FREE BOOKS…
Smashwords is offering an “Authors Give Back” promotion. This means participating authors will discount their books 30, 60, or 100%. Many titles will be available for FREE! I have offered all of my books at a 60% discount. This means that some titles are available for $1.27 and I think that none are more than $3. Click on the Smashwords link above to discover thousands of free and super cheap books. Now is a great time to catch up on your reading! All you need to do is add whatever books you choose to the shopping cart and proceed to check out. At that time, you will be asked if you have any coupons. Enter “AGB60” into the coupon box and you will see the price adjustment. This is only for my titles, which you can find at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/terrancezepke. This promotion runs through May 30 but authors can withdraw from this program at any time, so be to check into it sooner rather than later.
FREE TRAVEL…
The only free travel I can offer you is a VIRTUAL VACATION. I have lots of cool choices on my NATIONAL VIRTUAL VACATION DAY (March 30) page on Terrance Talks Travel. I have even posted pix of the most remote, least visited (but incredible) places on earth! Speaking of virtual, today is EARTH DAY and all celebrations are virtual this year. Click here to learn more!
Like everyone else, I’ve been grounded. But for how long? Even after the powers that be lift restrictions, how soon will we feel safe traveling again? I wish I had that answer. As someone who loves to travel and makes a living traveling, I plan to get back out there sometime this year. I think it will be late summer if all goes well with virus control. But I will definitely be meticulous with my travel planning.
GOOD DEALS…
The good news is that because the travel industry is among the hardest hit, there will be SUPER deals coming in the weeks and months to come. I just saw a 6-night all-inclusive trip to Costa Rica for $399! Ocean view resort stays for 80% off! Cross country flights for $71 round-trip! I saw round-trip business class from Newark to Paris in July for $1,600 (normally $6,000+). Cruises for $30 a day all -inclusive! The best news I have to share is that tour companies and other travel vendors are offering a no penalty cancellation policy for the foreseeable future. This means you can cancel and get you money back or a credit for a future trip. No penalties! You may be hesitant to make any travel plans at this time, I get it, but just know that as soon as coronavirus cases start to go down, airfares will go up fast.
CANCELLATIONS & FINE PRINT…
I recommend you read the fine print (as always) to make sure you understand the cancellation policy. Consider travel insurance if the airline or some other component of your trip is not offering a 100% guarantee. (Right now, airlines are giving full cash refunds rather than flight vouchers if they cancel a flight). Always use a credit card for consumer protection and keep an eye on the news for relevant updates.
CRUISES…
I just read in an industry publication that cruise bookings are up for 2021 over this same time last year. On April 9, the CDC issued a “no sail order for all cruise lines intending to operate to, from, or in American waters for 100 days or until the virus is no longer considered a threat. This includes Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The U.S. can only control cruises in U.S. waters so this does not apply to a cruise you may have booked in the Mediterranean or Baltic, for example. However, if you booked a cruise that will sail during this 100-day order and you depart from Nova Scotia but return to Alaska, that’s a problem. Also, there are other travel bans in place, at least right now, so be sure to check.
So should you go ahead and cancel your cruise? Not so fast. If a cruise line cancels the cruise (which they will have to do if it violates the aforementioned no sail rule) then the perks they will offer you to re-book will be much better than if you cancel.
If you are booked on American Cruise Lines or UnCruise Adventures, you are good to go as these ships have <250 passengers. But if you are booked on American Steamboat Company, your cruise is in jeopardy unless the CDC lifts this ban before 100 days.
FLIGHTS…
The United States, Canada and Mexico will extend restrictions barring nonessential travel across their respective shared borders for another 30 days amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration announced on April 20. International flights to other locales, such as Europe, are also on hiatus until such date as deemed safe. Domestic flights are still operating on a reduced schedule with many flights cancelled. However, it is advised against flying unless essential until further notice. I read that a man had to fly home to attend his mother’s funeral and he was the only passenger on the Fort Lauderdale flight, so chances are that was a fairly safe flight for him in regards to the virus!
RAIL TRAVEL…
Amtrak is still running but some routes have been suspended and some stations are unmanned. Food service has been reduced greatly. Social distancing is enforced in the stations and on the trains (50% capacity). Also, sanitizing is being done regularly and it is requested that you wear face masks in the stations and on board. Change fees are being waived through May 31 and you can cancel your booking without penalty until that date, as well. If you have rail travel booked outside the U.S., you will need to check with your travel agent or the rail service directly.
NATIONAL PARKS…
The National Park has closed some parks due to problematic clustering at certain key areas of the park. However, many parks are still open but public buildings and facilities are closed at this time. Check with www.nps.gov for specific park closures.
BEACHES…
Whether or not to open beaches has been left to local governments. Many were forced to close during April because they could not control crowds. Some have just begun opening up this week but there is still an issue with social distancing and clustering. I fear that if the public does not do their part, the local governments will close the beaches again. Also, there are different rules for different beaches. Some do not permit sunbathing or sitting on the beach, but do permit walking on the beach and water sports/swimming. Be sure to observe the rules of these beaches if you go. The same is true for city and state parks.
THEME PARKS…
All U.S. theme parks are closed at this time with no timeline to re-open. Some are optimistic they will re-open in late summer while others predict they will remain closed through 2020. Even if they re-open, it is hard to imagine most folks feeling comfortable to be in large crowd settings. But like all things coronavirus, we will have to take it day by day. The same is true for major attractions across the country.
FYI: At the same time that Disney recently furloughed 100,000 workers, they partially re-opened Disney Shanghai.
TRAVEL ADVISORY…
At this time, the U.S. has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for U.S. citizens traveling abroad. They have not (at the time of this post) announced when that may change. Always check with the U.S. State Department before booking any travel.
Another thing to consider when booking travel is what may be closed. For example, if you find a sweet deal to Paris, make sure before you nab it that the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and other attractions have re-opened. And again, check with the State Department to make sure there are no warnings or advisories for your destination(s).
Click here to see the CDC Travel Page!
THE NEW “NORMAL”…
No matter where you go or when you go, I think there is going to be a new “normal” around the world. I think social distancing will be prevalent for a long time, but I happen to think this is a good thing! Also, everyone will be more mindful of hand sanitizing and such. I plan to wear a mask if I fly anywhere this year, just to be on the safe side. I may make the financial plunge and book first class to minimize contact with others. And, of course, all of this depends on whether we have another outbreak or not.
What you do is up to you, of course. But I hope you will get back out there at some point and enjoy a good U.S. road trip, beach trip, Caribbean cruise, or adventure abroad. Just be smart and stay safe!
I will continue to post on both my main author site, TerranceZepke.com and my travel site, Terrance Talks Travel, as I learn of relevant travel news. And I will also share book and author news too. I’ve had a lot going on so I am a bit behind and won’t have a new title coming out until late summer. But I will keep you posted. I have five book projects in the queue that I am really excited about, so keep reading and I will keep writing!
Click here to visit my online store and find dozens of reports and books!
Click here to listen to my latest podcast, Camping Across America!
Terrance Zepke studied Journalism at the University of Tennessee and later received a Master's Degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina. She has studied Parapsychology at the renowned Rhine Research Center. She began her career as a freelance writer and photographer, ... 
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