How to Safely Travel This Summer

The coronavirus pandemic has rightfully raised a lot of concerns about safety when travelling, and the risk of infection when travelling, particularly in enclosed spaces like planes. If you’re thinking about travelling this summer, it’s important to remember that there are steps you can take to minimise the risk to yourself and others, and we’ve collated the vital ones here.

Get a mask and hand sanitizer.

In many countries now, facemasks are becoming mandatory in places such as public transport, shops, and in some countries - anytime you leave the house. Wearing a mask reduces the distance particles in your breath can travel as they encounter resistance, reducing the chance that you’ll infect someone else if you yourself have COVID-19 (but may be unaware). If everyone wears masks, the risk drops as it becomes harder for the virus to transfer from person to person. Remember to wash your mask regularly if it isn’t disposable, and avoid touching the front of it. Hand sanitizer is also a must-have - using it regularly, after touching surfaces or buttons, opening doors, purchasing things, will be important to eradicate the virus before it can spread. Many places now have hand sanitizer, but by bringing your own you reduce contact transmission further.

Remember social distancing.

The World Health Organisation recommends you keep at least 1-meter distance from people outside of your household, in order to limit the level of transmission and ensure that the virus has to travel further from person to person to infect them. This distance is higher in some countries, so please check before you travel. Staying in open areas, keeping your distance, and avoiding physical contact will be key to reducing the chance of you coming into contact with an infected person, or the virus, and will ultimately keep you safe. On public transport, remember to wear your mask and try to keep your distance where possible to minimise risk.

Test regularly and get vaccinated.

Regular testing is key for us to reach the other side of the pandemic, plus many countries have now made it mandatory for you to test before you travel. So we all need to get used to testing, and with so many test options to choose from, it's never been easier. Find out and regulations around testing before you travel to a country and be prepared for what to do if your test comes back positive. On top of this, getting the vaccine when it's made available to you will reduce the chances of you catching or spreading the virus. Making it much safer for you to travel and protecting those around you.

Research your destination.

If you’re travelling abroad, do your research. How severe is the pandemic at your destination? How are the government, both national and local, dealing with that? Are you at risk of coming into contact with people who may be infected? Will you have to quarantine on arrival, or on return? These are all questions to consider and should be well-researched before you book or depart. Some cities, like Kotor in Montenegro, went through the pandemic consistently in the “Green” zone - meaning they had few cases and almost zero (if any) deaths. Choosing your holiday around the statistics, and travelling with all considerations in mind, will go a long way towards keeping you and your party safe.

Consider travel options that limit your exposure.

Some of the greatest risks of exposure you face are during travelling itself - be it on train, plane, or automobile, you’re going to be in an enclosed space where social distancing is difficult. With that in mind, consider finding travel options that reduce this risk. Can you drive to your location, or afford to rent a car on arrival? Are you able to book flights at less busy hours, or get around your holiday destination on foot or even by bike? Considering how you travel, and in what environment, will help you stay considerably safer.

Try and consider holiday plans that won’t be busy.

Earlier on during the pandemic, during the height of the good weather, we saw people arrive in droves to beaches and parks, causing overcrowding and increasing the risk of transmission. When planning your itinerary, why not consider heading off of the beaten track to find beauty spots, or finding museums, galleries and exhibitions that limit attendance to maintain social distancing? Keeping space will help keep you safe from the risk of infection.

Don’t rule out the “StayCation”.

If in doubt, why not plan a domestic holiday? With a natural awareness of the situation at home, you can plan easily for local or national lockdowns as well as within the rules that you’ve been observing for the last 4 months. In addition to supporting your own economy, you have a chance to consider national destinations that you wouldn’t usually consider when lining up holiday destinations, and this change of scenery, lack of language barrier, and chance to see more of your home, can only be a positive thing.