For the past several weeks, we’ve compiled the thoughts and experiences of our staff, writers and readers about the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. As a travel publication, we’ve all been affected during these difficult times, as have many of our clients, friends, partners and more.

Below is the final in our series; hear more from our freelance writers, intrepid travelers who are often all over the world at any given time; our Globility Board, a vetted group of our subscribers also usually around the globe; and from us, the team behind Global Traveler, trazeetravel.com and whereverfamily.com.

How is the current situation affecting you? When do you expect normalcy to return? Will you travel right away? Do you have upcoming trips planned? Tell us. Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.

From our team:
My husband and I postponed our plans to spend several days in New York City this spring. We also looked forward to rambling about New England this summer and fall, but that is on hold for now. We have been sheltering in place at home in Connecticut.

As expected, we are experiencing huge effects on our family life. Out of an abundance of caution, we are not getting together with friends and family, and we miss hugging our six grandchildren. It’s also frustrating not being able to help out as our sons now both work from home (and one daughter-in-law is an APRN at a hospital) and they all juggle child care with work schedules, along with the kids’ distance learning. It’s a tough time for all.

The most difficult event was the recent passing of my 99-year-old mother. She was in a nursing home for six months, and when the state of Connecticut understandably locked down all such facilities, we could no longer visit her. We were finally allowed in during the last week of her life, when family could visit one at a time under strict CDC guidelines, donning mask, gown and gloves. Due to current restrictions on gatherings, we will postpone any type of in-person memorial service. On the bright side, my mom had a wonderful, long, healthy life, and we have been able to celebrate her life virtually through social media and phone calls.

I’m keeping busy sewing fabric face masks for local health care professionals who are working with limited access to protective equipment. And to stay fit physically and spiritually, I practice tai chi and take walks daily.

I try to remain optimistic — and calm — and look forward to a time when we can all gather again with family and friends to celebrate life’s events, plan relaxing vacations and get back to exploring new places.
Jan Hecht, senior editor

If you had asked me in early March what I’d be doing right now, my answer would have been, “in the homestretch of planning our wedding!” Scheduled for May 30, in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, we’re more than likely postponing the big day until August 2020. It’s been a whirlwind, trying to adjust to the new normal, working from home, dealing with other changes and considering changing our wedding date and postponing our perfectly planned honeymoon to South Africa. My bridal shower was canceled, my bachelorette party in the Finger Lakes was also canceled. The bridesmaids’ dresses have yet to arrive, likely delayed somewhere around the globe. But, in the face of it all, we’re doing our best to stay positive, thankful we have our health, our families are safe and knowing everything will work out exactly how it’s supposed to, perhaps even better than we ever could have imagined.
Kimberly Krol, editor in chief

From our writers:
Two trips have been canceled so far. One was a VRBO stay in Scottsdale March 21–28, plus another week of touring the state. My husband and I rented a four-bedroom ranch home and invited two other couples to join us and both couples backed out. We wanted to as well but the VRBO property owner was refusing my request for a refund. After much back and forth, he finally agreed to let us reschedule. I believe considerable pressure was made on VRBO (social media, phone, email) by many renters in the same position. I received an email from VRBO’s president saying it urged its partners to refund or reschedule and 95 percent agreed. I was able to cancel everything on the additional week of touring Arizona without penalty. Thank goodness I had the foresight to book with Southwest Airlines, so a cancellation was quick and easy online with funds deposited in our frequent-flyer accounts for rebooking in one year.

The second was a cruise on Holland America from San Diego to Vancouver April 28–May 2, during which the Midwest Travel Journalists Association would hold its spring conference. I am on the board. The board agreed, after months of planning, we would cancel the conference and refund the registration fees to all members registered. This is now in the works. Members are responsible for canceling airfare. That cruise no longer appears on HAL’s website. I am also a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and received notices that the Central States Chapter meeting in Louisiana and Freelance Council meeting in West Virginia this spring have been canceled. A side note: Our MTJA board meeting by conference call proved difficult. We were using a free teleconferencing feature. Many of the board members had trouble connecting and, when we did, the connection was so garbled we had to end the meeting halfway through the agenda. I wonder if this is because so many people are working from home and teleconferencing, tying up the lines.

We are not in quarantine, are feeling fine and sheltering in place. This is no problem for me because I work from home anyway (I do miss my yoga classes!) but my husband, a lawyer with his own practice, drove to his office in the Chicago Loop to bring files and documents home. He usually rides the Metra commuter train but I, and our children, persuaded him that is unwise during the pandemic. He is 72 and has a heart condition requiring him to be on blood thinners.

No life events disrupted for us, but we were shocked to receive news my husband’s good friend of 50-plus years (who would have been with us in Arizona) just died, not of the virus but most likely a heart condition. This friend has a huge family (eight kids, all with spouses) and many, many friends, but due to the virus, we may not attend the funeral.

As for future travel, the minute this pandemic is over we will travel again and I predict we will not be alone. With so many people going stir-crazy at home there will be a pent-up demand to vacation by those who still have jobs and enough money in the bank to afford it. And many who were forced to cancel spring travel will have airfare credits to use within a year and VRBOs to reschedule (Airbnb and cruises, too).
Kathy Rodeghier, @traveljournophotog

From our Globility Board:
I was fortunately in a slow travel period March–May this year. We’ll see about some planned June trips, just waiting and watching at the moment. Stay safe.
Eric Ludwig