With the outbreaking pandemic that has been stayed for quite long, have you wondered how has the pandemic changed the way we travel? This is my observation of traveling in five European countries in June to July 2022 for 1.5 months when health protocols were relaxed even though it was still declared a pandemic.
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, I have actually traveled abroad, which is Turkey in September 2020. I am really waiting to be able to travel abroad again after the vaccine is full and when the country no longer enforces PCR tests and quarantine. As soon as the world started to loosen up, I was ready to get out! Nervous? Of course! Imagine, it’s been two years since I’ve traveled solo abroad!
It turns out that things have changed after 2.5 years of the pandemic, at least in Europe. In general, here are the summary:
1. More Expensive.
First, because it was opened during the high season of the summer. No wonder once the protocol is loose, many people has became “travel enthusiast”. After being quarantined for so long, people are traveling in droves at the same time.
Second, because of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the prices of raw materials and fuel in Europe rose.
Third, the information on the tourism industry sites is not updated, so often prices have gone up, so the budget has swelled.
Lastly, here’s my personal opinion: because 2.5 years of the pandemic have made low income, I have become more appreciative of money because it’s really hard to get it! With the currency exchange rate getting worse, I was shocked!
2. Longer Queue
During the two years of the pandemic, many airports were not operating, so they laid off their employees. Once it has been opened again, the airport became short of employees.
As the result, the queue is long as it is served by very few people. Not to mention causing flight delays, cancellations, or loss of baggage. High season and understaffed is a confusing combination. Not only at the airport, but also in other public transportation. The business of making a visa also takes longer than usual because of the large number of applicants.
3. No Health Protocol
This depends on the country and city. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, local people shouted at me to take off my mask. Contrary, on a public bus in Milan, Italy, the bus driver shouted at passengers who didn’t want to wear masks. While on the plane, depending on the airline regulations. Long-haul international flights are still mandatory, but flights between cities/countries in Europe are mask-free. I still wear a mask when I’m on an airplane and in intercity public transportation, and other passengers see it too!
It feels like social distancing doesn’t happen at all. No temperature check. Hand sanitizer is no longer provided, although some restaurants still provide QR codes for menu access.
It’s a bit scary, but I watched the Queen & Adam Lambert concert at the Bologna stadium, 99% of the crowd didn’t wear masks!
4. The Group of Asian Tourists is Deserted
Currently, many tourists are traveling independently, not joining a tour group from their country. Groups of Asian tourists who are often annoying because they are noisy and take up the space of tourist attractions, are nowhere to be seen.
Maybe they haven’t been allowed to leave their country, or visa matters are getting more difficult and longer, or it’s just not the right time. One more thing, because of the war, Russian tourists were not seen.
5. No Longer Staying in Hostel Dorms
The reason, of course, is that I’m still paranoid. It’s just too lazy to share a room at night with many unknown people in a narrow room that often has no windows. Not to mention sharing a bathroom. Yes, the pandemic makes me a bit germaphobia! At first I was worried too, because hostels are places where we meet fellow travelers, so there are friends to chat and hang out together.
This time I chose to pay more to rent an apartment or stay at a hotel. But it turned out that my trip went smoothly and I was still able to make new friends from outside acquaintances.
6. Don’t Bring a Camera, But Bring a Laptop
Before the pandemic, I often wrote travel articles for magazines, so every time I traveled I brought a DSLR camera so that the quality was worthy of publication.
Unfortunately, during the pandemic, many magazines were closed! So I don’t carry a camera anymore. Now all photos and videos from cellphones are for social media purposes.
On the other hand, I usually don’t take my laptop with me (unless I’m away for a very long time), now I take it instead. Understandably, in this pandemic, all matters have been moved online, such as meetings and webinars. It’s also hard to find the right time because the time zone is five hours apart!
7. Outdoor Activities
In order to reduce the risk of transmission, this European trip was meant to swim at the beach. Fortunately, I have visited several cities/countries before so I don’t need to enter a museum or do indoor activities anymore. I ate at the restaurant and sat outside. clubbing? Not occur!
