Is it safe for me to travel this summer?

Published in

Raise Blog

5 min readMar 18, 2021

Travel Increases Across the U.S.

After enduring a year of isolation, many of us are itching for a nice getaway within the coming months.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, they screened more than 1.34 million people on March 14. That number is over 80,000 more than the same day a year prior, which was right at the beginning of the pandemic. While total travel is still down from 2019, the TSA did say that they’ve done more per-day screenings over the last week than they have at any point in the last year.

So it’s clear that as vaccination is becoming more readily accessible across the country, we’re starting to see a travel spike after months of desolate airports. Those numbers will only increase as more and more of the population gets vaccinated and according to a new study from Travel Leaders, 62 percent of respondents are planning to take their next vacation this year.

“I think that there’s going to be more travel going forward, just period,” United CEO Scott Kirby said at a JPMorgan conference. “You’ve already bought a new washing machine, you don’t have to buy another one. People already bought a new car, did a home repair. And it’s going to mean a lot more available to spend in ’22, ’23, ’24 for leisure demand.”

Is it safe for me to travel this summer?

This is great news for the travel industry, which saw one of its toughest years ever in 2020, but also good news for vacationers as well. As the market is still reeling from the past 12 months, there are plenty of hot deals and great rates available throughout all of 2021 for close to anywhere you want to go.

However, even if the deals are hot, the most important question for all of us is “Is it safe to travel?” The short answer is yes, the longer answer is yes as long as you take the proper precautions. The no. 1 thing to do before considering a longer vacation is to make sure you get vaccinated and even tested depending on where you’re going. Airlines and hotels have also added extra cleaning and disinfecting to ease any travel worries. Just make sure to mask up and maintain proper social distancing while in any airports or travel terminals and you should be good to go!

While we still obviously recommend checking local health information before deciding on any form of travel, here’s a carefully curated list of safe destinations to visit at great pricing.

Top Travel Destinations for Summer 2021

As things start to finally open back up, many people’s first reaction might be to go all-out and book an incredible international vacation for the first time in over a year. However, it’s important to be mindful of travel guidelines even if there may be some tantalizing deals available. After all, there’s a good chance you would have to quarantine upon arrival.

So your best bet over the next few months is to take a trip domestically and enjoy some of the warmer and more scenic parts of the U.S. Where you want to go is ultimately up to you but here are some great places to plan a getaway to this summer.

Key West, Florida

With warm sunny weather year round, the Keys makes the perfect destination to visit anytime. Adrenaline-seekers can find countless water adventures to embark on. Imagine parasailing with a view or snorkeling with an array of sea life. Key West is also home to some of the best beaches in Florida so you can grab a nice even tan before heading back home.

Olympic National Park, Washington & Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

If you’re still understandably worried about traveling to a big city or being around a lot of people, then there’s no better destination then a beautiful national park. Every park has its own quirks and sites to see, but Olympic and Yellowstone are two of the most stunning places in all of North America. Go finally see Old Faithful or climb to the top of Mt. Olympus, the choice is yours.

San Francisco, California

The bay area is a great place to visit at any time of the year, but it’s absolutely spectacular during the summer. You can keep your trip near the bay and enjoy great food and famous landmarks, or even take trips up to Napa Valley or Muir Woods to spend some time outdoors (or with a great wine).

Santa Fe, New Mexico

This city embodies a rich history and a merging of Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures heavily apparent in their architecture, food, and art. Indulge in tasty food you can’t find elsewhere, support local artists at the markets, visit centuries old churches, or discover the city through the countless bike trails available. The early Native Americans called it “Dancing Ground of The Sun”, plan your visit and see for yourself.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Take an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime, tropical vacation without even having to leave the country! Hawaii is a place that’s on so many people’s bucket lists, but is often too expensive to visit. Now is the time to make that dream a reality. Spend some time relaxing on the beach, learning how to surf or enjoying the incredible Hawaiian cuisine. We personally recommend some poke using fresh caught fish along with some Spam Musubi.

Best Travel Deals for 2021

The best deal for you is ultimately going to depend on where you decide to go, but here are some of our top travel deals from Raise Coupons to get you saving in style.