If you live on planet earth it’s obvious that you are aware of the deadly coronavirus and the havoc it has wreaked on the world. Our lives are upended and there’s no going back. Along with many industries, the lockdown hit the travel industry pretty hard and also us travel freaks! The face of travel has changed greatly since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
After prolonged periods of lockdown & being stuck at home, many of us have chosen to venture out again but with caution. I have been to Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim & did some day trips near my hometown since the lockdown lifted. Some of you might be planning your first trip post-lockdown or contemplating whether it’s wise to travel in the middle of a pandemic. Another fear is what happens to your hard earned money used for bookings if your trip doesn’t go through, a fear most justified since many people lost a lot of money during the first lockdown.
Well, here are some tips that will help you in planning your much-awaited trip and traveling safely during the pandemic! A few of these tips might still come handy even if you are a frequent traveler. I have also mentioned what could go wrong & how to avoid them, so please read the points in details!
Pre-Travel Tips
Planning & research will go a long way in ensuring you have a safe and smooth trip in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic.
Pick Your Destination After Adequate Research
Research on the list of places that are allowing tourists from your city/country. It would be wise to opt for domestic travel at the moment. With the rising number of COVID-19 cases all over the world once again, you never know when a country decides to shutdown international borders and you end up getting stuck in foreign land! Select a place that has relatively less spread of the virus and has implemented strict measures to control it. You don’t want to catch the virus on your trip & spend all your money to quarantine instead of traveling!
Note: Some countries are opening their borders for vaccinated tourists, so if you have already got the jab you can check out whether you are currently eligible to travel there.
Organize Your Transport & Logistical Details Rationally
Plan your conveyance details based on safety plus feasibility and try to book everything prior to your trip. Flights are safer than trains, especially for long distances & also if you are traveling with elderly people or people having comorbidities. All airlines are providing face masks, face shields for all passengers and disposable PPEs for those in middle seats.
Self-drive vehicles are best for road trips. If you don’t want to drive, hire a private car with driver for the entire trip instead of booking separate cars & drivers for each day. Avoid shared cabs & local buses as much as possible. Infact, shared cabs & tourists buses aren’t currently operating in a lot of places, so enquire beforehand if you are determined to travel in a budget.
Always Book Flexi Fare In Flights
Many a times you’ll be tempted to book flight tickets on Saver fare. Well, don’t! Atleast not during these uncertain times.
Cancellation policy is terrible in most airlines and you’ll lose a major chunk of your ticket cost if you cancel or even reschedule. But if you are ready to shed a few hundred rupees extra and book Flexi Fare tickets, you’ll be able to reschedule for free and cancellation fee is also lower in most airlines.
International travel seems to be pretty tricky at the moment. But even if you are traveling within your country, you don’t know what new regulations will come in play the week your trip is planned. You need to have the option open to reschedule your trip. Flexi fare also includes free seat selection (hello window seat!) and a free meal, so the few hundred rupees you pay extra won’t seem like much given the benefits.
Note: Different airlines have different policies on how many hours/days prior to departure can you reschedule for free & how many times. Compare & select the best one suited to your needs. Also, some airlines are offering full refund if you test Covid positive prior to your flight, which is a great option in current situation.
Book Hotels That Allow Free Cancellation
This is a tip that I ardently follow, pandemic or no pandemic. You never know what circumstances might arise to force you to cancel a much awaited trip last minute. On top of the pain of not being able to go on the trip that you were planning for months, it would be worse to lose money on your hotel booking.
I usually book my hotels from booking.com or Goibibo and always check the cancellation policy of the hotels. Most hotels I have come across in these sites have full refund policy if you cancel before 24 hours of check-in date. Hopefully you’ll know atleast 24 hours prior if you can’t make it and will have enough time to cancel and get full refund. I have had to cancel a few times and the process always went smoothly.
Book Accommodations Which Undertake Proper Sanitization Measures
Say goodbye to cheap accommodations & dorm rooms (at least till the situation gets better)! Hygiene & social distancing are the priorities now, even if you have to spend a little more. Make sure your place of accommodation is undertaking proper sanitization measures. Read the recent reviews to double check before booking.
Our hotel in Manali in Himachal Pradesh had disinfection machines for deep-cleaning our rooms regularly while our hotel in Shimla used sanitizer spray machines to disinfect us along with our luggage before checking us in!
Keep Following The Travel News Regularly
Keep yourself updated about the travel news if you plan on traveling in the midst of the pandemic. Rules are changing constantly and travel restrictions are getting imposed in many states & countries without prior notice. You should be aware of the mandatory documents required for your destination & also for your transit stops.
A lot of places are asking for negative RT-PCR test report not older than 48/72 hours and/or vaccination document. Calculate whether you’ll have enough time to get tested, get the report and reach your destination on time. Some places have mandatory 2 weeks quarantine rules in place. You don’t want to waste your precious vacation days in quarantine unless you are shifting there for long term!
On-Trip Tips
Follow these tips to ensure your own safety and that of others around you while traveling during the pandemic.
Always Wear A Mask In Public Places
Wear your mask all the time while travelling in public transport, touring public attractions and whenever you are around people in general. Having a reusable fabric mask is one way to reduce single-use products, which will in turn help the environment.
Regular Sanitization
Wash/sanitize your hands frequently, especially before touching your eyes or face and before eating. Use a disinfectant spray to sanitize your bags, phones and wallets after returning everyday. You should also disinfect your vehicle seats before sitting.
Ditch Crowded Tourist Attractions For Offbeat Gems
Ditch popular tourist attractions that tend to get crowded or have long queues and get off the beaten path. Hike to a secret waterfall, visit a less popular beach or admire an architectural gem outside the city like this beautiful monument in Delhi which we had all to ourselves!
Visit The Popular Tourist Spots Early Morning
If you don’t mind waking at dawn, visit the popular tourist spots early morning when it is relatively empty. This is a pro-tip used by photographers & bloggers to photograph a place without people.
Follow Safe Dining Practices
Order room service rather than eating at your accommodation’s restaurant, especially if it tends to get crowded. Eat only in cafes/restaurants with proper sanitization facilities & choose a time when it remains empty. We tried going for late lunch while travelling in Himachal Pradesh and found our favourite cafes totally empty!
Opt for take-out instead of dining in whenever possible. If you want to have street food, make sure the vendor is wearing a mask, the contents & surroundings look hygienic and eat it away from the crowd.
I really hope you find the information in this article useful and have a safe & amazing trip. Also, share this with friends who might be traveling during the pandemic.
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