A Simple Checklist For Getting Back to Travel

It’s safe to say that since March 2020, travel has been off the cards for many of us. As the world has struggled with the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have closed their borders and implemented all sorts of measures to prevent people from coming into contact with one another and to consequently slow the spread of the virus. Almost every aspect of your day to day lives has been impacted in some way or another and many of us have had to grow used to staying within our own homes and limiting social interactions to virtual ones. Many governments went as far as implementing guidelines that have seen their populations stay at home in national lockdowns. As things slowly improved, many were still encouraged to socially distance from others and avoid unnecessary contact. It’s not until vaccines have started being rolled out that any of us have even been able to think about getting away and travelling. However, as our understanding of the virus has improved and as more people are becoming vaccinated against it, we are now able to start planning our getaways again. If you’re considering a break, you may be wondering what is the best way to go around travelling right now. Here are a few suggestions that could help you to plan the perfect trip. 

Domestic Travel

If you’re a little reluctant to jump on a plane and head to another country, you may want to start out with domestic travel. This means staying within your country’s own borders and visiting some more local beauty spots and spots of interest. Two great ways to get involved in this are road trips and camping trips.

Road Trips

Let’s start out by considering a road trip. This is a great place to start if you’d still like to maintain your distance from others and you’d rather wait until other countries are increasingly vaccinated before heading overseas. You can ease back into travel more comfortably. When you choose to go on a road trip, you can stay local to home and your loved ones, should they need you, and you can also maintain your own space and privacy, as you’ll be travelling in your own vehicle and largely self sufficient. You can really limit your contact with others while travelling in this way. Start out by deciding the following things:

• Where do you want to go? - plan a route. Where do you want to go? How far do you want to go? Are there any specific local sites or beauty spots you’d like to fit into your trip?

• How long do you want to go for? - how long do you want this trip to be? Road trips can be tiring and you may want to keep them short. If you’re more used to travelling in this way, you may want to consider something a bit longer.

• Mode of transport - there are a number of different ways to do a road trip. You can go in a regular vehicle and stay in hotels, or you could get a campervan or mobile home and stay within your own vehicle the whole way.

• Who do you want to go with? - when you go on a road trip, it’s good to have someone with you. This way, you can share the experience and share driving responsibilities. Of course, you’ll be spending a lot of time in close proximity to one another, so you need to make sure you get on well.

Camping

Camping is another great option if you want to get away from your home but not spend too much time far away. You can also really keep yourself to yourself with this mode of travel - you can head there in your own vehicle and pitch your own tent away from others. Here are some considerations for camping:

• Where will you camp? - first and foremost, where do you want to go? There are plenty of beautiful camping spots out there. Just make sure that you’re allowed to camp where you're considering and that it isn’t private land or that there aren’t potentially dangerous wild animals in the area.

• Would a campsite suit you? - you don’t necessarily have to go out in the wilderness to camp. There are plenty of managed campsites that offer home comforts while you’re away, such as toilets, showers and electrical outlets.

International Travel

Of course, if you want to head further afield, international travel may suit you better. Of course, it’s still relatively uncertain times when it comes to international travel. So, you need to be a bit more wary and a bit better prepared if you are going to head overseas. Here are some key steps to take for a successful trip.

Borders

If you have a specific country in mind, you need to check whether their borders are open and whether your country will let you travel there. There are still plenty of restrictions in place where you may find that you have a hard time being let into your country of choice, or where you may struggle to return into your own country having visited there.

Visas

 Do you need a visa to travel? Check the requirements for the country you want to visit and make sure you apply within plenty of time if you do. You can learn more here about travel and visas.

Vaccine passports

You may find that some countries have strict regulations on what you can and can’t do based on whether you’re vaccinated or not. Some countries don’t require people to be vaccinated to engage with particular events. Some require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test on entry. Some will only allow you to get involved if you can prove that you are fully vaccinated. Make sure to check rules, regulations and restrictions before heading away to determine whether a specific location will be okay for you and your personal situation.

Sure, travel may be a little more difficult right now. But it’s by no means impossible. Hopefully, some of the above information will help you to get away!

Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash