2020 has been quite the year. Many people, businesses and industries have felt the negative impacts of COVID-19. Arguably, one of the most affected has been the travel industry. With so many travel restrictions and bans currently still in place, many places that depend on tourism as their main source of income have been hit hard. And right now, there’s not much we travelers can do but wait.
So what happens when the pandemic is over and we are able to travel again? How will things be different? Truthfully, we can only guess at this point, and it will likely vary by country/state/city. However, there are a few things we can most likely expect.
Continued travel restrictions. Even after the pandemic is “over”, you will probably still encounter many restrictions when traveling to certain areas. It is very possible that some countries will still require you to quarantine for a certain period of time depending on where you are traveling from. And if a vaccine is developed, you may be required (or at least encouraged) to get one before being allowed to visit another country.
Closures. Many businesses will be eager to get back up and running, but there is still a chance some won’t be able to for one reason or another. Expect some restaurants and attractions to be closed or to have limited hours.
Limits for restaurants and activities. Don’t think things will just “go back to normal” after the pandemic. The reality is that we are going to be facing a new normal. Chances are, a lot of businesses will continue enforcing some social distancing guidelines and will limit their number of patrons. If there is something you really want to do, or a place you really want to eat, consider booking or reserving in advance.
Research will be very important. We say this all the time when it comes to travel: it is always important to research your destination before you go. But it will be especially important now. And make sure that you keep checking back, right up until the day you leave (and even after you get there). Things could change at a moment’s notice. Be prepared to be flexible when it comes to transportation, accommodations, and changing conditions.
Plan a different kind of trip. We like to do outdoor activities like hiking and swimming, but we don’t often plan whole trips around them. Now is the time to do that though! Mother Nature provides a lot of opportunities to see and experience new things while minimizing interactions with other people. Also consider getting takeout instead of dining in a restaurant. This way, you can still check out the great restaurants but from a safer distance.
Travel insurance will likely be on the rise. Many frequent and long term travelers recommend travel insurance. This can cover everything from your belongings to medical bills. If you are planning a trip out of country, or for an extended period, you may want to seriously consider some type of travel insurance. If you currently have health insurance, check your policy to see what is covered if you were to get sick abroad. If you do invest in travel insurance, keep in mind that prices could be higher than in times past.
Be prepared to be prepared. We’ve always been fans of hand sanitizer and using Clorox wipes (especially on airplanes) but, moving forward, we expect our caution levels when flying or staying in hotels and Airbnbs to be higher than ever before. So our advice is to be prepared. Make sure to carry wipes and hand sanitizer with you. Plan to take your own pillow cases and even sheets if that makes you feel more comfortable. Wear your face masks when you’re in a large group. Keep practicing social distancing when possible. Try not to touch your face (so hard, we know!). But don’t let fear keep you from traveling at all. Be cautious, but don’t worry about every little thing. There’s only so much we can do and some things are just out of our control. Don’t let stress about traveling keep you from enjoying your trip.
Jumping back into travel won’t be for everybody. If you are incredibly worried about traveling, it might be best to wait a little longer. It will take a bit for the travel industry to get back into the swing of things. Likely, things will continue to evolve and change as we all adjust to the new “normal”. So if the idea of traveling is really stressing you out, give it some time. And instead of traveling to another country, or across yours, start off traveling more locally. There are probably a lot of places you’ve never visited relatively close to home.
It may be hard not to be a little wary of travel for a while after the pandemic dies down. That’s perfectly natural and actually a good thing. You want to make sure you’re being smart and safe when you travel. This is nothing new, we’ve just added a global health crisis to the realm of possibility. Frankly, six months ago, the idea of a global pandemic wasn’t even on our radar, and we visited a museum exhibit on pandemics last summer. But here we are.
Though it is sometimes hard to see the light at the end of this long, dark, depressing tunnel, we need to remember that eventually this will end, hopefully sooner rather than later. And we, for one, are ready to get back out there.
So wash your hands, social distance, stay home when you’re sick and wear a mask please thanks.
Our McTravels 