Crystal Clear Beaches, Piña Colada and Easy Living: Puerto Rico.

It may be tough to make any solid travel plans right now, but it never hurts to dream. In fact, it may even pay off to start imagining future trips to Puerto Rico.

Discover Puerto Rico, the island nation’s official tourism organization, has partnered up with JetBlue and San Juan Marriott to give away a vacation to a few lucky people. All they have to do is plan an imaginary trip to Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico is a great option for travelers seeking warm temperatures, rich history, abundant natural attractions, delectable cuisine, and an international flair,” Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, shared in a statement. “The Island is an ideal place to visit when responsible travelers are ready, given the prioritization of health and safety measures and entry requirements in place to ensure a safe vacation.”

For a chance to win this Puerto Rican getaway, would-be travelers are invited to pick any week of 2021 and block it off on their digital calendars for a “vacation in Puerto Rico.” In the subject line of this calendar event, participants must include: “Fly JetBlue to Puerto Rico.” Then, they must include Vacation@DiscoverPuertoRico.com as a participant on the calendar invite and press send. With these three steps, they’ll secure their entry to the giveaway.

Three winners will win two roundtrips JetBlue certificates to fly to Puerto Rico, plus a 6-day/5-night stay at San Juan Marriott, a beachfront resort. Even if you don’t win the grand prize, an-other 100 participants will receive a gift bag filled with travel goodies designed to inspire future travels.

“As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, we’re excited to launch a partnership with Discover Puerto Rico encouraging travelers to choose days for a future vacation to the island,” Elizabeth Win-dram, vice president of marketing, JetBlue, told Travel+Leisure. “With so much pent-up travel demand, we look forward to welcoming customers whenever they are ready to Fly JetBlue to Puerto Rico, knowing they can count on us to deliver a safe travel experience and an award-winning service.”

Whether you’re the lucky winner or not, recent studies have shown that fantasizing about travel and taking the first step to block off time for it can actually boost your happiness levels. So let yourself dream a little, and maybe it’ll become a reality sooner than later.

For more information on the giveaway, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com.

President Biden Push Back Against A Deadly Scourge

As the U.S. continues its battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden administration has implemented new travel regulations designed to curb the virus’s spread along with the CDC.

Starting today, all passengers entering the U.S. from overseas must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival. Previously, only passengers from select countries were subjected to this regulation. Now, anyone entering the country, including citizens and residents, must comply with this new regulation.

According to the CDC website:

“If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get tested no more than 3 days before you travel by air into the United States and show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight, or be prepared to show documentation of recovery (proof of a recent positive viral test and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).”

In addition to this requirement for international air travel, newly inaugurated President Joe Biden has implemented a new federal mandate to enforce the use of face masks for interstate travelers. This order applies to airports, planes, trains, ferries, intercity buses, and public transportation.

Though most transportation and travel companies have put their own face mask policies in place, this move from President Biden was celebrated by many, including the flight attendants union.

“What a difference leadership makes! We welcome President Biden’s nationwide approach to crushing the virus and lifting us out of this pandemic,” said Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President, in a statement.

Nelson also added that the mandate would provide “much needed back up” for flight attendants and other aviation workers who’ve had to enforce their employers’ mask policies even in the face of physical and verbal abuse from passengers.

It is currently unclear exactly how this new face mask mandate will be enforced, but anonymous sources told CNN that federal agencies consider enforcement measures such as civil penalties.

A Biker’s Dream Comes True: North America Unite.

Forget busses, planes, and trains. There’s a new way to reach Canada, and it’s all about taking the scenic route. New York recently finished constructing a 750-mile multipurpose trail, linking the southern tip of Manhattan to the Canadian border.

The Empire State Trail connects about 400 miles of previously unlinked off-road trails and adds nearly 180 miles of new off-road trails to its network. The project also saw the upgrade of 170 miles of on-road bicycle routes and several bike racks along the way.

“Not only does it provide an opportunity to experience the natural beauty and history of New York, but it also gives New Yorkers from every corner of the state a safe outlet for recreation as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

As a multipurpose network, the Empire State Trail can be used by hikers, runners, cyclists, and even snowshoers and cross-country skiers. The trail also serves as somewhat of a map to New York’s best breweries for those who enjoy craft beer. State officials partnered with local brewers to create an Empire State Trail Brewery Passport that allows visitors to keep track of which breweries they’ve visited by collecting stamps at each one. About 200 craft breweries participate in the Brewery Passport initiative, all within a 10 mile stretch of the trail.

Some of the more scenic and popular areas covered by the entire 750-mile Empire State Trail include the Hudson River Valley Greenway, Champlain Valley, Buffalo State Park, Fort Ticonderoga, and the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

Though the Empire State Trail reaches the Canadian border, it’s unlikely that people on the trail will be able to cross into New York’s northern neighbor. Since the pandemic’s early days, the land border between the U.S. and Canada has been closed for non-essential travel. This border closure was recently extended to at least Feb. 21, 2021, and will likely extend beyond that date.

For more information on the Empire State Trail, visit the official website.