Everything has changed post the coronavirus pandemic ignited in 2019. It is 2021 already, yet, we are facing the consequences of COVID-19 in every aspect of our lives. However, the way we look forward to health & hygiene, how we alter our eating habits, and our travel has switched to a more positive side.
No doubt, coronavirus impacted the travel industry the most. A terrorist attack on the World Trade Center of America changed how to conduct security checks at international airports worldwide.
Similarly, a global pandemic has changed how to ensure health measures, safety procedures, and related precautions worldwide.
With signs of the reduced burden of the outbreak in late 2020, traveling resumed in a few parts of the world. While WHO is still concerned and issues travel advice regularly, there are a few other considerations for post covid traveling.
Look at the five travel tips in this article that you should follow every time you go on a vacation for all the years to come as the pandemic is not yet over!
1. Try To Travel Through Roads On Your Own
A study conducted at Emory University and Georgia Tech concluded that taking a window seat reduces the chances of direct virus transmission in a flight. A person on a window seat is likely to get up only 40% of the time compared to ones sitting near the aisle.
If you opt for a window seat, chances of inhaling the virus from fellow passenger’s breath reduce to a great extent. Plus, you don’t come in contact with many of the passengers besides your seat.
But, why take the risk at all? If you are traveling to the countryside, go by the roads. Driving your vehicle has multiple benefits when it comes to post-covid traveling. For starters, only you and your friends or family members will be traveling together.
Second, you won’t have to share seats with some random traveler (you barely know).
Preferring roads for a trip could also cut your exposure to the public, frequent human contacts, crowded places, and germs in the air. You just need a car, a roof rack, a roof rack floodlight, and your close family to kickstart your post covid vacation!
In case you are traveling abroad, after your flight lands, prefer a private cab. We know public transport is always the best budget-wise. However, current situations have changed a lot, and we recommend spending a few extra bucks rather than putting your health at risk.
2. Carry Along All The COVID-19 Essentials
Going on a trip without masks, sanitizers, and hand gloves could be the biggest mistake turned into regret in your life. It doesn’t matter if your destination requires wearing a mask or not. You should always put a mask on your face before stepping out on a trip.
Never pull it down your nose when walking in the town or visiting touristy places. Also, wearing hand gloves could save you from transmitting the virus from contaminated surfaces.
Keep a bottle of sanitizer in your handbag. Sanitize your hands and things after you leave a place and head towards the next. If you forget to carry a sanitizer, wash your hands as many times as you can in a day.
Having COVID-19 essentials on a trip can help you kill the germs at the source, and you minimize the chances of bringing them to your homes.
3. Follow Social Distancing Wherever You Go
If you are traveling post covid with your family, it could be dangerous for your kids. Following social distance is the key to enjoying the holiday and being safe and healthy at the same time. According to the CDC, staying away at least six feet from people means following social distancing.
UNICEF says, plan a trip post covid thoughtfully with your family and ensure following social distance at the max. Also, when you return from a trip, you are likely to bring along coronavirus with you.
Hence, after international travel, if possible, maintain social distance for 14 days and isolate yourself from your family, friends, and work community.
4. Minimize Human Contact And Be Thoughtful of What You Touch
Phones, wallets, keys, switches, doorknobs, escalator buttons, and ATMs are a few things touched probably the most during a trip. The virus may have survived on these things for hours as enough people have already touched and used it before you.
You can’t wholly avoid touching these things, but you can apply a generous amount of sanitizer to your hands after handling them.
If possible, try to eliminate using things that are likely to be touched and used by humans frequently. For example, instead of withdrawing from ATMs or giving cash, go for digital/contactless payments.
Doing this will cut the direct human contact you might make when exchanging money or waiting in the long ATM queues. While security checks, put your phones and wallet in a bag. It will help you avoid direct human contact. Plus, you could sanitize the bag multiple times a day.
5. Be Vaccination-ready Before You Head On a Trip
Coronavirus vaccines can help you save yourself from virus transmission and safeguard people around you as well. Before you go on a trip, we suggest you get vaccinated first. By taking the WHO-approved vaccines, you build a shield for yourself against the coronavirus.
When you travel overseas, some countries demand vaccine proof, too. In either case, getting vaccinated is beneficial for you and people coming in your contact during your international visits.
Summary
Traveling is an excellent way of getting back to life in a fresh and good mood. It has many psychological benefits. However, overlooking the current demands due to the pandemic is a big no from our side. Plan your vacations smartly (during off-seasons to avoid the crowd), research about travel destinations with less infection rate, and follow these tips to ensure a remarkable and safe trip.