5 strategies I'm employing to plan a trip during the ongoing pandemic

Staying at home is the safest option during the coronavirus pandemic. However, many people are still choosing to travel. Nearly 800,000 individuals flew within the U.S. in just one day this past week, not accounting for all those hitting the road to escape home before school resumes soon.

This summer, we managed to enjoy a few well-organized nearcation road trips to mostly socially distanced locations. My oldest daughter and I even took a flight to experience the reopening of Disney World—all while wearing masks and face shields. As we anticipate fall and winter, our previous plans have been dashed, similar to what happened in spring and summer. Nevertheless, we still hope to broaden our exploration and possibly visit some national parks as a family out west.

However, forecasting the future has proven nearly impossible this year, leaving no assurance that our planned trip will actually be viable when the date arrives. So, how can you plan a future getaway when the pandemic landscape is so unpredictable, with quarantines, travel restrictions, and more? In short: with caution.

If you’re considering scheduling a future trip, here’s how we’re approaching it to ensure there’s something to look forward to. At the same time, we’ll focus on maximizing savings and minimizing losses in case things don’t go as planned.

Maximizing double Delta Companion Certificates

By holding the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, I receive one Delta Companion Certificate each year upon paying the annual fee. My renewal is in August, so I've just received a new companion voucher that’s valid for 12 months. Additionally, the unused certificate from last August, which would typically expire this August, has been extended by six months, now valid until February 2021.

With two valid certificates instead of the usual one, my family can secure four seats on eligible Delta flights for the price of two (though purchases must be made in two separate transactions). Coincidentally, I intended for my next flight to be with Delta, as it is widely regarded as best in class for measures like blocking middle seats and enhanced cleaning protocols between flights.

According to the policy, typically a 'Companion Certificate will be considered fully used once tickets have been issued and will not be returned or replaced.'

However, given the ongoing uncertainty due to the pandemic, there’s currently more flexibility than usual. For tickets purchased now, Delta's coronavirus page indicates that you can modify or cancel your travel without incurring a change fee or award redeposit fee, and confirms that these rules apply whether a flight is booked with cash, miles, or a companion certificate. Various online sources support this, but it seems that the travelers originally booked with the certificates must remain on the ticket even if travel dates change.

If we choose to buy Delta tickets with Companion Certificates, we won’t receive a refund on the paid portion if we decide against traveling. However, we will receive a credit for future Delta flights. Alternatively, instead of having money tied up with Delta, we could utilize Delta SkyMiles, which can easily be redeposited if the trip doesn’t pan out.

Emphasizing hotel flexibility

While I’ve preferred whole-home rentals over hotel rooms in recent months, the kind of national park trip we’re planning in a few months is better suited for hotel stays this time. It’s reassuring that most major hotel chains now enforce mask-wearing in public areas of the hotel. Although you'll be around more people compared to a home rental, the advantage of choosing hotels over home rentals is that they generally offer much more flexibility for canceling a hotel stay than a home rental does.

Cancellation policies will differ by brand and specific location, but each hotel we have tentatively booked allows for full cancellation without any penalties up until one day before arrival.

Maximizing savings with Amex Offers

Recently, we’ve noticed a resurgence of travel-related deals and offers after a few months of quiet. For instance, there are now Amex Offers available that can help you save on stays at Marriott, Kimpton, and others. There’s at least one Marriott property I’m considering, and with a new Amex Offer, I can save $50 on a $200 purchase (valid until the end of 2020), which is a more advantageous option than using Marriott points right now since cash rates are quite low.

Plan ahead for national park reservations

If you're considering a national park trip, be aware that conditions may have changed since your last visit. While some campgrounds have reopened, others remain closed or have limited capacity, so it's essential to do your research before assuming you'll secure a spot.

Certain national parks, like Rocky Mountain National Park, are utilizing a timed reservation system, even for daily visitors. At RMNP, reservations for the upcoming month are released on the first day of the previous month. Therefore, even though it’s still early August as I write this, some weekends in September at this popular park are already fully booked.

It's not just a single park; many require some form of reservations. For instance, Yosemite National Park also mandates reservations for day use, but a single reservation grants you access for seven consecutive days. There’s a $2 reservation fee in addition to the standard access fees for those who do not hold an annual pass.

Key takeaways

If you decide to go ahead with travel plans, it is very feasible to arrange a trip like this one with low to minimal financial risk, depending on how you handle your reservations.

Our car rental and hotel bookings won’t incur any out-of-pocket expenses, and we can cancel them right up until our travel date without penalties. We will be spending some money on two purchased Delta flights to utilize the companion certificates. There’s a bit of risk involved, but Delta is an airline I feel confident flying with right now due to their cleaning and distancing protocols, and I believe we will be able to use the credit even if we need to adjust this specific trip.

Traveling for the remainder of 2020 will not be without its risks.

For some, likely many, staying close to home is the wisest choice for the rest of the year. However, if you've opted to venture out, there are ways to mitigate both health and financial risks. In addition to our Lysol wipes and face masks, we’ll be equipped with flexible reservations and a destination that allows for outdoor distancing—one we’ve been eager to visit for quite some time.