12 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Post-COVID Trip Abroad SimCorner® Australia

The time has finally come.

The calendar’s been blocked out 📅.

Tickets have been bought 🎫.

It’s your very first international flight✈️ since before Covid (wow…can you even remember what travelling before a pandemic was like?).

While overeagerness is imminent, there are still a few things you need to check off - it is, after all, now part and parcel of the normal-but-not-so-normal travel process of 2022.

So why not learn a thing or two from those with first-hand experience? Here is some of the best advice that we’ve gathered from recent post-COVID travellers.

“💳 Sort out your travel banking before you leave!”

Depending on how long you’re travelling for, of course, using your bank card overseas might rack up quite the bill with processing fees and more. Use prepaid travel cards whenever you can, inform your bank that you’re travelling abroad and ensure that you have an emergency stash in case you have to stay abroad longer than planned.

“💵📋🏥 Never, ever travel without insurance.”

You think it might be saving you a couple of dollars, but in the case of unforeseen circumstances (we’ve heard that a lot lately), getting insured will save you a world of pain. The travel industry still needs some time to fully get back on its feet, so flight cancellations will be around for a while.

“🎫 Don’t wait - book your tickets first!”

Timing is everything they say and with all that’s happened, there are still ample travel hesitations towards travel in everyone’s minds. According to trend indicators though, travel will only start to ramp up from now on. So if there’s a trip that you’ve been dreaming about throughout lockdown, park your hesitation and book it now - there’s a chance that you will get a far richer experience and options cost-wise than fighting surging crowds in the months to come.

“🏨 🛌🏽 Book your hotel at the last minute.”

Many hotels are still recovering from the shortage of international guests, which means it’s a great opportunity to save heaps by booking directly and enquiring about added deals and discounts. It won’t stay this way forever though. Also by choosing to do this, you need to be extra flexible and do plenty of research beforehand to avoid the risk of having no accommodation at all.

“🏚️ Always prepare for quarantine.”

With things opening up and restrictions easing, there is a low chance of quarantine happening. But you never know - rules could change at the drop of a hat. Ensure that you have access to funds to pay for quarantine expenses, pack items that keep you busy and find out about your hotel booking cancellation policies just in case. Having prepaid travel SIM cards on hand ensures that you’re always in touch with your loved ones, too.

“👨🏽‍💼 If you can afford to, hire a travel agent.”

While it may be a bit of an added expense, having a great travel agent who knows exactly what’s happening makes a world of difference. You get local guidance, updates and at times, better package deals or info to activities and sights only locals are privy to. This makes your planning process a lot easier as well, especially when you have an added layer of paperwork, vaccination validation and testing to get through.

“😷 Always have a Plan B for if you catch COVID overseas.”

Check up on the local health authority sites to find out what to do if you test positive along the way. Also check where the local medical providers are, who you need to contact first, what your travel insurance covers and the details from official consular websites.

“❤️ Savour the experience one spot at a time.”

Back then, we used to aim to see three or four countries in a few weeks. In a changing world, choosing to stay in one place would probably be the best - and wisest way - to really immerse yourself in cultures and traditions. Allow yourself to explore and savour it fully. Doing this ensures planning becomes less of a nightmare too!

“🤳🏻 Joining different Facebook groups has been such an amazing help!”

If you’re travelling to a particularly popular travel spot, there’s sure to be a social media forum or group that can provide you with the insights you need. Better yet, there will be people who have gone through the same experience with up-to-date info to answer any questions too.

“📝 ✔️ Before you leave, provide a copy of your travel itinerary and ID to an emergency contact or family member.”

Regardless of a pandemic, this little tip is super helpful. Mishaps and accidents happen, so in the event of losing your documents, you’ll have peace of mind that someone you know is able to verify the validity of your claims.

“🩹 💊 Always keep a mini first-aid kit handy.”
A travel kit is an essential travel item. The basics are: antihistamine medication, bandages, gauze, extra masks, diarrhoea meds, pain relief medication, a pair of small scissors, hand sanitizer and antiseptic wipes. For a more comprehensive idea, check out our ultimate checklist for stress-free travel.

“📇 Make hard copies of your passport and ID.”

Ensure you have extra copies of your ID and passport nestled in your luggage or other bags that you don’t carry around on an everyday basis. Some travellers even swear by getting a dummy wallet and keeping your real one hidden from plain sight.

Finally, take a long, deep breath. While preparing for travel now can be a bit of a minefield, what awaits you on the other side will be worth it. Happy travelling!

👉 Don’t forget to browse our store now for all the travel essentials you need! Shop now.