COVID-19 Travel Survival Guide
Here are some tips to help you navigate travel during the Rona era
Hey y’all! What’s good. If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, you’ll remember that I vowed to stay my a$$ at home in my previous post (check it out). And no, I did not change my mind suddenly just because a bunch of countries are lifting their travel bans (I see you St. Lucia)!
I still don’t think the world is ready to reopen yet because we, as a global community, don’t have a good grasp on this novel coronavirus. Ms. RoRo isn’ t going anywhere anytime soon! The CDC even predicts that there will be a second wave around flu season, so this is far from over. Even the best attempts at getting rid of COVID-19 were still flawed. South Korea had one of the swiftest Coronavirus responses in early 2020 and recorded low death counts. Then ONE person (who probably didn’t know s/he was infected) decided to ball out and go clubbing one night, and now the ENTIRE COUNTRY is experiencing another outbreak. All it took was one person to f*ck it all up. Remember that.
I’m not trying to stress y’all out, but COVID-19 is a supervirus, and social distancing is just a stop gap measure meant to keep us safe. It is not a solution or a cure for COVID (well, vaccine is the more appropriate term, but you get what I’m tryna say), so please keep that in mind.
Before I get off my soap box, I just want to reiterate that you should be weary of any country that actively solicits and attracts tourists this summer. I know it’s tempting to jump on those offers for discounted travel, like in Sicily where they’re offering to pay for hotel and flight expenses. But, again, these countries need money, and are trying to generate revenue. Their decision to reopen is not a reflection of their ability to carry out a swift and effective COVID-19 response for their country, their citizens, or an influx of tourists. They are not focused on you, your vacation, or your health. I haven’t been to Sicily, but I have been to countries during tourist season, and most of them struggle to deal with hella people on a good day (it’s a mess). I don’t think they’re prepared to hospitalize or even treat hoards of people who may be exposed to a respiratory virus that transmits so easily.
I am nobody’s mama
As helpful as I try to be, I realize that I am not responsible for you or anybody else’s actions. I realize that some people are going to travel regardless of what I or anybody else says. I don’t recommend it, but #DoYou. So, in an effort to remain helpful, I want to provide a list of tips and recommendations that I think travelers should be equipped with if they do plan to travel during the Rona era. Here we go!
#1: Know where to get tested
Thankfully, I haven’t shown any COVID symptoms and thus haven’t had to be tested yet. But, from what I’ve read on the intanets, that nasal swab test does not sound pleasant. At all. And, based on the way that it looks, I don’t trust just anybody to stick a swab six inches deep into my brain. Before you depart, try and get tested by a trusted medical professional and get documented proof from said professional stating that you don’t have COVID-19. This document will probably be invalid upon your return (unless you get tested again) but at least you will have some proof to help avoid any issues at whatever borders you’re crossing.
You taking this test?
Research what facilities are administering valid COVID-19 tests at your destination, and whether they offer mouth swab tests instead, since those are less intrusive. This may be a stretch, but I think that proving that you don’t have COVID-19 is becoming the new currency in international travel. It could become just as important as having a passport or a visa. So, in an effort to be proactive, locate where you can get tested at your destination overseas.
I would hate for you to show up at immigration in some country, and they deny your freedom of travel because you can’t prove that you don’t have COVID-19. Or, worse, they force you to take a test on sight, and some shady customs agent has to stick the swab up your nose before they let you pass. I’m good on that.
And, of course, be sure to research where the nearest hospitals are, and what national hotlines or services you can reach out to if you happen to suddenly fall ill with COVID-19.
#2: Carry Medical Essentials with you!
Always, always, always carry medicine and other cleaning essentials with you! Trust me, it can be a STRUGGLE to find medicine overseas, especially when you’re not familiar with the local language or medical brands. I once spent 3 hours trying to find anti-malaria pills in Tanzania -_-. I still had a great time, but I probably didn’t need to dedicate that much of my vacation to finding malaria tablets. It’s always best to carry medicine that you’re familiar with, even if you don’t end up using it. Please make sure your medicines meet your medical needs and pre-existing medical conditions.
Some generic items that I recommend carrying to survive COVID are:
Gloves
Masks
Hand Sanitizer
Disinfectant spray or wipes
Water, or a Water Bottle
MEDICINE
Tylenol
Immodium for diarrhea
Anti-Nausea Pills
Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Medicine
If you don’t have time to get meds before you go, try finding a hotel concierge or tourist information center on sight to help point you in the right direction. Usually locals, or people familiar with the area can help give you advice.
I know this goes without saying, but be sure to disinfect surfaces, wear a mask, clean your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face.
#3: Check the terms of your health insurance
Will your health insurance policy cover your medical needs overseas? If you’re lucky enough to live in a country with free health care, then you can ignore this point (I envy you forreal). If not, then you’re probably one of the many Americans (or other global citizens) who still has to pay for health care in this here 2020. How stupid.
Before you go, contact your health insurance company to see what coverage you are eligible for overseas. This is always good practice before your travels, but it’s even more prudent if you travel during the Rona era. It’s important to know whether you have to carry a special insurance card that medical providers will honor overseas, or if you need to pay for expenses out of pocket and then submit a claim to get reimbursed when you return.
You may not catch COVID or even get sick when you travel overseas, but, I’m sure it would be nice to know if or not you have to foot the bill for an emergency $5,000 X-Ray.
*If you’re traveling to a country with universal or free health care, then you probably won’t have to pay for emergency medical treatment, but check with your insurance company just to be safe.*
when you can’t go to the hospital because you don’t have health insurance
#4: Understand your destination’s COVID-19 response
I am judging any and every countries COVID-19 response. Lucky for you, I will spare you my rants. But, just know that I am taking notes on which countries were strict, which procedures were ineffective, and which governments were prioritizing people vs. profits vs. trusted scientific findings. I believe that each country’s response is a direct reflection of how much they value their citizens, and that is not something that I take lightly. This may not correlate to how they will treat me, a revenue generating tourist, but it is something that I keep in mind.
On a more helpful note, I recommend checking to see what your destination’s travel response is/was, and how that could potentially impact your travels! Some questions to consider:
How often are they testing (nasal swab) and screening (temperature checks) travelers and citizens?
Do you need to quarantine (mandatory and at your own expense) or self-isolate (less regulated and at your own accommodation) upon arrival?
What is your exit strategy if they close the borders suddenly? How will they support tourists’ departure?
How strictly are they enforcing social distancing?
How readily available and accessible are COVID-19 tests?
Are you prepared to stay for the long term? Will this impact your visa at all?
#5: What efforts are they making to protect you?
Y’all got free masks?
Make sure you check that the businesses, hotels, airlines, and even tourist attractions, are publicly announcing their plans to follow proper cleaning procedures to keep you safe. Review these plans, and make sure that you’re comfortable and willing to patronize these establishments based on what they’re doing. Do research on how they’re adjusting their operating times and procedures to lower your risk of transmitting COVID.
More importantly, check to see how far these services going to implement social distancing guidelines, and how they’ve adapted their business practices to cope with this pandemic.
At the end of the day, please be safe!
Ultimately, I want to encourage everyone to stay safe on your travels. Have fun, enjoy yourself, but also protect your health! Please let me know if you’ve traveled recently, and what your experience was like. Did any of these concerns cross your mind? What tips can you recommend to the community based on your travels?
