Now that the world is slowly opening back up, you might be looking forward to traveling again. While I didn’t completely stop traveling during the pandemic, I did slow down and I got to see how the landscape slowly changed. Fortunately, we now seem to be in a better place to be able to safely travel the world again. If you’re not totally comfortable yet, I understand but if you are, it’s important to consider a few things before planning and leaving for your trip. 

Know and understand the destination’s COVID requirements 

Understand that the effects of COVID look different everywhere. When picking your destination, it’s best to pick a place that aligns with your comfort level or understand the safety restrictions and rules that have been put in place in that particular area. Some places require positive COVID tests 48-72 hours ahead of boarding your flight — other places might not have as strict restrictions. When planning, make sure that you have access to rapid COVID sites that will be able to supply you with the tests you need. 

Know the location’s social norms and curfews 

Again, the effects of COVID will result in different mandates and social norms. When planning events and activities, it’s helpful to know about the social norms and curfews. During your planning, you might find that the mask mandate might vary from location to location. You also might notice that some places are required to shut down at a certain time. This will affect transportation, establishments, their capacity, and when they close for business. Be mindful of locations, their proximity to your hotel, and overall how long you plan to spend exploring. When it comes to the social norms, regardless of your preference, I would say to take these things into consideration when planning your trip. You definitely don’t want to go to another country and impede on their safety restrictions — possibly putting yourself or others at risk. 

Create a sanitation kit to keep with you 

Some people may have always done this but in this climate, it’s especially important. When packing for any trip, make sure to keep loads of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes on you. When you’re out exploring, you never really know what you’re going to get into. Depending on your location, there might not always be a sink (or a bathroom for that matter) for you to wash your hands in. If you plan on using public transportation to get around, keeping disinfecting wipes can help to sanitize your area. Even before you arrive at your destination, I always recommend wiping down your area on the plane before you sit down. Yes, the cleaning crew is supposed to clean up after every flight but you can never be too sure. 

Check the status of your flight 

Leading up to the departure of your flight, it’s best to always check and make sure that there are no delays or cancellations. This probably seems like very obvious advice but during the pandemic, there has been an influx of cancellations and delays due to COVID-related concerns. With everything going on in the world, airlines have to be very cautious when conducting flights. If an airline employee or passenger has been exposed to COVID, it could potentially cancel the entire flight. This doesn’t always happen but you have to allow for the variable of change. 

Invest in a comfy, high-quality mask

In public places like airports, it’s more than likely that you’ll be required to wear a mask the entire time — from the moment you step into the airport, to the moment you leave the airport at your destination. For this reason, I would invest in a comfortable and high-quality mask that’s going to last during your flight and during your trip. I would recommend using disposable masks during your actual flight and travel and then switching to a reusable mask once you’re settled into your hotel. This way, you can wash your mask at your convenience and reuse it during the course of your trip. As always, keep extras on you just in case you lose one. 

Get to the airport very early or invest in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Again, this might go without saying but arriving early at the airport is always good to do. With the current climate and with restrictions being lowered, there’s definitely an influx in the number of people traveling. With that being said, you want to account for traffic or crowding at the terminals due to possible staff shortages. Many places haven’t begun operating at full efficiency yet which is definitely going to affect your experience. Something that might help with this process is signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. These programs expedite your TSA screening process because you’re considered a low-risk traveler. This makes getting to your gate so much easier because you don’t have to go through the process of removing articles of clothing or checking specific items in your luggage. Some programs involve a one-time fee but outside of that, the application process is pretty simple and is very worth it. 

After returning from your destination, quarantine 

This tip is more dependent upon where you’re coming from but regardless, it’s best practice to quarantine yourself for a week or so after returning from a place, especially if you’re coming from another country. This just gives you peace of mind that you’re not putting anyone else at risk if you happen to contract COVID. Due to the incubation period, there’s a chance that your test can come back negative and you still can possibly have COVID. To be completely safe, it’s best to take that time and protect loved ones and others in your area.