In my last adventure post, I informed you of my decision to put my plans to travel (to Guyana) on hold indefinitely. The good news is that I am now fully vaccinated and can travel! I can travel elsewhere that is. My current options are: travel to a US state/territory or opt for a staycation here in Antigua.
Should I go to the US and do a road trip or a guided tour? maybe both? I enjoy guided tours because I get to see a lot in a short time and learn a bit of history as well. I especially like the GetYourGuide tours. What I do not like about some tours is that I may not get to experience the local culture. Although I have visited 6 states in the US, I have experienced the culture of only 3. There is certainly a lot to see and do in the US! I already have a plane ticket as well so the argument for travel to the US is pretty strong.
I live where you vacation
While the argument for the US trip is strong, the argument for staying in Antigua is also solid. Living in Antigua is an ‘every day is a vacation day’ experience. It does not suck to literally live where others vacation! I swim in the incredibly blue Caribbean Sea, bask on pristine white sand beaches, and enjoy incredible sunsets every day. Some of my most memorable weekends are spent on sailboats or beautiful properties with incredible views. The one thing I have yet to enjoy is Antigua’s all-inclusive resorts. I have only stayed at 2 resorts – the Pineapple Beach Club and the almost new Royalton Antigua. While both are great choices for vacationing in Antigua, the Royalton is obviously the better choice. Everything is new and modern and the service is excellent!
To travel or not to travel?
While the cost of travel is always a consideration, there are other considerations. The increasing spread of new Covid variants is the most important consideration for me. Should I be concerned about a possible Covid-19 infection after both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine? This question popped into my head the moment I awoke this morning and I immediately did some research. I needed to know how effective the 2 doses of AstraZeneca are against the recent variants.
According to a few sources including this Gov.Uk article, a recent study determined that the AstraZeneca vaccine was 60% effective against symptomatic disease two weeks after the second dose including the B.1.617.2. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 88% effective and both vaccines were 33% effective against symptomatic disease from B.1.617.2, 3 weeks after the first dose compared to around 50% effectiveness against the B.1.1.7 variant.
Please get vaccinated!
Although what I learned is somewhat reassuring, my slogan “fully vaccinated and can travel” seems a tad premature, don’t you agree? My travels to the US or elsewhere can be put on hold for a while longer. Don’t get me wrong! I long to travel, and I miss my family and friends abroad, but staying healthy is more important to me. Everyone does not share my concerns of course, and I’m not judging anyone. I do however encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
There is a lot of controversy about the vaccines available, but there is always controversy about anything new. Admittedly you can still contract the virus if you are vaccinated but the vaccine increases your chances of surviving an infection. The evidence strongly suggests that vaccination is key to preventing the spread of Covid-19 and can prevent death.
What to do?
What will I do about my vacation then? I will take this opportunity to enjoy an all-inclusive staycation in beautiful Antigua! I’m going to choose one (or two) of the following all-inclusive resorts for my staycation. Maybe you have stayed at one of these? if so do let me know what your experience was like.
Resort choices abound in Antigua and I have only shortlisted a few here. Yet it will be difficult to settle on one or even two of these resorts! I included the Royalton because in November 2019 the palm trees and other foliage hadn’t gown in as yet to give the property the lush Caribbean aesthetic I love. Once I’ve made my resort choice I will be sure to let you know, so stay tuned!
