Post Lockdown Travel – How To Be Safe?
Travel is not the same anymore. Now we are getting accustomed to the “new normal” in the travel sphere as well. Today, when I step out of my home to travel, it comes with lots of new travel protocols. Now is the time to understand the value of freedom that we never really thought about. From the moment you board a hired cab to reach an airport/train station to boarding a plane/train to checking into a hotel, everything about travel is different today.
Note: While the vaccination drive in India is going strong, let’s still be careful and follow all precautionary measures for our own safety and good health.
Now it’s health, hygiene and safety first. Ironically, it took a pandemic to teach us to maintain hygiene, wash hands, keep distance from other people, wait for our turn, avoid jostling, etc. I’m just wondering (and also curious) what will travel look like in India where people have this ‘tick off’ mentality, which makes them throng places like there’s no tomorrow. In India, quantity is always over quality. People don’t really care for slow travel and deep experiences. They just want to feel good about ticking off check boxes.
Besides, I’m concerned about budget travel in India. Yes, the big hotels will have their hygiene and safety protocols in place. But what about those budget hotels? Are they going to take it seriously and change their ways? And, what about our Indian trains?
We will have to limit our travel choices for the sake of our own safety. I don’t think it would be feasible to work out a hectic itinerary anytime in the near future. We got to be content with little travel that we get to experience. Well, little doesn’t mean insignificant. The new travel has to be carefully crafted with more focus on experiences and rejuvenation rather than run-of-the-mill sightseeing. Don’t get me wrong! There isn’t anything wrong with sightseeing. I do that, too. However, we need to pick and choose what we need to do to make the most of a destination without putting ourselves and others into vulnerable situations.
Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Post Lockdown Travel – How To Be Safe?
Travel is not going to wane. Tourism industry is going to revive slowly as long as it implements the right strategies to help people travel safely, consciously and sustainably. I guess sustainability isn’t a choice anymore. It’s the only way to thrive.
To travel safely and consciously post lockdown is in our hands. We need to plan our travels thoughtfully keeping the safety ideas in mind. We need to take responsibility of our own safety and the safety of others as well.
It’s time for backyard travel.
Start slow. Explore your own city first. The new travel is not just about our own fulfillment of adventure, but to help our local businesses and communities recuperate as well. It should be more of an act of social service.
Think of new ways of exploring your city – ways to restrain your movement, discover the local gems, and perceive more. Look for restaurants with innovative menus, lesser-known markets that sell local artifacts, etc. Perhaps you can support small businesses that don’t have marketing strategies in place.
Go on road trips around your city in your own vehicle.
You can definitely go on a road trip in your own car and stay completely safe. It could be a random, aimless road trip, which would open doors for serendipity, or you can have a planned itinerary. I think road trips are the safest travel option provided that it’s your personal car.
If you do opt for a rental car, make sure to sanitize it thoroughly. Avoid chauffeur driven cars if you can! Try to keep the human contact at the minimum, at least for the next few months.
Go for long nature hikes around your city.
Nature driven escapes would be the best way to stay safe and feel rejuvenated. We all have felt mentally and emotionally exhausted at some point during this lockdown. Thereby, it’s essential that we go in the midst of nature – places that would fill our crevices and invigorate our spirits.
It would be nice if you choose small tour operators who design nature hikes for small groups.
Avoid checking in to regular hotels, opt for secluded homestays.
We need to be extremely careful about our accommodation choices. Travel needs to get back to normal slowly. It would be wise to start with short trips, day trips around your city that don’t require a hotel check-in. And, even if you do choose to stay longer at a place, try to opt for homestays in secluded places.
There are hotels and hospitality brands that are slowly coming to terms with the new normal. Thus, they are well prepared to host guests – they have their staff trained and hygiene protocols in order. So now it’s up to us what we choose.
Do your research well – avoid places with high density of population.
Now our travel planning has to be more research driven. With COVID as our long-lasting enemy, we just can’t travel to random places. We need to pick and choose. We need to avoid crowded places like the plague. Look for offbeat places. Travel in the low season. Learn to enjoy slow travel.
Choose solo activities like reading, cycling, hiking, etc.
It’s time for solo travel, I guess! Well, I’m not saying that if you’re not a solo traveller, you should become one. However, it’s good to choose solo travel activities to stay away from people, such as reading a good book in your balcony or in a hammock under a tree, biking, hiking, meditating by the riverside, etc.
That being said, you should not really “stay away from people” mentally or emotionally. Stay connected with your people via technology. Also, don’t stifle the opportunities of connecting with strangers on the road. I believe the people you meet on your travels give you the sweetest travel memories. So, give in to the joy of talking to your hosts, kitchen staff, waiters, and fellow travellers, but with a safe physical distance.
Limit your activities as a tourist.
In today’s time of COVID, it’s extremely important to do less and savour more. It’s not reasonable anymore to visit every monument, fort, temple, church, museum, market, beach and anything and everything that’s worth a dekko. As I mentioned earlier, now we need to be picky about our travel choices.
Choose activities that are more meaningful and perhaps could also give back to the locals of the place. For instance, visiting a local art gallery could be helpful in terms of acknowledging the local artists and their labour.
Also read: How To Be A Responsible Traveller?
Choose walks over vehicles.
The more you walk the better it is. Exploring a place on your foot can keep you safe as well as reduce traffic, noise, and the carbon emission. Wouldn’t that be a great deal? Besides, walking always gives a better perspective of a place. Photography is much easier when you’re walking. There’s freedom of lingering around and doing your own thing.
Consider checking out the kitchen where your food is being cooked.
I’m not sure if many would agree with me, but I really think that it’s our right to check the kitchen where our food is cooked. What’s the point if your waiter is wearing mask and gloves, but the staff in the kitchen is not practicing hygiene? How do you know that? It has to be transparent now. The guests ought to know what the kitchen looks like.
Ask questions. Choose places to stay carefully. Make your host aware and conscious of hygiene and safety.
We need to ask a lot of questions now. We need to ensure our safety. Make sure your hosts are aware of the new travel protocols, the hygiene practices and the social distancing norms. We need to keep talking about safety, precaution and prevention. We have to be on our toes and keep others on their toes, too!
Make sure sanitizers, disinfectants and masks are on your packing list.
Remember, you need to take care of yourself before your hosts take care of you. It begins with packing everything that you’d need for your hygiene and safety – disinfectants, masks and sanitizers. I’d suggest you should keep a disinfectant handy in case you need to travel on a bus, train or a flight. It’s advisable that you disinfect your seat even though it’s already sanitized. There’s no harm in being doubly sure.
Be very particular about social distancing.
I just hope people understand the meaning of social distancing! Wearing a mask doesn’t mean you’re safe. You have to make sure to keep a distance from people. It’s funny how people have no consciousness of other people around. Life has slowed down, and we have to accept it. Let’s learn to live with it. Let’s not get close to somebody just to get ahead in a queue. Wait patiently for your turn.
Maintain hand hygiene.
Please, please, please wash your hands! The more you wash your hands, the slower the spread of coronavirus will be. It doesn’t take much to wash our hands, right? Just a soap and water, and 20 seconds. What’s the big deal? We can do it.
If your skin gets dry, use a good oil to massage your hands before you go to bed. Keep your hands clean and moisturized.
Follow travel protocols. Be responsible.
Be well informed about the new travel protocols before you set out for a trip and follow rules diligently. Read information on the right channels. Make sure you DON’T read just about any news that you come across. Read only what’s coming from right sources. Find out about the new air travel protocols, railway rules and quarantine rules, etc.
Take responsibility to stop the spread and impact of this virus.
Below are some of the reliable sources for news and updates on the pandemic and travel protocols:
WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL
Don’t travel if you are unwell. Don’t hide if you’re infected. Don’t be a carrier.
Please don’t travel if you are feeling unwell in any manner! Just stay home and take care. Consult a doctor if you need to. Remember, travel is important, but it’s not as important as your health and safety. If you have found out that you are infected, quarantine yourself. Just don’t come in contact with anybody.
Are you ready for the new normal of travel?
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