Post COVID19 Travel
Top Travel Essentials After COVID-19: Your Must-Have items in 2020 and beyond
It’s an understatement to say that 2020 has been a tough time for the travel industry. Coronavirus has wreaked havoc, grounding flights, closing borders, and forcing people to stay at home. But if there’s one thing to get you through it, the world will still be there to discover and explore long after COVID-19 is a distant memory!
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the travel essentials you’ll need after COVID-19. After all, if you’re reading this you’re probably planning to head to your nearest airport or train station as soon as the pandemic is over! Let’s take a closer look.
Hand Sanitizer
First on our list is hand sanitizer. Really, this was an essential travel item before Coronavirus – having some alcoholic hand gel to keep your hands clean is always reassuring, especially if you’re eating street food at market stalls or spending time with animals.
With the necessity to wash your hands more regularly and for at least 20 seconds, hand sanitizer is a lifesaver if you’re nowhere near a public bathroom or a sink. And you can easily get small clips so that you can transport it on your backpack or in your belt loops. It’s super small too, so it won’t take up any space in your luggage!
One thing to remember is that no matter how much you use hand sanitizer, washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to go. So, whenever you get the chance make sure you do it!
Face Masks
Now, these have already been popular in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea before the Coronavirus pandemic, but they’ve become a daily essential in many countries. Face masks provide an extra layer of protection between you and any germs attempting to get into your system.
The best kind of face mask to get is a 3 ply – which has more layers of protection. Not only are you limiting what can get into your respiratory system, but you’re also protecting others too. Remember that even if you don’t have coronavirus, there are other nasty germs that you could spread around if you’re sick!
Disinfectant Wipes
One of the many ways of transmitting Coronavirus (and other infections) is picking them up on your hands from contaminated surfaces. And one thing people have probably noticed in the midst of this pandemic is how much they touch their hands and face without thinking about it! While it’s best to do this as little as possible, there’s another way that you minimize the risk of passing any infections on, and that’s by wiping down all surfaces before you use them. The best way to do that? Disinfectant wipes.
And don’t just think about using them at restaurants, cafes, and street food stalls. Use them on your mobile phone, your laptop (if you’re a digital nomad), and any other hard surfaces. After all, you don’t want to end up in a hospital in an unfamiliar country.
Travel Insurance
Hopefully, there won’t be more waves of Coronavirus infections or even worse, another pandemic. However, travel insurance is important for a multitude of reasons. It’ll protect you if you’re flights get canceled – not only covering costs but also putting you up in a hotel. While it’s not ideal, it’s better to have insurance and go through this than be stuck on your own in unfamiliar surroundings. It can also cover huge amounts when it comes to medical care – as the last thing you need to worry about after an injury or an illness is how you’re going to pay your hospital bills!
A Positive Attitude
Whenever you travel, a positive attitude is going to make your experience better and never more so than after the lockdown. Some businesses will have been scarred and rely heavily on travel – some may not reopen. Be grateful and thankful to the ones who have not only survived but are going out of their way to make your trip as fun and memorable as possible. Hopefully, the time in lockdown will make us all more appreciative of how privileged we are to be able to travel.
How to prepare for travel after lockdown
First and most importantly, it may seem like an obvious answer, but you need to check where you can travel. Countries will be ending their lockdowns and easing their travel restrictions at different times, and some countries will be stricter than others. Check your home government’s travel advice and also that of the country you’re expecting to travel to. It’s a good idea to have a backup destination up your sleeve in case your first choice (or second and third) are slow to ease their travel restrictions.
Once you cross the first hurdle, there’s more to think about. Be prepared that although it may be a possibility to travel again, it may not be like it was before. Social distancing restrictions may be in place, meaning that you may not greet people by shaking hands, a hug, or kisses, as is customary in some countries.
And while some countries may have opened up their borders again, there may be limits. Tourist attractions and museums are most likely considered non-essential, and it’ll be supermarkets and pharmacies that you can visit. Not having museums, restaurants, and even cafes can make a city break a lot duller. However, you can still appreciate landmarks (from afar) and parks.
It’s definitely worth taking a look into outdoor activities, as these are least likely to be affected by the pandemic. Before lockdown was announced in the US, people were flocking to enjoy the good weather at the country’s national parks!
So, now that you know how to plan your post-Coronavirus Vacation
It’s time to get planning somewhere to go. And one of the best things to do to enjoy your holiday, keep physically and mentally healthy, and continue to social distance (if necessary) in the great outdoors. Check out Great Earth Expeditions to find your next hiking, kayaking, or sightseeing adventure. Get in touch with our team to start planning your post-Corona vacation!
