How can I travel safely during the pandemic? Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. But sometimes life isn't about choices. You could be traveling for an emergency for all I know. This post is solely to help inform those that have already decided to travel. Cause if you have to do it, I'd rather you do it right.
*I am not a medical specialist. All sources have been provided and linked. Please consult with your medical professional for additional up to date information.
Should you travel when coronavirus is still an issue? What a tricky question! It's something being discussed as the holiday season is here, and large family gatherings are being discouraged. If seeing family isn't an option, can we use our vacation days for...vacation?
Travel has become a sensitive issue these days due to Covid-19. When I decided to travel to Venice in August, I was really concerned I would get a flood of comments telling me it's unethical to travel or irresponsible to promote it. I was afraid I would get "travel shamed." Thankfully, my followers understood that I put a lot of thought into the trip and wasn't carelessly risking myself & others. But I can't say the same for others.
The problem with it all is that there isn't a straightforward answer. There are so many factors to traveling - especially during this pandemic. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC),
1 in 10 jobs worldwide is supported by the Travel & Tourism sector. Can we really tell 10% of the world, “Sorry, you'll lose your job and home and go hungry. Nobody should travel till there is a vaccine. Your life doesn't matter as much as other lives."?
When COVID first struck earlier this year, hospital systems were overrun and "flattening the curve" became first priority. We were told the best way to do so was to lockdown and stay home. I wholeheartedly agreed and did so. But is that still the case? Should we still be in lockdown mode 9 months later? Does this situation appear to be human lives vs the economy? Or are the human lives linked to the economy? And does all travel have to be dangerous?
With Autumn as my favorite season, you can imagine my delight when I discovered that the largest pumpkin festival in the world took place in Germany! It was easily accessible by train and wasn't too far so I arranged a quick trip right away. This all happened before the second Covid wave hit Europe so it was supposed to be a "safe" time to travel, but I planned a short 2 day trip to the area to keep our time to a minimum (remember that safety and health comes first!). You can spend all day at the festival, but you shouldn't need more than the one day there.
It's currently a difficult time for traveling, but that doesn't mean we can't make it into an opportunity! I've been using this time to continue brainstorming for future travel and how to improve the experience. I noticed it can be pretty annoying to write out a packing list every time so I made these Ultimate Packing Lists. You can print them out or check them off right on your phone/computer as you pack. I even made extra slots for you to customize it into your own list! These lists will make sure you're relaxing on your trip instead of shopping for everything you forgot.
For those who like traveling off the beaten path, or maybe you've just already seen the major stops and want somewhere new. Either way, I've gathered some amazing spots to see in Germany that you may have yet to hear of. I'll start closest to one of Europe's major airport hubs, Frankfurt, and work around.
I wanted to write this post about the small city we live in because, albeit not the usual expat destination in Germany, Jena does get its fair share of international residents. So to those who may be planning to move to Jena and would like to know what the town is like, I hope this is insightful.
When we first asked about the city, we were told things like "Jena is a nice small town with lots of people." "25% of the population is students so there is a lot happening." "It's very international." "There are plenty of English speakers so you don't have to worry." I would say all of those statements are more complimentary than accurate. We felt very differently when we moved here.