It’s ironic that the one time when persons are in desperate need of a vacation is the time when there are so many travel restrictions in place. If you’d love to take a break from everything for a bit, you don’t have to give up on your vacation just yet. With the right planning, it’s still possible to travel.
As long as you’re traveling, you will need to be extremely cautious. Even if you’ve planned complex vacations before, the COVID-19 pandemic adds more points to your to-do list. Here are the key areas you’ll need to have covered.
1.What are the COVID-19 stats like where you live?
If you’re living in a state that has high infection rates, you’re more likely to be exposed to the virus when you’re traveling. That means it would be advisable to delay your trip until the rates start to fall.
2. What are the COVID-19 stats like in your destination?
As with the previous point, high infection rates in your destination are a bad sign. When you’re researching potential locations for a vacation, keep an eye on how the rates are trending. You want to see that their cases have been going down over time and that the area has adequate precautions in place to keep persons safe.
3. How are you going to travel?
Your mode of travel can expose you to the virus easily. Driving with your family is the safest option. However, if you’re going overseas, it’s recommended that you check with the airline about what precautions they have in place. It’s best to use any online check-in options that they provide. When traveling, wear your mask and stay in your seat as much as possible.
4. Where are you going to stay?
Many hotels have COVID-19 precautions in place that include wearing masks, half-booked hotels, and thorough cleaning procedures. Experts recommend that you focus on these hotels and make your reservations quickly.
5. Will everyone get their COVID-19 results in time?
Most, if not all, countries require a negative COVID-19 test or proof of full recovery before you can enter. Without those tests, you would not be able to travel. The time period within which those results will need to be submitted can vary so do your research.
6. What documents do you need to complete before traveling?
In an effort to cut down on face-to-face interactions, some countries and airlines are allowing travelers to submit important documents online. These documents can include agreements to further testing upon arrival as well as restrictions of movement while in the country.
7. Are there any quarantine restrictions at your destination?
Even with a negative COVID-19 test, some countries require that travelers remain under quarantine for a specific period. This restriction is often implemented to determine if you contracted the virus while in transit. Additionally, you may not be able to travel to certain parts of the country while on vacation.
8. Can you stay in quarantine after your trip?
Your vacation planning doesn’t end when you get back home. Health experts recommend that you get re-tested and stay in quarantine until you’ve received the results. These measures ensure that you don’t infect anyone with the virus if you have been exposed.
9. Potential Alternatives to Overseas Travel
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), any travel puts you at risk for exposure to the coronavirus. However, staying locally can cut down on that risk if you handle things well.
While you’ll still need to confirm your negative status and research the number of cases in your chosen destination, at least you can control exposure during travel by driving with your family.
You can also avoid persons you don’t know by staying with family or a friend who has tested negative.
This option gives you more control over who you might come in contact with as well. Planning a ‘staycation’ can be a great opportunity to relax while exploring new areas that other people haven’t discovered yet.
Planning a safe vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a lot of research. With everything that needs to be covered, be prepared to allocate more time than usual to your time-off as you’ll have to take possible quarantine measures into account.
If overseas travel seems overwhelming, remember that staying locally can be just as relaxing.
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