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How to Choose the Best Destination for Your Pandemic Travel

VWB Blog 3 years ago 6

With vaccines rolling out and COVID health guidelines easing, the bigger question now is not if you can travel, it’s where you can travel without putting your health at too high of a risk. If you’re gearing up to go on your next big adventure after more than a year of quarantine, here are several factors that you need to consider when choosing your destination.

What you need to consider when choosing a pandemic travel destination

COVID-19 cases

The most important thing that you have to consider when selecting a destination is the number of COVID-19 cases in the locality. Of course, you wouldn’t want to go anywhere with a high number of cases or a growing curve. Although no place is totally safe as of now, picking a destination with a low number of cases and a relatively stable curve is your best bet to a safe trip.

Vaccination rates 

Apart from the number of COVID cases in the particular destination you’re eyeing, you’d also want to take a look into their vaccination rates. The higher the percentage of vaccinated individuals in that area, the safer it is as a pandemic travel destination. However, keep in mind that vaccination will not totally make someone incapable of catching the virus. That said, you may still get COVID from a vaccinated person at your destination, especially if the locality has not built sufficient herd immunity yet.

Distance 

The farther your destination is, the more places and people that you have to encounter to get there—and thus the bigger the risk. That said, choose a destination that you can reach with as little travel as possible. For instance, you may want to go on an Alaska fishing trip that you can reach with one plane ride instead of an overseas trip that involves a lot of layovers.

Travel rules and regulations 

With cases still rising all around the globe, most places will have travel restrictions in place. The good news is that a lot of cities, states, and countries are opening their borders to boost tourism after a year-long slump. Before you set your sights on a travel destination, do due diligence and look up travel rules and regulations that they have in place.

If they allow entry of tourists, find out what are their requirements to cross their border. For instance, you may need to be vaccinated or check into a quarantine facility after you arrive, so it’s best if you know what to expect before planning your itinerary.

Your health 

Are you fit enough for travel? If you belong to any of the at-risk groups for COVID-19 (e.g. pregnant women, people with comorbidities,  unvaccinated individuals, etc.), it may not be a great idea to go on holiday for now.

Pandemic travel tips 

After considering these factors and picking out a destination, it’s time to plan how you can stay safe in transit and after you get there. Here are several tips that you should take into account:

  1. Avoid crowded tourist spots

Going to the usual tourist spots is not the best move in the middle of a pandemic because everyone else will probably have the same idea. Look beyond the tourist spots that travel blogs suggest and pick ones that get little to no tourist attention. This way, you will be better able to avoid the crowds and have fun without constantly worrying about people getting too close to you.

  1. Travel alone or with a small group

Traveling alone during a pandemic will mean you only have yourself to worry about. When you travel with other people, you will most likely be staying in close contact with them throughout the trip. Thus, there is a bigger risk of catching the virus from each other since you will probably stay in the same hotel and stay physically close most of the time.

  1. Choose a hotel with great safety standards 

Hotels are mandated to follow COVID safety guidelines, although not all will be excellent at doing so. That said, spend more than enough time choosing a hotel that has strict safety standards in place to lower your risk. Check out their website for COVID information and read reviews from fellow travelers to ensure that the hotel keeps to its word.

Conclusion 

As of now, traveling is still not a hundred percent safe, but choosing the best pandemic travel destination can make a huge difference. If you’re planning to travel anytime soon, keep these tips in mind and always follow the COVID-19 safety standards everywhere you go—even if your destination is deemed ‘safe’ by the local government.

Meta title: Traveling in a Pandemic: Guide to Choosing a Destination

Meta desc: If you want to travel in a pandemic, there are some factors that you need to consider when choosing the perfect destination. Read on to find out more.

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