7 Do’s And Don’ts When Planning To Travel Abroad With New Guidelines In COVID

As travel restrictions are being lifted in various countries, people have started making travel plans. Many people are already traveling to different places domestically and are eagerly awaiting for other countries to open borders for tourism. 

Some countries such as the US, France, and Germany have opened their borders for the citizens of a few countries, irrespective of their visa status. For instance, Indian citizens are now allowed to travel to these countries on any type of visa. There’s a discussion about permitting Indian citizens to visit other countries such as the UK as well.

As per a survey, 7 out of 10 people are ready to travel for a holiday now. The fear of coronavirus seems to have subsided amidst the rising desire to travel again. Therefore, if you too can’t wait to set your foot out of your house and start traveling again, you should ensure your safety. Here are 7 do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when planning to travel abroad with new guidelines during COVID-19.

7 Do’s & Don’t While Traveling

Traveling during the ‘New Normal’ phase of life comes with its own challenges and risks. We need to ensure not only our safety while traveling but also others’ safety. Therefore, it is necessary to practice and follow a set of guidelines to travel safely. 

• Always maintain social distance

Since the advent of COVID-19, the most important advice to contain the spread of coronavirus is by maintaining social distance. It will definitely be difficult to contain your excitement as you may be traveling after a long period of time. 

However, you need to ensure that you follow the social distancing norms for everyone’s safety. Avoid touching things unnecessarily and stand 6 feet apart in queues. These measures will help in reducing the chances of getting infected through a potential COVID patient.  I have heard that few people are charged with fines for not following guidelines. You can also check for New Orleans criminal lawyer

• Carry the safety essentials

It cannot be stressed enough that you should always have your masks on when you step out of your house. Ensure you carry your safety essentials which include extra masks, gloves, face shield, and hand sanitizer. These items are included in the personal protection equipment kit while traveling by air. It is advised that you should wash your hands as frequently as possible. 

However, wherever you are unable to wash hands, ensure you keep your hands well-sanitized. Carry extra gloves and masks especially if you have a long haul flight. You may feel the need to change your mask and gloves during the flight journey. Ensure that you are always wearing the face shield inside the plane to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Web Check-in

To limit the contact between airport staff and travelers, airports have made it mandatory to check-in online. Therefore, as a responsible traveler, you should ensure that you complete the web check-in to avoid standing in queues at the baggage drop counters. With the web check-in, you will receive your e-boarding pass which can be printed from the kiosks at the airport. 

This will not only help minimize the interaction between the staff and travelers but will also expedite the check-in process. Moreover, it is beneficial for travelers who have no luggage to check-in, as they can just print their boarding passes and proceed for immigration.

• Use cashless payment methods

Another measure you can adopt to limit the interaction with others is by going cashless. As we are well aware, coronavirus can spread if the virus is on surfaces of cash, coins, travel documents, etc. Therefore, wherever possible, it is best to limit dealing with the exchange of cash. 

Fortunately, technological advancements have presented better solutions through the use of digital payments. You can maintain digital wallets and use them wherever you are traveling. You can also upload documents on apps like Mr. Boie and access your documents anywhere, electronically.

• Avoid traveling if unwell

It goes without saying that you should avoid traveling at all costs if you aren’t feeling well. Every airport and other transport authorities are regularly checking the temperatures of every individual that enters the premises, therefore, you may be stopped from traveling right then. 

However, if you feel unwell when you are already inside the airport, you should inform the airport authorities at the earliest and go back to your home. Traveling even when you are unwell may increase the risk for others as well as yourself. Therefore, it’s advisable to cancel your travel plans if you are not well.

• Avoid eating on board

You should avoid eating food inside the flight as the risk to contract the coronavirus is higher. Airlines too are not serving in-flight meals at the moment. If you have a long haul flight, you can eat at restaurants and cafes at the airport and also choose a flight with a layover. For short-haul flights, it’s best to control the cravings for a while and ensure that you have a meal before boarding.

• Cooperate with the airport staff

If you are traveling for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may not be well aware of the restrictions, protocols, and limitations. The staff at the airports and other transportation premises are working tirelessly to ensure your safety and to limit the spread of the virus. It is important to have patience and cooperate with the airport staff throughout the boarding process. 

The Bottom Line

While it is still advised to avoid non-essential travel, your safety is in your own hands while you are traveling domestically or internationally. The above 7 dos and don’ts will help you travel safely and also ensure the safety of the people around. Ensure you follow safety guidelines even after you have completed your travel.