The COVID-19 pandemic has changed pretty much every aspect of our lives. From our workplaces to our financial situations to our freedoms, there’s truly nothing left of what we used to call “normal.” Over 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment in this crisis – that’s a serious shift.

With this unprecedented time upon us, one thing that absolutely nobody is doing right now is taking a vacation. It’s just not a viable option. Many countries have closed their borders, imposed a fourteen-day isolation period on arrival, and most hotels, resorts, bars and beaches are closed.

If you were to take a vacation, there wouldn’t be many places you could go. Everyone’s home right now, and for the time being, that’s the safest place possible.

Frustrations With Travel

Many people are increasingly frustrated because their well-planned, much-anticipated travel plans have been canceled indefinitely. Although it’s legally required that people receive their money back, many travel companies are attempting to persuade holiday-goers into a voucher, rather than a cash refund. Whatever your situation, if you planned to travel this summer, it’s likely that it isn’t happening anymore.

But of course, this is going to come to an end sometime. Whenever that time comes, the time when we can go to our favorite destinations and feel safe doing so, millions of people will be taking that opportunity. The idea of being on a beach, your toes in the sand, chilling out with a cocktail might sound like living the dream when you’re stuck at home. Traveling for vacations, though, might look different post-COVID. Although we’re all desperate to get away, here are some ways we might consider traveling differently in the future.

Flying Might Not Be So Easy

Even before coronavirus, being in a packed plane with total strangers for hours on end didn’t feel fun to most people. We all know that taking a plane was risky if you didn’t want to get a common cold. The air conditioning circulating around the plane makes it very easy to pass germs.

Many budget airlines do not thoroughly clean their planes between passengers. We all know that feeling of sitting in a crowded airport, sometimes even sitting on the floor, waiting for delays. The hygiene of flying leaves a lot to be desired.

Imagining yourself sitting in tight quarters with unmasked strangers might send shudders down your spine. After this deadly virus that scares everyone on a very serious level, flying might become something even more frightening. Many people will try to opt for different ways to travel to their vacations; this might even mean only taking vacations that are closer to home than usual.

Here are some great alternative solutions to flying which can keep you safer than a plane!

Roadtrip!

Yeah, that old chestnut. Everyone loves a road trip. Piling the family into a camper van, singing along to your favorite songs, and stopping at motels for the night. All good memories from childhood, right?

Well, the retro way of traveling might be making a comeback. It may sound like a nightmare, in our modern world. How on earth can you pack your life into your family car and drive hundreds of miles without going insane? Well, there are tried and true ways.

Companies such as TCS Upfitting, found at https://tcsupfitting.com/truck-accessories/, can help you transform your car into a cargo machine. Adding a tow bar, a luggage rack, or whatever else you need to lug your family around on vacation has never been easier. You’ll save money on flights, you’ll have fun on the road, and most importantly of all, you’ll be safer from germs.

Taking the train

In Europe, this is already a very common way to travel. A pastime called ‘Interrailing’, which involves taking long, scenic train journeys between cities and countries instead of flying, is common among young backpackers. But this doesn’t have to be a hippie, backpacker hobby. Taking long train journeys could sound pretty dull, but the scenery across the world is best seen by train. Plus, the environmental differences between ground and air travel are huge. COVID-19 has changed the world in many negative ways, but the silver lining of this awful virus is that the earth is breathing again.

If you want to fly, aim to reduce it

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking a hard-earned vacation. But after coronavirus, everyone will be reconsidering how they travel, and the ways flying takes its toll on your health and wellbeing. Instead of multiple flights per year, taking even one vacation per year which requires flying reduces your risks.

A Pause In Activity

OK, so you’re on vacation. You’ve traveled there, in whatever way, and now you’re wondering: have the rules changed? What can’t I do now?

Depending on the country you visit, even when resorts have reopened and vacations resume, there may still be restrictions on your activities. For example, swimming pools might have tighter restrictions on the number of users at once. Dining areas of hotels or resorts might be further spaced out.

Some vacation activities might not be happening altogether, like packed boat trips. Other parts of the country you’re visiting could have a tourist ban, such as local food markets belonging to smaller villages. Of course, none of us truly know how the landscape of tourism will look after this virus. However, the impact has been so huge and widespread. It will change the way we travel for a very long time to come.

There’s Always A Silver Lining

Although coronavirus ruined so many things, there’s always a silver lining to the devastation. It takes a lot to see the good in the world nowadays, but if you look carefully, it’s there!

Since the coronavirus outbreak, travel has largely halted across the world. A recent article from National Geographic said:

In India, where air pollution is among the world’s worst, “people are reporting seeing the Himalayas for the first time from where they live,” Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said.

All over the world, people are reporting clearer views from their homes, as the lack of planes in the sky causes pollution levels to plummet. The article explains that taking in pollution particles actually worsens somebody’s chances of getting COVID-19, as it says:

If you’re getting COVID, and you have been breathing polluted air, it’s really putting gasoline on a fire,’ in a statement from a doctor.

These words resonate with many city dwellers who live in fear of becoming infected.

The lack of pollution, therefore, doesn’t just benefit the planet’s habitats and overall health but actually can reduce your risks of becoming infected with COVID-19. The silver lining of this terrifying lockdown period has meant that when we return to the world, we will be returning to something much cleaner and healthier than before.

Be Conscious of Future Travel

When future travel does happen, then, it’s important to be conscious. Returning to the world is something we’re all desperate for, but when we return, it’s essential we don’t simply return to old habits. Our freedoms which we took for granted are now things we will always appreciate; playing sports, hugging our friends and family, and assuming we will not be hurt by an invisible disease, for example. Let’s extend that gratitude to the world, and our ability to travel, and take the responsibility that comes with it seriously.