The whole world changed earlier this year, and as much as I’d like to think that things will eventually go back to normal, I know there’s no good way to predict when and IF that will ever happen. Though I hate using the phrase ‘new normal’ that our politicians and news anchors have drilled into our heads, I have to admit that it seems to be the reality.
In this blog I’m going to be covering what important steps should be taken and what things to check and consider while making travel plans in this new era. For Canadians, some doors have begun to open for us to travel abroad, and I want to make sure that everyone is checking all the boxes before they hop on a flight. Nowadays, we have to be a little bit more diligent in our travel planning compared to before when we could spontaneously book a flight and explore without worrying if we need to get a nasal pap smear before crossing the border.
NOTE: I am not advising anyone that they should travel at this time. That is a personal decision. I have simply put this information together since I do know some people have been travelling recently. So if you need or want to travel at this time, this is for you! If you feel strongly about not travelling at this time, this is not for you.
If you prefer to watch check out my YouTube video on this!
STEP 1: Check a world map for border restrictions
There are several online resources for this available which can help answer the first question you’ll need to answer—what country will let me in?
One map that would be a good place to start is the IATA Travel Centre. I also noticed that my favourite flight search engine Skyscanner has a link to a similar map which is super helpful! Here you’ll get a general idea of who is being allowed in on what basis (ie. with a tourist visa, business visa, immediately family members of residents, etc). Skyscanner’s map also lists the updated number of cases and deaths in each country, which might be a factor you’re considering in choosing where to go as well.
The interactive map allows you to hover and click over each country, and then lists the information they have collected about entry restrictions and requirements. Also handy is the fact that they include the date of when they have published that latest update, so it gives you an idea if you might need to do more research on what the current situation might be when you arrive.
After doing this, you’ll have a good idea on how feasible it is to travel to where ever it is you want or need to go.
STEP 2: Check for region specific restrictions
After you’ve consulted the general map I would then search up government websites for the country you’re interested in going to. This will first of course give you the most accurate information on what you need to do before arriving, since you’re looking at it from the most direct source.
The other important thing about this step is figuring out the restrictions on the specific area you plan to stay in. Different regions and provinces may have their own restrictions different from other areas. For example in Canada, we have our Atlantic Canada bubble, where even Canadians have to quarantine for two weeks after they arrive in one of those provinces. It would be a real bummer to arrive somewhere and then realize that you have to postpone that road trip, and coop up inside for the duration of your trip.
Also, if you have specific ideas and plans of what you would be interested in seeing or doing, make sure that those things are available and open to public before hand! To give a local example, the CN tower was temporarily closed as of October 3rd. If there’s a particular landmark or tourist sight you have your hopes set on seeing, these days I would suggest you look up it ahead of time to see if A) it’s open, and B) if you might need to book in advance due to restrictions.
STEP 3: What does your insurance cover?
Though I’m not going to give any direct and specific advice (everyone is living in a unique circumstance and I’m not here to give you medical advice), but don’t make any assumptions about any travel insurance plans you purchase. Be thorough in your search; if you are expecting coverage for treating symptoms related to COVID-19 if that happens, make sure that is explicitly stated in your plan.
This step also relates back to what you might be required to have in place prior to arriving at the country you choose to visit. Some governments have implemented a minimum amount of insurance coverage required by visitors, as well as insurance that specifically covers COVID-19 treatment.
If you are Canadian, here are two insurance policies available that will give you coverage for COVID-19 if that’s what you want and need.
CoverMe by Manulife offers various travel insurance plans for Canadians that cover up to $200,000 for COVID-19 related medical costs.
Allianz Global Assistance is offering extensive coverage of COVID-19 medical costs for Canadians (up to $1,000,000) but also offers some coverage for an unplanned quarantine after a positive test result! Not too shabby I’d say!
When I go to purchase travel insurance (I’ve used several different companies over the years) I usually start my search using Kanetix (now Ratesdotca) where you can input all your trip details and get a list of different insurers and the cost for your trip. One cool thing I noticed now is that Kanetix has added on a note to each quote about COVID-19 exclusions. So you’ll know right away if you need to do extra searching or add on extra coverage to that policy in order to get coverage for COVID-19 related medical costs or unplanned trip cancellations.
STEP 4: Do you need to get tested before or after you arrive? Or both?
Getting tested before you arrive will be a little more obvious. This is something you should confirm both with the countries government or tourism websites, and with the airline you choose to fly with. Even if the country’s government isn’t requiring it, it’s possible that the airline you are flying with is taking extra precautions so I would double check this before leaving.
But something else that you’ll want to check is if you might need to pay for COVID-19 testing after you arrive at your destination. A friend of mine recently travelled to Cambodia (he had a specific visa to do so—tourists aren’t allowed entry yet!), and had to get tested before AND after he arrived. Chances are this is something you’ll have to pay for out of your own pocket while abroad so it is something worth mentioning for budget planning sake.
The point of STEP 4—make sure you account for any potential COVID-19 tests you might need to pay for along the way of your travels. The only other thing I want to add in this portion of the blog is that make time for any quarantine, or tests you might need to get once you arrive home which might be required before you can go back to work or school too!
STEP 5: Make sure your bookings are flexible
Before you book and pay for any flights or hotels, you’ll want to make sure you are aware of the flexibility of your booking if you either need to cancel, or change the date. This is super important, especially if there are stricter requirements for entry to the country you are travelling to.
Let’s say you get a COVID-19 test 72 hours before you fly (which is required) but then you test positive. You won’t be able to pass through customs, so you are definitely going to want to change your flight and whatever accommodation you might have planned.
Most airlines have become super lenient than ever before with their cancellation policies due to COVID-19 but, I have still noticed a few that don’t include a ‘no-fee’ change policy.
I noticed for Swoop (a Canadian airline that offers discount flights in North America) in order to make your booking flexible—and avoid an extra $150 charge or not being able to cancel the booking at all—you need to purchase an extra option at the time of booking. For Swoop specifically, I’d say the extra charge is very reasonable. But which ever airline you book with, I would double check before purchasing to make sure you’re aware of what you might be charged (or hopefully not charged!) in order to make any changes.
Same goes for booking any accommodation. It’s usually very obvious even when looking up different guesthouses or hotels what the cancellation fees are. Be careful when searching on something like AirBnb, as each host is able to input their own cancellation based on their liking, so make sure you’re mindful of this before booking. Although, AirBnb has conveniently added an extra search filter where you can filter out listings with flexible cancellation policies, which I think is cool.
Though I’m sure there are some extra things to check and consider before booking a trip these days, I think with these 5 steps you’ll at least be going in the right direction, and hopefully be more prepared for your trip!
Again, in writing this blog I am not explicitly advising anyone to travel (you need to think for yourself if this is right for you). These steps should serve as a planning check list for you if you choose to make travel plans, so that you are more prepared and aware of what you might need to have organized before booking a flight.
Thanks for reading, and stay safe folks! If you have any other helpful ideas or thoughts about trip planning during this time please feel free to leave a comment!
