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Hear from Brian Kelly and Oneika Raymond on the future of inclusive travel

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2020 has been unlike any other in recent memory — from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to the continued protests for racial justice. While virus-related travel restrictions are starting to lift (albeit with many caveats), we’re still seeing policies in most countries and states that prevent many travelers from freely entering. And there’s still progress to be made for a more inclusive society.

That’s what led TPG’s founder and CEO, Brian Kelly, to welcome award-winning journalist and television host Oneika Raymond to his most recent Future of Travel webinar. With visits to over 100 countries under her belt, Oneika is committed to inspiring women and people of color to see the world — and she and Brian covered a range of topics during their conversation.

Read on for some of the main takeaways from the webinar, and scroll to the end for a full recording of the session.

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How Oneika got into travel media

Despite her current role as a travel influencer, Oneika didn’t always have this on her list of professional goals. She grew up in Toronto, Canada, and really enjoyed the city’s extensive multicultural make-up. However, the world really “opened itself up” for Oneika during a study-abroad program in France — and led her into international education. She spent 10 years

10 of the best motorway stop-offs: readers’ travel tips | Food and drink

Winning tip: woods and waterfalls near Swansea

We discovered Penllergare Valley Woods off junction 47 of the M4, en route to Tenby. What a delightful find – its on-site cafe has ample parking, delicious snacks, cheerful staff and sparkling clean toilets. As we sampled our treats on the terrace overlooking an amazing garden, the resident robin accompanied us and shared crumbs. Later, we took a leisurely walk around the woods, lake and to the waterfall, chatting to the volunteers and discovering the place’s history. Visit this secret, magical find!
• Penllergare Valley Woods
Crystal

More than a chip shop, Tyndrum, Perthshire

The Real Food Cafe is something else; you’ll find it halfway between Glasgow and Fort William on the A82 – not a motorway but one of the most-travelled roads for anyone heading for Scotland’s west coast, highlands and islands. More than a chip shop, it sells beautifully fried, incredibly fresh fish, plus veggie, vegan and gluten-free options galore. You can also opt for veggie curry, soups and salmon salad. There’s also a great selection of local craft beers and wine. A real gem.
• The Real Food Cafe
Carla

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Mickey’s Christmas Party is canceled, but there’s still plenty of holiday magic at Disney

a group of people standing in front of a flower

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Editor’s note: As the travel industry reopens following COVID-19 shutdowns, TPG suggests you talk to your doctor, follow health officials’ guidance and research local travel restrictions before booking that next trip. We’ll be here to help you prepare, whether you’re traveling next month or next year.

A visit to Disney World is a pretty special occasion any day of the year, but the holidays at Disney are the most magical of all. Halloween offers family-friendly and not-too-spooky fun, but the Disney Christmas decorations and programming shine extra bright.

Of course, this is 2020. So, unfortunately, nothing is really going according to plan.

We already knew there wouldn’t be an official “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” at Disney World this year. But now, we know that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas and the annual Candlelight Processional at Epcot also will be “on hiatus” for 2020.

The good news is, Micky isn’t skipping the Halloween and Christmas festivities in Florida completely. Instead, Disney is doing what it’s done for the past several months: improvising.

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Halloween at Disney

a man standing in front of a fruit: (Photo courtesy of Disney)

© The Points Guy
(Photo courtesy of Disney)

Disney World has confirmed to TPG that, beginning on Sept. 15,

After decades of travel, why I bought travel insurance for the first time

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I’ve never really been a trip insurance kind of traveler. That’s not to say it isn’t valuable, I just haven’t had a need — or a bad enough experience to show me I had an unidentified need. Usually, I’ve got enough miles, points, loyalty program elite status and built-in credit card perks and travel protections to get me out of most travel jams. And most of my trips usually don’t involve huge, nonrefundable cash expenses.

But, 2020 isn’t most years.

With shelter in place restrictions now lifted in our area, we are again traveling some, just less frequently and in different ways than what we usually enjoyed before. A few main differences from pre-pandemic and now include fewer flights and fewer hotel stays, but more road trips and vacation home rentals.

a kitchen with a sink and a window: (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

© The Points Guy
(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Of course, we’re still in the midst of an active pandemic, so travel has now brought with it additional health and quarantine risks. Rapid testing has recently become more readily available in our area, so it is becoming a part of our trip-planning process. This probably brings down our overall travel risk posture, but it also increases

2 reasons why I renewed our passports in the midst of a pandemic with no travel booked

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It’s been 222 days since we were last outside the U.S.

That international foray was a brief five-hour jaunt to Mexico on a four-night Disney Cruise — but still an important benchmark. In an alternate timeline, we would have collected at least three or four more passport stamps since then with planned trips to Banff in Canada and Europe using points and miles.

a young boy standing on a rock: (Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

© The Points Guy
(Photo by Summer Hull/The Points Guy)

Now, however, we don’t know when we’ll be able to leave the country again. Most countries won’t take us, and we’re not yet ready to travel to those that will, as we’re keeping our travel closer to home for now.

Still, time continues on, and my 5-year-old daughter’s first passport has expired since that cruise. My passport will be valid for less than a year.

So, even though we have no international travel plans, we decided to renew our passports in the midst of a pandemic for two reasons: one practical, the other rooted in hope.

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There’s a backlog of passport applications

Close to 1 million U.S. passport applications and renewals are currently waiting

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