Top Tips for post pandemic vacation travel planning
Planning a family vacation can sometimes feel like a herculean task. Add to that, the tension of planning it in a pandemic and it is something unimaginable! Still, after living COVID life with isolation and things being shut down for almost a year people are not letting COVID stop them from planning where they will go … once they can travel safely again.
COVID has undoubtedly been the most unexpected shock that hit the world in a way that no one was prepared for. It shattered dreams and families, and countless suffered. Many occupied their time with ‘virtual’ traveling, others have decided to explore their local areas. But now, with vaccines being made available things are changing and people are starting to dream and plan for life post-COVID.
Excited to return to the life they once knew, families are starting to plan, with the hope that they will be able to pack a bag soon. As travel restrictions start to ease, there are some things to keep in mind when you plan for you first post COVID vacation. For starters, what do you do if there is another wave while you are traveling? How do you keep in mind social distancing norms in various countries?
Below are a list of things to keep in mind while planning a post COVID vacation:
- Keep in mind the risk. Do not plan a vacation in a country that is at high risk or is experiencing its peak levels of COVID.
- Make all bookings in advance and ensure that the staff takes proper care of sanitization. Check to ensure your travel agent or provider offers a COVID cancellation refund policy.
- Register with your country’s embassy in the area. If you are traveling from Canada, make sure you register your trip on the Registration of Canadians Abroad. This is a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case of an emergency abroad or personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest. If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that it’s better to be prepared.
- Focus on hygiene standards. Check out your destinations Facebook, Instagram or Expedia reviews where actual visitors post photos. This will tell you how serious the location is taking hygiene standards.
- All the services which can be made contactless shall be done so. Don’t be afraid to ask to be seated away from others or speak up if you see someone not wearing a mask. Most places take guest safety seriously, but when you see that is not the case, say something.
- Try to plan a immediate family only vacation. It’s definitely fun to travel with friends and extended family, but for now, consider only your immediate family so it is a smaller manageable group.
- Stock up on food before you go. Currently, you can travel to other countries but you are expected to self-isolate or 14 days after your trip. That means no trips to the grocery store. Make sure you have a well stocked house, or put in a contactless grocery delivery order for when you arrive back home.
While many families have decided to postpone their vacation until things become normal again, others are also trying the concept of virtual travel. Due to lockdown, almost all important meetings, events, conferences were shifted to virtual modes. Many of your favorite destinations now offer virtual tours, updates and some pretty cool live cams.
However, if you do not wish to take the assistance of technology to fill your travel needs and you want it the way you dreamt of it, then you need to be careful and exercise common sense. Do what is necessary and take good care of all the prescribed norms.
Do you have any tips for post COVID safe vacation travel planning?
