The covid-19 pandemic has made travel a lot more difficult… but not impossible. If you’ve got itchy feet and are desperate to travel right now, I have some tips on how to go about getting on that plane. Of course, I’d never condone breaking any laws or going against government advice, but if you’re in a position to travel, or need to for business or personal reasons, it’s important to keep yourself safe. 

I travelled to the Maldives in November-December 2020. The journey itself was an interesting experience and I also learned lots of handy tips whilst booking the trip. Now, I’ve decided to share them so that you don’t end up out-of-pocket – or stranded. 

1. Check the Requirements 

Double, triple and quadruple check your destination’s entry requirements before you book your flight. I recommend reading your government’s advisory page, the local government’s travel website and the airline’s information page, too. Cover all of your bases. 

If your desired destination is open to tourists, these are some good questions to ask:

• Do I need a PCR test to enter the country? If so, what’s the validity period?
• Do I need to provide proof of travel insurance?
• Do I need to show evidence of sufficient funds?
• Do I need to self-isolate or quarantine on arrival, and how long for? 
  
  

2. Check the Restrictions

I’m assuming you don’t want to fly into a country that’s in the midst of a full-on lockdown. Most places in the world have some sort of restrictions in place, so find out what they are and assess how they’ll impact your trip. Check whether or not your must-visit attractions are open and which tours are operating. If everything you want to see and do is shut, it may not be worth going. 

3. Research Flight History 

Once you’ve established you’re allowed to travel, you’ll want to start looking at flights. But be warned: just because you can buy a certain flight doesn’t mean it’s currently operating. Some airlines are still selling tickets for routes they haven’t flown for months, then cancelling the flights and giving their customers vouchers instead. 

To make sure that your plane will actually get off the ground, check the flight history. If your desired flight is operating regularly, typing the number into Google will reveal the details of the most recent journey. Sites like FlightStats and FlightRadar24 are also useful for this. 

4. Book a Flexible Ticket

Many airlines have flexible booking policies currently, so make sure to choose a ticket that you change free of change if Covid-19 disrupts your travel plans. Make sure you know what will happen if you want to cancel your trip; some airlines offer full refunds whilst others only permit vouchers and re-bookings. Sometimes it’s tempting to book a cheaper ticket through with a less flexible policy but I really don’t recommend that given the current climate. I also recommend that you book direct with the airline as this tends to offer extra protection. Use your travel credit card to make the booking. 

5. Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a tricky business at the moment. However, some airlines, such as Emirates, are including travel insurance in their ticket prices, which is reassuring for travellers. Double check this before you purchase a ticket. 

6. Get to the Airport Early 

Whilst it’s true that less people are traveling right now, there are extra checks in place which can be time-consuming. Don’t bank on the airport being quiet, either. I’d recommend giving yourself an extra hour – so if you’d usually arrive three hours early, make it four. If it saves you from cutting it close and stressing, it’s worth it.

7. Print Everything

As I said, there are extra travel checks in place during the pandemic and airlines are asking for more information than usual. I recommend printing everything out and saving screenshots to your phone. This includes your return flight details, your hotel booking confirmation, your travel/health insurance policy and, of course, your negative PCR test results. Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, it’s best to be sure.  I also make sure I have a copy of my passport on my phone just in case something really goes wrong. Not that you’ll be able to travel with it but it will make replacing it easier if you have the information handy.

8. Equip Yourself 

I recommend packing a backup mask, hand sanitizer and some antibacterial wipes. Most airlines will provide these for you, but you never know – especially if you’re flying with a budget airline. Some airlines won’t allow vented masks so be sure to have one that is completely covered with no vent.

9. Double Check Your Accommodation is Covid Safe 

You don’t want your trip to be ruined by falling sick – or ending up in a quarantine facility thousands of miles away from home. Make sure that your hotel is taking proper covid safety measures. Sites like Booking.com and Airbnb specify whether or not a property has taken extra precautions. Expect to see stickers on the doors of your hotel room with a seal indicating it’s been cleaned for Covid-19.

10. Be Ready to Return 

It’s not only traveling out of the country that’s gotten more complicated; coming back isn’t as easy as it once was, either. Before you travel during the pandemic, check your government website and make sure you understand what’s required of you when you return. Find out if:

• You’ll have to self-quarantine – and how long for 
• You need to fill in a passenger locator form 
• You need to take a PCR test, either before or upon return 

For more on pandemic travel, check out this article on what it was REALLY like to travel to the Maldives during covid.