Sun, Sea And Staying Safe

Sun, Sea And Staying Safe. Hey everyone, I hope you are well. In today’s post, I will be sharing a guest post from Mark Bibby Jackson, a travel expert, journalist,/publisher.  He is also the founder of TravelBeginsAt40. He will be sharing ten excellent tips on the different ways we can stay safe during holidays in the sun. I am very excited to share this post today because fall/winter is here, short breaks are rising, I love travelling, and I am sure we all will benefit from these tips.

Sun, Sea And Staying Safe

A staycation isn’t for everyone. If you are among those for whom a holiday is not a proper holiday unless it involves a passport, the good news is that international travel is once again a thing. But Covid hasn’t disappeared, so what can you do to ensure our travel is as safe as possible in relation to the virus. In general, the key is to take sensible measures to minimise your risk. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe:

Select your destination carefully

My first piece of advice is to choose the country you visit wisely. The reality is that you are more likely to become infected in certain parts of the world than in others. Carry out some research on the rate of infection in the country you are considering visiting and whether this is rising or declining. Worldometer has kept track of Covid throughout the pandemic, and you can access data for each country at worldometers.info/coronavirus.

Get vaccinated against Covid

Ensure you are fully vaccinated before you travel. Please ensure that you have been inoculated against Covid at least 14 days before you travel for both your health and those around you. Some people are not eligible for vaccination. In which case, there are certain precautions they – and everyone else – should take to ensure their travel is safe.

Being vaccinated may also influence where you can travel to with more countries basing their rules around those who have or have not been vaccinated.

Take care while travelling

While data taken last year indicated the risk of catching Covid on a plane was minimal, it is sensible to take precautions. Wear masks throughout your flight and while at the airport. Maintain sensible social distancing measures where possible, especially when queuing. Take your time and give people space. After all, you are on holiday so why not start to relax as soon as possible.

If you can, avoid crowded transport on your way to and from the airport. Usually, I am a strong advocate of using public transport wherever possible, but last year on two trips to Switzerland I chose to drive to Heathrow and then leave my car there. I didn’t even have to take the airport shuttle. It might cost a bit extra, but the added peace of mind means money is well spent.

Take care booking your accommodation

At heart, I am still a backpacker. I cherish the sensation of arriving at a destination without pre-booked accommodation and usually pick local accommodation almost at random. Sadly, I won’t be doing this for a while: I want to ensure that where I am staying has taken all the necessary cleaning and hygiene steps. Most hotels have introduced stringent hygiene regulations to counteract Covid. These can easily be found on their websites, or you can enquire via email. Currently, accommodation providers worldwide are crying out for customers, ensuring that those you book with have done all they can to minimise the risk of the spread of Covid on their property.

Take sensible precautions

Although part of the appeal of travelling is to get away from your routine during a pandemic, it makes sense to take some of your everyday precautions with you. Wear a mask whenever you are in public spaces, transport, restaurants, bars etc. I spent many years in Asia, where mask-wearing has become commonplace to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases. I firmly believe that if mask-wearing had been made compulsory earlier, then the spread of Covid would have been less virulent. Pack sufficient masks with you for your travel, as well as antiseptic wipes and hand sanitisers. Wash your hands carefully before and after you visit any place. Eat healthily. The same golden rules that have protected you during the last 18 months of the pandemic will also keep you safe on your travels.

Avoid the crowds

None of the above is more important than avoiding close contact with people. Studies indicate that space is the number one way of stopping the spread of Covid. I was fortunate enough to visit Switzerland last summer. I could not have felt safer walking in the mountains breathing in that beautiful Alpine air. Nobody has contracted Covid by trekking in the mountains away from other humans.

Walk or cycle as much as possible while on holiday. Not only does this limit the chances of you contracting Covid, but it is also suitable for you. An early study from China indicated that Covid was more easily spread in confined air-conditioned rooms than outdoors. So wherever possible, choose to dine al fresco – barbecue on the beach or picnic in the mountains – and if indoors, seek places that are well-ventilated and have stringent Covid regulations. Perhaps now is not the time to visit crowded museums and galleries?

Insure against all eventualities

Unfortunately, however careful you are in planning your trip, you cannot foresee all travel insurance circumstances. Make sure that your holiday is protected against Covid. I recommend Battleface Insurance. Check that your insurance covers both evacuation and repatriation, and ensure that you are covered for treatment at an international standard hospital. If your destination of choice lacks such facilities, then perhaps you should reconsider your trip. The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will not cover all scenarios when travelling in Europe, so make sure you bolster this with appropriate travel insurance.

Relax and enjoy yourself

Ultimately you are on holiday. So, relax. If you take these sensible precautions, then there is no reason why you should be at a greater risk of catching Covid while abroad than at home. Indeed, with rising Covid infection rates in the UK, you may well be a lot safer. Plan ahead, take sensible precautions and enjoy yourself. One of the best defences against any infectious disease is to stay healthy, and one of the best ways of doing this is to have a wonderful relaxing holiday abroad.

I hope you enjoyed that.

Talk soon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Bibby Jackson is passionate about travel and sharing the joys of visiting new places and people. He is the founder and group editor of websites Travel Begins at 40 and London Begins at 40 and the award-winning author of three thrillers set in Cambodia. He is the former editor of AsiaLIFE Cambodia, ASEAN Forum and Horizon Thailand magazines.

Web: https://www.travelbeginsat40.com/

https://www.markbibbyjackson.co.uk/

https://www.londonbeginsat40.com/

Twitter: @TravelBegins40

Facebook / Instagram: @TravelBeginsat40

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-bibby-jackson-aa541613/