The pandemic all but brought international travel to a complete halt. Flights around the world were grounded, leaving many people either stranded in international locations, or unable to fulfil their wanderlust cravings. A year and a half later, the world is still reeling from the effects of Covid-9, with travel touch and go.
Some countries are relaxing their lockdown restrictions, allowing flights to enter and leave the country so people can see relatives, go on holiday, and resume worldwide business. With so much time away from travelling, it’s natural that people will be apprehensive to get on the move again.
If you’re a bit unsure about international travel, here are some tips to help you get back in the swing of things and to help you feel more confident about your trip.
1. Purchase comprehensive travel insurance
Travel insurance is a must for travelling, be it during a global pandemic or not. It covers you for things like medical emergencies, lost baggage, stolen passports, delayed and/or missed departures, and cancelling your trip or cutting it short for reasons that are outside your control.
Travel insurance is even more important at present because of the volatility of the situation and the fact that things can change at any minute.
2. Check travel provider policies
Whether you’re getting on a flight from Australia to Florida or organizing a transfer airport taxi to Kent from London, you need to check what their booking policies are with regards to the pandemic and changing travel plans. The last thing you want is to be charged for a service you haven’t been able to use due to a change in rules and restrictions.
With this in mind, make sure you double check the policies surrounding Covid-19 to ensure you’re not left short-changed if you can’t go to your destination.
3. Research restrictions at your destination
It’s hard enough to keep up to date with restrictions in your local area, let alone elsewhere, but you need to make sure you do your research. We’re all used to going abroad and having to adapt to a different way of life, but more so than ever during a pandemic. For example, you might be able to enter shops mask-free in your home country, but at your destination this might not be the case.
Be prepare to adhere to different rules whilst on your travels.
4. Be more aware of personal hygiene
Airports are hardly the cleanest of locations, largely because they see so much foot traffic that it can be hard to keep on top of everything. For everyone else’s benefit, try and stick to a higher level of personal hygiene. This means sanitizing your hands regularly, especially if you cough, sneeze, or touch your mouth.
Where possible, keep your distance from other people, especially if you’re feeling unwell or slightly under the weather. If this is the case, practice proper hygiene by using a tissue to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, avoiding spreading your bacteria to other people.
5. Be prepared for the worst
The situation surrounding international travel is very touch and go, and there’s still a high chance that your holiday could be cancelled at the last minute. Alternatively, rules could change whilst you’re away, meaning you might need to isolate upon your return. Be prepare for this, making sure that you can work from home if you need to isolate when you get back.
Summary
Hopefully these tips will help you feel more confident about travelling internationally and will help you be more prepared for any upcoming trips!
