Tips for Students Going Abroad in the Post-Covid Era

So many aspects of life are different for us now, whether it be that we work from home instead of going into the office everyday, or that we’ve redecorated the whole house as we’ve had so much free time inside when we would usually have been caught up in life. Either way, nothing is as it was before. So how has travel changed for us? And what do we need to bear in mind when finally managing to go on holiday again?

Travel Regulations: What to look out for before you book

One of the most important things to check before you start travelling again, is the specific list of travel regulations in regard to the country you are visiting. You need to know first of all if they are on the green list, the amber list or the red list, as all three have different consequences and many countries are constantly changing. Portugal for example, was green only 2 weeks ago and now it’s on the amber list meaning that if you had flown to portugal 2 weeks ago you could have enjoyed your holiday with no quarantine, whereas now, you would have to wait out a compulsory 10 day quarantine and pay for PCR tests both before you leave and on arrival. It is also important to consider the restrictions in your own country so that you know what is required on your return back home and you don’t end up unknowingly breaking the rules.

Travel information: What’s the best way to get there?

When it comes to how you will travel, there are three main options that I would suggest: plane, train and bus. Planes are obviously the most popular choice for travel, especially if you are going somewhere far away, but you do have to bear in mind that quite a few airlines have gone under due to the pandemic such as AirItaly and Flybe, and there are others that have had to hugely cut their staff due to lack of funding such as Virgin Australia who made 8,000 of their employees redundant. This means that there are not as many frequent flights and there may be cancellations at short notice, so you must be prepared with back-up options or other date possibilities. The same applies for train lines as they too have been hit financially during the pandemic, but when it comes to busses, there is one company that I would definitely recommend from personal experience: Busabout.

It is a company which works throughout America, Europe and Asia, for which you can buy a set amount of open tickets and use them as and when you desire. They have an app that you can download to find meeting points and schedules, and you can plan your trip from there. It is honestly so simple and I 100% recommend looking into it if you are wanting to travel to more than one place.

Paperwork: take it page by page

Then, you need to consider paperwork. First of all, after you have found out whether or not you need a test, you must make sure that you have proof of the results for the airline or travel company that you will be using. I would also suggest having proof of a vaccine if you have received it (although this is not essential at the minute it never hurts to be prepared). The biggest advice I have in terms of paperwork though, would be don’t forget the basics. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by Covid and to be stressed about the complications, so much so that you could end up forgetting to make sure you have all the things that you normally need. So, check that your passport is in date, check that you have a visa organised (if necessary) and that you have the right type of visa, and then maybe print out your boarding passes or train tickets if necessary. I would suggest having one folder to keep it all together so that you don’t have pieces of paper here, there and everywhere.

Planning your accommodation: what to do if you need help

Accommodation is another aspect of your travels that may cause you some concern, especially now that everybody will want to go away at the same time when restrictions start to lift. Obviously you will need to look online before you go and one of the most useful websites that I’ve used is Erasmusu. On this website, you can search for student housing of all different types; whether you want to live alone or with a group of people, they’ve got you covered!

Have fun!

My final piece of advice, and in my eyes the most important, is to just ENJOY your time away. Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed by all of the information above, you’re in control of your trip and the best thing you can do is have fun. Use the time to learn a new language, or experience a new culture, meet new people and try new food. The experience you will have abroad is one of the best experiences you will ever have and you will remember it for the rest of your life… make it count!

Author/Content contribution by: Morgan Daley