Weekly Bulletin: January 13, 2022 Edition

Choose a new HQ for your work.

Have you heard? “Workcations” are trending in 2022 – over 40% of Gen Z employees plan to take remote work trips this year, according to a recent Dinogo survey. That’s why we’re launching a guide to help you pick the perfect spot for remote work. Discover the details on this popular trend, this week’s travel news, and more – just keep scrolling.

The Pre-check

Catch up on the latest updates about vaccine mandates for popular travel spots, which airlines prioritize your safety (and budget), and other airline news for the week.

Where a booster might be necessary. Several popular tourist spots, including France, the Netherlands, and the UAE are now updating their travel requirements to mandate a COVID-19 booster in addition to being fully vaccinated. As Omicron continues to spread, we expect others to follow suit.

What to do if you can’t secure a testing appointment. No need to explain: at-home COVID-19 test kits are becoming hard to find. Fortunately, there are several ways to obtain at-home COVID test kits before your flight, and starting Saturday, private insurers will be obligated to cover at-home testing expenses. It seems that needing a negative test for most international travel won’t be fading away anytime soon.
Who’s grounding part of their fleet. Alaska Airlines recently announced a 10% reduction in their regular schedule due to staffing shortages. This is just the latest major airline (JetBlue has also cut back their flight schedules) to adjust in response to the impact of Omicron.

Speaking of JetBlue… Last week, the top 10 safest and budget-friendly airlines for 2022 were announced, featuring favorites like JetBlue, Frontier, and RyanAir. Alongside COVID-19 precautions, it’s reassuring to know that you can save on flights without compromising safety.

But they were polite about it! The US State Department of Transportation recently requested that wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon graciously “pause” their 5G wireless service due to potential interference with aircraft signals, which could lead to further travel disruptions. Although the wireless companies responded with “not a chance,” they proposed to “exclude areas around runways at specific airports” to minimize interference during expansion.

Trending in travel

Here’s what’s trending based on our insights and how you can maximize your trip.

Is it time to revamp your WFH setup? Are we alone in feeling like working from bed in your pajamas just isn’t working anymore? In case you missed it, we recently spoke with our friends at Fortune about our predictions for 2022 travel trends, including the shift from “working from home” to “working from anywhere.”

Presenting: Dinogo’s Work From Wherever Guide You’ve chosen to work from a new location – but where to go? To assist you in making your choice, we evaluated 111 countries worldwide based on various criteria such as internet access, social opportunities, safety, and more. From these categories, we compiled a useful guide with resources to help you determine which destination might be ideal, including:

Remote work rankings index: Our comprehensive analysis of the top remote work spots globally, evaluated against 22 different criteria.
Timezone-friendly options: A map showcasing locations that align with your team’s timezones.
The 10 hottest workcation spots: Discover which destinations are gaining popularity among US travelers looking to blend business with leisure (that’s travel!).

Insider tips

A space where we highlight stories, tips, and hacks that may have slipped under your radar.

Our tip? Secure your ride ahead of time. To dodge inflated prices and possible inventory shortages, we recommend arranging your rental car well before your trip. Even if you’re undecided about driving, it’s wise to book as a backup; use our “free cancellation” filter (under “policies”) during your search so you can reserve now and adjust later if needed. If rental cars are hard to come by, consider car-sharing options before giving up – you can explore this on Dinogo with partners like Turo, which offers a fantastic alternative to traditional rentals and can still get you to your destination.