Should ALL travel be halted right now?

Happy New Year, Cadets! I hope 2021 is a better year for you and more travel opportunities open up to you. Today, I’m going. to address a touchy topic that has been bothering me for the last months. I’ve been dealing with one of Europe’s strictest lockdown and have had a lot of time to think about this subject.

Disclaimer: I have been in the same place for 6 months. I made two short trips to other COVID safe destinations during the summertime in Europe when Covid rates were next to nothing. For the first time in months, 2 days ago, I left Ljubljana to drive around in Slovenia’s Kranjska Gora region. I can count my personal interactions since September, on the one hand.

This topic has constantly been occupying my social media for the last 6-9 months. The majority of people believe the answer is an absolute no. I’ve seen all sorts of pissing contests among my traveler groups “How can you be so selfish?”, ” You want to kill my grandma, you asshole.” “Check your privilege” and whatnot.

There IS A lot of truth to this train of thought. There are many stories that we do hear about selfish travelers. There are dozens of stories about many people, mostly US Americans, getting caught skipping quarantine. It is frankly embarrassing as if there are not enough other reasons for being embarrassed about being a US American in this time period. The stories about spring breakers get on my nerves just as much as anyone else’s. I get irritated when people dash to their resorts, act spoiled, have no regard for anyone’s safety, and undermine other countries’ declining health systems. It is infuriating.

However, I cannot help but feel the situation is not as black and white as it appears. If I got a dollar for every time I’ve read some thread about other privileged people screaming at other people ( a couple of times even at me) to check their privilege, I could probably afford to return to live comfortably in the United States. Really many of them should heed their own advice. Newsflash, not everyone has a comfortable home in their home country to return to. The majority of the world does not have a house with a yard. Many people who live a nomadic life can not stop everything from coming back home, especially if they live in the US. If I was not able to housesit for some relatives, I have no idea what I could have done. Also, you don’t always know what personal reasons a person has for going somewhere. They can be much more complex than they appear.

Also, not everyone in the world can wait for this pandemic to allow completely over travelers to enter. This is a sad truth. Are we supposed to tell people in countries where much of their livelihood is dependent on international business or tourism to get over it? Unfortunately, many of these “selfish assholes” are the ones keeping some places in business. I really wish there was more done to help save the tourism industry in countries dependent on this.

Also, the majority of cases in many countries are NOT the fault of travelers. There are just as many risks of staying in your town. I’ve seen people from my hometown attending all sorts of functions. I saw one individual post some articles about these stupid tourists in Tulum but post a Livestream from a party less than an hour later! Many people I’ve seen posting from their thrones at home seem to be fine with having someone in the outside world to do all their shopping and errands for them. Of course, this is necessary for some because they suffer serious health problems and are more at risk than others. So I am not faulting them. However, please don’t go around faulting everyone in the outside world when you are in a position to be able to stay at home. Also, it is not only tourists/travelers that are the covidiots in other places. I have a friend who has been an ex-pat in Mexico and has witnessed just as many locals breaking restrictions as travelers. Some people really need to think a bit more before pointing fingers at others.

Cool! So how do I do some Covid safe travel?

Road trips are wonderful. Trips that involve nature are also wonderful. I saw a few people last summer make some exquisite trips to some national parks. Try to stick with destinations that allow for more socially distant activities. Try to pick some places in your region as well. I have some traveler friends that have immensely enjoyed just visiting places in their region that they have missed out on because they usually go somewhere far away.

If you are going abroad, follow the covid restrictions of wherever you are going. Don’t skip the quarantine if there is one; take your tests, be respectful to the locals, tip extra even if it is a place that does not have much of a tipping culture. Wear your damn mask in places. Get your vaccine when it is your turn. Don’t bring your anti-science/ conspiracy theory stuff to other places. In fact, stay home forever if you are going to do that.

Please don’t be an ass! Remember, you are an ambassador when you are traveling. This goes for when there is not a pandemic also.

Anyway, here is my two cents when it comes to traveling during these days. It seems to have taken a monopoly in every single traveler group I see these days and in several of my social circles. . It is a constant two-front war, and I really can’t wait for it to be over. My next article will discuss fun ways to have travel come to you without leaving your home/ base.