For the past year and a half, travel has been off the cards for many of us. This has been due to the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic, which has caused governments around the world to close their countries’ borders or advise citizens against travel in a bid to slow and minimize the spread of the virus.
However, with the worldwide rollout of the vaccine underway, and with many countries slowly getting back to life as usual, many of us are turning our minds to our first trips away as soon as we are allowed. Of course, there are a few things you should do when booking your trip and before boarding your flight that can help to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Here are a few to consider!
Take Out Travel Insurance
If you’re traveling anywhere, you should take out travel insurance. This can help to protect you and your belongings while you are overseas.
If you become ill or injured and require medical treatment, insurance can ensure that you don’t return home with a huge debt. If you lose belongings or are robbed while you are away, insurance can help to cover the cost.
There are countless policies out there, so do some research and use price comparison sites to get the best deal. Other users’ reviews should give you insight into how reliable the service is.
Learn Some Basic Phrases
If you’re heading to a country where the national language is one that you don’t speak, it’s always a good idea to learn some basic words and phrases to help yourself get by. These could include hello, goodbye, please, thank you, some basic phrases you may use in a restaurant, phrases for directions, and phrases for emergency situations.
Of course, you could go all out and attend some in-person language classes, but this can often prove expensive and time-consuming. For more casual learning, consider apps.
You can Learn Japanese with Memrise, try French with Duolingo or pick up some Spanish with Babbel. There are countless options, so try a few out. It could come in really useful.
Maintain Covid Safety Practices
Just because you may be heading away doesn’t mean that Covid has entirely disappeared. Not everyone is getting the vaccine, or able to get the vaccine, so you do need to be careful. Make sure to be respectful and to maintain good Covid safety practices wherever you may be.
Carry hand sanitizer and make sure to use it regularly. Wear a mask in public spaces. Still try to keep a two meter distance from others. This is for your own good and for the good of others around you.
These are just a few suggestions. There are a number of other steps that will go into the planning process, but these should help to get you off to a good start!
Hopefully, they’ll come in useful and your trip will be as enjoyable as possible!