Natascha’s Guide to Travel During the Pandemic
Fun fact about our founder Natascha, she’s been to 98 countries! So I’m asking her to share her experiences traveling during the pandemic to give you all the tips and information you need to have a stress free and enjoyable trip. Whether you’re planning on traveling now or in the future, here are her recommendations for current travel and thoughts on where travel is going.
Where have you been traveling?
Before the pandemic Natascha spent a month in Cape Town, working remotely and discovering what is now one of her favorite destinations. She’s even planning on going again this December. When the pandemic started, she was in Cyprus which resulted in a lot of “pandemic madness”, as she put it, catching the last flight out before everything shut down. After the first lockdown, she headed on a much needed escape to Ibiza, which was then put on a high risk list and she had to quarantine when she returned.
With travel restrictions tightening in 2020, Natascha decided to stay put in Germany and try a lot of internal travel. She visited different castles, lakes, and went on beautiful hikes in the Alps around Bavaria. She kept it local, finding lots to explore within her own country! When things started to open up again, she managed to visit Crete right before the lockdown in November. For the rest of 2020 and up until May 2021, she couldn’t travel much but ended up going to Zurich and Lisbon for her friends’ special occasions.
“There was no travel for the sake of travel.” She says, explaining that in the last year, travel has become practical and less explorational. “It’s about spending time with your loved ones and experiencing important moments in life.”
Where do you recommend going? And how do you recommend traveling?
“If you are based in Europe, go within Europe.” This makes for easy travel as you don’t need to board planes or take any of the extra precautions when flying. A lot of European countries are lifting their travel restrictions so you’ll have a good choice of destinations.
Exploring the cities is another one of her recommendations. “The cities are emptier in the late summer and early Autumn. International tourists are few, so you have less people in the cities.” However if a city vacation is not on your list, Natascha also recommends traveling to see your loved ones whether they live a few hours away or a few countries away.
“Make sure to carbon offset and optimize your trip.” Optimizing your trip means not just flying for a weekend getaway.
“We have reached the climax of the climate crisis.” She says, recommending as climate neutral travel as possible. This entails things like sustainable public transport (buses and trains) and if they aren’t sustainable then offset your carbon emissions. “Make sure to carbon offset and optimize your trip.” Optimizing your trip means not just flying for a weekend getaway. “Weekend trips are no longer justifiable.”
She adds unless something important is happening like a wedding or a special event. She recommends making that event destination your full length trip. “Go for the event then stay an extra week or so. It’s impossible for some of us to stop flying, but it’s definitely possible to reduce the number of flights and use public transport. Carbon offset. Optimize your vacations.”
What was it like traveling during a pandemic?
“In one word? Nerve-racking.” Traveling has become extremely stressful both because of corona test results not coming in on time, and unstable plans such as flight cancelations and ever changing travel restrictions. “It’s a lot calmer now that I am fully vaccinated but it’s been a bit of an admin nightmare up until then.”
What was the best part about traveling during the pandemic?
Natascha says that the best part of her recent trip was that because of the pandemic, destinations are not super overrun, and if they are, they’re overrun by locals. “We visited Albania in the summer and that was 90% locals and 10% foreigners and usually it’s the other way around!”
This has been a huge trend this summer, with people exploring their home countries and enjoying local travel. “It’s been really cool to see people exploring their own countries. Plus, when you travel from abroad you get a bit more of a local experience – you feel really immersed.”
What were the easiest/hardest parts traveling during a pandemic?
According to Natascha, the easiest part of traveling now was deciding where to go. “Basically, the travel restrictions dictate where you get to go.” She says, “It shortlists the places for you.”
On the other hand, the hardest part of traveling is the uncertainty. “I love to plan and used to have trips planned out a year in advance. Currently, I don’t find myself planning until a week in advance.” She explains. This adds a lot of stress to an already stressful time. Planning in advance is difficult now with the changing restrictions and the major uncertainty. However, if you don’t book certain restaurants, sights or experiences in advance you might miss out.
“I feel like I lost my planning game, but I’m working hard to get it back.” She says.
What do travelers need to be aware of?
“More so now than ever, be aware of your surroundings,” she says, “Make sure that you respect the people around you and their boundaries.” This means ask before touching them or taking your mask off. People are hypersensitive about being touched now, respect that.
Her next tip is to be aware of cancellation policies. “I never in my life read the fine print but I cannot recommend anything more right now, read the fine print.” Right now, most companies in the tourism industry will have a very flexible policy but just to be on the safe side make sure to go over it. “Only book things that are cancelable within 48 hours of you arriving or going somewhere.” She adds, noting the frustration with rebooking.
Something could always happen before your trip. If you come in contact with someone who has corona, you will need to quarantine. You need to be prepared to deal with uncertainties like that. “Always be aware of travel restrictions, covid news, and any changes in either of those.”
“It’s especially difficult for someone like me who loves to greet people with open arms to bear in mind how hypersensitive people have become to touch - make sure you respect their boundaries.”
What do other travelers need to worry less about?
“Everyone is very conscious about their health and their hygiene.” She says, “So travelers can worry less about getting sick because everyone is wearing masks and more and more travelers are fully vaccinated. I’ve never felt safer traveling in terms of being healthy.”
Has traveling during the pandemic made you rethink how you travel?
“It’s helped me slow down and consider the impact that I have more so than before – although I have always been aware.” Natascha has realized that she wants to travel better. This means creating more meaningful trips. “I want to combine trips so work, pleasure, and personal-related all blend into one. This way you can really make the most of the trip and your carbon emissions from traveling. Slow travel is becoming more and more important and a crucial focus of mine.”
Right now it is crucial to pump money back into the local economy.
“It also made me want to spend more time intensely in places, and spend more money in those places.” This way we can support the locals and their businesses which is a key part in sustainable travel. “Instead of a Marriott, think of a family run hotel, instead of a restaurant chain think local restaurants.” She explains. Right now it is crucial to pump money back into the local economy. The pandemic has created a lot of issues for businesses as they struggle to stay alive. “They are so important to the local economy, and they deserve all the income they can get to stay afloat.”
What do you see the future of travel looking like? Where is travel going?
“We will see slower travel in the future,” Natascha predicts. “Weekend trips are going to be the exception and no longer the norm.” As stated before, think slow travel, think optimization of your trips. Trips are going to become more immersive and more meaningful.
“I hope that the future of travel becomes more climate neutral. And I think the solution isn’t telling people to stop moving, traveling, and exploring but to get innovated and focus on technology. I think technology is the solution to making travel completely sustainable.”
“A great example is Airbnb as they give the local hosts the opportunity to make use of the space they have and provide them with some passive income.” She predicts that this trend will only keep growing.
Travel has changed a lot in the past year due to COVID-19. We know how hard it can be with all the uncertainty so before you go, here are Natascha’s top tips while traveling during the pandemic!
Travel Tips
Kayak has a great tool that shows the entry restrictions of countries, non risk/risk areas, and what you need to be aware of traveling from one country to another. It cuts through the numerous websites and resources out there to give you everything in one place. You no longer need to use a hundred different sources.
Get the vaccine if you haven’t yet. It makes travel so much easier, you can skip the testing. It will also make your trip safer too. It won’t just keep you safe, but other people you come into contact with as well. When you are privileged enough to travel, you should make sure that you are not putting anyone else in danger. Yes, you can pass on the virus if you have the vaccine but it just minimizes the impact by a lot.
Be flexible. Don't get annoyed about things getting rebooked, shifted, or canceled. Most things are out of your control right now and it is important to remember that. Make the best of the situation that you are in. Be positive and remember that plans can and will change because there is so much uncertainty. “Flexibility is key.” She says.
Stay open minded. If something is canceled, remember that can open up other opportunities too. You can plan something new or stay at home and spend time with friends.
Finally, leave good tips for those working in the hotel and tourism industry, they need it now more than ever.
Written by Quinn Donovan