[shop my vacation outfits and read the Dominican Republic trip recap here]
Dream with me for a moment, shall we?
It’s been 2 weeks since your second Covid vaccination. The CDC is recommending dropping mask mandates. The European Union is re-opening travel to vaccinated Americans. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are possibly back together?! Crazy, right?
Except it’s not a dream.
Nature is healing.
But how do we even travel in a “post-Covid” world? And yes, I have it in quotation marks because there is an extreme privilege I must share as Americans are the first to be offered the vaccine.
Throughout 2020, I was one of many twiddling their thumbs on the weekend from the comfort of my couch. In fact, I even spoke to the LA Times about my experience as a content creator during the pandemic. I pivoted my content last spring to share things like date night ideas at home and comfy loungewear for couples. While I found it grating that I had friends or fellow influencers traveling during that time, I know it was a blessing for that to be my only annoyance.
But armed with a better understanding of how this virus works and trust in the experts, I’ve decided it’s time to make my way back outside. The moment the second dose hit my left deltoid, I booked a flight to the Dominican for 4 days the following month.
As a woman with an autoimmune disease herself, it’s not something I take lightly. I don’t want to put myself at risk or start colonization 2.0 and infect the communities where I’m traveling. And I will say the travel anxiety was REAL as I walked through the airport terminals for the first time in months. For the majority of the year, the only person I’ve seen not on a computer screen is my husband. I didn’t even order food at restaurants unless it was takeout! But the moment my toes touched that white, sandy beach I could already feel like my mental health was 10x better. And it made me excited about planning more getaways in the future!
I feel like a lot of these are self-explanatory but they all bear repeating. If this is your first trip since the beginning of the pandemic, choose a spot where you can really relax. The fears of being cramped alongside dozens of people or a location without access to a decent healthcare system aren’t exactly vacay vibes. I chose the Hyatt Zilara in Punta Cana after staying there previously and was blown away by how tranquil it felt. The guests are always spread out, they have multiple open-air restaurants, and offer a variety of beach activities to keep you occupied.
While I was in the airport I kept my typical surgical mask on, but the moment I boarded the plane I shifted this N95 beneath it. The closed air circulation and close proximity to other passengers made it a no-brainer. Plus, have you ever thought about how gross it is for someone to be sneezing and coughing while in such an enclosed space?! Yuck! You can use this for bus travel, cabs, trains, etc. I’m pretty sure this is a habit I’ll keep way past the Covid pandemic. Who wants to get sick after vacation anyway?
I had no doubt that the hotel and airline would do their best in terms of cleanliness. But realistically it’s hard for them to keep up with client turnover all the time! For starters, bring your own wet wipes (these are my favorite- they’re scented!). Pack the travel-size hand sanitizers for on-the-go, too. Essentially, let Naomi Campbell be your sanitation inspiration for a great travel routine.
With more people becoming more comfortable with travel, I think we’ll be seeing longer wait times for restaurants. Just this past weekend I visited Charleston for work and struggled with finding reservations 2-3 weeks out! If you’re able to sit down and schedule your dinner options it will save you a lot of headaches (and hangry friends).
There’s a lot more to know than just “no visa required.” Do you need a covid test going into a different country or upon arrival back to the States? Will they waive the test if you have proof of your vaccination? Which test do they prefer: antibody or PCR? During my trip to the Dominican, I needed to fill out a separate health form for entry and needed a negative Covid test when returning to Charlotte. Thankfully, the resort provided the rapid tests for free on-site! But if your hotel doesn’t offer that for you, you might want to get that taken care of as soon as possible. You’ll never know if the wait time is long for the procedure or the results, so it’s better to plan ahead! Check the state department frequently before your trip here.
As I mentioned earlier, I can’t wait to travel again! This bubble girl got a taste of freedom and you’ll probably see me galavanting all over the gram for the rest of 2021. I’ve already been to Charleston for a weekend trip and booked a trip to Atlanta to see some friends in June. I’d love to go to the Bahamas, Aruba, and Canada (if they let us back in soon hehe) this year, too!
Are you planning a trip to celebrate a return to normalcy? Let me know in the comments below! Until then, see you on the beach! :)
Facebook | Twitter | TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube
You Might Also Like… MOVING DURING COVID: MY TIPS and MY RECENT TRAVEL GUIDES
