Have Cards, Will Travel Coronavirus Travel Tips: Holiday travel during the pandemic

​Guest Post:  Stephanie Zito from Creditcards.com
 
If you are planning to travel this year, make sure you are prepared for all possible scenarios.
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As more and more of us start to return to travel, health and safety are top of mind. How do we travel responsibly in this new normal? Is it smart to consider traveling for the upcoming holidays? How do you know where you are even allowed to go to these days?
 
Whether you’re travel planning for the holidays, packing for a trip or already on the road, here are a few tips to level-up your travel and pandemic preparedness.
See related: The cost of safety: Budgeting for solo female travel
 
How to travel during a pandemic

• Tips for travel planning
• Tips for pandemic packing
• Tips for staying safe once you go

 
Tips for travel planning

Holiday travel
Health and government officials are asking people to avoid nonessential travel during the holidays, but for many that’s not an option. If you find yourself traveling during the holidays, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe:

•  Don’t travel if you are ill or if you’ve been around someone who has had COVID in the past two weeks
• Don’t purchase flights with layovers – the CDC has determined they present a higher risk than nonstop flights
• Keep gatherings small and practice social distancing
• Wear a mask and keep it on at all times
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time or use hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your face
• If you’re driving, try to limit stops along the way for gas, food or bathroom breaks

Know the entry and exit requirements of your destinationIf you’re traveling outside the U.S., check the current COVID-19 requirements for the country you’re visiting.

Ask the following questions: Will the country allow passport holders from your country to enter? Will you need to show a COVID negative test before boarding or on arrival? Is there a mandatory quarantine? Don’t assume that you can get into a country just because an airline will sell you a ticket there.

Sadly, there’s not a magical website that’s updated daily with this information, so you’ll have to do some digging around. For international travel as an American, try the U.S. embassy website.

Do your destination researchLearn everything you can about how COVID-19 is being managed in your desired destination, so you know what to expect. When I was planning my trip to Cabo, I’d frequently visit the Cabo tourism board website to look for updates on safety measures.
 
I had also emailed the hotel concierge in advance to check on which amenities at the resort were open and closed, and if the restaurant, spa services or pool needed advance reservations.

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