This is a guest post from my friends at Soulful Travel
Ready to join in the journey and get the latest travel tips? If you haven’t already, you should be checking out the informative posts and inspiring stories on TheJourneyofBethB. When you’re ready to begin your own adventure, use this list of ways to travel — ranked from lowest to highest risk — to stay safe during the pandemic.
Virtual Tours and Travel
Let’s start with the only risk-free way to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is exploring faraway locations from the comfort and safety of your home. You can refer to travel blogs to do so and to get some pointers for your post-pandemic travels. If you want to see more of the world in 3D, there are several virtual tours available online, as well!
Before you set off on a virtual vacation, you may need to buy new tech, like a tablet (which will come in handy for actual trips in the future). Also, be sure to protect your new purchase with a top-rated case, too, so that you won’t have to worry about drops, spills, and other accidents.
An All-American Road Trip
Virtual travel may be here to stay but that doesn’t mean you don’t have other ways of getting out of the house without putting your health at risk. After all, you’ve likely been spending too much time at home lately, so it only makes sense that you need a break! If you’re up for driving, traveling by car is the next safest way to explore while the pandemic is ongoing.
You still need to take precautions during a road trip, like packing plenty of hand sanitizer, masks, and perhaps even a tent just in case finding safe accommodations proves difficult in your route. You should also keep in mind that hospitals and emergency rooms may be overwhelmed, so drive safely.
Seeing the Country by Train
Rail travel is also gaining in popularity as an alternative to driving or flying. If you travel by train, you won’t have to stress about paying attention to the road, and you will also be able to stretch out a bit more than on an airplane. Still, traveling this way does come with some risks in a pandemic.
Before you climb aboard, you will want to be sure to bring along hand sanitizer and masks — the latter may be required to be worn at all times, so be prepared for this.
Flying with the Right Airline
If you are a woman who is also 50 years old or older, know that you are considered to be at a higher risk for COVID-19 complications. This is true, no matter how active or healthy you are, though chronic health conditions can increase the danger. If the latter applies to you, it may be best to avoid air travel completely, unless necessary, to avoid being in closed spaces with others.
You can also choose an airline that is still spacing out passengers and following strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for all flights. Keep in mind that no matter which airline you choose, you will likely need to wear a mask for the duration of your trip, unless you’re eating or drinking.
Traveling to Another Country
What if you’re craving more adventure and looking forward to traveling abroad? In this case, your first step should be to check current travel restrictions for the U.S. and the country you plan on visiting. You can find this information via the State Department.
You should also be prepared to get tested for COVID upon your arrival to each country and know that if you test positive, you will have to cover any related hotel or quarantine costs — that is, unless you purchased traveler’s insurance and your policy covers quarantine expenses.
Travel nurtures the soul, opens the mind, and relaxes the body. With all of these amazing benefits, there’s no reason to give up travel and exploration when there are so many safe ways to do so, even while the pandemic is ongoing. So get out there and start your own adventure.