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We are living in unprecedented times. Travel planning is normally our favorite pastime, but the pandemic has made things very complicated! Nowadays the planning phase includes checking and double-checking travel requirements, trying to predict how things will look in a few months based on ever-changing infection rates, and debating back and forth on whether it’s even the right thing to travel or go backpacking during the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is no clear answer on when it will be completely safe to travel again, but there are some things to consider if you’re really thinking about traveling in 2022. And if you must travel for an essential reason, follow our guidelines to travel as safely as possible.

Things to Consider Before Traveling for Leisure in 2022

Before you can even think about travel during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s very important to sit down and do plenty of research. Even if a place is technically ‘open for travel’ you should take time to inform yourself about the following issues.

Understand How the Situation is Developing in Your Destination

You should understand the current rate of infection and the trends in the past few months. Even if your dream destination has a low infection rate, this can be misleading.

Try and understand the trend, and why the numbers are moving in that direction. Is it because of vaccinations? A recent lockdown? A low testing rate, which can hide the true number of cases? 

Consider the Risk You Bring to the Local Population

Remember that safe travel does not mean just safe for you. If you have decided to take the risk and travel or go backpacking during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s important to think about how you might impact a more vulnerable location.

If you’re going to a place with low infection numbers, you might become the source of a new outbreak. This is especially irresponsible if you’re coming from a country where there is a more dangerous strain.

Research the Healthcare System of Your Destination

Should the worst-case scenario happen while away from home, you want to make sure you understand exactly how the healthcare system works in your destination.

Research the Healthcare System before you travel during Covid-19

If you get sick during your trip, make sure there would be a place for you in a hospital with sufficient health care. Check whether local hospitals have ventilators and other medical supplies to handle Coronavirus cases.

Find out if there is a reputable hospital near your destination, or whether you would have to travel to one in another city. If so, how would you get there? Find out how much it would cost for a hospital stay, and whether your travel insurance would cover the cost of medical and transport costs.

If you do bring Covid-19 to your destination, think about whether the local community would have access to high-quality health care. Do workers in tourism receive health benefits? Are there enough hospitals and hospital beds available to the local community? 

Check the Latest Covid-19 Travel Restrictions

It goes without saying that you should research whether your destination is accepting visitors. With rising Coronavirus cases, many countries have closed their borders to tourism.

Even countries that are still open may require a negative test to enter the country. Some places enforce mandatory testing upon arrival and a quarantine period until you receive your results. Make sure you’re aware of all the latest news to avoid any surprises before departure or upon arrival.

Hygiene Requirements and CDC Guidelines

If you really want to travel somewhere, you should become an expert on how they’re handling the Coronavirus outbreak. At a bare minimum, you’ll want to travel in a place that respects the CDC guidelines. Controlling the spread of Coronavirus requires mask-wearing, social distancing, and frequent handwashing. You want to make sure that the surrounding people are following these guidelines wherever you choose to travel.

Travel to Remote Destinations During Covid-19?

Some people may think it’s safer to travel to remote destinations during Covid-19 because they think they’ll be more isolated. The problem with remote locations is that access to health care may be nonexistent.

You, or any locals that you infect, would have to travel to a large city to receive care. If so, this can result in significant costs to you and the rest of the vulnerable population.

How to Prepare for Your Trip

If you must travel during the Covid-19 pandemic, and you’ve done all your research, there are a few extra measures you’ll need to take before your trip. Of course, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and the people around you. On top of that, here are a few things you should do to ensure you’re traveling in the most responsible way.

Isolate Before Your Trip and Get Tested

If choosing to travel, the responsible thing to do is to isolate yourself for at least 5 days before your trip. Now more than ever, in the time before your big trip, you need to be diligent about wearing a mask in public and distancing yourself from friends and family.

You should also get tested and produce a negative test result. In fact, some countries actually require a negative test for incoming travelers. Some clinics require you to pay out of pocket, while some regions will offer the test for free if you have symptoms.

Be sure to do your research and schedule your test in the correct time range before your departure time. Be sure to isolate yourself after the test to minimize the chance you catch the Coronavirus afterwards.

Create an Emergency Plan

Choosing to travel or go backpacking during Covid-19 requires that you go above and beyond to think through what you would do in an emergency scenario:

  • What if you test positive upon arrival? You will be required to quarantine in your destination, potentially on your own dime. Make sure you have enough funds to pay for at least 2-weeks in a hotel, plus time off from work or the ability to work remotely. Quarantine is very strictly enforced, some tourists who have broken their quarantine have been penalized with fines or even jail time.
  • What if you need to get home urgently? Make sure you have the funds to do so at the last minute. Make sure you take out a travel insurance plan that will reimburse you for a change in plans. 
  • What if borders shut down, and you’re unable to leave? Make sure you have the funds and flexibility to stay put until the travel restrictions are lifted.

How to Travel Safely During Covid

If you must travel, be sure to follow these guidelines during your trip to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Follow CDC Guidelines

Travel Safety Tips in the age of Coronavirus

Follow the CDC guidelines even if the local population doesn’t. Keep your distance, wear a medical-grade mask, bring travel-sized hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently, and consider bringing disposable gloves.

Make sure you book accommodation that follows CDC guidelines around hygiene standards. To help with this, Booking.com has added a search filter to find accommodation that has committed to Covid-safe practices. And Airbnb has implemented a set of guidelines that hosts and guests must follow during the pandemic.

Embrace the Great Outdoors

Avoid indoor activities, stick to outside activities whenever possible like hiking or biking. A warmer destination will be more conducive for this.

Minimize Contact with New People

You can minimize contact and prevent a super-spreader situation by staying put in one location. Consider renting a car so that you can avoid public transportation, and get a private room when possible. If you’re on a budget, HostelWorld is your best bet to find a private room for an affordable price. 

Don’t Take Unnecessary Risks

One of the reasons we’re urged to stay home is to keep the hospitals cleared for the high priority Coronavirus patients. If you must travel, try to be as careful as possible. Maybe save that adrenaline-fueled bucket list item for a later date.

Trip Ideas for Responsible Travel in 2022

The safest place to be during this pandemic is in your own house in your own community. However, there are certain types of travel that are more responsible for 2022. Remember that even if you’re planning to be in the middle of nowhere, the logistics of taking a trip will put you in contact with the outside world. Be sure to follow CDC guidelines when visiting a market, public bathroom, or gas station. 

Hiking

Ultralight backpacking without a stove

What better way to get away from other humans than to take to the trails? Hiking in solitude is one of the best ways you can socially distance during this global pandemic.

Staycations

Take this time to explore your surroundings. Pick up a travel book for your own town or nearby city. There are likely things to do in your own community that you have yet to experience. Now’s the time to explore your own backyard!

Camping/RV

Camping in the great outdoors, cooking for yourself with your own roof over your head is a great option for socially distanced travel. If you don’t have your own RV, you can rent one on RV Share – it’s like the Airbnb for camper vans.

The Open Ocean

If you can afford it, now would be a great time to go on a sailing trip. Get far away from the mainland in one of the best ways to socially isolate.

Bikepacking

Bicycle-backpacking is a growing trend among adventurous travelers. With a couple of side-saddle bags, you have your transport, your accommodation, and everything you need on your own 2 wheels.

Consider Postponing Until the Situation Improves

It should be clear by now that traveling during a pandemic involves all sorts of risks and ethical decisions. Not only that, but even if a country is technically ‘open for travel’, the pandemic has changed life as we know it in all corners of the globe.

It’s very likely that certain attractions will be closed, meaning that you might not get the same experience you’ve been dreaming of. If you’ve been saving for your dream trip, consider the fact that it might be more worthwhile to postpone it until things return to normal.

We know that this pandemic has been tough for travel-lovers, but everyone around the world has had to adjust their lives to the new normal. It is our opinion that leisure travel should wait until it is really safe to travel again.

Nevertheless, if you have to travel during the Covid-19 pandemic, be sure to follow these guidelines to reduce the risk to you and to the people around you.

If you are planning a backpacking trip in the near future, then it is vital that you prepare yourself to ensure that you are completely safe while travelling. To ensure you have a memorable and enjoyable time on your trip, you should take a look at the following travel safety tips for backpackers. This will provide you with all the information you need to feel secure when abroad. 

Always plan ahead

One of the most important steps for safe travel should occur well before you step on the plane, starting with your passport. Before you do anything, make sure you check the expiry date on your passport, as an out-of-date passport will not be accepted in any airport around the world.

Checking your travel documents is one of the most important travel safety tips

Some countries require travellers to have at least six months left on their passport from the entrance date. If your passport has run out or you have less than six months until the expiry, make sure you apply for a new passport at least three months before travelling to be on the safe side.

You may also require a visa to gain admittance into the country you are visiting. Of course, this will depend on where in the world you are travelling to, as some destinations are more lenient than others.

One country that does require a visa is the United States. If you are taking a backpacking trip to the US, you will need to obtain an ESTA before your trip. This applies to 38 countries, including the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand and more. If your country is not listed, you will need to apply for a B-2 tourist visa which will grant you six months of travel access across the US. 

Protect yourself

When backpacking, you protect yourself at all times. This is especially important right now, with the COVID pandemic spreading around the world. While travel is restricted, there will be a time when borders are lifted, and backpacking trips will begin again.

When this occurs, you need to ensure that you maintain excellent hygiene standards by washing your hands regularly and keeping a compact hand sanitiser nearby at all times. It would help if you looked up the guidelines regarding COVID for each place you visit by checking the destination’s government or embassy website.

Travel Safety Tips in the age of Coronavirus

By sticking to the guidelines and maintaining good hygiene habits, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting sick. However, we are all human beings, and sometimes we get sick, especially when travelling, as this could result in reduced sleep, which may affect your immune system.

To prevent any problems with illness, you should purchase travel insurance which will cover you if you need to visit a doctor or require medication. It will also protect you financially if you suffer an injury such as a broken ankle. If you are hospitalised and miss a flight, having travel insurance will be a God’s send, as this will prevent you from splashing out on a new flight.

Watch what you eat and drink

It may seem like obvious advice, but maintaining a balanced diet is one of the most important travel safety tips when backpacking. Sometimes the distraction of sightseeing and meeting new people can result in missed meals or an unhealthy diet, which can leave you feeling lethargic or even ill.

Some people may think eating a balanced diet means you must eat healthy at all times, but this is not the case after all your backpacking trip should be all about fun and treating yourself to local food is part of that. However, you should try to be careful, especially if you have a weak stomach, as some foods may not agree with you, resulting in sickness.

Staying hydrated is also a massive must, especially if you are travelling to hot destinations. To ensure you keep on top of your water intake, you should pack a few reusable water bottles which you can put in your backpack or clip to your side while hiking, exploring and sightseeing.

Travel Safety Tips and COVID

Now you have all the travel safety tips you need for an exciting and super secure backpacking trip, why not look at our article on COVID-19 and backpacking. This guide will offer all the tips you need to stay sane before you can start travelling around the world again.

Have you always wanted to travel abroad but can’t seem to find the means to do so? Do you often imagine yourself hiking in Peru, visiting the Great Wall of China, or sunbathing on the beautiful beaches in Southern France? Maybe you are a recent college graduate who wants to travel before settling down. 

Many people opt to go backpacking, which allows you to save money while experiencing the world. Depending on your length of travel or your current budget, you may want to find ways to make money to pay for that travel. Today there are several ways to get paid to travel abroad. Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is one of them.

Paid Opportunities to Travel the World Teaching English

English is the most widely used language in the world. From education to business, marketing, and even job opportunities, being proficient in English opens many doors. With so many people wanting to learn the language, teaching English is in high demand.  

Currently, over 1 billion people are learning English throughout the world. Learners of English have a variety of reasons for learning the language. They also now have different options and ways to have access to the language.

If you’ve always wanted to help others and make a difference, you can travel the world teaching English and even get paid. It is a convenient way to make a living while trekking the globe. All you need is a backpack, a passport, and a few teaching requirements, and you are well on your way.

Requirements to Travel and Teach English as a Foreign Language

Anyone interested in traveling the world teaching English needs to know the language. However, TEFL and TESL teachers need to be more than native or fluent speakers. Many employers today ask that teachers possess at least a college degree. Although many countries require a 4-year bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite, it is essential to do your research to ensure that you have the adequate academic standards of that country, school, or employer.

Whether you majored in English, Art History, or Biology, most countries will deem any four-year degree, or Bachelor’s, sufficient to teach a class. Unfortunately, however, a degree is not the only requirement. Most countries, and employers, ask that you be certified to teach as well.

Obtaining a certificate to travel and teach English as a Second Language is not difficult, but it does require a few hours of your time. Although these classes are offered in-person, more and more people opt to take them online for convenience. You can even begin traveling and complete your English teaching course abroad.

Courses and certificates are offered depending on hours. Most countries and employers require new English teachers to possess a certificate showing a course requirement of at least 120 hours. Therefore, the type of course and certification you obtain is critical.

You can find many different companies that offer certificates to travel the world and teach English as a second language. Some companies are more reputable than others, however. You want to look for a company that is accredited and recognized overseas. Companies like The TEFL Org are leaders in the field, making it easier to find an English teaching job upon receipt of your certificate.

How to Get Paid to Travel the World and Teach English

Today, teaching English can be done in both the traditional in-person classroom setting, virtually online, or even one on one. These different options are suitable for the student learner, but it also gives ESL/EFL teachers the flexibility to teach the language in various settings. Depending on if you want to travel the world or go to a specific part of the world, finding what’s best for you is key.

Get Paid to Travel and Teach English in a Classroom

Teaching English abroad in a traditional classroom setting

Many countries need fluent speakers to teach in their schools. This type of English teaching job will require that you stay in one place for a more extended period, as it usually means that you will have to teach during a specific time frame or school period. This traditional method may be ideal for people who want to travel to one particular location and prefer to remain in one spot. The advantage of this type of English teaching job is that you will immerse yourself in a specific culture and perhaps even learn a new language.

Travel and Teach English Online

Teaching English Online while traveling

Traveling while teaching English online not only offers flexibility to students but also to the teacher. This setting allows you to travel the world teaching English online to earn money. You will teach students from many different countries while either remaining in one place or traveling to various destinations yourself. Remember that you will need a laptop or other device and internet access to conduct your classes.  

Travel the World and Teach English One on One

Work as a Private English Tutor while Traveling

Being able to teach one on one is another very flexible option. One on one teaching can be done both in-person and online. This type of instruction allows you to work with one student (or two) exclusively. If you teach English online, you will have the flexibility to travel and teach as long as you have a good internet connection while on the road. If in-person, it will require that you probably stay in one place for a set amount of time.

The Bottom Line

If you want to have an adventurous experience through travel, but feel that you cannot afford it, do not fret. Traveling the world and teaching English is a great way to make money backpacking. With your backpack, a college degree, and a few hours of training, you can travel and teach English, all while living out your dream.

Is there a moment throughout the day when you do not hear the words COVID-19, coronavirus or pandemic? In the age of Covid, backpacking enthusiasts and travel lovers are more inclined than ever to admire pictures of our previous destinations when travelling freely was the norm. 

This guide is for those who are missing travel and are wondering when they can step on a plane and explore the world with just a backpack weighing them down. It explores the current guidance on Covid backpacking, what backpackers can do now and what the future holds post-Covid for the backpacking industry. 

What is the current guidance for Covid backpacking and travel?

At the moment, every country is different as some areas of the world are suffering with the virus more than others, so movement is a lot more limited. Popular backpacker destinations such as Australia are currently not permitting any travellers into the country, after sending the majority of backpackers home in April 2020. Only those with Australian or New Zealand citizenship or have direct family in the country are allowed to enter. 

There are still some areas that are safe for travel, although they tend to have strict restrictions. For example, Dubai has opened its doors to travellers, however, to be admitted, you must show proof of a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test that needs to be taken 96 hours before travel. This test costs around £100 to £150, so this could lead to quite an expensive trip before you even get to your destination.

Covid backpacking - riding a train wearing a mask during the Corona pandemic.

Covid and backpacking during the Coronavirus pandemic

Many locations in Europe, including the UK, which continually updates its travel corridor list,  which basically means you can travel without having to quarantine when back on British soil. However, anyone with British citizenship will need to isolate for 10 to 14 days after visiting backpacker favourites like Croatia, India, South Africa and Indonesia. Anyone travelling to these areas of the world will still have to fill in a passenger locator form to be admitted into the country. 

What can backpackers do in the meantime? 

Anyone with the travel bug will, of course, be finding it difficult to stay in the same place for a long time, but for now, that’s what we all must do to stay safe and protect each other. But instead of spending your days scrolling through Instagram at travel destination pages, why not get involved and support your backpacker community?

You can take inspiration from the New Zealand backpackers who have started a petition with over 13,000 signatures for the extension of working visas. There are plenty of other GoFundMe pages set up during Covid for the backpacking industry around the world, who are dealing with money issues or even health problems, so why not use your time and money wisely and support a good cause?

Take action from home during Covid to support the backpacking industry

Take action from home during Covid to support the backpacking industry

The lack of backpackers across the world has also massively affected the hospitality industry, as the majority of hostel workers and bar staff are travellers from around the globe. While many businesses have gone under, there are still some afloat who are reaching out for financial support. They’re not asking you to break the bank to save their business, as a little contribution will still go a long way to support. 

Post-Covid backpacking – When can we travel the world again?

Currently, there is no official confirmation about when we can travel the world again, as again, this will depend on Covid backpacking rules in the different corners of the globe. For example, Australia and New Zealand have made it clear that travellers will not be permitted for a while with visas on hold. However, there are many countries such as the USA and the UK that are desperate to get tourism back up and running and have also extended visas, while places like Mexico have kept the welcome mat out for a while. 

Even during COVID-19, backpacking is still possible in some places. Always check restrictions and travel responsibly.

Even during COVID-19, backpacking is still possible in some places. Always check restrictions and travel responsibly.

If you do plan on travelling in the near future, then make sure you stick to the country’s rules you are visiting. You can also keep track of cases online to ensure your trip is completely safe and successful.