Touring overseas 2021

[northerncyclist]

I am thinking about an overseas tour in the winter of 2021 but am totally unsure what I will do. I know where I want to go and the prices of flights are great with good airlines and free exchange....But I am hesitating to book as I am unsure about the effects of the virus on the trip. First and foremost rules and regulations regarding masks, covid tests etc and then more importantly I am very unsure about safety in countries I have previously deemed safe. I am sure there will be many very desperate people due the virus.

So what about you ? Have you any plans for trips overseas in 2021 ? Do you share my apprehension about the dangers of collapsed economies or are you just looking to take advantage of cheap flights and free exchange ?

[Navrig]

Do you mean now or December?

[nirakaro]

I think this is a time for not making any travel plans at all for more than a few days ahead.

[Jdsk]

Recent discussion:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=142502&p=1561237
and the one on visas, health insurance etc:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=142391

Jonathan

[northerncyclist]

Do you mean now or December?

Good question....I mean generally from March / April onwards....I am looking at December.

[Navrig]

Good question....I mean generally from March / April onwards....I am looking at December.

You guess is as good as Boris' planning.

My view we might be sorted by then. Might as is in doubtful.

[Navrig]

You probably won't get insurance - travel or health, unless the pandemic is declared clear by the WHO.

[nsew]

It’s wait and see for the time being.

[djb]

...... and then more importantly I am very unsure about safety in countries I have previously deemed safe. I am sure there will be many very desperate people due the virus.

So what about you ? Have you any plans for trips overseas in 2021 ? Do you share my apprehension about the dangers of collapsed economies or are you just looking to take advantage of cheap flights and free exchange ?

I very much agree with your concerns.

my projected plans to come and bike around these two countries to explore and see family members living there are very much tempered by worrying how the locals behaviour will be if and when I come. I've always kept a Canadian flag hanging off the back of my rear rack, so perhaps this will help so that I'm not taken for an American if I end up biking around amongst the more desperate people in their collapsed economy. The flag has often helped in places like Mexico, so I'm hoping it will still have some weight in the future, hopefully in 2021--



--in England and Scotland.
(what is the expression, taking the urine?)
(friendly wink thingee)

[st599_uk]

I'm not sure what timescale people are looking at, but currently British Citizens aren't allowed to enter the EU for tourism.

I think dates we're allowed back are out of our control and will book once it becomes apparent, although may take a boat over.

[simonhill]

I think (actually I think I know) that the OP is talking about further afield than UK or Europe. This is a major concern for me as well.

At the moment the virus seems to be raising it's head again in many long haul countries, even ones that had successfully suppressed it first time around. This puts the chance of getting into any of these in the near future in doubt. Add to that the state of Covid in the UK and 'when' is obviously up in the air. Autumn, when I would hope to be travelling again is a long way off, but I thought that last April as well.

Nonetheless, a few countries are starting to welcome tourists back, including from the UK (although it's now our Govt that's stopping this). To get into these places, numerous hoops have to be jumped through and a period of quarantine or semi quarantine is often required. If you are going for 2 months then a 14 day 'wait' may be OK, not so if on a 2 week trip. Also the quarantine hotels tend to be upmarket places often charging well over $50 a day. All this adds up to a lot of extra expense, not something that is welcomed by budget orientated cycle tourists.

You can get travel insurance to cover Covid and many countries insist on it. If you think about it, how would they sell any travel insurance if it wasn't included.

From what I have read, different countries have different restrictions on internal travel. My concern is how easy will it be to travel around. One of the joys of cycle touring is going where you want and turning up in a small town and staying the night. My experience in Vietnam back in March showed that some hotels would not take foreigners. This could become more widespread once they open up. Not only hotels but also restaurants, shops, etc may not want you there. Beach loving tourists may be happy to stay in one area for the duration of their stay, but it's not what cycle tourists want.

Given how much many people are suffering as a result of Covid, it seems selfish to worry about this, but winter touring is half my life and it is very important to me. I miss it and am very worried about when, how and if it can be resumed.

[Jdsk]

I've always kept a Canadian flag hanging off the back of my rear rack, so perhaps this will help so that I'm not taken for an American if I end up biking around amongst the more desperate people in their collapsed economy. The flag has often helped in places like Mexico, so I'm hoping it will still have some weight in the future, hopefully in 2021--

That takes me back to the late 60s and the 70s. Irish tricolours were also popular.

Jonathan

[northerncyclist]

Yes I am thinking about beyond Europe in winter 2021...... The thoughts of being turned away from restaurants / hotels does not worry me too much but I did not have the experience of this happening to me in spring...Perhaps if it is common knowledge westerners have had the chance of the vaccine most people will believe you have had it and are virus free....A bit like you are western so you are rich........ .

Quarantine is a concern but that is something I would not do, I would just change my flight dates or country of travel. ........slow vaccine roll out is definitely an issue as most third world countries probably wont start vaccinating until the end of this year. I guess this aligns with the issues mentioned.

The biggest worry for me though is the economic pressure within the countries. Poor areas / countries can be some of the most friendly to cycle but desperate people may be another matter altogether.

[djb]

you know, I made that offhand jokey response earlier, but really I too am concerned about far off bike travelling in the future.
I've always wanted to bike in South America, but am very aware of how hard hit places like Ecuador or whatever are from covid and all the ensuing big time economic hits.
I've travelled enough in Latin America to know that security is something that must be taken seriously, not that I have had bad situations, but I'm realistic enough to know that along with "being in the wrong place at the wrong time" scenarios are real, but also that if the economy is already taking a big buttock kicking on top of the usual tough economic situation of "developing nations" , it is reasonable to expect the possible increase of risk.

in other words, I'll be taking more stuff into consideration post-covid (for us that is, the lucky first worlders) but also aware that the covid effect could very well be continuing for a long time for a lot of people in many places.

[Navrig]

The medium term problem is likely to be the recurrence of variants because every time one appears there will be a period of uncertainty whilst the medical specialists confirm that the vaccine works for that particular strain. Meanwhile there could be temporary border closures, travel bans and lock downs. It's one thing being stuck at home and another being stuck in a crappy little village in the Andes for 3 months......

The Brazil situation is a classic example.

I wouldn't plan on significant travel in 2021 and possibly even for early 2022.