So I’m guessing when you hear the phrase “traveling during Covid-19,” you probably think I’m a little crazy. There seems to be this common belief that it’s impractical, irresponsible, or just plain dumb to travel during the pandemic.
But today, I want to challenge that thought and give you 7 reasons why now is actually the perfect time to travel!
I will say that when use the word “travel” in the context of the pandemic, it definitely does have a different meaning to me than it used to. Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that we can’t get out there and see the world at all.
I actually traveled to London and Cambridge in August and September. Before the trip, I’d expected it to be an odd and nerve-wracking experience since I hadn’t gone anywhere since the pandemic got worse back in March.
But I was super surprised to find out that wasn’t the case at all!
Sure, things weren’t exactly as they were before, but I felt safe traveling and still had an incredible time. Now let’s talk about why I think you should give traveling during Covid-19 a try too.
Disclaimer: I’ll talk about this more below, but I want to be clear about what “travel” means at the moment. Right now, it means longer stays in different places done in the safest way possible.
I don’t want to be insensitive to the current situation and the fact that going out and doing anything at the moment involves some amount of risk. If you feel it’s too dangerous to travel at the moment, don’t do it!
All I want to say with this post is that you shouldn’t let Covid-19 stop you completely. I do think there is a safe way to travel, even now, but those safety precautions should obviously be taken into consideration if you do travel.
Just wanted to clear the air about that! Now, let’s start talking about all the reasons traveling during Covid-19 might be right for you.
1) This is the least touristy the world will ever be
I obviously don’t know how much you’ve traveled before, but how often have you gone somewhere and been annoyed by the crowds of people everywhere?
How often do you go abroad to see the sights and then have to wait hours on end to get in?
Well, neither of those things are an issue right now. If you want to see a destination and have the sights to yourself, now is the time to do it.
I mean, can you imagine going to the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum and having an unobstructed view all to yourself? If you were to travel now, you wouldn’t need to imagine it – that’s exactly what you’d get!
As an example, just check out the photos below of touristy spots in London that were basically empty while I was there.
2) Many of us are working remotely now anyway
I truly believe that all the craziness of 2020 has actually given us many blessings in disguise. One of those blessings is the fact that there are currently more remote jobs than ever before!
Fun fact: I left my first job out of college as a medical interpreter behind in order to move in with my parents, find a remote job, and save up so I could travel the world and work from anywhere.
Back when I did that in 2018, pickings were slim and the idea of a digital lifestyle was still crazy to most people. It took me many months to find a remote job and many more months for regular freelance work to come in.
But now, just head to Indeed and type “remote” into the search bar and you’ll have pages and pages full of options! And unless you’re an essential worker or lost your job, odds are your previous job has been moved online.
So, take advantage of it and work from anywhere!
3) Air travel has never been safer
I’ve talked to a lot of people who are anxious about flying right now, with the thought that airports are hotspots for Covid-19. But I have to say, it’s actually the opposite.
With everyone doing their best to stay safe and enforcing extra cleaning measures and safety precautions, airports/airplanes are no exception. When I traveled from O’Hare to London Heathrow, each of the airports were virtually empty.
On top of that, you’ll be socially distanced on the plane because none of them are fully booked right now! I not only had an entire row to myself on each of my flights, but the closest person was several rows away.
So spread out and enjoy the flight – it will never be a safer/cleaner experience.
4) There are tons of great hotels/airBnBs to stay in that would normally be booked
You’d be amazed by the places you can find on AirBnB right now that would normally never be available. Same thing goes for hotels.
Plus, both hotels and AirBnBs are running tons of discounts right now in attempts to get people to make bookings. So if you want to stay in the best places possible for the lowest price they’ll ever be, traveling during Covid-19 will allow you to do just that.
I even created this list of super cool AirBnBs for you to check out and find some inspiration. Here are photos of and links to some of my favorite ones:
5) This is our chance to really live in & experience a different place
Like I said at the beginning, traveling during Covid-19 definitely looks different than it used to.
But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Remember before when people would talk about “hitting” as many countries or cities as possible within one trip and then coming back exhausted from going all over the place?
Those days, at least for the moment, are gone and I honestly think it’s for the best. Considering it’s good to self-quarantine whenever you get to a new place, that’s built-in time to get a true feeling for that location.
Now, instead of jumping around, we get to stay and experience it like a local. Plus, there’s no added stress about needed to see and do it all, since many sites will be closed anyway.
Instead, you can relax, take it in, and enjoy.
6) If you're an outdoor-person, now is the time to explore
Obviously with the way Covid-19 spreads, being in the outdoors is a great low-risk activity to do.
Maybe you’re one of those people who’s always said that you could envision yourself living on a beach or in the mountains if you only had the chance. Well…now is your chance!
As mentioned above, it’s easy to find great AirBnBs at reduced prices and it’s a perfect time to try living in a different place. So, choose a place and stay there for a while! You’ll get to see what it’s like to be there without all the distractions that would normally take you away from nature.
7) There's never been a better time to explore your own backyard
This is a recommendation I’ve seen from many others so it’s nothing new, but of course I had to add it to my list because it’s true!
As someone who grew up in the U.S. and Germany and has always traveled internationally more than domestically, the pandemic has forced me to see my own home in a new light. There are so many possibilities and things to see all around us.
If going abroad still doesn’t seem right to you after everything I’ve said to convince you above, then don’t go abroad. Instead, become a tourist in your own city. Plan a stay-cation. Travel domestically.
I promise you, there are plenty of experiences yet to be discovered that have been right under your nose all along.
that's why I think traveling during Covid-19 is the perfect time.
So with all of that said, quit making excuses not to travel and get out there! This may be the best chance some of us can get.
To find out what I’ve been up to in all this craziness and why I was in London/Cambridge, click here and also tell me what you’ve been doing to keep busy during the pandemic!
Lastly, don’t forget to share this with friends/family and get to planning your getaway.