We’ve been living in the new normal for quite some time now and have adjusted to it accordingly. In 2020, a lot of travel plans were canceled due to the Coronavirus, but people aren’t going to let it stop them in 2021. Hence, if you too are planning a trip this year, here are 6 important things that you should take into consideration so that you can have a safe and enjoyable trip.
#1 Dealing with COVID restrictions
The pandemic that shut the whole world down in 2020 continues into 2021. And while things have slightly improved, COVID-19 is still causing a lot of havoc across the globe.
In most places around the world, travel restrictions have been lifted. However, these restrictions can be imposed again, depending on the situation. Hence, before you leave for your trip, check with these restrictions (where you’re going) and whether or not you need to get vaccinated before you can visit there. If it’s mandatory for you to get vaccinated before your arrival, you must carry your vaccination certificate with you.
You should also check with the quarantine requirements at the place of your visit as well as the other COVID safety precautions. Avoid visiting places that are having to deal with a large number of COVID cases.
#2 The fewer people, the better
Avoid traveling in a group. The more people you surround yourself with, the higher the chances that you might get infected with COVID. You can, at best, travel with one or two companions max. Anything more than that will put you at risk.
Also, avoid visiting places that are likely to be crowded. If you’re going away for your honeymoon or a quick vacation, go somewhere that’s somewhat empty or isn’t overcrowded. While doing so won’t guarantee complete safety against COVID, it’ll still reduce the risk of you catching the virus and getting sick.
#3 Checking the weather
Before planning your trip, you should also consider looking into the weather conditions of the place you’re planning on visiting. If you’re going for a quick tour or vacation, you should look for sunny conditions, with light to moderate levels of rainfall. Given your trip is likely to be somewhere around summer, you don’t need to worry about snowfall. However, do be on the lookout for possible storms in that area.
Use a weather app to keep all these weather conditions in check. Or, you can simply try visiting https://www.tomorrow.io/weather/ and get all your weather updates from there. You should also check out the Air-Quality Index (AQI) of your destination while you’re at it. After all, COVID isn’t the only thing that can damage your lungs; polluted air can also cause you a lot of problems in this regard.
#4 Pre-booking everything
Per the general COVID safety guidelines, hotels and resorts all around the world are operating at a very limited capacity. This is being done to make sure that they’re not overcrowded, and social distancing is properly maintained. Hence, there’s a limited number of rooms available at these places.
So before leaving for your destination, you must pre-book your hotel room. You should also pre-book a car or any other mode of local transportation for your daily commutes. Avoid using public transport, no matter how safe the place is or how relaxed the restrictions are.
#5 Avoid souvenir shopping
This will be one of those trips where you might have to sacrifice a lot of the traveling traditions or practices. One of these practices is buying souvenirs. If you’re traveling for purposes of business or simple sightseeing and relaxation, you should just stick to that. Try not to go out much, and even if you do, keep your interactions with other people at a bare minimum. Apart from shopping for necessary supplies or medicine, you shouldn’t visit the marketplaces either.
#6 Keep the trip short and simple
Keep your trip short and don’t overstay your visit. 2-3 days should be more than enough for a business-related trip. If it’s a vacation, your trip shouldn’t be longer than a week or 10 days. Remember, the longer you’re away from the comfort of your home, the more exposed you are to the disease, and the more risk you’re putting yourself into. So keep the trip short and try to limit your sightseeing to some extent.
Once the trip is over, and you’re back home safe and sound, go into self-quarantine for a couple of weeks. That way, even if by some chance you caught the virus on your trip, you can still keep your family members and other loved ones safe.
