After a long period of being stuck at home, many people are finally heading out on vacation this summer! But travelling in 2021 looks a lot different than it has in the past. If you had to travel during the pandemic, then much of this will probably look familiar to you. But for those of you heading on your first vacation after a long break, you’ll want to consider bringing along some of these essential items with you on your next vacation. Let’s see how to prepare for your vacation this summer.
1.Facemasks
Although vaccines seem to be turning the tide on the war against covid-19, experts say that we will still be wearing masks in small, confined spaces like airplanes for the foreseeable future. When you’re travelling, it’s important that the mask you bring along with you is comfortable enough to be worn during your entire voyage. While a number of face mask styles are allowed, if you want to stay safe choose a mask that completely covers both your nose and mouth and is made of at least 2 layers of material.
If you’re looking for a place to buy affordable face masks, check out a retailer like AliExpress. Not only do they offer a variety of colors and styles, they also provide all the other gear you need to stay safe like face mask carrying cases, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes and more. By exploiting this AliExpress discount code, you can even save on your next purchase!
2. Hand sanitizer
Before the pandemic ever started, germaphobes across the globe already knew just how dirty travelling was! Places like airports, hotels and public transportation are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria that can make you sick. For instance, a 2018 study concluded that the plastic trays for storing your stuff at airport security are crawling with even more germs than the average bathroom!
Post-pandemic and beyond it’s a good idea to travel with a small bottle of hand sanitizer. You don’t have to go overboard but it is a good habit to sanitize your hands a few times during the day, especially before eating. Make sure you pick a bottle that’s less than 100ml so that you can stash it in your purse or carry-on bag while travelling without running into trouble with airport security!
3. A contactless credit card
The pandemic changed our world in many ways and one of them is how it accelerated a phenomenon that was already occurring: the move to a cashless society. Due to fears of being exposed to other people’s germs through paper money (which is notoriously covered with bacteria), many people opted for contactless forms of payment or credit in general. Since many businesses had to upgrade their tech to accommodate these changes, it’s likely we won’t be seeing them revert back to cash any time soon.
To keep you and your family safe, consider getting a contactless credit card or other contactless forms of payment like tap-and-go cards, digital wallets, or online prepay. Now that they’ve gained wide acceptance, you can avoid germ-ridden cash altogether while on vacation.
4. Travel Insurance
If you’ve never purchased travel insurance before, this is the time to start! With many places requiring a covid-test prior to boarding, you don’t want to find yourself stranded in your destination country! You can now purchase special covid-related travel insurance that will offer you coverage for things like extended stays, travel expenses, and hospital and hotel bills. If you’ve booked an airplane trip with an online travel agency, check with them first to see if they offer discounted insurance rates.
