A Guide to Travel During the Pandemic

After so much time spent in “time out”, the intrepid are itching to stretch their legs or already have. Traveling is now an option, but the logistics may still be daunting. here are 5 headache saving tips to keep your dream trip from turning into a nightmare.

Before jumping in, I want to take a breath and note that things are definitely improving. Heading into our second winter during the pandemic it’s easy to forget how far we’ve come. For example, this same week in November 2020 my home country, the United States, was just emerging from election purgatory; 5 days of counts and recounts not to mention months prior spent on pins and needles. On this exact day a year ago the first US vaccine would announce it had finished pre-trials. Most Americans could not travel to Europe and most Europeans could not travel to the US. Now things have settled to a relaxed antagonistic murmur politically, a vaccine has been cleared for school age children, and the 22 month pandemic travel ban barring Europeans from the US has been lifted. No, there has not been one glorious day on which we can say “finally the pandemic is over” but slowly and surely, so much has changed in a year’s time. So cheers to you for slugging through the last year and here’s hoping your upcoming travels are smooth, at the very least I trust you’ll make sure they are memorable! Here are our our 5 pandemic travel tips.

Do the research ahead of time. Look up specific travel restrictions in the country you are visiting, if you will be in several countries make sure to look at each one individually and take note of the entry requirements. Check and double check that the information is recent because things change sometimes from month to month. Although travel magazines may provide more condensed information that’s easier to digest, make sure to double check that info with the country’s official government websites. Travel requirements may include: proof of vaccine, a covid test (make certain to check if it must be PCR or is any test ok?). Some countries require a passenger tracking form and will provide you with a QR code that you will need to show upon entry or to board your flight. Turkey has digital code you will need for entry but also while there, to access some public places.

Double check the requirements at least three days before your flight. In the week prior to each flight, most airlines will send you an email with info about your destination’s entry requirements, do not disregard this! This will be the most recent “list of demands”. Carefully check this info against what you already knew you needed from your research. DO NOT wait till the day of the flight to check the requirements. DO NOT just assume there will be testing at the airport; If you need a PCR it may be difficult or much more expensive to get results in time and airport tests wont always offer tests for free or even take insurance whereas your local clinic likely will.

Save proof of all requirements to your phone. Fill out any form and save a screenshot of the QR code to a specific album in your phone along with a screen shot of your vaccination card and covid test if needed.

There may be requirements for re-entry to your own country. If there is a quarantine period make sure this will be compatible with your work obligations. If you will need to test prior to returning, make certain to look into what the testing options and costs will be.

If you do have to get a covid test for re-entry or for any other reason while traveling don’t worry! There will be local places where this is streamlined. Most hotels will point you in the right direction or arrange for a doctor come to you at your hotel. This has become part of the travel landscape and places that host tourists will be used to helping visitors find and arrange for tests.

Alternatively, before you leave; some pharmacies may stock Do It Yourself Tests that you can bring on your trip and then upload the results online but these can be hard to find and you will also need to make certain it is a test result that will be accepted.

Be organized and prepared so you can enjoy the travel experience! Don’t spend time or energy being bothered by the steps, they are easy and simple if you just do them and get it over with.

Bring a mask with you EVERYWHERE and tuck spares into your backpack, purse, carry on in case yours gets dropped or misplaced. As mask restrictions vary, just assume that you may need one at any given point. You don’t want to be “that person” (everyone groans and rolls their eyes), who acts surprised when mask requirements pop up. Just get over it. No one loves masks regardless of their opinion about how much they help or don’t and this is NOT the time and place to get self righteous and try to make some sort of point. If you plan to travel, be grateful that you can. Don’t be bothered by the fact that you’ll be required to wear a mask here and there, just be prepared and enjoy your trip.

Airlines will be handing out wipes, sanitizer and extra masks, grab these kits, even if you don’t need it, save for later. You never know when you may need them!

Tip the housekeeping, taxi driver, servers etc… Traveling is a luxury not all can afford right now and even if your budget is tight, count yourself among the lucky ones if you can travel at all. A good way to celebrate that good fortune and keep that good energy flowing is by passing along a few euros, dollars, kuna, etc…. It won’t break the bank and if its hard to part with a few dollars knowing they will go to someone doing a thankless and non-glamorous days work, then it should spark some introspection. These are hard times! Now more than ever, invest in a person.

During this time it’s best to be realistic going in. assume some cancelations will happen, especially if your itinerary is more complex. Airlines are combining partially full flights and juggling staffing problems and passing the inconvenience to customers shamelessly. Adjust your expectations so you are mentally prepared to re-plan or re-route. It’s likely not a matter of if, but when. When these cancelations happen, you will want to get your money back or rebook but during the pandemic many company’s customer service standards have dropped precipitously, so getting refunded after a vendor has already taken your money can be a nightmare. If an airline or vendor cancels and won’t refund you right away or is unreachable after several attempts; get your bank or credit card on the phone. They will contest the charge if the service was not provided and the provider is unreachable. They can usually refund you immediately, even in advance of an inquiry into the charge closing. This way you aren’t left waiting forever to get your money back, and you can re-book your canceled travel plans more quickly. Additionally, as a rule; If the flight is very far in advance, always make sure you have some form of cancelation insurance because you just never know what may come up.

• Get travel/flight insurance BUT check the small print. As you “check out” when purchasing your flights you will be prompted to insure your purchase, just make sure you’re not paying multiple times for something that you already have. Before selecting this option and extra cost, take a few minutes to actually read what this covers. Also before selecting this, consider that some credit cards ensure your trip/costs or loss of luggage, etc… if you purchased the flight using their card. Look to see what insurance (and other travel perks) your credit card offers if any. In addition, if you are planning a bigger trip and plan to purchase a travel insurance package through a provider that offers comprehensive travel insurance, that may cover flights as well as any other issues that arise during your trip in which case you don’t need to pay twice to insure the flight.

  Fight insurance is important when it’s a connection through another airline that you might miss. TIP: Whenever possible and in reasonable financial range, try to book direct flights. It’s really worth it! Connections are travel drama that take time and energy away from your trip. The other reason you may need this insurance is if there’s a chance you yourself may need to cancel (if the flight is some time in the future, you don’t know what may arise between now and then).

  For now, if it’s a covid related cancelation airlines will usually offer free cancelation (double check this policy and be prepared to show proof that the cancelation is indeed covid related.

Traveling is something many of us took for granted before the pandemic or maybe we assumed we would always be able to plan that dream trip later and now we realize that life is too short to keep saying “someday”. If you’re able to travel right now, there may be some unplanned complications that come up, or a few more hurdles to planning it, but just head into it with a sense of adventure and roll with the punches knowing that you are one of the lucky ones. If something goes wrong or perhaps takes longer or requires more steps than you’d like, be cool. Take a minute to laugh and realize that this’ll be a funny memory or a great story in a few years. This has been a hard time for everyone, keep perspective.

If you struggle with anxiety, have a personal game plan.

Traveling during the pandemic may make some of us anxious but keep in mind for most destinations, overseas travelers right now are either all vaccinated or recently tested. You probably can’t say that about your local grocery store, line at the post office or a school. One of the perks of traveling by air right now is that; free of charge to you, your fellow travelers have been pre-screened. If you consider yourself at risk despite your vaccination status, make sure to only travel to places with higher restrictions so you know you’ll be in a comparatively safe environment both en-route and once you arrive.

If you can feel yourself wound up a little tight, keep in mind that nerves are catching so it’s important to stay cool and stay calm. If you feel triggered, do not offload your anxiety onto others, either remove yourself or practice a positive headspace mantra or utilize a distraction like a book or a movie. If someone is not following pandemic safety measures and you feel a need to act, it’s always best to inform someone who works for the airport, airline, or hotel rather than confronting them yourself.

Lastly: I’m so sorry if this is tough to hear but honestly the very first step to travel during the pandemic if you aren’t vaccinated is; get vaccinated. It just isn’t logistically practical to travel if you aren’t vaccinated. I hope this helps: If you are in the USA and unsure about the new mRNA tech behind the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, there is a vaccine that doesn’t have the mRNA; the Johnson & Johnson uses old-school technology just like all the vaccines you got as a kid and it only requires one shot. So if you are holding out waiting for longer term data on new medical tech, then there is still an option for you in the meantime.

Travel is never without uncertainty and if we are honest the unexpected adventure is what draws us away from the familiar.