Throughout the various lockdowns and travel restrictions that have been in place due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, many people have dreamed of the day where it will be safe to travel again. As of April of 2021, it looks like that day is nearly here. Although it is always important to prioritize health and safety and keeping the tips listed here in your mind will help you do that, remember that many people are traveling again and many airlines and hotels have extra measures in safe to make the experience of traveling right now just as convenient and comfortable as it was pre-pandemic. Whether you are planning on heading out on a vacation sometime soon or are just starting to consider it, this list of tips and tricks can help you plan your first post-pandemic trip.

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1. Make sure you are aware of any new travel requirements and regulations that may now be in place due to the pandemic.

If you are familiar with international travel, you know there are some countries that require certain immunizations and other elements that are necessary to have before your arrival. As the COVID-19 vaccine is administered throughout the world, many countries are requiring you to be vaccinated to visit. Some countries, such as Malta, even have rules about how recently you need to have been vaccinated. Make sure you are familiar with all of these rules before you set out on your trip so you are able to easily get through customs and head out on your adventure.

2. If you’re heading to a different country, pay the extra charge to use your smartphone while you’re traveling.

If you are used to traveling to locations where your cell phone plan does not apply, you might be used to going without or downsizing to a simpler phone while you’re abroad. However as many businesses are still using their pandemic protocols, you may be required to look up menus online at restaurants or buy tickets for attractions you might otherwise buy at a box office.

3. Create your budget based on information from the past year.

When you’re planning a trip and organizing your budget, you might browse blogs or websites to gather information, but make sure you are consulting the most recent information that you can find. While you may save money on cheaper flights or hotels, some restaurants or attractions may have pandemic-related surcharges. It’s important to not only be aware of current procedures but to allow yourself some breathing room in your budget to allow for unexpected fees.

4. Invest in travel insurance.

While vaccines and other measures are helping ease people back towards something that resembles a pre-pandemic life, it is always a good idea to purchase trip insurance in case something comes up. While many aspects of the pandemic are starting to be under control, it is always smart to invest in travel insurance just in case something changes.

Travel insurance such as the one offers by Travel Guard, their comprehensive travel insurance programs are reasonable and reliable for travelers. Starting at only $30, it includes per-trip & annual plans, coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, baggage loss & more!

5. Have backups for the items on your itinerary.

While many businesses are starting to reopen and some are even able to operate at a similar capacity as they did pre-pandemic, there are some that have new rules and regulations in place. For example, some museums may have a smaller capacity limit than usual. When possible, reach out directly to the places you want to visit to make sure that your expectations are current and that they are actually open and operating as usual. That said, be sure to plan on some alternative activities that are nearby to what you are planning on visiting. You may never need to use this list of backups, but it’s better to have the list and never use it rather than the other way around.

6. Pick a destination that makes sense.

While most destinations are open for tourists, there are some that will be easier to visit in a post-pandemic world than others. It may not be the best idea to book a multi-week cruise at this point as a first post-pandemic trip, for example. Picking a city or town with plenty of outdoor and indoor activities will give you plenty of flexibility and things to do while you are traveling.

7. Bring a mask.

While you may be vaccinated and masks may not be mandated by the government in the destination you are traveling to, it’s a good idea to have one handy, just in case. Some businesses or tours may require them, or you might be in a situation where you are more comfortable using them. While it’s easier to buy masks than it was in the early days of the pandemic, bringing one of your own will save you some money.

Here is one of the best lightweight masks designed for all-day protection and great for travel.

8. Bring extra sanitizing supplies for your trip and especially for the plane.

While it’s generally a good idea to travel with sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer as planes are not always the cleanest places, it’s extra important right now. Bringing disposable gloves and masks or sanitizing spray is a great idea, and taking an extra moment to wipe down your plane seat and the tray and any screens that may be assigned to your seat will help give you that extra protection from any germs that may be lurking.

Here is one of the best sanitizer travel sets that include things you might need such as gloves, masks and wipes, and other sanitizer supplies.

9. Stay flexible and be understanding.

While flexibility is important for travel regardless of any other circumstances, it’s especially important right now. It may be frustrating to have what you might think of as an abbreviated trip if you are unable to participate in some of the most popular attractions at your destination but try to think of it as an opportunity to explore parts of the city or region that are not for tourists. If a particular museum has a limited capacity and you’re unable to visit, think of it as an opportunity to walk through the neighborhood and find a small cafe you’ve never heard of. If you find yourself with a day with nothing to do, consider heading out of town to go on a hike or explore a national park. Think of a post-pandemic trip as an opportunity to see a new side of the place you’re visiting that isn’t in the guide books.

Travel Resources for Planning Your First Post-Pandemic Trip

To make planning your own post-pandemic trip to Europe easier, we listed some of our favorites and recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip.

Flights: 

Agoda: Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.

CheapOAir: You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!

Kiwi.com: What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “Nomad” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.

JetRadar: You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.

Hotels: 

Agoda: Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.

Hotellook: They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Transportations: 

Airport Transfers: KiwiTaxi, Viator or  GetTransfer ( offer both airport transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Train: EuroRail, Trainline or RailEurope 

Bus: Flixbus: Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.

Car Rentals: AutoEurope, EconomyBookings, or  GetTransfer (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike Rental: BikesBooking (Bikes & scooter rentals) 

Transportation Comparison: Omio (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Tours & Activities:

TakeWalks (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.

Tiqets: Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.

Musement: They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.

GetYourGuide: A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities

Viator: The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.

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Need help planning a post-pandemic trip to Europe?

Want to plan a trip and visit multiple destinations in Europe but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At MultiCityTrips, multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a multi-city, multi-country trip to Europe post-pandemic are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize your multi-city trip and craft the best vacation package for you.

Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our marketplace for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.

To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “How It Works” page or check out our video on “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in  5 Easy Steps”  here.

Have questions for us? Try our 24/7 live chat, call/text us at (888)223-2316,  Schedule a FREE Call, or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at [email protected].