# Is it safe to make vacation plans for late summer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908 "2020-04-02T20:02:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/41 "2020-04-03T17:45:27Z")
We were supposed to go to a concert in mid-March in Barcelona. It has now been rescheduled for mid-September, so I guess they think it’s possible. My parents (in the U.S.) have flight, some hotel and cruise reservations in October in Europe. The reservations were made in January/February and now they’re waiting before making any more plan. We had tentatively planned something for May. That’s not happening. We have a week scheduled for July, but no plans. So maybe we’ll do the May thing in July. And hopefully meet my parents when they reach Europe. The company wants us to take a certain amount of vacation in the first part of the year, so that people don’t all wait to take their vacations at the end of the year. Reasonable from the company side. Fortunately we had already put our vacation schedule in the system, so hopefully we get to keep it as is. Otherwise the July vacation will have to move forward, whether we’re allowed to go anywhere or not. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/42 "2020-04-04T11:17:46Z")
We had tickets for yesterday’s home opener for the San Francisco Giants. I’ve gone to Opening Day every year since 1996. But, nope, didn’t happen. And then today, my wife and I had tickets to fly to — believe it or not — China. It was going to be 13 days traveling to Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Xi’an. Oh well (sigh). ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/43 "2020-04-04T19:42:48Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Look into buying or renting an RV. There should be good deals available as lot of people will be hurting for money. Give it a thorough cleaning. Then you don’t need to worry about catching COVID-19 in a motel or restaurants (cook and sleep in the RV). I initially thought to echo this point but I fear it’s still joyriding, non-essential travel that may attract cops’ unkind attention. We’d roughly planned another cross-continent trip in our 25-foot RV but that’s not going to happen and no, we wouldn’t risk rolling down twisty CA-1 again just now because collisions are possible and we don’t wish to become medical statistics. We will STAY HOME as advised. > [@](#): > > People will tired of stay at home regulations in a month or so and COVID-19 will not be gone by then. It will then increase rapidly. I don’t see any improvement for at least 18 months when there is a possibility of a vaccine. The regional ranger has prohibited all access of national forest “developed recreation sites” except trailheads; violators can be fined $5k and jailed for 6 months. All California state parks and parking lots are closed and I bet many other states are likewise shut down. Their re-opening may signal a safe time to go roaming again. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/44 "2020-04-04T21:27:21Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > True, but it might take a while to sort things out, and there’s no guarantee that new management will honor old management’s obligations. Oh don’t misunderstand; I wouldn’t BOOK now. I don’t trust Owner B to honor a sale by bankrupt Owner A. > [@Stranger on a Train](#): > > Not to pick on you specifically, but there seems to be a pretty large blindspot in general about how this is going to affect the United States economically and socially for years to come. That is… true, and not in the slightest relevant to my point. We are headed into a terrible economic depression, but there will be hotels and airlines and stuff. It’s not a blind spot to point out that, in fact, some people will run hotels. The world’s supply of hotels isn’t going to vanish, even if there are fewer and some of them are under new management. I’m not sure what point you were responding to. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/45 "2020-04-04T21:38:46Z")
The point is that demand (and the capital necessary to develop capacity to provide for it) are likely to be severely limited for the foreseeable future unless people get on the ball and take effective measures to protect the economy and provide debt relief and loan assurances for the duration of the emergency, which is not happening. I would personally not plan on any vacation or other luxuries with a substantial dollar figure. Better to squirrel away the money you might have otherwise spent frivolously or invest in tools and supplies that will give you a greater degree of self-reliance and employability. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/46 "2020-04-04T21:42:48Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The point is that demand (and the capital necessary to develop capacity to provide for it) are likely to be severely limited for the foreseeable future unless people get on the ball and take effective measures to protect the economy and provide debt relief and loan assurances for the duration of the emergency, which is not happening. Yes, there will be fewer hotels and fewer flights on most routes. No one said there wouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/47 "2020-04-05T00:51:43Z")
I have a trip to Paris planned for the 1st week of July. I’m still hoping I’ll be able to go, but that’s looking less and less likely. I also have a Memorial Day weekend trip to Philly planned and plan on going to the Central PA Theatre Fest in June which has yet to be canceled. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/48 "2020-04-05T01:27:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > We are headed into a terrible economic depression, but there will be hotels and airlines and stuff. It’s not a blind spot to point out that, in fact, some people will run hotels. The world’s supply of hotels isn’t going to vanish, even if there are fewer and some of them are under new management. I’m not sure what point you were responding to. In point of fact, even in the most dire of economic circumstances, there will still be businesses and their owners, and there will still be people who live a successful and prosperous lifestyle, including travel. The proportion of people who can live at that level will dramatically decrease, and people struggling with poverty will dramatically increase, but it’s hyperbole to suggest that there won’t be hotels or airlines, or that literally everybody is going to be subject to economic ruin. While I would certainly not be making reservations at this time for an upcoming vacation, because of the ongoing uncertainty, I wouldn’t rule out a summer trip, either. “Wait and see” seems to be the most prudent approach at this time. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/49 "2020-04-05T01:48:02Z")
We usually do two weeks in Mount Desert Island, Maine, in early July, to cover the Ukulele Lady’s birthday. This year we reserved for two weeks through Labor Day in August/September. Hope it works out. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/50 "2020-04-05T02:14:21Z")
> [@Corry\_El](#): > > Yeah it did originally say Pacific Coast Highway/CA-1. I know in a Ford Expedition EL as driver for 6 other people the scenery was great but the driving not fun, after awhile ‘when is this road gonna straighten out a little, please’. In a BMW M2 it was ‘crap, this road is straightening out already!’ :). I agree I wouldn’t want to drive it in a big RV. And I should add, for me the whole reason I want to take this trip is to drive CA-1 in my new (well, 1 year old now) Miata. Renting an RV would completely defeat the purpose. > [@Moriarty](#): > > it’s hyperbole to suggest that there won’t be hotels or airlines, or that literally everybody is going to be subject to economic ruin. I don’t know how much publicity this has gotten outside of California, but the state has actually rented a large number of hotel rooms to house homeless people so they can isolate themselves, since that’s pretty much impossible to do in a homeless camp. That on its own will likely keep at least some hotels in business. > [@](#): > > While I would certainly not be making reservations at this time for an upcoming vacation, because of the ongoing uncertainty, I wouldn’t rule out a summer trip, either. “Wait and see” seems to be the most prudent approach at this time. Yes, that’s what I’m now leaning towards now. I’ll wait and see rather than booking something right now. I got an email from the California Capital Airshow stating that this year’s show, scheduled for October 3-4 this year, is still on. So they seem to think there’s at least a possibility that things well be back to normal by early fall, which is one of the things that made me optimistic that I could take a trip in maybe late summer. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/51 "2020-04-05T03:38:19Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I got an email from the California Capital Airshow stating that this year’s show, scheduled for October 3-4 this year, is still on. So they seem to think there’s at least a possibility that things well be back to normal by early fall, which is one of the things that made me optimistic that I could take a trip in maybe late summer. My wife and I went to last year’s CCA. It was our first time and it was a great airshow. We went specifically to see the B-29, “Doc”, one of only two airworthy B-29s in the US. Maybe the world. Seeing Doc was a great experience, and the rest of the airshow was fantastic. It’s on my calendar for this year, too. I hope it’ll be held. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/52 "2020-04-06T18:38:13Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > In point of fact, even in the most dire of economic circumstances, there will still be businesses and their owners, and there will still be people who live a successful and prosperous lifestyle, including travel. > > The proportion of people who can live at that level will dramatically decrease, and people struggling with poverty will dramatically increase, but it’s hyperbole to suggest that there won’t be hotels or airlines, or that literally everybody is going to be subject to economic ruin. Definitely hyperbolic to suggest there won’t be hotels and airlines, though I guess it was a somewhat tongue in cheek statement to begin with. Even, more seriously, as to the proportion of people at a given spending level dramatically decreasing, that’s actually difficult to predict. Some people are by nature very certain of things (future course of economy beyond a very short horizon, stock market or oil prices at any time horizon, etc) that are actually pretty clearly impossible to predict at better than coin flip accuracy. Often it’s about politics, things must turn well/badly if the right/wrong people are in office according to the predictor’s politics, even when it doesn’t necessarily depend so much on that actually (politicians in any one country have limited influence on the economy especially in a world crises, 2008-9 also, and the ‘other side’ might not be doing anything that radically different anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/53 "2020-04-06T18:41:21Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > In point of fact, even in the most dire of economic circumstances, there will still be businesses and their owners, and there will still be people who live a successful and prosperous lifestyle, including travel. > > The proportion of people who can live at that level will dramatically decrease, and people struggling with poverty will dramatically increase, but it’s hyperbole to suggest that there won’t be hotels or airlines, or that literally everybody is going to be subject to economic ruin. Definitely hyperbolic to suggest there won’t be hotels and airlines, though I guess it was a somewhat tongue in cheek statement to begin with. Even, more seriously, as to the proportion of people at a given spending level dramatically decreasing, that’s actually difficult to predict. Some people are by nature very certain of things (future course of economy beyond a very short horizon, stock market or oil prices at any time horizon, etc) that are actually pretty clearly impossible to predict at better than coin flip accuracy. Often it’s about politics, things must turn well/badly if the right/wrong people are in office according to the predictor’s politics, even when it doesn’t necessarily depend so much on that actually (politicians in any one country have limited influence on the economy especially in a world crises, 2008-9 also, and the ‘other side’ might not be doing anything that radically different anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/54 "2020-04-06T18:52:57Z")
No hotels or airlines!?! I guess that’s not as dire as some others on the Dope are predicting. There are some that are predicting that that United States government will have disintegrated by then, Meh, book your vacation if you’re worried. You should be able to cancel everything, if you can’t go. ---
**Author:** ![skyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@skyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skyr)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/55 "2020-04-06T19:38:59Z")
The current projections are indicating that we are getting pretty close to the peak of severe illness/death from the virus and that by June or so in most parts of the country it will be largely over: > **[IHME | COVID-19 Projections](https://covid19.healthdata.org)** > > Explore forecasts of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospital resource use. It looks like the state of Washington has already seen the peak and New York is just a couple days away from peaking. So, personally, I doubt we will still be in total lockdown by summertime. I think the worst will be over very soon. However, I am sure that some businesses will be faster to open than others are. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/56 "2020-04-07T01:10:49Z")
Well, I just scored a 4 star hotel room in Soho for Labor Day weekend for $79 a night and free cancelation. I was just "window vacation shopping ", but that was too good to pass up. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/57 "2020-04-07T01:27:54Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Well, I just scored a 4 star hotel room in Soho for Labor Day weekend for $79 a night and free cancelation. I was just "window vacation shopping ", but that was too good to pass up. I can buy 2 round trip tickets Boston-\>Barcelona over Thanksgiving for less than $450. I’m really tempted to just buy the tickets and dealing with potential cancellations and trip planning later. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/58 "2020-04-07T11:26:41Z")
> [@Corry\_El](#): > > Even, more seriously, as to the proportion of people at a given spending level dramatically decreasing, that’s actually difficult to predict. I would guess the majority of the jobs lost were those of folks who don’t vacation much, or even have PTO to do so. This is unfortunate and regrettable, but the higher the income the more likely the employee could work from home and survive the shutdown unscathed. Obviously there are glaring exceptions (airline pilots, managers of large hotels and restaurants, etc.), but if the shutdown is relatively short I’d expect a lot of pent up desire and PTO to get used later this year. For non-USians: PTO = Paid Time Off. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/59 "2020-04-07T12:08:32Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I have plans to attend a needlework convention in Tucson in August. The organizers have admitted they don’t know if it will happen. A lot could happen between now and August, but I have doubts that things will be normalish by then. Well, I can guarantee you the hotels won’t be filled. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908/60 "2020-04-07T12:11:40Z")
I saw a note circulating in Barcelona, Spain from the local government there that stated international tourism is estimated to restart in December, domestic travel in late July. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-make-vacation-plans-for-late-summer/850908.md?page=4)