How to Travel After Coronavirus?
The Coronavirus crisis will probably change the way we travel.
No one really knows what vacation might look like after all this is over, but there are some things we can learn from past crises.
Here’s a couple of short tips on how to plan for your trip during the quarantine for when all this is over. Just keep reading.
7. Prepare multiple destination options
Start with creating a travel bucket list and choose multiple destinations based on your preferences. Watch YouTube videos, read blogs, watch documentaries on the possible destination you want to visit.
When you’re making the list, make them based on factors such as How healthy/risky the country you are planning to visit is: Keep on checking the WHO website, the Coronavirus Tracker, and Coronavirus Live Updates, see which countries have the best preventive measures, etc.
Choose destinations based on how crowded the place is—places such as nature, less crowded towns, and cities, etc. A visit to a National Park or a historical site would be such examples.
Check if there is enough medical infrastructure in place in the region you are traveling to in case you get sick while you’re there.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT travel during the pandemic. Stay home during this COVID-19 crisis, practice social distancing, wash your hands, listen to the authorities and save lives! And don’t worry, there will be time to travel again.
6. Book your trip with possible cancellation options
Book your accommodation so that you can easily cancel, to eliminate unnecessary cancellation fees. Always look at what the cancellation policy for your accommodation, ride, or flight is. It might not always be easy to find the information about cancellation conditions, so take some time and read the fine print. You can even consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance.
You might want to watch for the best value and not necessarily the lowest prices. After the past crises, many hotels offered a great price-quality ratio and packages for tourists to get them traveling again.
But be careful when booking, especially with unknown operators. Watch for scams. If you choose a with well-known brands such as hotels, booking providers, or airlines, chances for them to go bankrupt are lower. Also, don't forget to get the right travel health insurance.
5. Plan to travel closer to your home
Plan shorter trips so you can easily reach back home. You can even take several shorter trips more often instead of making one big trip. So instead take advantage of long weekends and holidays.
Plan to travel to neighboring states or countries only so you’re always able to come home fast by car or a short flight at most.
4. Don’t plan way ahead
Why is it not so good to plan that far ahead?
Maybe in the summer, all this is all over and then in the fall might hit hard again as SARS did since nobody knows what will happen.
That’s why it’s great to have several options ready, including several possible dates.
3. Stay healthy
You need to be strong and healthy for your next travel – eat healthily, take vitamins, drink enough, sleep well, exercise, and practice mental strength.
2. Take precautions while traveling
After this is over, here’s what you can do to stay safe and healthy during your travels:
Always wash your hands properly every time you have a chance to, for example, after using a toilet - but be careful not to touch the doors after you leave the restroom, etc.
Bring hand sanitizers and wipes – use them every time you touch something, for example, right after touching handrails, doors, surfaces on the metro, elevator buttons, before you eat outside, etc. Remember that a lot of people have just touched that elevator button right before you and viruses can stay on the surface for days, if not more.
Use wipes to sanitize surfaces you are about to use.
Don’t touch your face. One of the main ways the virus spreads is when you touch your nose, eyes, or mouth.
Use tissues or your sleeve when cough and wear a mask, especially indoors, and when you're close to other people.
Don’t sit down while using the metro and try to use the metro without holding at all – as some locals do. But be careful – we don’t want you to fall.
Eat at the restaurants, fast food joints, and food centers that have good reviews. Chances are they will be cleaner.
Stay healthy: Eat well, drink enough water, take vitamins also during travel, get enough sleep, etc.
Know what the emergency number is for your destination and know how to call if something goes wrong. Preferably someone who can assist you if you need help or feel unwell.
1. Don’t rush into taking your first vacation
Wait until the authorities say it’s safe to go and then revisit your travel plan. If you’ve made a long enough list, with many options, you’ll probably find a great place to visit.
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