What It’s Like To Travel Right Now
Putting a post out about what it’s like to travel right now as we’ve just come out of lockdown 2.0 may seem a little strange. But hopefully, things will start to get better, and I wanted to talk about the realities of travel now. We had a trip to Portugal planned for the end of March when of course it got cancelled due to COVID. We rearranged the trip for 1st November thinking everything would be fine by then. But how wrong we were!
What it’s like to travel right now
I was a little torn about going away as I knew I needed the break and change of scenery. But I also felt that a simple holiday wasn’t worth the risk. But our flight carried on and there were no restrictions in Portugal (at the time) about isolating when we arrived so we decided to go ahead. We wouldn’t have gotten any money back if we had chosen not to go as it hadn’t been cancelled.
And while I still wouldn’t have chosen to travel right now I feel so glad (and lucky) that we went when we did. Our flight left the Sunday before lockdown started so we missed the first few days of lockdown which I wasn’t sad about.
Airport experiences
For me, this was the part I was most concerned about, the actual travelling. But I found the whole experience in both the airport and the plane really smooth. Everyone wore a mask and wore it correctly, and there were people around challenging anyone who wasn’t following the rules. There was hand sanitiser everywhere, and anywhere they could get rid of people they did. We did our bag drop fully automated etc, so it limited our contact drastically.
Yes, it was strange wearing a mask for such a long period of time over the airport and flight journey, but I got used to it after a while. You’re allowed to remove your mask when seated to eat or drink, but then it needs to go straight back on. During our flight with British Airways, they came round with prepackaged bags which contained a bottle of water and a snack so you had something but it was sanitary, and all staff wore gloves while handing out the bags.
Being on holiday right now
Being able to travel right now is a funny one. And I guess it depends where you’re going and what your plans were. We had a villa in Portugal and spend a large amount of time there. So we had little to no contact with people. And the way breakfast and dinner situations were handed was very safe and well managed. But Portugal was absolutely dead. Our hotel complex which was pretty big was so quiet with just one or two tables for mealtimes. And when we went out to the towns so many places were shut, and there were very few tourists around.
I totally understand why it’s so quiet, it’s like that in a lot of places. But I do feel for the countries who rely so heavily on tourism and how they may never recover.
Returning from our travels
We had to self isolate for 2 weeks on return from Portugal which we had fully planned for. For me, life is not much different as I wasn’t going out much before anyway. But for Luke being self-employed we had to factor an extra two weeks of him being out of work, and not earning. As a tradesman, his work is still allowed to happen. So as soon as our self-isolation was over he was back to the grind. So really the break did him good.
As I mentioned above I don’t think I would have booked to travel right now, but it was just the break I needed.
What are your thoughts on travel right now?
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20 responses to “What It’s Like To Travel Right Now”
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All About Me
Rhian Westbury
Travels and Destinations
Nothing currently planned
The state of tourism is so worrying right now. I wish I could go away, but sadly being vulnerable means I’m stuck at home a bit. The moment I can I will be going away (and to be honest if travel remains more sanitary it won’t be a bad thing!) 🙂
Yeah it is so worrying about the poor places.Because things change so much it’s tough to know what to think x
I thought it would be strange to travel now but when I went in September – there were fewer people than usual and the airport experience was great.
Yeah my airport experience was great too x
It’s good to hear that the airports are making sure people follow the rules. It is a bit off putting worrying about it so that is good to know.
I’d be such a nervous traveler at the minute , I think it’s more so because of the children , glad to see everywhere is taking precautions though
I totally agree, and I think I’d be the same if I had kids x
It is a strange time to travel but glad you did it anyway as the break must have been so relaxing for you and rejuvenated your spirits! After nearly a year of not travelling as we had to postpone our trip due to Covid, we managed a short break in August and that did us good.
That’s great that you managed to get away. It did really do me good, my mental health especially x
Good to hear it was the break you needed and that it was a positive experience. I don’t think I could travel at the moment as I’d be too anxious as I’m high risk and I worry about the kids. Difficult for you financially with your partner having to self isolate and lose self employment work.
Yeah it was financially difficult, but we planned that into it as we wanted the break so much x
I would love to go on holiday now, its been so long! I haven’t been out of the UK since this time last year! 🙁 It’s great that the airports and planes are taking health and safety seriously, and it all went smoothly.
We are avoiding travelling at the moment as much as we would like to go, we just can’t justify going atm.
I am glad you had a nice time, it looks beautiful. I love Portugal. We have decided that we won’t travel abroad until 2022, but that might change if things improve by the summer
I totally understand that I don’t think I’ll be doing much until then, or going on further afield x
We haven’t been abroad since our kids were born and I would love to go, but the thought of how much everything has changed makes me so sad. I really hope the places that rely on tourism can survive!
Yeah it is mad how much things are going to change after things get back to any form of normality x
I can’t believe you managed to get away this year. I’m not sure I would want to go but I am so desperate for a change of scenery right now.
Yeah it was such a tough decision. Beforehand I was hoping the flights would be cancelled so it was out of my hands, but it was just what I needed x
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.