Traveling During Covid: Lessons from Pandemic Era Travel
Reflecting on Lockdown
Early during the lockdown, we remember looking into the sky and not seeing a single airplane for weeks. The Covid pandemic induced travel bans, flight cancellations and lockdowns seemed to cause the world to stand still. Eventually as lockdowns eased and countries re-opened, we managed to travel domestically and internationally once more. Looking back on those days, there are several habits that have become routine each time we travel.
Travel Precautions & Considerations. No one likes getting sick before or while traveling. Having traveled during the Covid pandemic, some precautions became routine.
Don’t Travel When Sick. It should be obvious but don’t travel when sick. You risk getting those around you sick, getting sicker while traveling or not being able to access medical care.
Carry PPE. We often travel with multiple KN95 masks, hand sanitizer, sanitary wipes and cold/allergy meds. These all come in handy while traveling in the case of encountering a sick passenger or coming down with a cold while traveling.
Travel Etiquette. Cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing and/or wear a KN95 mask.
No Shoes Indoors. Don’t wear shoes indoors. They track in germs, bacteria, dirt, etc. Leave them at the door when entering your accommodation.
Entry Requirements & Vaccines. Though the pandemic is over, many countries have specific entry requirements for travelers including vaccines and regional regulations.
Vaccines. Stay up to date on required vaccines and recommended medications, especially while traveling to tropical zones. Many countries require the Yellow Fever Vaccine and recommend antimalarial pills.
Stay Up-to-Date. Though the Covid pandemic is over, there are often regional outbreaks of other diseases (M-Pox, Ebola, Hantavirus). Be aware of what’s happening in the world prior to traveling.
Thermal Scanners. Many airports have thermal scanners to temperature check arriving passengers and potentially quarantine them.
Protect Your Travel Bookings. Play it safe and book the refundable option, pay for travel protection and get travel insurance while planning trips and making bookings.
Book the Refundable Option. Whenever booking travel, opt for the slightly more expensive “refundable option.” Even post-pandemic, this has saved us from losing out on bookings we’ve needed to cancel.
Pay for Travel Protection. Many airlines and booking sites offer the option to “protect your flight/stay” during check out. We frequently purchase this for peace of mind. It’s been useful on cancelled flights and re-booking accommodations.
Credit Card Insurance. Complete bookings with travel credit cards. They often include insurance that can help rebook a flight/stay or get full refunds for situations out of your control. The Chase Sapphire Reservehas been our best friend in tough situations.
Travel Insurance. For extended trips, we’ve used World Nomads. It’s more cost effective than other travel insurance agencies though not well reviewed. Thankfully we’ve never needed to file a claim.
Pro Tip. Download the insurance policy and read through it thoroughly before traveling to have an understanding of what’s covered, how to document an incident and how to file a claim.
Alternatives to Travel. Unable to freely travel abroad during the pandemic, we began exploring other ways to experience other cultures and different parts of the world. These are some of our favorites that we still do today:
Online Cooking Classes. Virtual cooking classes are great ways to connect with other cultures and people around the world without having to travel. During the pandemic, we took multiple cooking classes to experience the food and culture in other countries.
Travel on Google Maps. Choose a random location on the map and tour the streets of a foreign city or countryside, popping into places with photo spheres or street views. Start here and explore the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena.
Plan Future Trips. Read travel blogs and magazines, watch travel shows and YouTube videos, scroll social media for travel content, plan itineraries for future travel.
Go Near. Explore your own backyard, walk down the road less traveled, go on urban hikes or visit nearby nature sights and parks. It’s fun to reacquaint yourself with your local surroundings.
Start a Travel Blog. With the spare time, we started Afar Atlas as a way to remember and relive our past travels. Since then, Afar Atlas has grown into a full travel site with travel guides and resources from our adventures around the world. Pick out a Squarespace template and start blogging!
Post Covid Travel. Though the Covid pandemic is over and lockdowns feel like a distant history, we’re continually reminded to be smart and safe about how to travel. It’s given us a stronger appreciation for being able to travel to far away places, experience different cultures and interact with other travelers.
