As travel starts to open back up, planning is more important than ever…particularly when you are planning to travel to a different country. Over the last several months, the level of difficulty with achieving international travel has varied drastically. Surprisingly, the most difficult (between US and UK anyway) seems to have been during March 2021. However, now that spring has fully arrived and many areas are easing restrictions, it seems that travel is becoming easier.

We have one family member returning from school in the UK next week (late May), so we will see…

To avoid as much stress as possible, here are some steps you should take no matter how recently you have traveled.

1. Look at the government website for the country you will be visiting to see what is required. Different countries have different requirements for COVID testing – PCR, LAMP, antigen, etc. You want to be sure you have the correct one or you may not be able to get through border control.
2. Check restrictions for returning to your own country. These may be different depending on the countries you visit, so look at your government website to be sure you have the correct information.
3. Check to see if special health insurance is required for the area you are traveling to. Also, check to see what happens if you get sick. I have heard horror stories about conditions for visitors with COVID in some areas, while in other areas there is no issue at all. Either way, knowing what to expect can reduce your stress tremendously.
4. Pack things that may be difficult to find. I try to take all of the medications I might need on a journey – particularly since it may be called something else where I am going. (i.e. Tylenol is paracetamol in the UK…who knew!!!) Also, on a recent trip to the Oregon coast, our hotel was not allowed to stock even one extra roll of toilet paper. When we ran out before the office opened we decided we should carry our own.

Just a few simple steps, but they can make all the difference in the world when you are in a strange place with differing laws, customs or language.

Want more info for traveling to the US? Go here to see the latest US government COVID requirements.

Want to know about travel to the UK? Check out this gov.uk site.

Plan well and travel safely. Here’s to getting back out there!