Insights in Travel Blog

When our family spent Christmas 2020 at Disney World, masks were required at all times unless seated for a meal, lines had markers for social distancing, Fast Pass lines were completely gone in order to use that space for extra distancing, and restaurant capacity was very limited with tables spread out. Ordering a meal at quick service restaurants was done almost exclusively by using the Disney World app.

So we were anxious to see how things had changed when David and I went by ourselves at the end of August 2021. During Christmas, we had stayed in a 3-bedroom villa off-site that could accommodate our whole family with a kitchen, living area and separate bathrooms. However, we stayed on site this time, since it was only the two of us.

I chose the Caribbean Beach resort, which is a moderate Disney resort. We had stayed there about 30 years ago, so I was anxious to see how Disney has kept up the resort. But more than that, the Caribbean Beach resort is the hub of the new Disney Skyliner and I wanted to see what it was like using that as transportation. We were very happy to be placed in the Jamaica section, which has the most direct access to the Skyliner.

While the rooms don’t stand out in any way, they’re quiet, clean and comfortable. It’s nice to have a refrigerator available in the room and the lay-out with the toilet and tub/shower separated from the double sinks, makes it easier to share the room with family members, if necessary. The large main pool was often busy with lots of energetic children playing, but each section of the resort has its own separate pool with lounge chairs. Those were much quieter and there were always plenty of lounge chairs and towels available.

We were never able to get a reservation at the main table service restaurant at the Caribbean Beach, called Sebastian’s Bistro, but we had no trouble with walk-up service at the outdoor café and bar called Banana Cabana. Restaurant reservations are the hardest thing to get when making last-minute plans at Disney World!

As expected, the best part of staying at the Caribbean Beach resort was easy access to the Skyliner! We’re not big fans of using the motorcoaches. The Skyliner gave direct access to both Hollywood Studios and Epcot with a very pleasant ride sailing above the roads and buildings. The breeze was wonderful and the views were fascinating. It gave us a whole new feel for the lay-out of the parks. We loved not only the ease of using the Skyliner, but also the separate entry into Epcot, which is near France, rather than at the front of the park. We enjoyed it so much that on most days, we used our park hopper access to go from one park to the next using the monorail and Skyliner combination. This required walking from the World Showcase in Epcot, through the front of the park, to access the monorail. It’s definitely more walking than going directly on a bus, but that didn’t bother us. The only park that had to be accessed by motorcoach transportation or by driving our own car was Animal Kingdom. We were happy to leave our car parked in the resort lot and use the bus, which does have the advantage of dropping you off and picking you up with a very short walk to the park entrance.

We managed to snag a last-minute reservation in Topolino’s Terrace, on the top floor of the new Riviera Resort. The Riviera Resort is located right on the same lake as the Caribbean Beach resort, along the walking/jogging trail that circles the lake, joining the two resorts. It’s also possible to take the Skyliner from the Caribbean Beach station to the Riviera Resort station. Although it’s a pricey meal, we enjoyed Topolino’s for its relaxed, but refined service and tasty menu. I always struggle to find good food with my gluten and dairy allergies. I didn’t have a bunch of choices, but they worked with me nicely. We shared a warm olive appetizer that was amazing, especially alongside the fresh gluten free bread.  We would definitely splurge on another meal there in the future.

Another restaurant we tried for the first time was the Jungle Navigation Co LTD Skipper Canteen. It’s located in Magic Kingdom, pretty much across from the newly renovated and re-imagined Jungle Cruise. The restaurant carries on with some of the same goofy humor used in the Jungle Cruise ride, but our waitress focused more on good service than being funny. We very much appreciated that. We were surprised and excited to find a Stellenbosch wine available on the menu, which was one of the wines we had enjoyed during our recent trip to Cape Town, South Africa. It was as delicious as we remembered and greatly enhanced our enjoyment of the restaurant, which is otherwise just so-so, in our opinion. They were very careful about my allergies and I enjoyed a fried chicken dish that is seldom something available to me. So the good service, nice wine selection and decent options on the allergy menu, made up for what we considered a so-so atmosphere.

While we were there, masks were required indoors only. As long as the lines were outdoors, most people didn’t wear a mask. Then we’d all put them on as soon as we reached an indoor section of the line or the ride. The distancing markers in the lines that we saw in December were no longer there for the majority of the rides, and it looked like they were preparing to use the Fast Pass lanes again soon. We didn’t really need the fast passes in late August since crowds were low most days.  Between school starting up and the lack of foreigners arriving in the U.S., the wait times weren’t bad at all. Often, we found the wait times were lower than advertised.

As in December, we enjoyed the pop-up mini parades, or cavalcades. They’re quick and fun and help avoid the back-ups of crowds along the parade routes. Also, characters were often found in little staged areas all over the parks. There’s no personal contact, but they interact with the crowd and pose for pictures.

There’s a lot of construction in Epcot right now, as Disney prepares for its 50^th Anniversary celebration starting October 1^st. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will open on the same date. Hopefully, fast passes and meal plans will be available again soon!

What’s it like in Cancun and the Riviera Maya this fall?

In a word, beautiful. Even though resorts have been hurt by closures due to Coronavirus and then struck by Hurricane Zeta, they’re quickly cleaning up, refreshing damaged areas and welcoming guests with a (masked) smile and friendly service. During the short time my friend and I were there, we noted impressively fast progress with getting debris removed and damage repaired.

We visited the Iberostar collection of resorts for 5 days. Since the resorts are not opening at full capacity, crowds are automatically controlled. It’s a wonderful time to enjoy the beaches, pools and public areas with plenty of chairs and space available.

Safety was the first priority, from the moment we were greeted by our transfer service through the check-in procedures at the resort and the strategies in place on site. Luggage is sprayed, hands are constantly sanitized and temperatures are taken. Entering the resort for check-in requires hand and feet sanitizing as well as a temperature check.

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Once inside, check-in is done at spaced tables in the lobby bar, so there are no lines. We relaxed with a refreshing drink of our choice while our paperwork was completed and we were given our wrist bands.

We were delivered by golf cart to our room with our sanitized luggage, though our bellhop wouldn’t enter our room, so that it would remain sanitized. All rooms are not only sanitized, but have a mandatory waiting period of 24-hours between guests.

Iberostar still has daily maid service. We could have put a “no service” sign in our key holder on the door if we preferred not to have them enter. However, we were content to have the beds made and the towels refreshed!

We enjoyed delicious meals in a variety of restaurants, from casual to more formal. Buffets are still available, but with a server dishing out food, rather than guests using the serving spoons or forks. Masks are required while walking around any public spaces, but may be removed when seated in dining areas.  (Note that many guests do not wear them when walking outdoors, but all employees do.) Menus are available using a QR code on your phone and most have indications for foods that are vegan or that contain various common allergens, such as gluten, shellfish or nuts. We received excellent service in all levels of the restaurants, and even at the beach on the lounge chairs. The only time it was difficult to know which foods contain which allergens was when eating at the buffet. Those labels did not contain any allergen indications.

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Sargassum (seaweed) has not been bad in this area lately. Certain areas along the coast are very clear while others are relatively clear, though not completely.

So what’s it like to venture away from the resort? We took a small group tour to Tulum and then to a smaller, somewhat remote cenote. All of the typical precautions were required, such as wearing masks, sanitizing hands, and even spraying shoes. Even outdoors at Tulum, masks were expected to be worn. However, it’s impossible to keep everyone in intense heat outdoors wearing masks, so they were often removed unless standing in a group. Further, one can’t wear a mask while swimming in a cenote (fresh water underground caves), so they were removed for that entire part of the trip, and sometimes we did have to get pretty close to one another. The only way to truly mitigate all risk of catching a virus, or anything else, from someone on an excursion is to take a privately guided one.

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Because of the reduced numbers and COVID-19 regulations, it’s important to know that some services, entertainment and restaurants are not always available. Traveling during this time is not the same as traveling a year ago. Expectations do have to be altered. However, if you go knowing that there will be some limitations, it’s still possible to enjoy a vacation with sunshine, beaches, pools, good food and kind service!

As most of us have canceled or radically changed vacations and altered everyday lifestyles during the past 6-7 months, questions arise about how safe it is to fly, what it’s like to visit foreign destinations allowing Americans, and what the actual flight process is like. Both because I was itching for a vacation and because I wanted to personally check out the situation for my clients’ sake, my daughter and I took a 5-day trip in early September to Puerto Vallarta. 

We flew out of Charlotte with connecting flights through Dallas both ways. We had an early morning flight and not only was Charlotte airport considerably less busy than usual, there were few shops or restaurants open. Normal opening times have been completely altered, which was doubly disappointing since we also wouldn’t receive any snack or beverage service on our flights. American Airlines’ current policy for shorter domestic and Mexican flights is to hand out a bag with a small water bottle, a bag of pretzels, and a sanitizing wipe in it as you board the plane. No other service is available.

Face masks are required in all of the airports. While the vast majority of travelers obey the rules of only removing their masks while seated and eating, there are still some who completely ignore them unless forced to do so. On one of our return flights, which was packed 100% full, we had 2 passengers sitting next to each other who only put on their masks when flight attendants reminded them of the rule, then took them off again as soon as the attendants walked away. They were by far the exception to the rule as most people went out of their way to be thoughtful and courteous of how others might feel. 

Social distancing is a real mixed bag when flying. At TSA, there are distancing markers, and people obeyed them. But then when we boarded the plane, we got bunched up waiting in line to get to our seats. Similarly, when disembarking the plane and going through our temperature checks and immigration, we got bunched up in lines again. Then on the flights themselves, 2 of our 4 flights were fully booked, so there was no space between seat neighbors. The planes did seem noticeably cleaner to me, with the exception of the restrooms on the full flights. 

Everywhere we went in Puerto Vallarta, staff and even most people just walking around outside, were wearing masks. We didn’t wear them when just walking outdoors, but many people did. When entering any shop, restaurant, or hotel, masks are required and there is hand sanitizer available at most places. Upon arrival at restaurants and hotels, and at some excursions, temperatures are taken before entering the establishment. It’s important to have a QR code reader while traveling since most places have removed menus, activity lists, and directions and instead give you a QR code to pull up the information online. However, that’s not universal. 

The Marriott where we stayed was very clean and followed all possible protocols. Our table at the outdoor restaurant where we ate several times was sanitized both when they cleared it after the last diner and then again when we were seated. Wait staff wear a plastic mask that is closed on the bottom, fitting around the chin, then scooping upward and open at the top. Plexiglass is used at counters and desks. However, wherever we went we found that we, and the person behind the counter, would lean into the cracks or around the sides more often than not, so we could hear each other. Talking through a mask with an extra layer of plexiglass and trying to understand each other’s accents can become difficult.

At our Marriott, rooms were cleaned every other day. However, everything appeared to be well sanitized. The phone and tv remote were even shrink-wrapped. Items such as coffee makers and refrigerators have been completely removed. Ice buckets are also no longer in the rooms, but guests may call to request a bucket of ice. Similarly, there are no binders with information about the resort, no pens and no paper anywhere in the room. The one newly added item was a bag of sanitizing wipes!

When outdoors at the pools or on the beach, face coverings are not expected. Whereas staff always wore face coverings walking around outdoors, most guests did not. Guests only wore face masks regularly in the lobby and indoor spaces. 

We had some wonderful excursions and went into town a few times. For transportation to and from these places, we used Uber. The drivers were always wearing face masks, as did we. Cars were clean and we never waited more than a couple of minutes to be picked up. Taxis were also readily available everywhere, and we never saw a driver without a mask.

On our excursions, things were a bit different. We took a fantastic 4-hour ATV tour. At the beginning, temperatures were taken and we were given bandanas to wear with goggles in case we preferred to use those. However, we were not required to wear anything other than the helmets while riding. We had several stops for photos, drinks, a tortilla demonstration and snacks, and everyone in the group was pretty careful about keeping some distance while doing these activities, which were all in open air, and under shelter. Guests did not wear face coverings during these times. In contrast, our guides kept on their face coverings the entire time when stopped.

We also took an all-day catamaran sailing trip. While our numbers were low enough on the catamaran to keep a bit of distance, none of us wore masks while sailing. Being outdoors in the wind, sun, and salt, I think we all felt pretty comfortable.

I was generally very impressed with how hard the Mexican people were working to stay safe and keep everything sanitized. Our vacation was extremely enjoyable and it’s a real treat to travel with no crowds at resorts (plenty of available lounge chairs) and no waiting in restaurants. With the fresh sea breezes, cleanliness, and regulations in place, we felt very safe. The only times we were a bit uncomfortable about possible exposure was when we were crowded into lines in the airports. 

So would I recommend traveling to those places allowing American visitors right now? It depends. If you’re someone who is at risk and doesn’t want to ever be in a space with a group of people, then there’s just no guarantee that won’t happen. And a few fellow travelers are going to try to get around wearing their face masks whenever possible. If that makes you uncomfortable, you probably shouldn’t fly yet. However, if you’re not in the higher risk category and are anxious to get out into the world again, I’d absolutely recommend it. In spite of some of the limitations of being able to control every single situation, airports, airlines, restaurants, resorts, and excursion companies are doing everything possible to keep everyone safe. And overall they’re doing a good job.

I was in need of a vacation and returned home refreshed… and ready to go again!

In the morning, I went for a final little walk along the waterfront, trying to soak in the views, scents and sounds one last time. Then I met up with most of the group at Bootleggers. We discovered this place later than I would have wished. It’s in the opposite direction of town and the main strip of restaurants and stores. We had seen it when driving, but didn’t know how good it was from looking at it from the outside. Their almond milk mocha was dreamy (I’m still dreaming of it) and the atmosphere has a beach town vibe. It’s constantly filled with cyclists, stopping off for a coffee break while cycling along the coastline. The main down side is that there’s no view of the ocean from there. But we enjoyed it thoroughly and were happy to make it our last stop before walking back to the house to pack up and head to the airport.

The return trip to the airport was a lot less harrowing than the arrival night had been! It couldn’t have been more different. By now, David was very accustomed to driving the 10-seat van on the left with the left-handed stick-shift. It was daylight, rather than dark, and we understood the traffic patterns and customs and were more familiar with the roads themselves. Plus, we had finally managed to get my GPS to work, so we weren’t blindly trying to figure out when to turn if we couldn’t find a street sign. We were all remarking on the difference and reminiscing on that insane experience our first night in Cape Town.

We had allowed extra time in case of traffic and to fill the tank and drop off the car. As it turned out, there was a massive traffic back-up on the opposing side of traffic, but everything ran smoothly and efficiently heading in our direction. Dropping off the car was quick and simple, unlike our long wait to pick it up. So we ended up at the check-in too early to check our bags. Thankfully, there’s a nice selection of restaurants on the second floor overlooking the check-in area. So we enjoyed a nice lunch in Primi, one of the chain restaurants we had enjoyed by our house, then checked our bags and went quickly through customs and passport control. We had about a 4.5 hour long layover in Johannesburg, but were able to spend the time doing some shopping in some fun stores with African-made items (including some tasty gluten-free and dairy-free chocolates!), getting a massage to prepare for the 16+ hour flight back to Atlanta, and eating another meal. It’s a good thing our trip was so active because we indulged in many great meals and thoroughly enjoyed the local wines/beers/cider/cocktails (each of us having our own preferences for what we like to drink).

David asked everyone what their favorite part of the trip was. Some said golf, some said climbing, some said surfing, but I think we all agree that just driving through this southern region of South Africa, enjoying the beauty, seeing the animals, experiencing the food and drink and eclectic mixture of people has enriched us all and left us with too many wonderful memories to count.