Travel During Covid

Photo credit: William Navarro from Unsplash

Slowly, the world is healing and reawakening from the last year or so. There is more talk of industries restarting and borders opening. I completely understand that travel, especially international travel, is not on some people’s radar right now. For those of you who are starting to dream of travel again, I just returned from 10 days in Egypt and I can tell you it can be done! But it is not the “normal” we all experienced before. Here are some observations and tips.

Travel looks and feels different right now. There is no doubt about that. Most airlines are very strict about mask wearing and that includes long-haul overnight flights. And just like masks, they are strict about Covid-19 test results. Test results are reviewed at check in and can also be checked at numerous other places throughout the process.

And, things are still in flux. Our trip was meant to have a week in Turkey before heading to Egypt. The day before our flight to Istanbul, the country’s government announced a strict national lockdown for all Turkish nationals. Though it did not apply to tourists, we felt it was neither responsible nor respectful to travel there while they were under lockdown. It is very important to stay on top of what is happening in your destination right up until the moment you leave.

The absolute best thing you can do when traveling right now is to pack a lot of patience, some flexibility, and remember a smile and a kind word. This last year has been hard on everyone and the travel industry has been hit especially hard. Those kind words go such a long way in expressing your gratitude to be able to travel and your compassion to others.

Photo credit: Convertkit from Unsplash

There is a significant backup at the US State Department in processing new and renewal passports. Though some countries may differ, the standard is that you must have six months left on your passport from the date you RETURN back to your home country. And two empty visa pages. Expedited processing and passport service agencies are taking 4-8 weeks to process passports, sometimes longer. Now is a good time, before you plan travel, to check your passport. If it is getting close, you may want to consider renewing now before the travel bug bites you!

In general, protocols are in place, especially for airlines, airports, transpiration services and hotels. All of our Turkish Air flights had passengers spaced throughout the plane. Most hotels were spotless and the staff were correctly wearing masks. The general population may differ from this and it is best to understand how your destination is handling the protocols before you go. Surprises are a little uncomfortable right now. Egypt had very few protocols in place except within the tourism industry. And Cairo is particularly hard to social distance! For this reason, I highly recommend being fully vaccinated before you embark on international travel. Not only will it protect you but also the local inhabitants where you will be a guest.

The return testing for the US was not a problem. The test you require is dictated by the airline you will fly. Just as I do for my clients, we had a doctor come to our hotel, administer the test, and we had results within hours. Those results were reviewed at check in for our flights but not once we reached US soil.

Though I always use travel insurance, especially internationally, I really recommend everyone consider it at this time. Not only does it cover the standard delays and lost bags but also medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation should you need it. And some companies, but not all, will cover quarantine expenses if you test positive on your return and have to stay in your destination. Read the fine print and ask all the questions before you purchase a policy.

There are so many wonderful reasons to travel right now! The people are so happy to have tourists back. We were warmly welcomed every where we went. The people of Egypt made us laugh and feel almost at home whether it be in the markets, at the sites, or just generally walking around. Wicked senses of humor, those Egyptians!

And NO crowds!!! Here we are at Sakkara where there would normally be thousands of other people. No. One. Some extra swabs up the nose and masks on planes were well worth this experience that we will never be able to replicate once the world fully opens. I have heard this repeated from travelers to Africa and other destinations as well. If you are comfortable with traveling now (and vaccinated), it really is an amazing time to go!

To end this post, I would like to add that if you have never used a travel advisor before, now is a good time to reach out to one. I work with amazing partners on the ground all over the world. What does that mean for you? You have real-time information about what is happening in a destination, thoroughly vetted hotels and services, and a 24-hour local emergency contact. Not to mention all sorts of amenities! And we handle all the details, from transfers and tours, special access passes, and scheduling that doctor for the return test! And we are knee-deep, every day, in all the requirements everywhere. We are on top of it and have our clients backs every step of the way. We really are travel wizards!

Come back soon if you want to read more about my travels to Egypt and this amazing country!