The Covid-19 pandemic has raged on for well over a year now, bringing dramatic changes to many aspects of life, including our sense of fashion. However, as time starts to move on, things are improving. In fact, things have improved to the point that travel across different countries is now allowed! That’s right, you can finally set off and enjoy a vacation for a few days, which is precisely what a lot of us need.
Still, with that in mind, many of you are right to be cautious about traveling during the pandemic. The virus is still out there, and it can still be caught and spread. It’s a lot better than it was in some countries, but you should rightfully be a bit concerned about your safety. Thankfully, there are things you can try to make yourself feel safe when heading on vacation this summer and beyond. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
Try to keep your travel group small
Who are you traveling with? Ideally, you want to travel with family members that you’re around all the time. If you want to go away with friends, try to keep the groups as small as possible. The more people you travel with, the more chances there are for someone to pick up the virus before you leave. It is generally better to travel with your household or a bubble you’ve formed with other people. Being a small group also means you’re likely to stay together during the vacation, so there’s less chance of someone wandering off on their own for a bit, where they could accidentally catch the virus.
Research the best places to go
Naturally, some parts of the world have been hit by the pandemic worse than others. There are some countries – like New Zealand and Australia – that have pretty much been back to normal for months. Others have high infection rates, so you want to avoid these. Ideally, find a location that has a low infection rate and has been dealing well with the virus for a decent amount of time. This will help you feel safe as you know there’s less risk of catching the virus in a country that has things under control. Avoid places where the cases are going up every day as you don’t want to end up catching it and needing to isolate before you’re allowed home.
Protect yourself before you go
There’s a lot of talk about the vaccines and whether or not you should have them. Understandably, this is a touchy subject for some, but it is seen as a good idea to protect yourself however you see fit before you go traveling. Indeed, some countries will only let you in if you have both vaccinations, so keep that in mind. If for whatever reason, you don’t want or can’t get the vaccine, your next best idea is to travel locally instead. It lowers the risk, you won’t need to prove that you have a vaccination to travel somewhere in your own country, and many of you may actually prefer it. The thought of air travel can be too much to bear for some, so a little staycation is a brilliant idea.
Pack your pandemic essentials
By now, you should have a collection of things that you bring with you pretty much anywhere during the pandemic. You won’t leave the house without a mask and probably some hand sanitizer in your bag. If you are traveling, you need to pack these essentials in your suitcase to keep yourself protected when you’re on vacation.
Obviously, masks and hand sanitizer are the main things here. If you prefer disposable ones, be sure you bring enough to last the trip – and take your travel group into account as well. If you are traveling as a family, you’ll need to pack masks for some kids as well, depending on how old they are. Reusable masks are, well, reusable! Therefore, they seem like a better idea, only you need to have somewhere to wash them after a couple of uses. So, perhaps disposable ones are the way to go.
Alongside your hand sanitizer, you could consider bringing some antibacterial wipes or a small spray. This gives you peace of mind when you’re out as you can sanitize seating areas before you sit down, ensuring any germs are destroyed. Of course, there is also one other thing you should pack as part of your pandemic essentials; COVID-19 testing kits. You can buy these online, and most countries have rules that dictate you will need to present negative tests before flying. Having some with you lets you test yourself before you return home, so you know you are safe and free from the virus before boarding any planes.
Consider traveling privately
Clearly, a big issue many people have is that you are in contact with so many others when you travel. Think about a typical commercial plane, it can seat over a hundred people all in a confined place. While you might still have masks on, it’s normal to feel a bit uncomfortable with so many people around you. And that doesn’t even take into account the thousands of people in the airports themselves – it can all be a bit overwhelming.
Instead, you could try to find more private ways to travel. The most obvious suggestion would be to hire a private jet and travel that way. If you can afford it, this is a brilliant idea as your travel group can completely bypass all the airport crowds and a crowded plane, keeping yourselves more confined. Another alternative is to try and drive to wherever you want to go. Now, this only makes sense if your chosen destination is within driving distance. If it is, this is a much more affordable and private way of traveling during a pandemic, ensuring you minimize contact with everyone else.
Avoid busy tourist areas
After 18 months of being unable to travel, when restrictions lift your instinct is to book a flight to somewhere popular. You want to go to a top travel destination, perhaps one that you’ve been to before. Unfortunately, this means you are going somewhere that a lot of other people are also keen to visit. Thus, thousands of people from all over the world are flooding popular tourist areas.
Instead, it might be smarter to avoid these busy tourist areas when traveling during the pandemic and find somewhere quiet to go.
Consider a fun camping trip instead of staying in a busy city with millions of people wandering around. A good idea is to think of the place you want to visit, then Google hidden gems in the same area. For example, you want to visit Italy because of the lovely weather and food. However, going to places like Rome or Venice would mean you are slap bang in tourist central! But, if you looked for hidden gems around these areas, you could find quieter places that still provide similar experiences, just with fewer people.
Travel outside of peak times
Similarly, you can feel a lot safer if you traveling during the pandemic outside of peak times. Instead of going during August, book your vacation for September or October. Students and kids will no longer be on their long summer break, so families are less likely to be booking vacations. Ideally, this means everywhere you go will be quieter, with fewer tourists around.
Ultimately, it’s all about your preparation beforehand combined with what you do while you’re on vacation. Protect yourself as best as you can when traveling during the pandemic, find quieter places to visit in countries that are dealing well with the virus, and you should feel safe when traveling.
