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Traveling has been restricted for most of 2020. Since the COVID-19 pandemic set upon our world unexpectedly, many of our plans for 2020 were scuppered; in the meantime, we stayed home, tried to stay healthy, and took care of our loved ones. Traveling has always been one of the highlights of our year – planning, booking, researching, and then finally enjoying the trip you’ve looked forward to! Whether you love road trips, beach vacations, hiking, city breaks or something totally offbeat, you’re probably itching to get away for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Now that the world is beginning to slowly open up to tourists again, there are some things you need to know about staying healthy while you travel in a post-COVID-19 world.
Researching Your Destination
Although many people prefer to be spontaneous and book a last-minute getaway, this probably isn’t advisable under the current circumstances. A post-coronavirus world means that we all have to take better care of ourselves and others when we are traveling.
Many countries have imposed travel bans or mandatory quarantines for those entering. This means that you might have to quarantine in your hotel for up to two weeks before you can enjoy your vacation. If this isn’t right for you, you may want to consider vacationing elsewhere.
Likewise, although countries may be welcoming tourists back to their country with open arms, some tourist destinations, landmarks, and resorts remain closed for safety reasons. If you have always wanted to visit a particular country or landmark, ensure you check that this is open to the public, so as not to be disappointed down the line.
Travel Insurance
Many people skip out on travel insurance when they book a trip, especially if the trip is short. Travel insurance can cover healthcare, accident care, loss or theft of items, life insurance, canceled flights, or emergency cancelation – depending on your plan’s policies. Now that COVID-19 is a major factor in everybody’s lives, it goes without saying that it is essential to invest in travel insurance if you are going abroad.
Many insurance companies are not offering cover for COVID-19 related incidents. Always check carefully and read the wording of your policy. However, since countries began to slowly reopen their borders, insurers are also beginning to relax their coronavirus policies for travelers. If you become sick abroad without any travel insurance, you could end up with an enormous bill with no help from your domestic health insurance at all.
Food
Vacations are about new experiences. It is a shame when people go on vacation to a brand new country they’ve never visited before, and survive purely on the food they’re used to. Don’t be a boring tourist – try new foods and experiment with the beautiful cuisines of the different cultures around the world!
If you operate on a strict diet, due to allergies, diabetes, or ethical choices such as veganism, it can be challenging to find food that fits your needs in a new environment. While most places are very accommodating to everybody’s needs, it is important that you’re prepared to have, well, a restricted diet whilst you’re abroad.
Luckily, sites such as Tripadvisor and other tourism websites can list fantastic options for you if you have a restricted diet. Other visitors can leave reviews and recommendations for venues that will meet your dietary restrictions! This helps you be safe, keep well, and explore new cuisines at the same time.
Digging Out Your Old Products
Since everybody has been practically housebound for months now, you probably haven’t bought any more vacation products such as swimsuits, towels, sunscreen and summer clothes. That’s totally fair enough. Why spend if you aren’t even sure you can travel yet?
Does sunscreen expire? Yes, it does. When it comes to cosmetic products such as sunscreen, moisturizer, and bug spray, you must check expiry dates to ensure your products will actually work when you get to your vacation spot. If you’re digging up old products from your bathroom cupboards and throwing them in your suitcase absentmindedly, retrace your steps and check those dates.
Extra Precautions
In a post-coronavirus travel environment, the rules will still be different from before. Just like other major world events, the effects of coronavirus will outlast its actual presence in our society. Therefore, extra precautions must be taken for traveling safely, especially if you are taking an airplane. Here are some extra precautions you should be taken when traveling in 2020:
- Wearing a mask. Wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of infection has been normal for years in many countries. For the USA and Europe, however, it is a relatively new concept. Wearing a cloth or medical mask over your nose and mouth when indoors with other members of the public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Symptoms of the virus only show up after at least seven days in most cases, meaning you could be carrying the virus without realizing it. Wearing a mask on an airplane could be mandatory depending on the airline, but even if it is not, it is highly advisable.
- Temperature checks. Some airports and airlines have promised to check the temperature of all passengers before they board the aircraft. If your temperature is higher than normal, you may be denied access to the aircraft. This is because one major symptom of COVID-19 is a fever.
- Being honest about symptoms. If you have booked and paid for a vacation, it will take something huge to stop you from going. It’s understandable that once you are ready to leave for your vacation, you may not want to cancel last minute. However, if you begin displaying symptoms of COVID-19, like a cough, a fever, or a loss of taste or smell, you should not go on your vacation. A vacation can be replaced; your health and your life cannot.
Staying Fit On Vacay
If fitness and health are passions of yours, you’ll know that those passions continue, even when you’re on a break. Doing sport whilst you’re on vacation doesn’t have to be a chore, and in fact, most sports lovers use their enthusiasm for exercise to explore and have fun. Some vacations are centered entirely around a sport, such as horseback riding holidays, skiing, surfing, or hiking. Even if you are just going on a beach vacay, though, you can still incorporate a fun, fit lifestyle into your trip.
If you are a fitness fanatic, ensure that your accommodation has a gym available to its guests. This means you can get a quick workout in, no matter where you are. If you are not a gym-goer but love the outdoors, you can try new sports when on vacation. Water sports such as kayaking, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving are widely available to everyone, in many locations around the world. These sports must always be done under the supervision of professionals, so you can stay safe and have an awesome aquatic experience.
Final Thoughts
No matter your hobbies and passions, you deserve to have a healthy vacation. Staying safe from COVID-19 and having a great time can both be achieved with the right precautions. Ensuring you and your family remain healthy on vacation should be a top priority.
Aside from the scary time we are living through right now, you can still try new foods, explore, stay fit, and ultimately have the amazing break you deserve.
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