With the spread of the pandemic canceling all of our planned trips and events last year, many people are now planning to travel or go home this year. Nevertheless, the pandemic is not yet over, and many countries are still in strict community quarantine, so it’s best to stay where you are right now.
However, if you’ve already booked your tickets or planned an itinerary, here’s what you have to expect when you travel in the new normal: safely and carefully.
What to Expect While Travelling Safely in the New Normal
As travel restrictions seem to ease, it is still imperative that we have to safe and cautious, especially as we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Here are some of the things to get you prepared while going on that trip:
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1. Security is tight in airports, ports and lodging.
Wherever we go, safety protocols must be followed at all times. Nowadays, airports and ports require you to take a mandatory swab test, and will screen you for any underlying symptom of the virus. In some destinations, once you arrive, you have to undergo a 14-day quarantine at most. So, it’s best to have that in mind when you are travelling internationally in the pandemic.

2. You’ll be standing longer in line.

We all hate that feeling of having to line up a long queue that takes forever to move an inch. Now, because we are all practicing physical social distancing, it is required for everyone to maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from the person in front of you. This means you are required to stay in a longer line for a longer period of time, as security will be as strict as it seems.
3. Expenses can be more expensive.

The travel industry has been dramatically affected by the pandemic, and a lot of operations stopped once countries put up the travel ban. Furthermore, since the aircraft also follows strict safety protocols such as social distancing, some seats are not for sale to observe these rules. This results in higher airfare costs, not to mention the several tests that you have to take also cost money.
4. Always check for reviews online.

Check other people’s experiences, much better if it were during the course of the pandemic. With these reviews you get to grasp how they hotels, inns and resorts have been handling the COVID-19 situation. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
5. Fewer people.

Probably one good thing about travelling during the pandemic is you are in contact with a much fewer crowd. With establishments limiting the number of people that can enter the area, expect a lesser capacity of visitors. Tourist destinations are not flooded with hitchhikers, and airports aren’t that packed with passengers, meaning you can get that photo without a crowd obstructing the view.
Safe Travels for Everyone
Of course, it is still best to remain at home and wait for the perfect time to travel towards our dream destinations. Just like the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) #TravelTomorrow campaign, they aim to encourage everyone to consider travelling to fascinating destinations and take a trip only when it is safe to do so.
Before we can travel tomorrow, we must prepare today.
To everyone travelling now, we wish you utmost safety until you arrive at your destinations. May this guide be helpful to those wishing to check off items from their bucket list!
Stay safe, everyone!