to expect people to make perfect decisions from Day 1 when dealing with a novel virus.

Thanks horsewoofie for starting this post. I'm a neighbor down here in Tucson. Moved here from EDH not too far from the Folsom poster.
With the vaccine starting to flow, albeit too slowly, I think the pent up demand for travel will make getting preferred accommodations/flights, etc. for late '21 harder as the year progresses. As a result, we've already booked independent travel to Venice, Florence and Malta interspersed with a structured tour to Sicily for October and November, '21. All can be canceled within 15-30 days before for full refund. Soon, we'll try to book flights with similar cancellation policies, if possible.
Yes, I might be crazy for such bookings but it has helped keep me uplifted and doing what I love---planning for and traveling. During '20 we rescheduled 4 trips and was fortunate to get refunds or solid travel credits for future trips.
As mentioned---it was challenging to keep things in perspective about "losing" a full year out of my 73 soon to be 74 years. I've maintained a solid exercise and diet regimen so I stay as fit as possible and also take care of myself spiritually and psychologically.
Wishing everyone all the best in the new year and many miles to go.

acraven, of course. But still, after following every law established by our elected officials, and to the letter, its still not uncommon to be insulted here. My daughter who spent the last 7 months working 60 hour weeks in covid units, it was implied was selfish and contributing to death for spending a few days in FL. Right now I am in a place that had incredibly difficult entry requirements and daily reporting requirements that I have complied to, to the letter, and still I am hesitant to discuss it.

Horsewoofie, I agree. There's always a way for the glass to be half full, rather than half empty, while we wait for when the time is right to travel, not just for us, but for others as well. While I'd love to travel next autumn, I'm expecting 2022 at the earliest. I'm not even convinced of that, frankly. When I finally can travel, I don't need too much advance planning time. And when it is finally safe to travel, I imagine I will plan quite a few trips very close together!

Emma, if we play a word version of Where's Waldo with James' current trip, I'm guessing he recently got lei'd :-)

Regarding language learning, it may be worthwhile to check in with your local community college. Right now many are offering classes over Zoom, and the cost is quite reasonable. I use an online app, too, which I am finding is great for learning to read the language but not as much for speaking. This week I begin ten weeks of Italian; the class is limited to 15 students so the Zoom format should work well. And I save money not putting gas in the car or stopping for a cappuccino on the way...more going into the travel kitty:).

We've made lodging reservations for Italy in September 2021, with the caveat that all of them are refundable or allow for rescheduling in 2022. I hadn't even planned to book lodging until Spring 2021 at the earliest for a fall trip to see how the vaccine rollout went. I spent this past summer reading Rick's Italy book and planning the basics of the Italy trip. However, I continued to run into the issue of lodging already filling up in the locations that we plan to visit, so I said "what the heck" and just booked everything at refundable rates.

We won't be buying airfare until 2-3 months out, if we go. And as much as I'd like to book day trips and winery reservations now, that's a no-go for many, many months.

As far as domestic travel, I'm not hopping on a plane until I'm vaccinated. My husband and I are currently slotted in the Phase 1C group, so we'll just wait patiently until it's our turn. We live in a city whose citizens have been relatively careful about following guidelines, but I'm well aware that many of our fellow Americans are not making good choices - and I have no desire to be around those folks until I'm vaccinated. We fully expect that we'll be wearing masks regardless for a long time, and we're OK with that as part of the travel experience in this new world.

Eric, BINGO!

But at least its domestic. This is why the hesitancy..
Travel is a crime on this forum.. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/transportation/american-airlines-covid-precautions

I thought about doing a trip report, but it would just end up being deleted.

Jen B, in some situations like airports, it's difficult to avoid the careless, and thats a shame. In most situations I can just give those sorts a wide berth. Fortunately in Texas the retail outlets and social services are doing a good job in their premises so we can enjoy some normalcy. And in general people fulfill or exceed the requirements for mask and distance As a result our numbers are sort of in the middle of the pack and we enjoy most traditional freedoms and enjoyments. Those with higher degrees of concern have support from delivery companies and shop at home to provide them the essentials and at least some enjoyment. All in all it appears to be a workable compromise. Hardest hit appear to be those in cultural groups where large family gatherings play a more important role; a significant percentage of our numbers. But I believe they are educated in the possible outcome and make their choices I just avoid those circumstances.

If there’s a reasonable chance to travel overseas in late fall I will definitely be trying for at least a short—5-7 days—trip. I plan to get vaccinated but am nowhere near the front of the line. In the meantime I might do a couple of little domestic trips, up the coast to Mendocino in spring if there’s enough open, though I really just want to go beach combing. I should be spending more time learning Hungarian, too.

Isabel, I wish there was a “like” button on posts, as I’d put one on yours. Agreed with it all. I remade all my Fall 2020 hotel and tour reservations to October 2021. Thankfully, got an air refund, but tours I only got vouchers. We decided if we are allowed in to Italy due to being vaccinated, we will go if we don’t have to wear masks outside. I first said I would refuse to travel and pay that much for 4 of us if I have to wear a mask. But like someone pointed out, take these opportunities when we can. If we just have to wear masks on an inside tour, then I’ll go. With a vaccine we would be able to eat inside a restaurant at last.

As far as domestic travel before a vaccine, I’m unsure. Hubbie is planning on running a marathon in Ventura over Memorial weekend. If we are not vaccinated by then, it would depend on the numbers. If cases and deaths have declined quite a bit, I might get on a plane (be in airport) with a mask and shield.

If you can get a vaccine in time I think summer and fall 2021 will be a sweet spot for travel. The masses won't yet be engaged. I suspect 2022 and 2023 will be crazy as far as travel is concerned.

Teachers and old folks will be vaccinated by spring (among other groups). I hope you guys are in one of the earlier vaccine categories; if not, summer may still be in play but fall most definitely.

As for masks it bothers me that people can still enter stores maskless, even though masks are offered at the entrance for the lazy and stupid. One cashier angrily told me that management didn't have the guts to enforce the rules. A greeter at the entrance said she often receives harsh words from the mask-deniers. I would do that job for free, at least for a day, if the manager would allow me to enforce the rules. It's so unfair to the workers exposed at the store by idiots. Sorry, I'm calling a spade a spade.

BigMikeWestByGodVirginia; ditto!

Big Mike, i think shared this here before, but my best friend in grad school in 1991 in Boston would go yell at smokers who were encroaching on the non smoking area as a form of stress relief.

Mike, I'm absolutely with you on the masks and I'll leave it at that, as I know something as common sense as that can still somehow cause a thread to go off the rails.

And I'm with you on the potential bargain for later 2021 travel (while acknowledging the risks). Payoff could be big for those who have the stomach for chancing it. But completely understand the general sentiment to save the stress and just delay to 2022/23.

doric8, I didn't mean to come across as a hall monitor, which I was actually very good at in 5th grade. I was also a street-crossing guard, which was exciting!

casperthegm: Totally agree. For some groups near the front of the line, like teachers, this summer/fall might be a good time for travel. For others it may be wise to wait longer?