It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. Have you missed me? Are you just burnt out from quarantine binge watching and looking for anything different for entertainment…
2019 was a crazy year for me (you remember, back before we were all under house arrest). Business was growing like crazy and I was working around the clock as baby # 2 was due in the Fall. I came back from maternity leave this year for maybe a month and then Covid started to affect my work. First, a client’s connections returning from Asia were messed up as airlines scrambled to relocate their fleets as China shut down. I also had to weigh the options with clients traveling to hot spots like Italy and Spain, whether or not to travel as companies were not offering refunds at the time; plus, the full extent of the illness was not known. I, myself was still planning to take my own European family vacation in May.
Much of my time in February and March was spent checking in for updates in policies at hotels around the world. I knew before it was declared a pandemic, that regular insurance would not cover Covid. Having planned many babymoons in the time of Zika (having to reschedule a trip of my own too), I knew that insurance does not cover what they call “fear of an illness.” They would cover you if you needed medical treatment because you caught it, but not canceling because you didn’t want to catch it. (I’ve made a note to create a post discussing insurance. I know you are waiting with bated breath…)
As things began to close down, there was a mad rush to reroute people home. I would buy tickets on one airline and then the connecting city would ban transit passengers. It was a small victory to have seats pop open on a direct flight and be able to give the clients good news. I got my parents on a flight home a day early, only to have them get stuck in a sandstorm and have to rush to get them back on their original flight. It was a mad dash to get everyone home but thankfully we did!
My time after that has been a lot of checking in with properties and rescheduling. I think the saddest thing for me was rescheduling honeymoons. It just broke my heart. I had honeymooners apologize to me that they weren’t sure when they were going to reschedule! I was beyond moved that they felt bad for me having to do extra legwork when their milestone event was in limbo. That right there is why I love what I do. A honeymoon is often the first time people will test out a travel advisor. I was happy to be able to get them their funds back or have properties offer to keep the same rates for next year. (oh, and then I keep checking in to see if the prices drop because that’s how I roll!)
Of course, all of this was done while trying to work from home with 2 small children. Day care was closed, and the grandparents weren’t able to help for safety concerns. If you didn’t know, kids like attention. For some reason they don’t think that working is a valid reason not to spend every waking moment staring at them. I’m grateful we got to be together as a family for so many milestones but man oh man am I tired! Haha.
While I’m very excited to get a little R&R without the kids, I’m really looking forward to traveling with them in 2021 (fingers crossed)! We took my oldest to France before he turned 2 and it gave me a whole new perspective. We discovered experiences we had overlooked in the past such as marionettes and pond boats. We also engaged in conversations we might not have had otherwise. For example, an elderly man using his iPhone to explain, in French, where the bus was taking us while my son looked on with wonder was just priceless. While he may not remember the trip, he learned from the experience and I have an unforgettable memory.
The power of travel to open up your eyes to the countless ways different cultures have solved the same problems is inspiring. Travel also dispels fears and misconceptions about one another. It’s something the world sorely needs. I’m counting the days till we can spread peace and friendship again… I have hope that that day is coming soon!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!