Written by Menswear Style in Travel on the 26th June 2020

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has changed the world. People across the globe have had to alter the way they live, with normal things like going to work or shopping for groceries being turned upside down. One of the biggest industries to be hit by this has been the travel industry. With leisure flights being cut down to almost nothing, many people haven’t had the chance to travel for the better part of 2020. As lockdowns ease and quarantine rules lessen, though, you finally have the chance to start seeing the world again. But how exactly has travel changed since this whole issue kicked off?

Countries On Lockdown  

While some countries are finally getting over their COVID-19 lockdowns, some are only just beginning this process properly. This means that countries like Brazil are still off the cards for many travelers, and you may have to do some research to figure out where you can go. It’s not worth trying to go somewhere that still has strict measures in place. Even if they won’t force you into quarantine, you could be placing yourself and others at risk and may have to go through quarantine procedures once you get home. 

Track & Trace 

Track and trace tools have proven to be fundamental in the battle against COVID-19. Many countries have rolled out their own versions of systems like this, many of which have become a legal requirement. This means that you will have to do some additional research before you set off to make sure that you don’t need to download anything extra. Apps like this are free and easy to use, and most people have a smartphone that can run them. Being signed up to apps like this might be the only way that you’ll be able to visit public spaces on your journey.  

Hotels & Accommodation 

The hotel industry is struggling at the moment, and many of them are going to have a very difficult year. To ensure that their guests can maintain safe social distancing measures, places like this are likely to be bringing in rules that mean they can only fill themselves to half capacity. There will be fewer guests at the hotels you go to, but it will also be harder to make bookings in the first place, with many hotels finding themselves booked up extremely quickly. It will be worth researching the measures being taken at the hotels you’d like to visit before you set off.

Land Transport 

Getting to and from your hotel is going to be one of the hardest parts of traveling in the wake of COVID-19. Many public transport companies have simply stopped operating while this virus is still tearing around, and taxi services are getting a lot stricter about what they’ll allow from their passengers. Companies like Fat Taxi are putting huge amounts of effort into making sure that their services are safe for both their customers and their drivers, and it’s worth looking for options like this when you’re traveling for the next few months. Of course, though, you could also consider hiring your own car. 

Flights 

Aeroplanes are one of the worst places to be during an outbreak. You will be forced to sit next to one another, will have to use recycled air, and you won’t be able to use hand sanitiser on everything you touch, and this makes it hard to avoid getting sick. Of course, though, airlines know this and are taking similar actions to hotels, so that they can continue to sell flights. Unfortunately, this means that flights are likely to be far more expensive than usual until the companies offering them can go back to their regular capacity. This will make it hard for a lot of people to afford the trips they usually go on.

Airports 

While they may seem like fairly safe places, airports are also likely to change quite a bit while lockdowns are still in place. Queues will have to be further apart, while you may not be able to visit shops in the duty-free sections of the airports you visit. Alongside this, though, these places are also likely to be quiet for the next few months. With airlines unable to sell as many tickets and a lot of people being worried about travel, there simply won’t be as many people traveling in 2020 as there have been in the past. This could make the process of getting your flights much smoother. 

Destinations 

Many of the world’s most popular tourist destinations are feeling the strain of COVID-19. One of the busiest times of the year for travelers has been almost entirely wiped out, and this means that money for important work may not exist in the places you want to visit. This could mean that tourist spots are going to degrade somewhat over the next few months. Without the money to maintain them, beaches, monuments, and other sightseeing areas are going to show the signs of ageing, and some places could even change to the point that you don’t want to visit them anymore. This will be worth researching, ensuring that you’re not visiting a place that has gone from paradise to slum since your last vacation.

Society 

COVID-19 has caused a lot of changes in society, and not all of them are positive. Large groups of people are more worried about outsiders than ever before, worrying that they might have come from somewhere that is still struggling with the virus. This could mean that you don’t receive the same welcome you’d usually get when you visit different countries at the moment, and you may even find yourself being discriminated against when you try to use local businesses and services. Wearing PPE from a ppe store, like face masks will help with this, though it might not be enough.  

The world has changed a lot since the global pandemic began. A lot of people have faced issues with this, and the problems are continuing for many countries around the world. While traveling comes with extra risk at the moment, it could still be worth looking into seeing the world, with many places being desperate for the tourism income they’d usually get.

We discuss Countries On Lockdown, Track & Trace, Hotels & Accommodation, Land Transport, and Flights in this guide to Traveling the World in the Wake of Covid-19.