5 Things to Know When Traveling During Covid-19

With the world going through a pandemic, traveling has held a lot of uncertainty over the last two years. Now that the vaccine is available and the world population vaccine numbers are increasing, so is the number of countries who are open to foreigners.
If you plan to travel during Covid-19, whether vaccinated or not, you should read my blog post for some information that could help you make an educated decision on whether to travel now or not. and also do check out my blogs on student travel to find out how to travel as student

Having the Vaccine Will Save You Money

Whether you are pro vaccine or anti vaccine; you cannot deny that getting the covid 19 vaccine will save you money while you are traveling abroad during the pandemic.
Whether it is PCR or rapid tests or having to quarantine in some countries, the costs of traveling during covid can be astronomical and
impossible for budget travelers like myself. It is hard to think that these are all costs that did not even exist two years ago and are now such a burden on our travel bank accounts that can make an impactful dent. Lucky for me, I have been vaccinated since April so this past summer, only 3 of the 14 new countries I visited required a PCR test to be done, despite me already having two vaccine shots.
I ended up having to pay a total of $110 on 3 PCR tests, which honestly is not that bad considering some countries charge at least $100 or more for a PCR test.
I honestly got lucky that the countries I got tested in had cheaper prices. However, if I did not have the vaccine, I would have had to get a rapid or PCR test for most likely all 14 of these countries, which would have ended up costing at least $500 or maybe even more.
That is, if I was even let into the country. Most of the countries I traveled to, and this will most definitely be the future for most countries around the world, are not even letting in unvaccinated travelers even with a negative PCR test. Please note: many countries may accept a covid recovery certificate from the last 3 months in place of proof of a vaccine, but of course this is only a short-term travel solution.

Traveling during the pandemic really proves a challenge when trying to find out information such as border crossings in continents like Europe. There is so much conflicting information online or even no information at all when it comes to border openings, whether you need a test to cross or if a vaccine is acceptable, and if your nationality is even allowed to cross. Borders may be open,
but to who? Which citizens can cross the land borders? The website states that you need a per test to cross but if I have the vaccine is that good enough? Information about these topics is very confusing and not clear. I found that it is easier to just show up in the country and ask either locals or other travelers about border crossing procedures into neighboring countries. Things also practically change daily, so even if
the information online states one thing, those rules could have already changed. When I was in the Balkan countries, I met many other travelers who were mostly doing the same route as me and who were also crossing many borders so they became my main source of information as they had actually done it recently.

A large majority of countries are now requiring certain covid entry forms in order to enter their country. These documents are extremely important and you will be denied boarding your plane or crossing the border if you do not have these forms already printed and in hand.
Make sure to do your research and contact the airline about these forms and if they are required for your destination, as I noticed that the recent airlines I took did not specifically advertise or make this information clear or obvious for the passengers. It is always best to fill out these documents in advance and print them out just to be safe, as some airlines will allow digital copies on your phone and some will not.

Traveling with the uncertainty of a pandemic can be a pain and require a lot more research than normal. Covid tests, border opening or closures, travel requirements, and quarantine are new topics that can make or break whether we decide if it is worth it to travel abroad right now. Make sure that both you and your travel dates are flexible and allow for any last-minute change, corona lockdown, or mandate that can be possible while you are traveling.
Traveling during a pandemic is risky and carries a lot of uncertainty, so if you are prepared for last minute changes and having to be flexible, then you can still have a fantastic and memorable trip, even during a pandemic.

Different countries are at various stages of reopening and it may take a long time until everything is completely back to “normal”. Just because a country is open for tourism, does not mean that you will and can have the same experience as pre covid. Many countries are still having restrictions on night clubs and bars, live music and festivals, and other events that might disappoint you.
It just depends on your reasons for traveling and whether you are looking for the full traditional experience or not. Just be prepared that most places are not back to normal completely and there may be restriction still in place for certain things and even closures of main tourist sites, so do not build up your expectations too high because you might just end up being disappointed.