The pandemic has changed our lives all together be it mentally, physically or emotionally. Now with the new variant trending on our social media pages and television channels at home many of you will be wondering “is it safe to travel?” Well, it can be if you follow some basic steps, so below we will outline top tips to stay COVID-free on your next family holiday.
Research your Destination
Countries across the globe are actively battling against COVID-19 and in order to ensure you stay COVID-free during your holiday research the destination you are travelling to. Restrictions and quarantine rules are different in each country and change regularly.
Plan your Trip
Planning your trip in advance is highly recommended. You will have to think about how you will get to the airport in order to avoid cross contamination. Is the country you are travelling to deemed low risk? What are the rules put in place by the airlines, accommodation provider and local governments to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus?
Get Insurance
You don’t want to be getting ill on your holiday without travel insurance cover, your health is never worth the risk. Please check your travel insurance policy to see if you are covered during the pandemic.
Check Documentation Requirements
Countries now require you to provide extra documentations when travelling, check for any entry requirements on
www.gov.uk and search for the country you are travelling to. Some countries also require you to provide with a negative PCR test within a period of time prior to travelling. Some countries will also require a vaccination certificate, make sure you download the NHS app and or print your vaccine certificate ready to show when prompted.
Know the Airport Requirements
Allow for extra time at the airport, arrive three hours prior to departure as ques during check in maybe longer than expected due to extra checks in place.
Masks are compulsory when boarding your flight, you must wear your masks in public transport and during your flight this prevents the spread of the virus alongside washing your hands frequently. It is recommended during your flight to change your mask every four hours. Low cost airlines do not provide masks or hand sanitizers on board so please make sure you take plenty to last your trip the minute you leave your house.
You must practice social distance if the individual is not from the same household it’s recommended to keep your distance. This can be anything between 1 – 2 meters depending on local government advice. Try to also avoid crowds during a tour or visiting the local town or city, popular attractions are usually less crowded during the early hours of the morning.
Be prepared for last minute cancellation as the government advice changes on a regular basis. Some flight or accommodation suppliers may cancel one or all element of your booking as they are not able to afford to run the flight or unable to operate the hotel due to the number of booking received.
Lastly if all the above still leaves you feeling too stressed to travel during the pandemic there are always the opportunity to book holidays in advance, for later in 2022 or even
2023 holidays.
If you have a 2021 holiday still to take or have
cheap 2022 holidays planned, take the tips above in consideration and above all – make sure you have fun in the sun!
