My Pandemic Travel Story: How I Tried to Keep Safe
Alright, so the world went a bit nuts with the pandemic, right? But after a long while cooped up, I really needed a change of scenery. Decided to take a trip. Scary? A bit. But I figured if I was careful, I could manage it. Here’s what I actually did, step-by-step, the whole shebang.
Before I Even Packed My Bags
First thing, research, research, research. I spent ages glued to my screen. Not just quick glances at news sites, but really digging deep into the specific rules for where I was headed. What kind of tests did they want? Were there quarantine rules? Mask rules? Man, it was different everywhere. I really didn’t want to get caught out by some stupid rule I’d missed.
Then, getting tested. That was a non-negotiable for me. I booked my PCR test way ahead of time to make sure I got those results back before my flight. Talk about a stressful few days waiting for that email. But yeah, had to be done. I also double-checked my vaccinations were all sorted, whatever “sorted” meant that week – things were changing so fast, it was hard to keep up!
Packing definitely took on a new dimension. Alongside my usual clothes and bits, I had a whole pandemic survival kit:
- A ton of masks. Seriously, not just one or two flapping about, but a proper stash of good quality ones, like N95s or KN95s. I figured I’d be swapping them out pretty often.
- Hand sanitizer. Big bottles for the room, little ones for my pocket. It was everywhere with me.
- Disinfectant wipes. You bet I was that person. Wiping down tray tables, armrests, door handles in the hotel room – if I was gonna touch it, it got a wipe.
I also had a good look into travel insurance. Spent a while making sure it actually mentioned something about pandemic coverage, just in case things went south and I got sick or stuck. Finding that was a bit of a pain, not gonna lie, but it did make me feel a bit better.
And when it came to bookings? I tried to be a bit crafty. Looked for flights at weird times, hoping it’d be less of a zoo. Picked an airline that seemed to be making a big deal about their cleaning. For places to stay, I leaned towards options where I could have my own space, like an apartment rental instead of a massive, busy hotel. Or at least a hotel that had good reviews about how clean they kept things.
Out and About: Navigating the Journey Itself
The airport felt strange. Definitely quieter than I remembered, but still, enough people to make you aware. My personal rule was simple: mask on, all the time. From the second I walked out my front door until I was safely in my private room at the other end. I really tried to keep my distance from other folks, even if it meant standing back and waiting longer in queues. Patience became my new best friend.
On the plane, yeah, I was that person wiping down everything in sight. Tray table, seatbelt, armrests, the little TV screen. Honestly, I didn’t care if anyone gave me funny looks. My health, my business. I also did my best to keep my mask on properly for the whole flight, even when they handed out food or drinks. Quick sips, mask straight back on. And the plane bathroom? Avoided it like the plague, unless it was an absolute emergency.
When I got to my destination, it was pretty much more of the same drill. Mask on indoors, and even outdoors if it felt a bit crowded. I ate outside whenever I could, or just grabbed takeout and ate in my room. When I did eat inside a restaurant, I’d scout for places that looked like they had good airflow or tables spread really far apart. Hand sanitizer was practically glued to my hand – used it after touching anything and everything, before I ate, constantly.
I also gave the super crowded tourist traps a miss. Tried to visit places at off-peak times or focused more on outdoor stuff where I could spread out. It wasn’t exactly the carefree, spontaneous holiday I was used to, that’s for sure. More like a military operation, planned down to the last detail.
Back Home and Thinking It All Over
Once I got back home, I kept an eye on myself for a week or two. Just watched out for any symptoms, you know, just in case. Some people I know went and got tested again after they returned, which is probably a smart move, though I didn’t do it that specific time because I felt perfectly fine and there wasn’t any rule saying I had to.
So, was all that fuss worth it? Well, I didn’t catch anything, so I’m calling that a success. It definitely wasn’t the most relaxed trip I’ve ever taken. So much planning, so much being hyper-aware of everything around me all the time. It felt like a full-time job just trying to stay safe and sound.
My biggest takeaway from all this? Being really prepared and just staying on your toes makes a massive difference. It’s not about being totally freaked out or anything, but just about being sensible – for your own sake and for everyone else too. You can still get out there and see things, but you’ve just got to tackle it a bit differently. Way more thinking and planning involved than just chucking some clothes in a suitcase and heading off. It’s a whole new ball game for travel, I suppose. And you know what? Some of those habits, like wiping stuff down and always having sanitizer, I’ll probably stick with them even when things are totally “back to normal.” Just seems like common sense, doesn’t it?
