8 Things You Can Do To Prepare For Your First Post-Quarantine Trip

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to stay indoors since March 2020, putting a halt to businesses, social interactions, events, and travel. By now, you’ve most likely already exhausted every kind of activity you can do from home - from acing that sourdough starter to successfully propagating plants. Now that Metro Manila is slowly easing up its quarantine restrictions under GCQ (General Community Quarantine), we’re beginning to see businesses reopening and hopefully, travel will soon pick up, too. 

However, with all that has happened, it’s safe to say that the travel landscape has changed drastically, and the rules and protocols are much stricter than its pre-COVID days. That said, we listed a couple things to take note of when planning out your first post-quarantine leisure travel. Keep on reading!

Pre-COVID, you may have been able to squeeze in food, shopping transportation and accommodation into a conservative budget. However, now with new travel essentials including PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Kits, this is one additional thing you’ll need to make allowance for in your wallet and in your luggage, too. For additional safety, always have your back up masks, shields, alcohol and the like - better safe than sorry!

Goodbye to spontaneous trips and last-minute weekend getaway plans - for now. If you thought the regular documents for immigration were tough, passengers are required to present several more documents before boarding, or even passing through checkpoints. Now, resorts, accommodations, and attractions almost always require a reservation at least 24 hours before in order to secure a slot. Some even require additional documents, such as a negative swab test result, before allowing guests into their premises, so be sure to check the requirements for guests before your visit. 

Now if you’re travelling via air, of course you will need to book a flight first. Flights nowadays are very limited, so be sure you’ve got all the airline’s required documents and the local government’s requirements if any. 

If accommodations and attractions have varying requirements and safety precautions, other cities and countries run by their own set of rules as well. That said, before visiting a new city or country, be sure to read up on their COVID-19 health and safety regulations. 

These guidelines would most likely include social distancing measures, equipment needed to wear in public, and quarantine restrictions to name a few. This way, you are able to comply with the rules and avoid penalties. 

With new airport and airline guidelines, passengers can expect longer waiting times and additional check points. That said, it’s good to factor in these long periods of time into your itinerary; including a possible quarantine upon arrival in cities or countries that mandate this. 

More than just having your medical safety kit in your carry-on luggage, you should also consider including any extra clothing, toiletries, cash - and also an extra set of your documents. This will be handy in the off chance that you are asked to stay in the airport for a longer period of time, or if you’re escorted to a separate quarantine facility.

Include a list of emergency contacts inside your kit, too!

With so much uncertainty, take precaution by availing of travel insurance before any trip. Travel insurance can cover (or alleviate costs) for any health emergencies that may occur abroad, loss of luggage, and flight cancellations to name a few. Trust us - when the unexpected happens, you’ll realize it’s a small price to pay for your peace of mind.

Many airlines and agencies offer travel insurance, you may check these before booking a flight. 

With the extra costs of testing, insurance, and additional safety gear to name a few - you’ll definitely want to save somewhere. Fortunately many travel companies are offering discounts on flights, accommodations and services during these times - so be on the lookout for those!

Klook is offering discounts on staycation packages for accommodations, food deals around Manila that you can pre-order, and exclusive offers on activities and attractions that have reopened. Safety guidelines are also available on the Klook blog for staycations, salon visits, and attractions. 

While it may take a while for leisure international travel to reboot, more and more provinces and attractions are opening up to encourage domestic travel. With the absence of a vaccine, foreign countries are wary of outsiders coming into their country, which explains the tight lock on travel borders and controlled flights. 

If the travel bug in you is itching for an adventure, Palawan and Boracay have reopened their borders to domestic tourists - of course, with safety precautions in place. Bohol may be reopening some time before the year ends - so keep an eye out for that, too!