It is no secret that most of the borders are still closed. States are still beginning to open fully and remove COVID guidelines like masks and social distancing, at least for those who are fully vaccinated. Many of us are getting antsy to travel or enjoy activities outside of the house for once. So, we have gathered some safe methods you can employ to begin traveling again.
But, unfortunately, we really can’t pick up and go anywhere in the world that we want as of late.
If you really can’t wait for your next vacation, this is the perfect article for you! It is going to help you get prepared for when everything is open and functioning again. You will be ready to pick up everything and see the places around the world that you’ve always wanted to see.
Start a Savings Account
It is easy to dip into savings funds at a moment’s notice. So it’s a good idea to keep these funds in an account that you don’t usually see.
For example, you could set up an account on Betterment. And then you could transfer money there weekly or monthly to start building up a substantial savings amount. The bottom line is, it is going to be mighty hard to go on your trip if you don’t have the funds to back it up. So you will definitely want to crunch some numbers after figuring out the following:
- Where do you want to go?
- How long are you planning on staying there?
- Which hotel(s) do you want to stay at?
- Are you going to be doing extra shopping? If so, what would you say is your budget for that?
- Are you going to be eating for free at the hotel or going out some nights? How much do you anticipate your eating it going to cost?
Travel Amidst COVID-19
As the number of vaccinated individuals increase day by day, returning to normal does not seem like a far away dream anymore. While it is good news that vaccinated people can travel again, there are still some restrictions you need to be aware of before making any plans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, international travel is not at all recommended unless and until you are fully vaccinated. Belize, El Salvador, Thailand, and Ukraine are among fifty three countries who are fully open to travelers and tourists. But there are still nine countries including Switzerland and New Zealand which are not allowing any travelers at the time. Basically, every country has its own method of how they are reopening travel and allowing people in. When you plan your travel to another country, make sure to check their guidelines for travel. For some, just being vaccinated is not enough. You may need a negative COVID-19 test or even have to quarantine once you land there. Curfews could also be in effect.
Some things to keep in mind:
- Get a COVID-19 test done just in case and keep a record of it handy
- Check COVID-19 precautions when choosing accommodation
- Carry PPE just in case
- Support local businesses if you can
- Be a responsible tourist
Mistakes to Avoid Due to COVID-19
“When you start planning your trip abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s best to stick to one or two countries until the virus is well under control.”
Lilly Graves, travelandleisure.com
With the news of the world partially opening up again there is also a high chance of risking our health and those of others. Yes, yes we all want to see the whole world after being cooped up in our homes for more than a year; however, that is a rocky mistake. Choose one country and relive yourself of any stress about COVID guidelines changing from country to country. Embrace and master the art of slow travel. It is much easier to travel in the same country and go from city to city because the travel guidelines will be more similar and easier to handle. Traveling has its stresses as it is and with COVID, why make life harder for yourself?
This one is an important one especially if you are tight on money: double, triple check cancellation and change policies before booking anything. We have all had those moments where we have lost money to a flight cancelation or a hotel cancellation. Why lose thousands of dollars when you can easily avoid the problem in the first place? Whether you are booking a flight, hotel, or even a local tour, check the company’s cancellation policies. Especially now this is really crucial because the world is still recovering from the global pandemic.
Consider, Consider, Consider
As stated above, you want to have a solid game plan for your trip. And now is the perfect time to come up with an elaborate plan. Just look at all the free time we all seem to have right now!
Get out a piece of paper or start an excel sheet if that is more your thing. The internet is a perfect tool to help you figure out all the logistics of where you want to go. So you can certainly use it to your full potential. Additionally, there are many travel guides across the internet to help you decide on what to do when you get to specific locations. Another option is to scour Google Maps and see which places are close together. You can also use their street view option to figure out which specific locations you might enjoy the ambience of.
Make a Packing List
Once you have come up with everywhere you want to go and everything you want to do, it is time to get even more specific. Make a list of everything that you will need to pack for your journey. And we mean everything from your passport to underwear to socks to charging wires to band aids. If packing is not your forte, no need to stress as there are many guides and articles out there that can help you.
When you make a packing list your excitement for the trip increases and you feel more organized. Your brain is off of work mode and on relax mode now.
(You can totally keep all of this info in a trip-planning binder or something since it may be a while before you can go on your trip.)
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