"When do you think we will be able to travel again??” I can’t help but smirk every time I'm asked that question now.

Like most everything in the travel world, the answer is simply “it depends.” But nothing is simple about what needs to happen in order for travel to start again.

Logistically, many pieces must fall into place before travel resumes. Stay at home orders have to be lifted. Travel advisory warnings need to be lowered. Foreign countries have to lift quarantine requirements. Planes have to restart flying cancelled routes. TSA has to efficiently control safety and health screenings while avoiding long lines. Hotels have to improve their hygiene practices. Museums, sites, restaurants, bars have to open. And on, and on, and on.

Principally, the dispute surrounding SHOULD we even travel once we can is a whole other debate.

One thing is clear though: travel has changed. And so must the role of travel advisor.

The role of an advisor is not simply providing professional opinions. We are here to comb through the flood of reports, press releases and materials that are published each day. We are here to keep up to date with the hourly news updates, weed out any misinformation and navigate through the fog of uncertainty. All this, so we can provide you with the latest set of facts.

In this new age of travel, our goal is to arm you with all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding when, where and how you would like to travel again.

For some of you, I realize that the day you travel again may not be for some time. A vaccine may be the only solution to make you feel comfortable venturing outside of your home again - and I totally understand and respect that decision.

For others, you may be willing to test some domestic travel options starting soon. Some may want to rent a summer home nearby for some change of scenery. Or others may have antibodies and think a good old American road trip with some national park stops could be a good middle ground to ease your way back to exploring the world again. That's ok too.

The mission of Wanderful Journeys is and has always been: to facilitate extraordinary journeys that promote a broader perspective of the world by showcasing the natural and cultural beauty of destinations. And I intend to keep doing that, whether you decide to experience the world from home or back out on the road.

For those of you not ready to travel - I promise to keep sharing content and innovative new ways to become a global citizen from the comfort and safety of your couch.

And for those of you with wanderlust ready to start exploring beyond your homes again - I promise to help lead you down the right path for a safe and responsible return to travel.

At Wanderful Journeys, our commitment to the health and safety of our clients and partners is paramount. As part of our plan to conscientiously return to travel, we pledge to:

Provide you with the facts needed to make informed travel decisions.
Clearly outline what your travel experience will look like.
Find new ways for you to travel.
Help you navigate wavering restrictions and regulations.
Prioritize transparency.
Be there for you every step of the way.
Advocate tirelessly on your behalf.
Maintain our proud standing as your trusted advisor.

Provide you with the facts needed to make informed travel decisions.

We will always have the most credible and relevant information to share with our clients to ensure you can make fact-based decisions in real time. We constantly monitor a range of trusted, authoritative sources including the World Health Organization, CDC, and U.S. State Department and will continue to receive on-the-ground reports from our travel partners across the world.

Clearly outline what your travel experience will look like.

Travel as you know it may look a bit different than what you are used to, at least in the short term. Though hotels are advertising that they are reopening - often hotel bars, restaurants and spas may remain closed. Check-ins are moving from the hotel lobby to your phone. Housekeeping may be eliminated during your stay, mini bars taken out of your room and those epic breakfast buffets may cease for some time. While these small changes may not necessarily make or break a trip, it is important that you have the proper expectations of what type of stay you will be having - and we are here to walk you through every detail of what your travels will look like.

We will ask the important questions for you - like what level of occupancy will the hotel be operating at? What are the new housekeeping standards? Will someone have slept in your room the night before? Will the pools be open to come and go as you please? Though some specifics may morph overtime, we will keep you updated so you have a clear understanding of what your travel experience will entail and make sure your trip still is the right choice for you.

Find new ways for you to travel.

The old way of travel may not work for you anymore - so we are here to help you brainstorm the best possible way to make you feel most comfortable when back out exploring the world.

This may mean looking into private aviation options instead of flying commercial flights. Chartering a boat instead of going on a cruise. Or if you are not ready to take to the skies or sea yet, we can look into road trip idea for you. Camping in a national park? A classic RV trip? Or even hooking you up with a 'rockstar' luxury coaches to travel cross-country in style and comfort.

If you are not ready for traditional types of hotels, we can look into glamping options or private villa rentals.

If you no longer feel comfortable on group tours we can work to privatize any aspect of your travels - from turning a group Backroads trip to a private journey, to arranging one-off exclusive tours of popular, crowded sites - such as a private after hours viewing of the Sistine Chapel or a private Chicago architecture cruise.

If you are looking to travel close to home, we can help you explore the many incredible National Parks at our fingertips and arrange for private guides to take you off-the-beaten-path towards isolated, hidden natural gems.

Whatever your comfort level, we can find a way to make your travels right for you and ensure you feel safe.

Help you navigate wavering restrictions and regulations.

The rules of travel seem to be changing daily and unpredictably. The fluidity of this time is a lot for anyone to keep track of - and nobody expects you to be able to keep it all straight. But that is why we are here! We will guide you through these changes and updates, making sure you have the most up to date resources on everything you need to know regarding your travel plans.

Wanderful Journeys' favorite trusted travel sources:

Prioritize transparency.

Supplier solvency is certainly on everyone's minds in these uncertain times, and while there is no blueprint for us to be certain about how our partners will fare through the current economic turmoil - we promise to be proactive in continually vetting all of our suppliers, so you can have full transparency as to where your hard earned travel investment is going. Our affiliations with Brownell and Virtuoso help ensure we have the most up to date supplier financial information - so you don’t have to spend time worrying.

Be there for you every step of the way.

We promise to be there for you from your initial request until you return back home - or even if you have to cancel or postpone. Call, email, text, message on social media - whatever! We will always have open lines of communication waiting for you - whatever you need, we will be here.

We may not be able to physically hold your hand for some time - but we will clear the path of travel for you so there are no blocks in your way.

Advocate tirelessly on your behalf.

No matter what happens, we promise to always be your number one advocate. Our global contacts include owners, general managers, and executives, and we will not hesitate to reach out to them should any issue arise. Whether it is pushing suppliers for flexibly booking policies, looking for rates with no hassle cancellations, ensuring you are properly covered with travel insurance, or relentlessly following up on your refunds - your best interests our our top concerns.

Maintain our proud standing as your trusted advisor.

We do not take the title of advisor lightly - and therefore promise to act with our upmost integrity and professionalism at all times to ensure we will always maintain our standing as your trusted travel advisor.

As we pivot from the chaos of the past few months to a conscientious return to travel, we pledge all this - and all while still maintaining our top industry knowledge and connections, and providing you with the best travel recommendations, tips and insights.

It may not be your time to travel just yet, but when the time is right, Wanderful Journeys will be here ready to help you explore the world once again.

Thank you as always for your continued loyalty and support. It is a pleasure to be able to help you navigate our beautiful, unpredictable world.

Here for you now and always -

Andrea Schubiner, Founder, Wanderful Journeys

Our Conscientious Comeback to Travel

Wanderful Journeys' favorite trusted travel sources: