ArcaMax

Allison and Mark Jonez had to postpone their February romantic getaway to Mexico, but it was not because of the pandemic.

The Colorado couple discovered their passports were expiring (they must be valid at least six months after the trip) and couldn’t get them renewed in time. (With all the government closures and resulting backlogs this past year, even passport services that expedite delivery wouldn’t offer any guarantee.)

“We haven’t rebooked yet until we are sure our passports make it in time,” said Allison Jonez, a hairdresser, and my niece. She added that meanwhile, they aren’t out any money because there were no cancellation fees.

Nor are they worried about catching COVID-19. She has had it and her husband, a Denver firefighter, has been vaccinated. The couple, parents of a toddler (who will stay with her grandparents, who are in their “pod”), had to cancel their 10th anniversary getaway last summer and are anxious for some “adult” time.

Sound familiar? With Valentine’s Day this month and the pressure of working as well as overseeing young children and older ones’ remote schooling, everyone is desperate for some adult time, as well as a change of scene.

“We recently took a trip to the mountains to escape from the monotony of pandemic life,” said Denverite Meghan McCloskey, noting that taking a trip during the pandemic “forces you to problem solve and be creative as a couple to stay safe.”

Certainly it’s not as easy as it once was to get away as a couple when you could have grandparents fly in, hire your child’s pre-school teacher, or send the kids to a friend’s house. If you don’t have kids, you can’t be as spontaneous as you might have been in the past.

Consider an IOU for a post-pandemic getaway, perhaps along with some artisanal truffles or for the beer lovers, Craft Beer Caramels or Craft Beer Brittle from family-owned Hilliards Chocolates.

For the foodie who is the love of your life, sign on for a virtual cooking class or virtual food tour in the region you hope to visit. Alternatively, order something edible from that region to go with your IOU — lobster from Maine, a selection of salsas from New Mexico, cheesecake from New York.

There are plenty of affordable socially distanced options, if you want to getaway right now.

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