Travel in the Day of Covid
Most of us travel lovers haven’t been able to travel since March 2020. I typically go to Europe 4-5 times per year at minimum due to the nature of my job, so not being able to travel has been a huge life change for me. So, how was it when I finally got to travel?
I’ve been fortunate enough to get on a plane twice in the last year: once domestically and once internationally. The first trip we decided to go on was only because my godson (who lives in Texas) was getting baptized. Poor little John was supposed to get baptized in April 2020 when he was 9 months old. By the time August came around, John was over a year old and my cousin was not going to wait any longer - she was getting John baptized with or without me. I had to be there! At the time, Texas was going through its second wave of Covid, so we planned on taking every precaution possible. We booked first class tickets in hopes that we wouldn’t need to sit near as many people. We double masked and got face shields.
Mallow’s first trip on an airplane - full covid gear and all
So, what was it like traveling for the first time back in August? Two words: weird and stressful. This was the first time I took an uber since March. Once we got there, the airport was EMPTY. You could hear a pin drop. 99% of the businesses in the airport were closed. The flight itself was also fairly empty. Oh, and we traveled with our dog, which was the first time we ever brought him on a plane (more on that in a future post).
When we got to Texas, we did not do much of anything other than go to the baptism since Texas’s restrictions were less strict than what we were used to in NJ.
Little John is finally baptized!
Fast forward to April 2021 and Sean and I had the opportunity to go to the Bahamas. We both were vaccinated along with everyone in my family so we felt safe. April 9th was also supposed to be our wedding day but we had to postpone due to Covid. We still wanted to find a way to make the day special and a trip to the Bahamas with family sounded like the perfect way!
Our arrival to our hotel in the Bahamas! Waiting in line for our rapid Covid-19 test
International travel is very different from domestic travel. Each country currently has its own set of Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions. And these guidelines are constantly changing. It felt like we had to jump through hoops in order to be allowed to enter the Bahamas (I will detail everything you need to know for the Bahamas in a later post). But once we got there, it was all worth it!
Also, airports have gotten MUCH busier since last fall. With the exception of a few businesses being closed and face masks being required, it felt like everything was back to normal.
So, what do you need to know in order to travel right now?
Be aware of Covid-19 restrictions for the place you are traveling to (both domestically and internationally): Some countries require negative PCR tests prior to arrival. Some require tests as soon as you arrive to your hotel. Some countries/states require quarantine. Are there mask mandates where you are going? Be prepared to start following these guidelines up to a week before you even arrive to the airport.
Be prepared to wear a mask while traveling: Masks are not going anywhere any time soon. If you are traveling by air, be mentally ready to wear a mask from when you leave your home to when you arrive to your hotel room. On our travel to the Bahamas, we wore masks non-stop for almost 8 hours. It was not fun, but had to be done. Also, I recommend packing several masks - don’t want to reuse a mask after being on an airplane!
Give yourself extra time at the airport: If traveling internationally, you will not be able to check in to your flight in advance, so allow for extra time for check in. Plus, lines will be longer than normal due to extra precautions.
Boarding procedures have changed: Airlines now board the plane from the back to the front first. This is to avoid as little movement among passengers as possible.
Tip a little more than normal: Some countries solely rely on tourism, so most of their citizens have been out of work for a year. They could use the help, plus it’s just nice to do :-)
Be patient and kind: Everyone is in the same boat as you are and the employees are doing their absolute best. They don’t make the rules so don’t try to argue with them.
Finally, most importantly have fun!: We all need a vacation more than ever. I do not judge anyone who makes the decision right now to get on an airplane as long as they are safe and follow the rules. Make the most of your trip!
Looking forward to seeing you all on a flight soon! :-)
xoxo - Kim