Is it safe to travel during COVID?
In 2020, I traveled to the Philippines and Cambodia (pre-lockdown), then to Mexico, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, and back to Mexico again (post-lockdown). As a travel professional, I feel it’s my duty to educate myself on the new normal and to advise on it.
These are the steps I take to travel safely.
GET TESTED - Before any trip, sometimes during the trip, and after every trip. Although Mexico and Tanzania didn’t require a negative test upon arrival, I still got tested. You don’t want to bring any virus to your destination, and you don’t want to bring it back home either.
WEAR A MASK - It’s a small ask for a big gain. I travel with three different masks.
WASH/SANITIZE YOUR HANDS - By now this should be second nature and if it’s not, some destinations will require it of you whether you like it or not. In Mexico, you can’t enter any establishment without going through a temperature check, shoe sanitizing bath, hand sanitizer spritz, and sometimes a body sanitizing spray.
SOCIAL DISTANCE - The new boarding process that airlines have adopted promotes social distance and should be the norm: last rows first and first rows last. Reverse when de-planing. It works. No one is unruly and there is order. Listen to your inner voice to judge if situations or gatherings seem risky. There were markets in Mexico that we walked away from because of the crowds.
OUTDOOR VENUES AND ACTIVITIES - I’ve carefully chosen my indoor activities (museums) and chosen beach (Cabo & Zanzibar) or safari (Tanzania & Uganda) destinations where I know there is ample space for social distancing as well.
BUBBLES - are a good thing as long as you know for a fact that everyone is negative and observes the safety protocols. In Tanzania and Uganda, our travel bubble all tested negative prior to travel, and after returning tested negative after the required quarantine was completed.
TRAVEL INSURANCE - Make sure you’re protected abroad in case of a medical emergency. My husband and I have an annual plan with suitable coverage for our needs. It also covers flight delays, lost baggage, etc. I can help you with this.
MEDJET - Medjet is a global air medical transport and travel security membership program for travelers. I added this on top of our annual travel insurance. It’s not as expensive as you’d think and again I can help you with this.
COVID TESTING
My go-to provider is NYU Langone. They deliver PCR results within 24 hours or less which is crucial if you’re flying to a country that requires a negative test 72 hours before arrival. Also note that if countries require a PCR test, you cannot substitute with a Rapid/Antigen test. I’ve witnessed passengers turned away at the airport check-in counter because they had the wrong test, and worse, no test at all.
Traveling to multiple destinations is made more difficult, but not impossible, because of different COVID requirements by each country.
Uganda requires a negative PCR test 72 hours before arrival. Because of timing, we had to fly from Zanzibar to Dar Es Salaam and drove straight to a private clinic to take the test and wait for two days for our results before flying to Uganda. Aside from requiring a negative PCR test to enter, you will also need one to depart Uganda. Be prepared to have US$150 in cash per person for each test. Timing is also crucial and you will need providers who can deliver the results within the specified time frame. For this reason, it is essential to work with travel professionals who can help you navigate and fulfill the requirements.
I travel with three different masks.
KN95 masks give me the highest level of protection with 5-layer filtration. I use these in airports, on the airplane, subway, buses, grocery, and anytime there is an unavoidable crowd of people. It folds flat and is easy to carry around.
Surgical masks give me medium protection with 3-layer filtration. These are perfect for general daily use. I used these a lot while on safari and especially during our chimpanzee and gorilla trek. I can wear these all day comfortably.
Cloth masks give the lowest level of protection with a 2-layer filtration. I use these in low-risk situations, as a layer over a surgical mask, and to be honest, for style and fashion.
Face Shields - Qatar Airlines requires all passengers to wear a face shield (which they provide) in addition to a mask. On a long-haul flight from New York to Doha, it’s not the most comfortable situation but you have to comply and just be thankful you can even travel. Honestly, that’s the only time I’ve worn a face shield but I respect everyone who chooses to do so on a daily basis.
Sanitizers
If soap and water are not readily available, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent ethanol. I love these local sanitizer brands:
@mwani from Zanzibar is 98% proof and infused with lemon, citrus, and grapefruit oil. Currently my favorite.
@kingscounydistillery is 80% proof, smells like gin, and made in Brooklyn by a gin distillery.
The Master Craft Collection is a foam sanitizer that’s 65% proof, made in Brooklyn, and is my second favorite
@matchbookdistilling Disinfectant Spray is 80% proof, strong, spirited, and made in Greenport NY
Mexico
Last October 2020, I took my first international flight since lockdown and traveled to San Jose del Cabo. Mexico opened its borders to Americans in July and didn’t require any incoming travelers (by air only as trans-border crossings are not allowed) to present a negative COVID test. Americans have been flocking to Mexico since then.
In Cabo, I inspected four properties: LeBlanc, Montage, Esperanza, and The Cape. Safety protocols at these Virtuoso properties are strictly observed. All hotels have social distancing markers throughout the property. Staff wear masks at all times. At each resort your luggage is sanitized, you have to pass through a shoe sanitizing bath, submit to a temperature check, and hand sanitizing. Elevator rides are also limited to two or four passengers only and indoor dining is spaced out.
While the hotel staff are mandated to wear masks at all times, guests are not. My advice is to wear your mask when transiting through indoor spaces (lobby, restaurants, etc), maintain a safe distance from other people even if you’re outdoors, and dine al fresco at all times if possible.
Last December, I traveled back to Mexico for three weeks. I went to Merida, Palenque, San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico City, Puebla, and Oaxaca. We traveled by plane, private car, Uber, and motorboat.
I would advise anyone traveling to Mexico to strictly observe all the safety protocols. There were times we left markets because we felt they were too crowded. We hired a private guide/car for most of the trip. We chose our restaurants wisely. We sanitized each step of the way. Every state has its own laws; yes, just like the US. Mexico City has a curfew and the dry law, Oaxaca does not. All museums in Mexico City are open, while all cultural institutions in Oaxaca are not. Masks are mandated in Merida while it just became law in San Cristobal. Designing your itinerary will be a challenge with all the moving parts, but can be done with the help of a travel adviser who liaises with a reputable and reliable tour operator.
Africa
Ask the Experts: Can I go on safari right now? Virtuoso asked for my opinion, please read my answer.
My husband and I traveled to Africa for five weeks between October and November. We went on safari to Tanzania for ten days, flew to Zanzibar island for eight days, flew to Dar Es Salaam for testing, and flew to Uganda for two weeks.
Tanzania
Although Tanzania doesn’t require a negative COVID test, my small “bubble” group agreed to test pre-departure. I’m happy to report that everyone else from this group returned home, quarantined, and tested negative afterward. The upside of COVID travel is that we experienced Africa privately, almost exclusively.
We traveled to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Eastern Serengeti, and Northern Serengeti, where we witnessed not once but twice, the Great Wildebeest Migration over the Mara River. In a normal year, hundreds of safari vehicles would be lined on the river banks to see the migration crossing. This time, there were only three vehicles, including ours.
In Tanzania, masks are not mandated, nor is social distancing. For this reason, we stayed at the resort in Zanzibar and didn’t explore Stone Town. At Dar Es Salaam, we stayed at the Hyatt, awaiting our test results.
Uganda
Uganda takes COVID more seriously than Tanzania. Our group of negative-tested travel advisors traveled by both land and air to Murchison Falls National Park, Nile River, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Isasha National Park, and finally to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to track silverback gorillas.
When entering any business establishment in Uganda, you will have your temperature taken, be given a spritz of hand sanitizer, and walk through a shoe bath. Our safari driver/guide had to be masked whenever he was around passengers, or face a fine. We were once stopped by militia and questioned why we, the passengers, weren’t masked. Our guide said we were from one family, and the soldiers let us go. In villages, children would wave at us and shout, “Hello, welcome back, wear your mask!”
Again, I’m happy to report that everyone from the Uganda trip tested negative after coming home.
Since news of the vaccine roll-out, travel inquiries have risen and I’m happy to advise and plan travel for clients again. Until I am eligible for the vaccine, I plan to continue traveling in a safe way. In a few days, I’m scheduled for another COVID test for travel to Antigua next week. I’m looking forward to spending time with my mom and sister. Where do you plan to travel next?
All photos by Tesa Totengco & Michael Girman