While this summer may be looking a bit different, the desire to "get away" is still very much on the mind of most families. Some may even beg to differ that this summer that desire is even stronger due to the past few months in quarantine. Families are feeling cabin fever and want to escape the confines of their home. A bit unsure as to how traveling might work, families want to know: Do they need to put their vacation dreams on hold his summer?! I was lucky enough to speak with Carol Crothers of Sunrise Travel the other day in an effort to answer that question. To my surprise, travel is MOST DEFINITELY still an option (well, with some modifications, of course).
Sunrise Travel, located in Sea Girt, is a full service agency offering consultative trip planning. This includes cruises, tours, customized independent travel, airline tickets and special multi generational family celebrations. Their agency has been in business for 45 years and has evolved as travel has changed. Their goal is to provide extraordinary service and create beautiful memories for their clients.
One of the key things that Carol spoke about was outlining your priorities. Before deciding on your destination, you need to know what kind of experience you want to have, how you plan on traveling, what your budget is and what your comfort level is with social distancing. A bit overwhelmed by those questions (and maybe even secretly bummed that I would not be visiting a foreign city anytime soon), I asked Carol for her guidance and expertise. She calmly reassured me that there are still vacations to be had.
While international travel still has strict guidelines in place, domestic escapes are starting to "open back up." While RV rentals are hard to come by at this point in the summer, home rentals are an excellent option for driving destinations! This is based on the vacationer being in complete control of their exposure to COVID-19 vulnerabilities. Renting is also a great way for families to spend time together in a non hotel/motel environment.
If, however, a more "all inclusive" type vacation was what you had narrowed in on after answering Carol's questions, there are still domestic option out there for you! Chatham Bars Inn in Massachusetts and Woodloch in Pennsylvania are accepting visitors. These resorts offer onsite activities for the whole family, as well as communal areas. (I personally reached out to Chatham Bars Inn to ask about their safety measures. I was very comforted to learn of their wellbeing plan that included multiple cleaning times during the day and personal protection equipment.)
With all of that information in mind, I feel confident that my, albeit crazy, summer might just include the vacation that I have been dreaming about! If you too would like to escape, I would definitely suggest speaking with Carol as she can help you shake the cabin fever that you might be feeling!
