5 TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY AMIDST THE PANDEMIC

Whether you dream of being a spectator in the upcoming Olympics or dancing to your favourite tracks in major music festivals, let’s continue to fuel our wanderlust with more travel bucket list experiences to look forward to. Check out these top 5 tips for planning your next trip amid these uncertain times.

1. CAN’T TRAVEL ABROAD? PLAN A STAYCATION.

Missed your favourite autumn season in Korea? Or had to push back your plan of spending a white Christmas and New Year in Europe? We know that feeling. Having a dream destination we’ve been saving on and anticipating to visit, and then suddenly, all the countries were forced to shut their doors. Instead of entertaining our void and disappointment, why not try exploring our own home country. It could be that small town nearby for food hunting, or a road trip to somewhere new. Not only will we rediscover the beauty of all the places we had previously visited, but also a chance to appreciate and see these destinations in brand new light. And the feel-good part? We’re supporting our local tourism and businesses which are still heavily hit by the pandemic.

2. CHECK WHICH COUNTRIES WILL OPEN THEIR BORDERS FOR TRAVEL BUBBLES SOON.

Countries that agree to establish these travel corridors are the ones that have good track record in controlling their COVID-19 outbreak. This means it is much safer to travel to these low-risk destinations as they have strict health protocols in place. Do bear in mind that getting tested negative for COVID-19 is always a prerequisite. To be sure, always visit your local government’s website for the latest information on what conditions you have to meet or adhere to prior to your arrival. Considering all the fun and wonders we’re going to experience after months of lockdown, we’d say whatever condition it is, it’s worth it!

3. START BROWSING FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP.

We’re mentally prepared that it might be another year or two for many countries to stabilise their current situations and ease travel restrictions. While patiently waiting for the world to heal, let’s keep fuelling our inner wanderlust with a list of destinations we’d love to visit once in a lifetime. If there’s one thing that this pandemic has taught us, that would be to live in the moment and follow our hearts. Let’s start by revisiting our travel bucket lists. Post-pandemic, would you still want to explore that destination out of convenience? Or would you rather make use of your time and opportunity to head to somewhere you wouldn’t think of exploring before?

For a dose of inspiration, follow some destination-specific hashtags of the places you’re interested in. Travel videos and blogs are particularly satisfying too, especially when we can’t travel abroad at the moment. Next, try mind mapping that trip. Who do you want to travel with? Where do you want to go? And so on. Dying to try out all the extreme sports and get your heart racing? Go ahead, add them to your list. Wanna do island hopping in Southeast Asia? Plan ahead and connect those beaches.

Travel tips: Check out The Taaras on Redang Island.

4. GRAB THE OFFERS FIRST, PLAN THE DETAILS LATER.

On the bright side, the pandemic has given us more time to plan for our next trip. Hotel stays have never been cheaper. And flight tickets have never been this flexible. More travel perks. Unlimited changes. Travel deals are everywhere you don’t even need to hunt for them! If you’re a bargain lover, it’s really the best time to book. As a general rule of thumb, always use sites like Tripadvisor and Skyscanner to compare the prices. And then to get the best offers, book direct from the hotels or airlines as they usually offer more perks compared to other third-party travel platforms.

Many hotels (such as Berjaya Hotels & Resorts) are offering open date vouchers with flexible cancellation policy now. Take advantage of that. Travelling in these uncertain times means flexibility is everything. It’s also exhilarating as we learn how to adapt along the way. So we say, snatch those deals first and dive into the details (such as itinerary) later.

5. GET FIT OR BRUSH UP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS.

Have you ever thought of free diving in Seychelles or bungee jumping in New Zealand? If you’re the type who seeks adventure but your current physical fitness is holding you back, you’re not the only one. Perhaps this stay-at-home period is the perfect time for us to step up our fitness game and re-evaluate our lifestyle. Oh wait, your ideal holiday is not as extreme? And you don’t feel like running on a treadmill like a chubby hamster for hours? That’s fine too. Let’s work on something that will make your next trip more interesting. Perhaps brushing up on photography skills, or learning a new language. It could be journaling. It could be anything.

By sharing these 5 tips, we hope everyone has something to look forward to amidst this pandemic and all set for your next adventure!

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