So you want to travel in a pandemic
I think you should, but here's what you should know...
So long as you’re vaccinated and considerate of fellow travelers, locals, and service providers, I have no ethical concerns about travel at the moment. Here are a few things I’ve learned while outside the U.S. this month.
Mask smarter not harder
Traveling in a mask is not fun. From the ride to the airport to the security line to the length of a flight itself, you might spend 12 hours in a mask. Do yourself a favor and get some mask extenders, but prepare to be a bit uncomfortable either way.
Test, test, and test again
Before we even left the U.S., we received a secondhand scare about how our trip might be derailed. Our first destination was France by way of Lisbon. It seemed that vaccinated passengers could enter France but not Portugal without a test. It was not clear if it was mandatory for those who were just passing through the airport. We decided to get tested 72 hours before our flight anyways, and we’re glad we did because the person boarding in front of us had no recent Covid test to show and was pulled out of line and not allowed to board.
The testing requirements have been a little erratic since (e.g. the fellow checking the test required to enter Italy from France could not have possibly looked at the date on the document), but the original scare has stayed with us.
Your car is too big
Compact cars are not all that compact on European roads. You know this, but it doesn’t really hit home until you and a tour bus are navigating the same Amalfi road high above the Tyrrhenian Sea. Prepare for a bigger car than you booked, look both ways for Vespas, and remember that most traffic rules are suggestions.
Take the slow road
Despite the natural inclination to pack as much into a vacation day as you can, the energy required to navigate a new place with a new language adds up. With a weeklong trip, you may be able to get away with sprinting, but during our month abroad, we’ve found that building in true travel days and spending more time in fewer places helps to refill the tank.
Bon voyage!