Contents
If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, we’re pretty sure the last two years have been a frustrating time for you. Not only did the pandemic impact the business sector, but also all aspects of society – including travel.
Although many people consider travel as a way to relieve their stress, it has become a non-essential thing that should be the last on people’s list. People who consider travel as a solution for their mental health have slowly lost hope in the only thing that can give them freedom.
Even as 2021 dramatically ended, traveling worldwide is still a blur to many. Though travel restrictions are slowly easing up in some countries, traveling now will never be the same as before as long as the virus is still threatening the lives of many.
And as we enter 2022, another threat of a new coronavirus strain has left people asking: Will 2022 be another rollercoaster ride? We’ll never know for sure. But one thing is certain though, traveling is possible as long as you procure the proper requirements and practice safety precautions all the time.
So if you want to push through with your travel plans from 2021 to this year, then here are five essential travel tips to keep you safe from the virus.
Consider local destinations
They say, it’s not the destination but it’s the journey that matters. And traveling in 2022 means you’ll have to carefully select the destination of your choice. Having to fly to another country or state would mean more risk for you and your traveling companions.
For instance, going to security checks at the airport, riding the plane, and going through another security check at the airport of your destination. All these processes are extremely risky as you’re exposed to different people coming from different places in the world. And in some countries, the coronavirus cases are much higher, adding more exposure to contraction.
That being said, traveling in 2022 should include lesser risks for travelers from contracting the virus. And this means, choosing local destinations. You might have ignored some beautiful tourist sights nearby because you were so busy planning trips outside your state or country. Now is the time to finally connect with some local sights and enjoy your time while keeping yourself safe.
If you can, choose an area that you can drive to for hours. If you enjoy a long road trip, this might be the trip you’ve been missing all these years. Using a private car is recommended using rented ones. If you’re not used to driving for long hours, try to get a GPS tracker so your trip will be smooth and quick.
Travel outdoors
You might be eyeing that casino for the last year or that newly-built amusement park in the next state. However, these places are very dangerous, especially now that the virus can be contracted from anyone close to you. These areas are high-risk areas. These are also closed spaces, which increase the possibility of getting the virus.
So for your safety, opt for open spaces. Booking travel plans in nature will not only lessen your chance of getting the virus, but it will also be an excellent way to stabilize your mental health. Nature impacts our well-being. It is a great stress reliever that can boost our mood and make us mentally healthy overall.
That being said, spend more time outdoors. This is also a perfect way to balance out all those times staying indoors due to quarantine mandates from the government. Also, check the requirements in your destination and read all the policies when traveling at this time to make for a seamless trip.
Book home rentals
If you’re used to luxurious travels in the past, it’s time to prioritize safety now over luxury. Although you’ve been dying to stay in a 5-star hotel, hotel accommodations can increase your risk of getting the virus. That’s because many people from other countries can also book the same hotel.
Remember, the virus isn’t only transferred through the respiratory. You can also get the virus when you touch areas where infected people are also touched. Hotels, for example, have many high-touch areas.
For instance, plugs, chairs, tables, beds, counters, sheets, and doorknobs are only a few of the things that are frequently touched. Although you can always prevent getting the virus by using alcohol after touching, it’s not advisable to be very complacent at this time.
Booking home rentals, on the other hand, can be a nice and safer way to enjoy your travel while keeping safe. When you book home rentals, you’d have to deal and interact with fewer people, decreasing virus transmissibility.
Apart from this, you can also consider investing in a timeshare property. It will make you the property owner for a specific time period. Thus, you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation to the fullest without having to worry about virus transmission. And when you wish to get out of the contract, the experts at Wesley Financial Group suggest connecting with a timeshare exit company for a hassle-free cancellation process.
Go for refundable travel options
Traveling in 2022 means there will be some flight cancellations and emergency lockdown protocols. This might be the last thing you want especially if you have everything set up. However, you can’t control these things, and the only way to minimize loss is to go for refundable options.
Whether you’re booking hotels, home rentals, flights, or entrance fees, ensure that they have refundable options. That way, whenever a lockdown or cancellation ensues, you can be sure that you get your money back. As modern-day travelers, you have to be smart about balancing work and life, but also be smart about options that benefit you. As hard as times, losing money due to negligence isn’t acceptable. Simply checking the refund rules before the booking will save you time, effort, and money.
Practice travel safety at all times
This is a no-brainer. But we understand you might be into the moment in your travel. As mentioned, you can never be too complacent. Even though the area you’re traveling to has minimal coronavirus cases, you can never be too sure of who’s infected or not.
People can be asymptomatic, which can be quite scary if you’re not practicing safety precautions. That being said, always remember to wear your mask all the time. But that’s not enough. You have to know proper mask handling such as not touching the front areas, disposing of it after use, and covering your nose and mouth properly.
Also, always wash your hands whenever you can for 20 seconds using the proper washing techniques. If washing isn’t available, use alcohol after touching anything. And we mean, anything. This is the only way you can enjoy your trip while having peace of mind.
16 comments