What It’s Like to Travel After Lockdown During the Coronavirus Pandemic (UK Travel)
Ok, so you want to travel after lockdown, but you’re not sure if it’s safe or what traveling on a plane would be like… or what it’s even like traveling within your own country!
Don’t panic!
I will hopefully answer all your questions and then some.
This post is no longer relevant, since the pandemic is over!
I’ve been traveling on a plane and throughout the country since lockdown ended and I think I’ve done it enough now to make an educated post about safety and what it’s really like to travel after lockdown.
Spoiler Alert: It’s not all rainbows and roses!
This is also travel specific for traveling to and from the UK! ALWAYS check your government’s website for the latest travel updates.
What It’s Like to Travel After Lockdown
So this is a hard one.
I can’t say it’s the most relaxing experience. (I’m not going to lie to you)
Flying on a plane used to relax me, but now I’m on edge. “That boy didn’t put his mask on immediately after finishing eating” or “OMG, that person just lifted up their mask to talk to the flight attendant” *face palm* or “oh crap, that person just coughed into their hand WITHOUT their mask on and then touched EVERYTHING”.
I get it. Those are all things that have gone through my head since I first traveled after lockdown.
I think my “nervous moments” whenever I travel after lockdown are lines (the airport security line, waiting to get on the plane, waiting to get sat in a restaurant), being in a restaurant where no social distancing is practiced and smaller streets that get crowded (no one wears a mask and you feel like they are breathing on you!).
Places I felt VERY safe. Pretty much everywhere else… open streets, outdoor restaurants, timed-entry attractions, airport “common areas” (entrance/exit area, lounge area, restaurant area, walkways…), and the list goes on.
To ease your mind a little, every flight I’ve been on disembarks in rows starting at the front.
So if you’re at the back of the plane, you will most definitely be last off.
Traveling Within the UK After Lockdown
The great British holiday has returned. More people chose a staycation this summer than in the past years and the hotspots (like Cornwall) were VERY busy! So much so that the locals told people to stay away.
BUT it’s definitely the “safer option” if you are trying to avoid flying or don’t want to risk the 14 day quarantine.
New rules have come into affect during September and EVERYONE must wear a face covering while entering or walking through a restaurant or pub and staff must now wear face coverings.
Pubs now close at 10pm and that means everyone needs to be out and the doors locked at 10pm.
Lots of cities and council areas are in a local lockdown, so you’ll want to double check what tier you are traveling to!
December 2020 Tier System *UPDATE*
The UK is currently in a three tier system.
Coming out of the second lockdown, we enter a new tier system. A little stronger than the previous tier system that didn’t seem to work.
Tier 1 (Medium Alert): This is the lowest tier. The big one here is pubs can open as usual. (Table service only of course). Hospitality must close by 11pm. Indoor sports can continue and events can now have spectators! (Not at full capacity)
Tier 2 (High Alert): No socializing with anyone not in your support bubble indoors, outdoors is fine with the rule of 6. Pubs are closed, unless they operate as a restaurant.
Tier 3 (Very High Alert): This is the highest tier. No meeting indoors or outdoors (certain situations are acceptable) and all pubs and restaurants are closed, except for take away food. All tourist attractions are closed.
The majority of the country is in Tier 2 and Tier 3. Cornwall is the only county in Tier 1. If you are in Tier 3 then you shouldn’t travel to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 area, unless it’s for a doctor’s appointment, work, etc…
*There will be a Christmas bubble from December 23rd-27th.
Tips For Flying After Lockdown
- Bring an extra mask… or two. You never know if one might break, or you just need a refresher because you’ve been wearing the same one for an extended period of time.
- Try to take a cabin bag only. It will cross paths with less hands if you are taking it yourself.
- Bring your own snacks & reusable water bottle to fill up before the flight! There’s still a lot of places in the airport that haven’t reopened.
- Pick your own seat! I’ve sat in the front and back of the plane and I felt safer and enjoy my experience more sitting in the back. Everyone normally flocks to the front of the plane, so take this opportunity to book a back seat and get more room!
- If you’re nervous about flying, then take a road trip instead!
I had the perfect trip to Catania, Sicily right after lockdown and absolutely do it all over again! I flew with EasyJet and I wrote about my experience traveling from the UK to Sicily!
Tips for Safe Travel After Lockdown
- Pre-book all your attraction tickets. MOST are timed entry, especially everything in the UK.
- Make a dinner reservation. Not usually necessary in some countries, but the UK uses track and trace.
- Always check the government website of the country you are visiting to see what the entry requirements are. Just because they are on the corridor list for the UK, doesn’t mean you don’t have to quarantine when you get there!
- If you are showing symptoms or have a high temperature – don’t travel! Just don’t… some airports even check your temperature upon arrival, so you won’t even make it through the front door!
- Book a self-catering apartment instead of a hotel. You will minimize your contact with other guests, have options to make your own meals if you don’t feel comfortable eating out, and you won’t have a maid coming in and out every day.
- If there’s no mention of Covid-19 cleaning practices on the hotel’s website… don’t stay there!
Things to Remember When You Travel After Lockdown
Not everyone is aware of your personal bubble
I had a personal bubble before lockdown and I’m pretty sure it expanded after lockdown. I don’t like people in my space to start out with (super claustrophobic for some reason), but it’s gotten worse since I got back into traveling.
I’m VERY aware of the people around me and how close they are to me… HOWEVER, they are not thinking the same thing as I am.
It seems a lot of people have forgotten there is still a deadly virus floating around.
Not everyone follows the rules
This ties in with the personal bubble thing. You’ll be surprised at how many people don’t follow the rules.
I’ve had a flight where there was a child running up and down the aisle screaming and touching everyone and then another where the flight attendants tried to slip out of sight behind a curtain only so they could have a chit chat without their masks on… but I thought EVERYONE had to wear a mask on the plane!?
You win some. You lose a lot.
- The best you can do is what you can do for yourself.
- If you feel someone is being unsafe, don’t be afraid to let them or a flight attendant know.
- Keep your distance whenever possible.
- Always carry hand sanitizer on you and wear your mask when social distancing is not possible.
The country you are visiting could be removed from the travel corridor list while you are there
You are literally playing vacation roulette when you travel outside of the UK.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it, but I’m also saying there’s a chance the country you are visiting could see a major spike in cases while you are there and end up on the mandatory 14-day quarantine list before you fly back!
Just know that’s the chance you take.
Don’t get angry if you have to cut your trip short or you’re now stuck with an extra two week vacation when you get home. This is the risk you are taking.
If you are SUPER WORRIED about your travel destination getting taken off the travel corridor list, then DON’T travel outside of the country.
Easy.
- Always check the number of active cases in the region you are going to.
- Always check the number of active cases in the country you are going to.
- Focus on choosing a country with a lower rate per 100,000. I ALWAYS check the ECDC website!
- Make sure you purchase travel insurance with Covid-19 protection. (It’s not much extra, but it will still be valid if a coronavirus emergency happens while you are away).
- Remember: Your travel insurance will be VOID if you go to a country that has been deemed “all but essential travel”.
- Buy your ticket last minute! It might be more expensive, but at least you’ll know you’ll get to go!
- Don’t forget to keep updated with the current TRAVEL CORRIDOR LIST on the government’s website.
Important Items to Bring with You
Hand Sanitizer – This is a NO BRAINER. You can easily find hand sanitizer in travel size bottles now. Make sure it’s over 60% alcohol content!
Tissues – For blowing your nose or sneezing into. Duh.
Anti-Bacterial Wipes – I don’t carry the whole pack, but I like to take a few rolled up in a Ziploc bag in case I have to wipe down arm rests or clean my phone off at the end of the day.
Clothing Spray – I ALWAYS travel with a mini spray bottle (that I refill myself) of Dettol Clothing Spray. It kills 99.9% of bacteria and it’s nice to spray down jackets or coats that get used more than once during a trip.
Ziploc Bags – Bring some extra Ziplocs with you… you can dispose of used masks, dirty tissues, used anti-bacterial wipes, and everything else when a trash can isn’t around you.
Plastic Bags – It’s a good idea to take a couple of plastic bags with you so you can put your dirty clothes in. This is especially handy if you are moving around a lot and don’t have a divider in your suitcase. At least you can keep them separated.
Should I Travel After Lockdown?
Honestly?
I can’t answer that question for you.
If you have the slightest doubt in your mind, don’t do it.
If you don’t feel comfortable getting on a full flight with multiple strangers and then navigating through crowded airport shuttle and taxi areas, then don’t go.
Take a road trip instead. Travel to the other end of the country and make some stops in cute villages or castles that you’ve always wanted to see.
I know everyone hates this phrase (including me), but it looks like this is the “new normal” and we just have to adapt the way that we plan trips and travel now.
Travel Locally
You don’t have to go on a massive, all out trip… yet!
You can have a staycation in your closest city or do a weekend getaway in the countryside.
There’s SOOOOOO many amazing places right on your doorstep and I bet you’ve never even played a tourist in your home town!
Now’s your chance!
This is the perfect opportunity to take a trip to Yorkshire after lockdown or check out the best places in Cornwall to socially distance yourself.
Have you traveled after lockdown? Were you nervous? Did you not care? Are you getting ready to travel? Let me know in the comments below!
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