After about 40 days rambling through Europe in August 2021, here’s a list of tips to stay safe if you’re planning a trip during a pandemic.

1. Stay Single

As much fun as it can be to travel with friends or family, in a post-covid world, solo travel seems to be the least complicated. If you must travel in a group, be mentally prepared for what the plan will be in case one or more in the group need to quarantine.

2. Vaccinated/Recovered/Tested

Most of Europe has a very simple strategy when dealing with Covid related travel. Either be fully vaccinated, have a covid recovery certificate issued within the last six months, or get tested regularly. I tested positive in May 2021, so my PCR test result is all I’ve needed to enter restaurants, hotels, and sightseeing indoors.

3. Be Flexible

My usual travel plans involve multi-page spreadsheets with bookings made months in advance. Can’t do that anymore. Rules change frequently so it’s important to be able to go with the flow and be prepared for hiccups along the way. Bookmark the websites of the Health Authority of the countries you plan to visit and check them regularly for travel updates and plan accordingly.

4. Follow The Rules

Each country (and sometimes, each state) has their own set of rules. Wear a mask when required to do so (Cloth masks aren’t allowed in most of Europe - you need a FFP2 mask). Most places require a mask indoors but not outdoors. Cities like Munich and Budapest have no mask mandates anymore so it’s up to you to decide.

5. Avoid Crowds

After almost two years of Covid restrictions, It was a shock to be in the middle of some of the larger cities with the crowds roaming around maskless. The only thing you have control over is your own protection so avoid crowds whenever possible. I usually wake up really early and head out to see the sights before the hoards of tourists descend.

6. Have An Exit Strategy

Be prepared (and budget) for a change of plan at the last moment. Borders could close at any point. Mentally prepare to fly out at short notice (or find a cheap Airbnb to park yourself for a bit).

7. Book refundable tickets!!!

For this trip, I had three tickets booked on the Mumbai to Frankfurt route - an Etihad ticket booked with InterMiles for the 1st of August (Etihad canceled the flight at the last minute so I got a full refund of my miles), an Air India ticket booked with InterMiles for the 4th (I used this eventually) and an Air Vistara full fare refundable ticket for the 7th (once I was sure of the Air India flight, I cancelled the Vistara ticket for a full refund)

Travelling during these times can be complicated & sometimes frustrating. On the other hand, if you’ve taken all the necessary precautions and meet all the requirements to travel (and follow all the rules), you’ll be rewarded with destinations that are not as crowded as they once were, cheaper rates and discounts as their tourism industries struggle to recover (Europe in summer can be a nightmare when it comes to crowds - luckily, thanks to covid it wasn’t so bad). As always, decide for yourself what the risks are and whether you’re willing to take them.

If you’re planning a trip and need some help figuring stuff out, get in touch!

Got some more travel suggestions? Leave them in the comments below!

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