Lost with Luis: My five tips for travelling within Canada during COVID-19
The travel industry has taken a huge hit ever since COVID-19 and for the foreseeable future, travel will be very different. I thrive on planning my next adventure but in the last few months my travel plans have shifted.
While it can be discouraging to some, I think there are many silver linings. For one, I think we live in a world that is flooded with social media and over sharing (I’m guilty of it too). Travelling to a popular destination often came with the headache of overly populated tourist spots that were not at all conducive to a peaceful getaway. COVID-19 has put a pause on this and I think it will result in many people really discovering their own back yards.
I think this will also positively impact the environment and the carbon footprint we leave on it. For the next several months to a year, I am excited to get lost and discover my own back yard. Canada is a beautiful country with lots to offer and I can't wait to explore it some more.
I recently flew to Vancouver Island for a trip I had planned long before COVID-19 and here are my takeaways for travelling within Canada during COVID-19.
1) Bring several face masks and wear the damn masks!
It seems obvious, right? Whether you like them or not, face masks are part of the new norm. Even in the very remote locations that I visited in Northern Vancouver Island, masks were not only encouraged, but expected. If you are flying, masks are a requirement. Wearing a mask for several hours is not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it’s also not as bad as I thought it would be. I suggest investing in several super comfortable masks. It’s nice to have a fresh one after using the same one for several hours. Masks are still required during airport screenings but they may ask you to adjust your mask for identification purposes.
2) Plan as much as you can beforehand
Sometimes, part of the fun of traveling is to be spontaneous. With that said, I suggest planning as much as possible before your trip. Want to go to a cool restaurant? Make a reservation. Want to book a whale watching tour? Book it in advance. With COVID-19, businesses are encouraged to have little in-person interaction, especially when it comes to signing forms/waivers. Wherever possible, try to book activities/tours/rentals in advance to limit as much in-person interaction as possible.
3) Know the rules and guidelines for where you are visiting
Every province in Canada has its own rules and guidelines and it’s important to know them and to be respectful of them. When I went out west, British Columbia had progressed significantly more than Ontario with regards to COVID-19 cases. While it was nice to experience, I also had to do my part in practicing social distancing and wearing a mask so that I couldn’t interrupt that progress coming from a larger city with more COVID-19 cases. Out east, some provinces currently require you to self isolate for 14 days which might not be ideal for your travel plans.
4) Bring hand sanitizer & disinfecting wipes:
This is pretty obvious, but super important. Luckily, there are many sanitizing stations throughout airports and public spaces but it’s always good to have them on you. I can’t tell you how many times I touched a door handle or stair rail and needed sanitizer quickly. Wipes are great to disinfect chairs and surfaces. If you are flying within Canada, each individual is allowed to have one bottle of hand sanitizer that’s up to 12 ounces (or 350 millilitres) in a carry-on bag.
5) Consider spending as much of your trip outdoors as possible
Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to really immerse yourself in nature. Whenever possible, consider going on more remote adventures and avoid crowds and group activities, especially when indoors. While I can certainly understand that not everyone likes to camp or go too deep on the ''rugged end”, there are many alternative options like glamping, cottage rentals or even day trips to smaller towns. For my most recent trip, I decided to rent a camper van and spent 3 days in the great outdoors camping. It was epic and you can read all about it here.
Remember to smile and be friendly! This pandemic has definitely put a lot of us on edge and many of us have our guards up, but let’s remember to be friendly! Let’s not forget that although we’re taking safety measures and are staying 6 feet apart, we can still wave or say thank you to people. We’ve all had a tough time in some way or the other, let’s not forget to be kind to one another! Happy travels!
