Everything feels a bit up in the air right now, and travel is no different. Navigating the world during Covid times is a big unknown for everyone, and it can be a challenge to know exactly what to expect. Although the pandemic has invariably had huge impacts on the travel industry, from travel restrictions, cancelled trips, and uncertainty surrounding safe travel, our love of travel has inspired us to seek out ways to make the most out of a difficult situation. In fact, we’ve even encountered some surprise benefits of travelling at the moment.
So, we spoke to some of Skyscanner’s most frequent flyers who have discovered some unexpected positives and benefits of travelling during these times. If you plan to travel in 2020, here are some silver linings* travellers have found first-hand.
*Please note: Even though we highlight the positives in this article, we want you to know that we at Skyscanner take COVID-19 and its impact on travel, the people working in tourism and the world very seriously. If you do decide to go somewhere, please travel responsibly. Let’s make sure the next steps we take help to revitalize this new world of travel in a positive, organic, and sustainable way.
Unexpected benefits of travelling now
- It’s easy to avoid the crowds
- You can take that perfect Instagram pic
- No early morning runs for a lounge chair
- Wait in line? What line?
- Flying is less stressful
- Travelling is safer than you’d think
- Travel benefits your wellbeing
- We can work from anywhere
- We’ve rediscovered the staycation
It’s easy to avoid the crowds
One of the benefits of travelling right now? Your favourite destinations won’t come with long lines or busy crowds. The streets in typically tourist-heavy cities like Venice, Italy or Barcelona, Spain are the quietest they’ve been in years. An unexpected perk or silver lining when it comes to travelling during these times is that you won’t have to deal with long lines for those well-known attractions.
“I spent a week exploring Lake Como, Italy this past September, and it was one of the most relaxing trips I’ve ever been on. I’d read that I would need to reserve ferry tickets, wait in long lines, make reservations for restaurants ahead of time – basically, plan every detail of my trip. But none of this was true. I was able to hop on the ferry ten minutes before departure time and turned up to restaurants on a whim. I think that’s the way to approach travel at the moment: roll with it and enjoy every moment.”
Lisa, Communications
You can take that perfect Instagram pic
Instagram has provided us with space to be our best photographers while on the road, or even at home. But the thing is, that #SaturdaySunset pic or a pose next to the city’s most ‘Grammable mural isn’t so easy to get when you’re among hoards of tourists. One of the benefits of travelling right now is that you don’t have to wait a while for the right moment to get a perfect picture with just you in it. It really will be just you and the scenery.
“My husband and I were desperate to take a vacation, and we decided on Prague. It was my third time visiting the place, and our ability to freely walk the Charles Bridge and Meridian Square to see the Astronomical Clock made me discover the city in a new light.”
Anastasija, User Satisfaction
No early morning runs for a lounge chair
We all know that if you’re taking a beach getaway (especially during high season), you need to get up at the crack of dawn to secure a decent spot and lounge chair. While there’s always hidden gems to be found, it’s usually rare to find long stretches of sand without a crowd in your most beloved paradise destinations. But one of the things we’ve consistently heard about travel in 2020 is that the beaches are pretty much free of people. Another benefit of travelling right now is that you can roll out of bed in the middle of the day and still enjoy peace and calm at the beach.
“The beaches of Mozambique have been virtually deserted, the flamingos have returned to the shallow waters of the beaches of Maputo and once-crowded seaside locations like Tofo, Bilene, and Santa Maria have become zen-like hangouts where people escape the city and work remotely. You can have your pick of prime beachfront houses at a discounted price and experience the slow pace of life without the hustle and bustle (and sometimes chaos) that masses of tourists can bring.”
Kirsteen, Legal
Wait in line? What line?
The Big Apple! The Eternal City! The Big Smoke! Big name destinations with big attractions come with big ol’ line ups. On a typical day, the views from the top of the Empire State Building will come with at least an hour and a half wait. The Colosseum in Rome? Usually no less than a two-hour wait. The London Eye? Hold onto your hats, because the wait is two and a half hours for that giant Ferris wheel. One of the perks when sightseeing in this new world of travel is that long lines have pretty much disappeared. If that’s not an unexpected upside, we don’t know what is.
“I spent some time in Paris this summer. It was both surreal and magical seeing the city without any tourists. To be able to pull up a chair outside a café or bar in St. Germain or Montmarte and be surrounded only by locals made me feel like a local, too. The Metro was quiet, and it was easy to get a table at some of Paris’ top restaurants, and I didn’t have to book in advance for any galleries or attractions. It’s also amazing to see how well some European cities are handling the crisis and the length the tourism industry is going to keep people safe and things sanitized.”
Kim, Content Writer
Flying is less stressful
Almost every traveller we spoke to commented on how the experience of flying during coronavirus was less stressful than they expected. From almost empty planes to fast disembarkation to even faster baggage pick-ups, our travellers reported that they felt safe and—dare we say it—rather spoiled.
“I took my two young sons on a flight and there were two bonuses I hadn’t expected: 1) the free water and snacks, which we’d previously had to pay for, and 2) passengers remaining seated on arrival until their row was called. It was the fastest disembarkment of a full flight I have ever experienced! So much less stressful than the usual leaping-up-to-get-your-cabin-bags-out routine as soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off.”
Davina, Learning Manager
“Although a quiet airport is an eerie place, everything happens so quickly. Arriving in Athens, I strolled through passport control only to find that my suitcase was the one having to wait for me at baggage claim! I was under the sunshine in minutes.”
Gavin, Business Analyst
Travelling feels safer than you’d think
It’s no joke that the world is on high alert, and it’s only natural to feel the same, especially if you’re travelling right now. However, another consistent thing we kept hearing from our intrepid travellers was that the travel and hospitality industry is going above and beyond to make people feel safe and secure in their new destination.
“We just returned from 10 amazing days in Turkey. We were in a coastal town, so we spent the majority of our time on the beach and swimming, with little close contact with others. All of our dining was outdoors, so we felt safer than dining out at home in enclosed spaces. I felt much more present and grateful the whole time – it made me realize how much we had been taking travel for granted.”
Eileen, Designer
Travelling benefits your wellbeing
It’s no surprise (well, maybe it is for some!) that travelling and discovering new things has proven to be super beneficial to your wellbeing. This benefit of travelling is especially true during these times. When we asked our experts about travelling right now, most people we spoke to were humbled by how much better they felt after a break away from their usual routine. Whether it was for a two-week getaway or just a long weekend, the mental health benefits of travel were palpable.
“I needed to collect my daughter after she’d been away for respite care. I was alone driving on the open road for seven hours with my rental car, passing through the beautiful countryside. It wasn’t a long break, but it really helped my mental wellbeing.”
Andrew, Developer
“I was feeling desperate to get anywhere, so I was thrilled when I got the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Copenhagen. The biggest positive for me was how little we took for granted since we were so craving the trip.”
Lloyd, Software Engineer
We can work from anywhere
Flexible schedules and working from home have been on the menu for a while, but until COVID-19, not that many people had experienced its possible perks first-hand. One of the biggest benefits of travelling right now is being able to stay and work in new places and spend time with family. Who doesn’t want to spend their lunch break by the sea?
“My dad rarely takes time off, so we never had a long vacation together with my family. Now since both of us are working from home, we rented a house for a month in Bodrum, Turkey (our home country) and worked together from the balcony, which had an amazing sea view, and we could take swimming breaks. It was really refreshing to watch boats while taking Zoom calls, cook delicious food together and just be together for a longer amount of time!”
Ezgi, Developer
We’ve rediscovered the staycation
As crossing borders is limited for everyone at the moment, the humble staycation has filled the gaps for travellers everywhere. Not only is this throwing some much-needed business to the domestic travel and hospitality industries, but it’s more environmentally-friendly, too! It’s easy to dismiss the appeal of your home country, but explore your own backyard is becoming a 2020 mantra.
“For my birthday this year I initially wanted to splurge on a big international trip, but COVID-19 meant this wasn’t a safe option. Instead, my partner and I booked a fancy staycation in a London hotel. We went all out on balloons and food and had a great, COVID-safe time. The change of scenery was very welcome, and I felt good investing in local hospitality in the city I love.”
Tanya, Content Manager
Responsible travel during COVID
While there are so many benefits to travelling, we have to also acknowledge that travel is very different this year, and perhaps in the years to come.
And recently, some tourist attractions have seen upticks in crowds, such as the Great Wall of China and Mount Snowdon in Wales.
Avoid busy areas
One of the biggest perks of travel in today’s world is that once-crowded cities get a break. If you see that a destination is busy, opt to venture elsewhere where you can escape the crowds instead. Planning ahead will help you avoid off-peak times, which will be a win for you as well as those who live and work in the destination.
Pack masks and hand sanitizer
Face masks and hand sanitizers are added travel accessories you might have to bring along for your trip depending on where you’re going. Be sure to bring enough face coverings to last you in between washings, and give your hands a good scrub as much as possible. Hand sanitizers will be useful in between hand washings, so keep one tucked into your day bag. Be aware that many destinations will require mask-wearing whenever you’re outside your accommodation, so bring along your favourite face masks to wear on your trip.
Minimize hand-to-hand contact
Many businesses are moving to cashless payments in an attempt to minimize hand-to-hand contact. A travel tip we have for right now is to give your bank a heads up before your trip so that your card doesn’t get declined while you’re at a restaurant or buying a souvenir. In 2020, themed face masks have become the new fridge magnets.
Travel might not be the same as it used to be, but there are still silver linings. Whenever you’re ready, the world is waiting for you.
Frequently asked questions
There are a number of ways you can mitigate the risks of exposure while travelling during coronavirus. These include wearing a mask at all times, washing your hands regularly, carrying alcohol-based hand rubs/hand sanitizers with you, and social distancing. You can read up on the full WHO recommendations on precautions to take here.
Each government around the world has put in place their own advice regarding flying during the coronavirus outbreak, and we recommend you check with your local advisory board for the latest advice.
Want to read more?
On top of some unexpected benefits of travelling at the moment, here is some more travel inspiration and handy information just for you.
- What are the travel restrictions in Canada? Stay informed with the latest Coronavirus Travel Advice.
- Here are some unexpected destinations to add to your travel bucket list
- Looking for a staycation in Canada? Here are some local and unique hotels to experience right now.
- Read more about the new world of travel with these 2021 travel trends and how traveller focus is shifting
