The idea of safety in travel has certainly changed over the course of 2020 since the pandemic has prevented most people from travelling at all, while many have had to adapt their travel plans for the long haul.

We’ve all cancelled our vacations and replaced those exotic beach getaways with local explorations. 

However, as 2021 quickly approached with the hope of numerous travel opportunities arriving on the horizon, and the hope of some semblance of normalcy when the pandemic dwindled, we began thinking about travel safety precautions. To help you prepare for the unknown and hopefully stay healthy and safe during your 2021 vacation, here’s a list of useful preventative measures and steps you can take to keep your peace of mind. 

Follow the prescribed safety protocols

In 2021, safety will depend heavily on how consistent we are with following the rules. Social distancing will likely be here to stay in the months to come, so if you’re planning a trip in the first half of the year, you should certainly keep that in mind and choose places that help you travel safely.

Make sure to wear a mask and always stay up to date on the latest rules and regulations, since you’ll be able to choose destinations that have tackled the pandemic effectively and that offer wonderful escapades with your safety in mind, such as New Zealand. 

Choose local travel more often

As much as we all want to spend our vacations in new places that have the potential to change our lives, we now need to put our safety above all else. That also means we’ll protect people around us by postponing some of our bucket-list travel plans, by sticking to what’s available locally.

For example, you can book your next vacation in a private house on a lake instead of booking a group tour of a densely populated city. You can then spend your vacation camping in nature with your kids or organizing a spa getaway with your special someone.

Seek professional advice and guidance

Although the pandemic is currently the main safety-related topic, you also need to keep other safety precautions in mind. For example, when you want to travel to and explore a metropolis such as Sydney, Australia, you need to know what you should do if you get mugged or your luggage gets stolen. You can talk to experienced criminal lawyers in Sydney to ask for specific guidance on what you need to do if something goes wrong and how you can protect yourself legally.

Taking other practical precautions to keep yourself and your possessions safe can help. For instance, you can invest in an anti-theft backpack or pay for a safety deposit box to keep your valuables there during your visit. 

Regular medical checkups are necessary

Much like talking to a legal professional will help you understand the local laws and your own rights if something goes awry; you also need to think and plan in terms of your health. Especially now that the pandemic is reshaping our lives, you need to make time for routine medical checkups to ensure that it’s safe for you to travel.

That will help you prevent serious medical issues on the road, so if it’s time for your flu shot or to rethink your diet to keep your heart in good health, your checkup will uncover anything to be mindful of. Add to that; you’ll know how to adapt your travel insurance policy to cover any condition you might need to deal with.

Essentials to bring with you

Of course, your packing list will depend on the kind of trip you want to take since you cannot possibly bring the same essentials for an off-road escapade and a lake-side weekend. However, for the sake of safety, make sure that you have those essential items such as a multipurpose knife that you can use in nature, allergy medications, as well as a power bank to keep your phone charged. 

Don’t forget the hygiene essentials, including a face mask you can wash, hand sanitizer, wet wipes to clean your gadgets, and the like. You’ll easily tweak the list depending on the destination, but make sure to keep your safety and health in mind. 

With the pandemic still raging on, we must take precautions and reshape our mindset towards our 2021 vacations. For one, we cannot neglect all other aspects of safety simply because we’re focusing on health and social distancing, but we also need to be careful when we make our plans. Including these tips and ideas into our travel agenda can help us make our 2021 adventures more viable and enjoy our trips without being overwhelmed.