Despite the Covid-19 pandemic significantly affecting socialising and holidaymaking this year, more people are set to still travel far and wide during this yuletide to celebrate the holidays. It is the human quest for happiness despite the unending COVID-19 pandemic.
Amidst this renewed excitement, it is necessary to exercise caution, if you will be embarking on any journey, ensuring absolute safety for yourself and family, especially now that a second wave of the Coronavirus infection is ravaging healthcare systems across the world.
While getting out of comfort zones is the best way to learn about our lives, enjoy other cultures and create lifetime moments and memories. Research has also proven that people tend to embrace the spirit of adventure during the end of the year excitements. Yet, December can be quite an unsettling month for travelers as people tend to be disorganised, confused and agitated because the pressure to meet up with the itinerary of the holiday season is intense.
The travel stress is not one to mix with the prevailing happenings and the mood of the times. This season calls for more caution than ever. If you would be travelling this festive period, either by air, road, or water, we have drawn a checklist for your consideration.
1. How long are you away? Ahead of your trip, you must consider how long you plan to be on this trip. No amount of excitement should keep you longer on a holiday trip than you had planned. This checklist would help you make solid arrangements for your welfare and other itineraries. Whilst this decision helps in dimensioning your cost, it is a factor in ensuring convenience and stress-free return to your other life and professional pursuits. Such quality planning would ensure a memorable holiday.
Read also: Travel health tips for the pandemic yuletide celebrations
2. What is your destination? Making up mind on where to travel for a holiday is always a significant challenge for some people. The indecisiveness that comes with planning for a trip is unavoidable if you do proper research of places that fit in your budget, suit your interest and is safe and healthy for travelers. It is even harder now that some of the exciting destinations you might want to visit, have strict COVID-19 regulations on socialising and intra-country travel guidelines. So, it is very critical that you make up your mind early enough to put in place a proper plan to deal with projected challenges.
3. What is your budget? To travel on a budget is a frightening prospect for some people. But then travelling does not always come cheap, especially now that the global economy is soft and going south. Unfortunately, this can deter some who wish to travel from going ahead with their plans. But once you save up and budget your cost ahead of time, it becomes easier for you. Please do not spend all the year’s savings or income on a few weeks’ vacation as you should be cautious that 2021, a new year, is imminent.
4. Have you considered your safety? Safety should be a top priority for any traveler this season. Ensure you understand every COVID-19 requirement needed of your destination and adhere strictly by them to avoid legal entanglement in a foreign country. Furthermore, ensure that all is well with your home before travelling, as the lonely homes attract burglars during holiday seasons. If possible, put your house in the care of a trusted neighbour and ensure your valuables are in a safe place, should in case you fall victim to burglary or vandalism.
5. Do you have a travel Insurance? Travel Insurance is the most important piece in your checklist and must have a special space in your travel plan this season. This is because even a perfect holiday can turn awry within a twinkle of an eye. It becomes even more critical when you are traveling with your beloved family. A good example occurred in February 2020, when a luxury cruise ship, Diamond Princess, gained global attention when the 3,711 passengers and crew were caught up in a prolonged and unplanned quarantine as 621 of the holiday-makers contracted the-novel virus and countries panicked and refused the ship from berthing in their territory. You can imagine the ordeal of the passengers and their families were while the saga lasted.
It is in the light of these kind of uncertainties that Leadway Assurance Company Limited designed a comprehensive Travel Insurance policy that covers medical emergencies, unplanned financial situations, and numbing incidences that you might incur while travelling outside your country of residence.
Whether you are going alone or with the family during this holiday, it is essential to mitigate against well-known holiday risks, such as accidents, sudden illness or loss of your prized possessions, trip cancellation, a delayed or missed flight, personal money loss, and legal issues. The Leadway Travel Insurance policy will cover you.
