The world ground to a halt when the coronavirus started spreading from one country to another. Travel restrictions were implemented in different parts of the world. Even as some countries prevented all non-essential travelers from entering their borders, others didn’t allow all travelers coming from selected countries to enter their territories.
But as the threat of the virus started to go down, international travel picked up albeit at a slow pace. This may change once the vaccine is readily available around the world. With this, people whose travel plans were put off due to the pandemic can now have the chance to visit family and friends living in other places.
Here are useful tips travelers can use if they’re planning to travel after the end of the pandemic.
Consult a Travel Advisor
The first thing to do is to consult a travel advisor. In the past, people made itineraries on their own and rarely checked the websites of travel advisors. But after the pandemic, people will start visiting the websites of travel advisors or give established tour operators a call to get additional information about the places they’re planning to visit.
Travel advisors and tour operators can provide all the information travelers need about their destinations. They can also connect travelers to reputable health and insurance companies to ensure they’re covered in case something bad happens at their destination.
At this point, you shouldn’t work on your itinerary without consulting a reputable and established tour operator. You may even get discounts that are typically available to them.
Check Restrictions
The next thing to check is the restrictions imposed by some countries on the entry of foreign nationals into their borders. Travelers can also check the list of countries their government advises against visiting due to the continued presence of the virus.
If the country you’re planning to visit wasn’t able to distribute the vaccine yet, you may want to forego traveling to that country. These restrictions are in place to protect the travelers and the locals. So, it’s always advisable to check if your government advises against visiting a certain country.
Similarly, some countries also have a list of people who are allowed to enter their territory. These are typically the citizens of the country, their immediate family members, and temporary foreign workers working in the country.
If you’re traveling domestically, you can also check the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for domestic travel.
Book Your Accommodations
At this point, you will have to book your accommodations. With the drop in tourist arrivals, you can expect hotel rates to be lower than usual since hotels are still trying to entice people to stay with them. Checking the website of the hotel or a booking site will give you an idea about the rates they’re offering.
If you’re traveling domestically, you may want to consider getting a permanent place in your destination and look up any houses available for sale. This is especially true if you see yourself visiting the place more often in the future. Getting your own place allows you to save a lot of money on hotel and Airbnb fees.
Buy the Ticket
After checking everything, travelers can now purchase the tickets. Purchasing tickets through an established travel agent is advisable since they can give discounts not normally available to travelers. And as indicated earlier, they can provide information about the destination and the things to look out for when visiting these places.
Additionally, travelers may consider purchasing the tickets way ahead of time to take advantage of lower ticket prices. This also gives them the flexibility of changing their travel plans in case something comes up.
Traveling after the pandemic may be an appealing option after staying at home for the past few months due to the pandemic. While this may be good for one’s mental health, it’s still advisable to follow proper health protocols to avoid catching other diseases aside from the one that caused the world to grind to a halt for a good part of 2020.