Advice for Women Travelers:
Travel was severely affected because of the global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (2 SARS-CoV-2) and threat of COVID19. I don't mean people who had vacations cancelled: I mean travelers stranded abroad and struggling to get back to their home countries. Some travelers got COVID. Some international travelers were targeted by angry locals who thought the foreigners were spreading the virus. A lot of travelers learned the hard way that travel insurance is a must. Borders closed.
Some people never stopped traveling. Those people went to states and counties where restaurants never closed, or they could at least get take out. They camped rough on public lands managed by the woefully under-staffed Bureau of Land Management or in campground that were supposed to be closed. The border between Mexico and the USA, for cars and motorcycle riders, never really closed, and they happily popped over to enjoy warmer climates. They usually refused to wear masks. Those people spread the virus, even if they didn't get sick themselves. They taxed local health care systems - local hospitals, local clinics - when they did get sick or injured. I don't care that they put themselves in danger, but I'm horrified at what they did to others.
Don't be one of those people, not now, and not when there is another epidemic or pandemic. Please travel with a mindset of respect.
Once you are fully vaccinated and people in areas you want to travel to are fully vaccinated, you are going to want to travel farther from home, including abroad. But pandemics aren't going away. You need to have a plan for THE NEXT ONE. Or, at least, what you are going to do if there is a local outbreak of a disease where you are that will make it a challenge for you to get back to your home. And you need to keep in mind that not everyone has access to that precious vaccine.
In 2020, responsible travelers stayed home. Unless they were in a severe lock down, they walked, hiked, rode their bicycles and motorcycles, and went on day trips, all within a few minutes or hours of their own homes. They got take out meals. They took language courses. They organized travel photos. They kept local restaurants afloat by getting takeout.
In 2021, people in rich countries got vaccinated and were starting to travel more freely, including abroad - but then the Omicron variant of the virus hit and many cancelled again.
In 2022, people are making plans to travel, locally and abroad, in huge numbers. Should they?
Here's what I think, based on reading every science-based article and guideline I can get my hands on and based on wanting to be respectful of others:
I do NOT recommend you travel recreationally until not only YOU are fully vaccinated, but the area where you will travel is not over-taxed with people with COVID19. To travel to areas where emergency rooms are overflowing with people with COVID-19, where local clinics don't have the oxygen for the patients there, because you want photos at the beach, is the height of arrogance and selfishness. It all comes down to whether or not you intend to be a responsible traveler or an asshole.
If you are sick with a cold, the flu, or any respiratory illness, please rethink your travel plans, please stay isolated as much as you can, and if you must go out in public, wear a mask in public (and not just when you travel). Yes, even if you are vaccinated and even when the global pandemic is over. I used to make fun of tourists that wear masks, before COVID. I never will again. While it may not have kept them from getting sick, masks most certainly did cut down on the number of people THEY made sick. It's like wearing pants - your pants are good protection from someone peeing on you, but other people wearing pants is the GREATEST protection from them peeing on you.
If you are going to go farther than a day's drive from home:
Also see: Lessons learned from travelers stranded because of COVID19.
I have more general advice regarding health and safety while traveling here.
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Some of my favorite photos from my travels. Very hard to pick favorites.
Disclaimer: Any activity incurs risk. The author assumes no responsibility for the use of information contained within this document.
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