Plan a Mexican getaway that is safe, fun, inspiring… and GO NOW. Here’s how.
We know you’re desperate to get away, and we are also aware the rules around Covid-travel keep changing rapidly. With this in mind, we’ve gathered intel from two recent week-long getaways in Mexico to help you plan a trip that is fun, safe, inspiring and more importantly: can be enjoyed immediately. Vámonos!
Without crowds, we were able to comfortably film footage of every aspect of our vacation.
1. Masks
There’s no way around this one. Unless you are inside your hotel room, swimming, or sitting down to eat, please expect to wear a mask 24/7. In Mexican cities such as Cabo, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, Mérida, Oaxaca, Tulum and CDMX, you are expected to wear a mask in public.
Culturally-speaking, folks tend to be more relaxed in rural areas or remote beaches - we cannot speak for nor guarantee the behavior of people in the entire country, of course. But wherever you would travel with Morenita, kindly be aware of this non-negotiable social standard. This includes commuting in Uber or while using a personal driver, shopping in stores or markets, visiting art galleries, indoor or open-air restaurants, hotel common areas (elevators, hallways, front desk), while on guided tours and, yes, even during a massage at the spa. I did it, not a big deal.
Is this slightly inconvenient? Sure. Will my makeup be ruined and my earrings occasionally tangled? You betcha. Is this the only way I can guarantee my safety and make others around me feel safe and comfortable? Absolutely. Therefore pack those fashionable, breathable and washable masks, and let’s go.
2. Travel agency, medical insurance and exit strategy
You want a national travel agency to help you on the ground - we cannot stress this enough. You should not expect it (and the odds are very low) but, let’s consider a worst-case scenario. Let’s say you are on vacation and begin to feel flu-like symptoms. Or, imagine there’s a confirmed Covid outbreak inside your hotel. Sounds scary, we know, but think about just how much your US or Europe-based travel agency can assist in providing an immediate exit strategy. What you want is to be home (or at least on US soil) in a matter of hours, and there are many factors that can create delays, such as time zone differences (when attempting to communicate with your agency), language barriers, etc. Your hotel management can only help so much, as their duties are confined to events on-site.
You have the choice of either booking your trip directly through Morenita Experience or have your Virtuoso Agency contact us so we can operate your trip on the ground. These are by far your safest and most practical options. Additionally, make sure your international medical insurance is updated to cover any Covid-related services abroad. Your travel agent will be able to set this up, or if you book through Morenita Experience, insurance will always be included along with a completely list of top-tier local hospitals where you can receive attention.
Have the uncomfortable - but absolutely necessary - conversation with your travel agent as to what the exit strategy will look like during a worst-case scenario. “What are my options to travel by land, helicopter or private flight and be back home immediately if I begin to show symptoms?” At Morenita, we have those logistics readily available, please contact us if you’d like to learn more.
Again, the odds of going through this stressful experience are very low, but it’s best to be prepared. If anything, you’ll be left feeling like a very informed and Covid-savvy international traveler, and all of this will make for an exciting dinner conversation, and nothing more.
3. Weekdays vs. Weekends
Arriving Sunday or Monday and departing Friday is also a great idea, for several reasons. If staying in a hotel, you’ll avoid weekend travelers and have the property mostly to yourself, including pool, beach, restaurants, bar, spa and any other on-site services. Most 5-star and luxury properties offer more competitive rates Monday through Thursday, so you’ll end up saving a dollar or two. And who doesn’t like that?
Furthermore, restaurants, shops, sights, tours and cultural offerings will be quieter and with little-to-no crowds as locals are most likely to be out and about on weekends as opposed to weekdays, when most are working from home.
4. Private flights, homes and vehicles.
Jets and helicopters. We now offer private flights from LAX, HOU, JFK and other US airports to any destination in México. The companies we partnered with have been established for over 20 years and offer a wide variety of jet models, such as Learjet 75 for 9 passengers, Challenger 605 and Latitude jets for 12 passengers. Consider the average flight hour to oscillate around $4,000 - $5,000 USD, therefore a one-way service from LAX to Mexico City, for example, would be about $35,000 USD. When splitting this between 2-3 families, or a group of friends, this becomes a wonderful and cost-effective option, easily competing with international business-class seats.
Villas and residences. Any hotel or resort we recommend is currently implementing very strict health and sanitary measures, which we know will leave you feeling at ease during your entire stay. Should you prefer to go with private beach-front villas or renovated Haciendas overlooking a colonial city or the Baja wine country, we have a carefully-curated portfolio of privately-owned and fully-equipped luxury homes, all include pool, personal chef, cleaning staff, 24-hour security and private driver. All staff and collaborators are screened for Covid symptoms daily, which is information we share with all clients.
Vehicles. Private drivers have always been a staple of Morenita Experience. Our drivers are subject to strict security screenings and regular medical checkups. We sanitize your luggage upon arrival and all vehicles include and alcohol-based gel, hand wipes and sealed kn95 masks, which are replenished daily. Drivers have to report any signs of symptoms, are instructed to clock their temperatures several times a day, and all passengers are asked to comply with sanitary measures dictated by the World Health Organization while using our cars, for the safety of all.
5. Tours & Activities
It’s all still available, friends. Guided walking tours, visits to galleries, artists’ production studios, art collectors’ homes, private cooking sessions with acclaimed chefs, architecture & design-focused encounters, curated shopping experiences, Jewish-themed offerings, wine and tequila tastings, deep sea fishing, surf clinics and anything else we offered pre-Covid is still available, and better than ever, if we may say so ourselves.
When applicable, activities are held outdoors and any host, guide or collaborator is subject to the same health & sanitary measures we ask of our in-house staff. As always, all tours & activities are tailored to your travel interests, so expect us to make the appropriate suggestions that consider interacting with the least amount of people and using the most effective routes for immediate exits.
I wanted to write this story (as opposed to communicating through our writers) in hopes of conveying what I have shared comes from a personal commitment to ensure we never expose ourselves or our dear clients, who have always trusted us with so much, to unnecessary stress, concern or danger. We are in this for the long-run, and want to host you and your loved ones in Mexico for many years to come. If and when any situation changes and becomes a risk, we will communicate it to you immediately, and will ask you to stay home. Covid has not changed the Morenita Experience mission, which is to push Mexico forward through curating unique and memorable travel experiences a discerning global traveler hopes for. As soon as you are ready, so are we. Count on bottles of bubbly popping when you land. - CL
