Travel Mistakes I Will Never Make During The Pandemic
A collaborative post on the ‘travel mistakes you should avoid during COVID’. Travel Bloggers from across the globe share their views and suggestions as to what should be the right way to travel in the current scenario.
To travel or Not to travel? The pandemic has made travel questionable for all of us. Coronavirus and its ever-emerging new variants have forced us to #StayHomeStaySafe. Safety and health come first. No two ways about it. Travel still looks like a distant reality to many of us (at least to those who are not fully immunised and don’t want to take the risk). However, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
With many people being fully vaccinated and many countries lifting travel restrictions, travel is slowly beginning to get into people’s scheme of things. Whatever may be the case with you, make sure that you travel with awareness and after a lot of research.
According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are various levels of risk entering different countries. So, you must find out your destination country’s COVID-19 level of risk before you plan your travel, that is if you choose to travel internationally. The ideal travel choice would be to travel locally or within your country.
Coronavirus has made us rethink a lot of things. Travel has now found a new definition. It’s not about checking off places anymore. Travel has found a deeper meaning. Yes, it is your right to travel, but it’s also a privilege. While health and safety remain top priorities, we must remember the sustainability aspect of it, too. It’s our responsibility to travel sustainably. We need to be aware that our planet needs recovery.
Besides the pandemic, you should also consider the environment and refrain from certain activities and style of travel. I believe the pursuance of ‘slow travel’ and ‘restricted itineraries’ is key to safer and more sustainable travel.
Let’s hear these wonderful travel bloggers out!
Travel Mistakes I Will Never Make During The Pandemic
Traveling to busy touristic cities.
Zoe Elliott of Together In Transit
One travel mistake not to make during the pandemic is travelling to busy touristic cities as your travel destination. Most cities are already crowding with locals adventuring back out from their own homes, so a city trip is not ideal during the pandemic. Make a change with your travel bucket list by travelling to preferably exclusive or unique glamping locations.
Glamping is a great way to avoid all the busyness of the usual city trip. There is most likely only limited amount of glamping spots at the site too, making it quiet with not many travellers. This also makes it easy to enforce the distancing rules but still to have that getaway feeling for a vacation.
One example from myself is this gorgeous forest log cabin destination for a weekend away that I enjoyed in Belgium during the pandemic. These places are also great for connecting back with nature, to de-stress and to enjoy good company with loved ones.
Disobeying the restrictions by the host country.
Ummi Nadrah of Ummi Goes Where?
When countries open up for tourism, it’s usually a tough call between keeping the pandemic under control and reviving the local economy. Either way, their citizens’ lives are at stake. So, if you have the privilege of visiting right now, it’s only fair that you obey the restrictions imposed by the host country, even if it goes against your personal views.
The country you’re visiting may not be as wealthy as your own and therefore unable to handle another outbreak as efficiently. Many developing countries are experiencing a collapse of the healthcare system.
So, if they require you to wear a mask in public, please do so. If they insist that you complete your vaccinations and self-isolate for a certain number of days, then that’s what you should do.
The authorities may not be able to monitor your every move, but there’s nothing redeeming about blatantly cheating the system or worse, bragging about it on social media.
Following the locals.
Jen Ambrose and Ryan Victor of Montana Discovered
Act like the locals! Follow their example! Ask them for suggestions! Could following this advice possibly be a mistake?
Doing what locals do is usually one of the best and most interesting ways to travel. It’s part of how travel can be a form of education and cultural exchange, giving us insight into other peoples, places, and ways of living.
But there’s one time when following the locals isn’t always the best advice – and that time is right now. Despite being in the throes of a pandemic, there are places where locals are partying at packed clubs, attending crowded indoor events, and refusing to wear masks, social distance, or take other precautions. And in places where infection rates are high and/or vaccination rates are low, travellers shouldn’t necessarily do what the locals are doing.
So, look at the data on your travel destination: numbers of active cases and hospitalizations, trends in infection rates, and the current rate of vaccination. To stay safe (even if you’re vaccinated), make your decisions about what activities are safe based on the data, even if it seems like other people aren’t.
Staying in dorms with no ventilation.
Audrey Chalmers from See Geelong
Saving money on accommodation by staying in dorm room at cheap hostels is a popular way to make travel more affordable. I’ve stayed in my fair share of cheap accommodation, especially on longer trips. But it would be a mistake to stay in a dorm with shared facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sleeping in an unventilated room with a bunch of strangers is just too risky – for me and for them. And sanitising the bathroom before and after each use is just plain hard work!
Many hostels have private rooms with ensuite bathrooms which are a much better option. They are more affordable than fancy hotels and travellers can still mingle in the communal areas while safely social distancing.
Not staying in dorm rooms is just one of the many travel mistakes I’ll be avoiding during the pandemic.
Staying in big resort hotels.
Mal from Raw Mal Roams
I will never book stays in large tourist resorts. These hotels are expensive, and a large part of the price includes the use of hotel’s facilities such as a swimming pool, spa and a buffet-style breakfast. During the pandemic, these services are hugely limited, which makes staying in those hotels not worthwhile. Also, being around many people daily who come from different parts of the world can cause anxiety during the difficult times we are currently experiencing.
Instead, I would choose private rentals and family-run small guesthouses. This way, I can support small local businesses that probably took a big hit during the pandemic and avoid being around many unnecessarily.
Visiting multiple destinations in one trip.
Michelle C. of IntentionalTravelers.com
Avoid trying to schedule a trip across multiple countries while restrictions are still changing.
With travel restrictions changing so frequently during the pandemic, sometimes at the drop of a hat, now is not a good time to plan a trip across multiple countries. It’s already a lot to keep track of the rules for whether your nationality is allowed to enter each specific country. But when transiting from one country into another, there may be different restrictions based on where you’re traveling through. A last-minute rule change in the middle of your itinerary could easily spoil the rest of the trip you’ve booked.
To keep things simple and reduce stress, visit a single destination, perhaps even one that you’re already familiar with, until all the changes settle down. For example, we plan to return to Cuenca, Ecuador and rent an apartment long-term. If new restrictions pop up, we only have one set of bookings to adjust.
Not disinfecting surfaces.
Jose Moreno of The Culture Portrait
An important travel mistake to not make during the pandemic is not curtailing transmission of coronavirus when it pertains to physical surfaces, whenever possible. During travel, how many objects or surfaces might we come into contact with? Probably a lot, in various different places and circumstances, all of which could contain small particles of coronavirus from the last person who touched or was anywhere near that object or surface.
If you think about it, that last person who touched the object or surface that now your hands are in contact or were in contact with could have coronavirus, whether that’d be money, door knobs, elevator buttons, car door handles, hotel keys, the restaurant bill, your credit card, your coat, your car’s steering wheel, your gloves, the remote control in your room, and almost anything.
This can easily breed a scrupulous obsession to disinfect anything and everything that your hands touch, which can be easily done with a rubbing alcohol spray on hand. If you just can’t wait to travel and you want to protect yourself from coronavirus in a dangerous zone, then it might be a healthy obsession to have.
Microbiologists who work in labs have been employing this method for years, way before COVID. They use rubbing alcohol to disinfect themselves after working with dangerous bacteria and even when wearing gloves. So definitely, learning tip from people who have been in contact with dangerous microorganism and always carrying an alcohol spray on hand whenever one is out, can be incredibly useful.
Not sanitizing hands frequently.
By Venaugh
Since the pandemic has turned our lives upside down, I always have a hand sanitiser strapped on my bag for quick and easy use especially when flying during a pandemic. There are several times where I have forgotten it just if I am taking a drive somewhere and absolutely panicked, so that would be far worse if I was actually travelling. Just landing at the airport, I think of all the things you have to touch, suitcases, finger scanners, handing and receiving your passport. So many hand sanitiser moments! Fortunately, in my most recent travels, I have not forgotten my trusty hand sanitiser but if I did, I would have run to buy some or some alternative as soon as I noticed. I would refuse to be without it.
Also read: Is Air Travel Safe During COVID-19?
Not staying updated on changing travel restrictions.
John Vo of Your Destination is Everywhere
One of the worst mistakes you could make when traveling nowadays is not doing enough research (or not at all). The pandemic has changed the world drastically and it has not returned to normal since then. That is why it is crucial that you know what to expect from your destination(s).
Different countries or regions may have certain travel restrictions, entry requirements, and other protocols in place. For example, when I visited Calgary this summer, I had to register through an online portal in advance. In places where the vaccines are not readily available, you might even have to be quarantined even if you’re fully vaccinated.
So, to avoid any surprise or disappointment, I recommend doing research and keeping all the information you found in a spreadsheet. Not only will this help with your travel planning, it will also ensure that your trip will go smoothly.
Not keeping up with local news.
Erin Hynes of Pina Travels
During the pandemic I won’t be making the mistake of ignoring local news. If we’ve learned anything in the last few months, it’s that the pandemic changes things, fast. It’s important to tune into the news of wherever you happen to be traveling so that you’re fully aware of any developments in that particular region. For example, if a country’s case numbers start to go up, there could be changes to mask mandates, border control, or even lockdown measures.
Keeping up to date with the news is the best way to make sure you’re following all local safety guidelines, and it will also keep you in the loop if any big changes are coming which could affect your trip.
Travelling without being fully vaccinated.
Samantha Karen of Sam Sees World
Travelling during the pandemic offers a whole lot of changes and challenges. When making the choice to travel during such risky and impactful times it is important to take all reasonable precautions to avoid getting sick or getting others sick. As a result, one of the travel mistakes I will never make during the pandemic is travelling without a vaccination.
Choosing to get vaccinated is your own personal choice but if you live somewhere with available vaccines and you choose not to get it, then you should not be travelling. Travelling without a vaccine makes you more susceptible to catching the virus, and even worse giving it to others.
Getting vaccinated is for the betterment of all and I will not travel without it to do my part to protect those around me and more importantly those who are not fortunate enough to have access to a vaccine yet.
Travelling without emergency medical insurance.
Anne Betts of Packing Light Travel
Travelling without emergency medical insurance is never a good idea. The right insurance is one that offers clearly stated benefits. During the pandemic, this includes coverage for COVID-19 and related complications. A severe case of COVID-19 could result in hospitalization in an Intensive Care Unit so it’s wise to purchase a plan with a high coverage limit.
Travellers who pack light discourage packing “what-if” items. Emergency medical insurance is the exception. It’s the one thing we hope to never use but can’t do without. In the event it’s necessary to seek medical attention, it’s handy to pack several other items and keep them within easy reach. These include a digital copy of the insurance policy, a credit card with a high credit limit, and the ability to call the policy administrator in advance of seeking treatment (or as soon as possible). These, and a few other items, will help make the process of obtaining medical assistance as seamless as possible.
Booking in advance without a refund policy.
Bailey from Destinationless Travel
Traveling during a pandemic comes with its own unique set of challenges – such as unprecedented travel plan changes and cancellations. Never make the mistake of booking anything in advance during the pandemic that doesn’t have a full-refund policy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck with a canceled flight, hotel, or tour without getting your money back.
Thanks to the pandemic, cancellations are more and more common. Border and international travel restrictions seem to change on the daily. Not to mention, rules within communities when it comes to lockdowns. On top of that, if you get sick before your trip then you should have the ability to get a full refund.
Good refund policies are more important than ever when booking travel in advance now.
Travelling without sufficient research.
Karee of Our Woven Journey
One sure way to spoil a vacation is to assume things are back to normal for the area you’re visiting. As many locations open back up and invite tourists back to visit, it’s tempting to assume everything is open again. That would be a big mistake to make!
Before traveling, the best thing to do is to get online and research each major attraction to be certain of their current policy. Many popular locations, like Antelope Canyon in Arizona, have only recently begun running tours and are limiting the number of tourists each day.
Many areas have been hit hard economically due to the pandemic. Because of this, some restaurants and tourist attractions have closed their doors permanently, while others are struggling to get back to pre-COVID hours of operation. Knowing this ahead of time can save time and frustration on your vacation.
Be sure to do your research on the area you’re visiting and these mistakes will be easily avoidable.
Visiting crowded sites and attractions.
Michele Peterson of A Taste for Travel
For post-pandemic travel, it’s important to make reservations in advance for museums and major attractions or, not visit them at all and substitute a lesser-known attraction. Many attractions and landmark sites have reduced capacity to help avoid crowding which means fewer tickets are available to purchase so if you wait until the last-minute to book you might be disappointed.
You can also increase your chances of seeing fewer crowds by booking admission tickets for early morning or late at night. In addition to being a safer and more sustainable way to sightsee, visiting monuments such as Rome’s Pantheon or Colosseum at night can also be an opportunity to take some breathtaking photos due to the atmospheric lighting and fewer people.
Eating at indoor restaurants.
Carley of Home to Havana
An easy and enjoyable way to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission while traveling is making sure you eat at restaurants with patio or terrace spaces, and plenty of outdoor service. As eating requires removing your mask, making sure you can find a socially distanced and well-ventilated space outdoors to dine will greatly reduce risk during travel.
Prioritizing trips to moderate or warmer climates is the perfect way to ensure that you’ll have more outdoor dining options. Not only will finding a restaurant with a patio or terrace much more likely, but it will make your dining experience much better and more enjoyable.
Make sure to plan ahead as you seek outdoor dining options! Many other travelers are also prioritizing outdoor dining during the pandemic, and spaces can fill up fast. During a recent trip to Barcelona, as Spain began reopening for summer tourism, it became nearly impossible to find an outdoor table during peak dinner hours – make sure to call ahead for a reservation or head out to eat slightly early to ensure you aren’t stuck eating indoors.
Would you travel during COVID-19? If yes, what would you NEVER do?
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