Traveling During COVID-19
Traveling during the pandemic is a daunting experience, especially now that things are starting to return to normal. Although we’re all sitting with our bags packed and ready to head out to travel the world, COVID-19 is still a large threat. While our borders are still closed till further notice, South Africans are ready to head out and explore our gorgeous country.
Here’s our top tips on traveling during the global pandemic!
Choose your accommodation wisely
Generally, one of the biggest factors to consider when embarking on your travels is accommodation. Normally, this decision will incorporate the cost of the accommodation as well as the nearby attractions. During the age of COVID-19, there’s another layer we need to include in your consideration- the safety precautions that your hotel or resort have in place.
From enforcing guests to wear masks, to temperature tests- make sure that the hotel represents a level of safety and sanitation that you are comfortable with.
ANEW Hotels & Resorts ensures the highest level of hygiene standards through adhering to strict sanitization standards and PPE protocols; safeguarding the wellbeing and safety of all our employees and guests. (You can read our COVID-19 policy here.)
What to pack
Packing has just become slightly more intense- rather than just focussing on weather-ready outfits – you should carefully plan a pack list that incorporates your personal hygiene and safety protocols. The first important item you need to pack is your face mask. We advise to pack 2 or 3 facemasks. This ensures that you’re prepared for situations where your mask can get wet, you misplaced it, or simply want to wash it before heading out again.
Another important component to pack is your own hygiene products. Businesses are required to provide their customers and employees with hand sanitizer, so there will be sanitizer available if you visit a specific shop or attraction.
However, some situations might exist where you might come in contact with another person where sanitizer isn’t available, and having your own handy will help you keep safe. Another important thing to carry with you is anti-bacterial soaps. In cases where your hotel room might run out of this, or the room attended hasn’t been refilled yet, you will be able to still wash your hands and not compromise on your own safety.
Some of the more unusual things we recommend you pack includes toothpicks, which you can use rather than to touch buttons such as elevator buttons, as well as extra plastic bags which you can place your mask in when eating at a restaurant to decrease the risk of contaminating it.
Your Health and Traveling
Although there’s no cure for the Coronavirus yet, you should always focus to try keep your immune system as healthy as possible. This includes staking the needed vitamins and supplements, as well as your required medication.
When traveling, ensure that you have all your needed medication packed, as well as some extras in case you catch a cold or feel ill.
Before embarking on your travels, ensure that you have the contact details of a doctor in the hotel’s facilities, just to ensure that you do have all the information in case one of your traveling partners (or yourself) falls ill.
Your Overall Safety
Remember, just because you are on holiday doesn’t mean that COVID-19 is.
Just like you would normally practise social distancing measures at home or when heading to your local areas, ensure that you practise the same measures when on vacation.
This doesn’t just ensure your safety, but the safety of others, including employees who are trying to keep you as safe as possible.
