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How's it going in Florida.. Covid and all?

wahya said:
We camp a lot and last year we went to the panhandle. We took a day trip out to Mexico Beach. On our way back, we decided to stop at a nice little place in Apalachicola that we had ate a year before to have lunch. Thought we would just get takeout and eat in the car along the water. Shrimp dinner (lunch) had been about $30 last time . I handed wife a fifty. We usually tip even with takeout and we figured we would tip a little more to help. Wife came back to car and handed me the receipt. Meal came to 49.98,including a 17 percent "covid tax". My wife just told the waitress to keep the change.
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I am not sure how legal that COVID tax is. Maybe it's a state thing? I do know that in Iowa that would be illegal for them to do something like that.
 
Canadians love Florida. Unfortunately Florida is averaging over 10K new cases per day and our government is now imposing strict consequences for anyone re-entering Canada from any travel until end of April. Not only do we need to be tested before returning, we need to be tested again at the airport upon arrival, then mandatory quarantining in a designated hotel for a min of 3 days or until results are in. If negative you can go home. If positive then you stay there. All at your own expense (estimated ~ $2000pp).

Most vacationers and snowbirds are hurrying to get back before the mandatory hotel stay begins. Total **** show.
 
Scott Engelhardt said:
I am not sure how legal that COVID tax is. Maybe it's a state thing? I do know that in Iowa that would be illegal for them to do something like that.
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Actually, they're calling it a surcharge to cover cleaning supplies and the like. Some restraunts are charging and some are not. I would rather go to the ones that don't. They'are only hurting themselves with the locals.
 
wahya said:
We camp a lot and last year we went to the panhandle. We took a day trip out to Mexico Beach. On our way back, we decided to stop at a nice little place in Apalachicola that we had ate a year before to have lunch. Thought we would just get takeout and eat in the car along the water. Shrimp dinner (lunch) had been about $30 last time . I handed wife a fifty. We usually tip even with takeout and we figured we would tip a little more to help. Wife came back to car and handed me the receipt. Meal came to 49.98,including a 17 percent "covid tax". My wife just told the waitress to keep the change.
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If you paid a 17% tax that means you spent around $42.75 on the meal. Yah it’s 7 bucks more than what you thought it was going to be but I think retailers and restaurants ran on such small margins before there is no way they can stay afloat having to pay for non-stop ppe, and cleaning supplies, all with reduced capacity if it’s anything like our restaurants etc....
Hopefully short term pain
 
747mopar said:
Last year we went to Miramar beach which is right beside Destin, this year we're going to Pensacola. My boy and I had a blast touring fort Pickens, fort Barrancas, checking out the aviation museum and watching the blue angels last year so we decided to pick a destination closer to that area. Being in this area also puts us within driving distance of Ft Morgan Alabama too so I'm sure we'll check it out well. I can only take so much beach before I'm bored to death!
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You might want to do some research on the main bridge in Pensacola, and if it's closed does it impact your vacation? After those hurricanes went through that area last year my understanding is that a major Pensacola bridge was closed due to structural damage. Could be repaired/reopened by now....not sure though.
 
4mulas said:
If you paid a 17% tax that means you spent around $42.75 on the meal. Yah it’s 7 bucks more than what you thought it was going to be but I think retailers and restaurants ran on such small margins before there is no way they can stay afloat having to pay for non-stop ppe, and cleaning supplies, all with reduced capacity if it’s anything like our restaurants etc....
Hopefully short term pain
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It's more like 14 bucks more. Thirty for the meal and six for the waitress, $36 for a takeout lunch. I guess I'm cheap, but not used to spending 50 for lunch. And that's all I had in my wallet, so she got left out.

Also, I don't live near there, but I heard the bridge that got hit was the 98 bridge. Can get there off I-10.
 
wahya said:
It's more like 14 bucks more. Thirty for the meal and six for the waitress, $36 for a takeout lunch. I guess I'm cheap, but not used to spending 50 for lunch. And that's all I had in my wallet, so she got left out.

Also, I don't live near there, but I heard the bridge that got hit was the 98 bridge. Can get there off I-10.
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I guess I don’t know the math. To me it looks like you spent 30 bucks a year ago and this time 42.75. I assumed you probably ordered more or not the same thing or a couple extra beers to go from 30 to 42.75, so I was thinking it wasn’t a fair comparison. Regardless **** is getting expensive everywhere and the consumer is definitely getting pinched.
 
Highly recommend coquina beach, crystal clear waters. Beaches not packed. Definitely Worth a look.
 
747mopar said:
Lol I'm glad to hear all is open but rest assured we're not coming to party or pack in. We usually rent a place on the beach and do our own thing away from the crowds.
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Girl I used to work with moved to Florida last year amid COVID. She tells me that as of today Florida is completely open in regards to businesses and whatnot, despite the numbers of infections that continue being reported...
 
Maybe plan a more local vacation? There are many ready to do a Covid touchdown end zone dance. When we are just in the red zone? (Sorry for the football analogy.) With new variants, that may really like you? Maybe now isn't the time for a victory lap? Let's give the vaccines a chance?
 
Buckle down until the mask mandate is lifted. Catch up on all the home projects and then vacation like Summer Break.
 
Cojohnso1 said:
Maybe plan a more local vacation? There are many ready to do a Covid touchdown end zone dance. When we are just in the red zone? (Sorry for the football analogy.) With new variants, that may really like you? Maybe now isn't the time for a victory lap? Let's give the vaccines a chance?
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No victory lap nor end zone dance, you'd have to be participating in the game in order for that which I am not. Rest assured my family won't be the ones you see packing the restaurants, we'll be on the beach (we chose a lesser used one) and checking out the Forts (last time we were one of the only people there). Basically my family will come in contact with less people on vacation than we do at home by a long stretch.
 
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chtampa said:
Buckle down until the mask mandate is lifted. Catch up on all the home projects and then vacation like Summer Break.
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I've been on my knees for well over a month now in home projects, leveling and tiling a basement floor then installing a radiant heat floor in another room.. think I'm done after these two:thumbsup:.
 
747mopar said:
I've been on my knees for well over a month now in home projects, leveling and tiling a basement floor then installing a radiant heat floor in another room.. think I'm done after these two:thumbsup:.
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Huge balls here! Anyone that will say he has been on his knees around this group must have a pair.
 
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I just spent 2 weeks in Boca Raton helping out my 82 year old mother in law. Just about everyone wore masks indoors. Stores and restaurants were all open. Some restaurants had limited indoor dining. I picked up Chinese takeout one night and the dining room was closed. Owner said he only opens on weekends at half capacity. He had a barrier set up with the orders on the table. Wouldn't touch my credit card or hand me the receipt. Was very careful.
Another place I picked up food, the place was packed and no one indoors was wearing a mask ( hard while you're eating). So I guess hit or miss. The traffic was definitely lighter than normal this time of year. Seems like less people out and about. My mother-in-law doesn't go out at all except once a week for food shopping or to a drs. appointment. I think people are aware of the risks and danger.
 
It seems to me we are in a race. Vaccine vs new variant. Numbers suggest the virus will take the early lead? (As it already has) but vaccine and thus Immunity will begin showing significant gains in about 4-6 months.
 
why is there always someone with an agenda

I hope the trip is a great one @747mopar

have fun, be safe
 
Just booked a week in the Keys in Marathon, chose it because it is on the beach, had a kitchen for us to cook, fridge for my beer, less congestion, and the wife and I just want to lay on the beach, snorkel, and relax
Hope it works out for us
 
Under Pressure said:
Just booked a week in the Keys in Marathon, chose it because it is on the beach, had a kitchen for us to cook, fridge for my beer, less congestion, and the wife and I just want to lay on the beach, snorkel, and relax
Hope it works out for us
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I love the Keys. I have scuba dived there with my kids in Pennekamp Reserve many times !!!!! We usually go to Key Largo.
 
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