For those of us no longer beholden to a school schedule (one of the perks of being an older empty nester!), Fall is one of the great times of year to travel. Resorts are emptier, beaches are often warm and beautiful without being crowded (assuming you are out of a hurricane zone). And deals are to be had. But this Fall, not unlike last Fall, there are concerns about whether it’s the right time to travel and if so, where. With the Delta variant raging in a large proportion of the United States, and many overseas countries not especially welcoming of Americans (see the latest recommendation from the European Union to impose travel curbs on Americans), it’s once again a confusing time to take to the road or hop on a plane.

If you ask public health experts, there’s certainly debate about whether now is the time to engage in a number of activities, including travel. According to a recent survey of such experts in STAT, there’s no debate if you are one of the unvaccinated: the simple answer is you must get vaccinated if you want to participate in any sort of normal activity, for your own health and for the health of those around you. If you are fully vaccinated, then there’s some disagreement among the polled experts as to what you should and shouldn’t do. With Delta continuing to spread throughout most of the country, experts generally warn caution and most would not enter a theater or eat indoors at this point. Regarding domestic and foreign travel, geography really seems to matter. They recommend you consider the vaccination and transmission rates of your destination before you make a decision. Regarding domestic travel, it is useful to understand that right now, if the United States were an international destination, 80% of the country would be designated by the CDC definition to be Level 4, which means do not travel there.

Speaking of the CDC, they update a “Do Not Travel” List every Monday, which now includes such destinations as Puerto Rico and Switzerland. Regardless of where you are traveling, the CDC recommends you be fully vaccinated, and for any country with a Level 4 designation (the places with the highest risk of transmission), the CDC recommends you not travel there, even if you are fully vaccinated. Moreover, there are serious reasons to consider not traveling overseas at this time. Given that travel raises your chances of becoming infected or spreading infection, and given the potential that other new dangerous variants may surface, it’s questionable whether you should engage in non-essential travel at this time. And what about if you get a booster shot? Would it be safe to travel then? As you know, booster shots themselves remain controversial. However, experts do recommend that anyone immunocompromised who travels should get a third shot and if you do get a booster, make sure to allow 2 weeks to pass before you start on your adventure.

If you decide to travel (and bookings suggest people are going ahead with their plans) there are some sources of guidance to help. Forbes has put together a comprehensive guide on travel restrictions, mask mandates, and other useful info for destinations around the world. Fodors’ travel site suggests you may actually be very safe on certain cruise lines that require customers and crew to be fully vaccinated, along with masks indoors and negative tests before boarding. Finally, experts consulted by the Washington Post recommend limited travel for the Fall, if you feel you need to get away at all. Their recommendations? Travel by car, only domestically, stay in a bed and breakfast rather than a crowded hotel, and stay outdoors as best as possible. They even suggest some sightseeing in New York City, a place where vaccination rates are relatively high and caseloads are contained. To find out more, pack your bags and look here.