Travelling tips for today

by Paul Kandarian

No one loves traveling more than I do. For years I was a travel writer, getting on a plane eight, ten, 15 times a year, jetting off to paradise usually in the Caribbean, occasionally farther away.

Before I renewed my passport last year, its pages were packed with faraway destinations, from Bermuda to Central America to the Far East to Europe. I lived to travel, loved to travel, I couldn’t wait to go to an airport, hang out and watch people, and then get on a plane bound for the next adventure.

I don’t do travel writing anymore, but if I did, Covid would have put an end to that. But I still love to travel and love the adventure of not knowing what’s around the next corner.

So travel these days is closer, smarter, but no less adventurous. And as I find myself in an aging demographic I’d much rather not be in (but considering the alternative, I’ll take it), I find myself also looking into ways to be safe in these pandemic times fraught with seeming peril. According to the Centers for Disease Control, upwards of 80 percent of all Covid-related deaths happen to folks 65 and above.

Sobering thought, especially for people like me who count themselves in good shape, people who exercise, don’t smoke, eat healthy and have active, productive lives. That helps keep Covid away, but the fact is, we oldies are more susceptible to disease, just as we’re more susceptible to falls, scams, and wearing bright white Velcro sneakers and hiking our pants too high. But we oldies also still love to travel.

So poking about, I found a bunch of good tips, some very obvious, some not, and they are:

Mask up, people

That’s so basic it’s hardly worth mentioning but I mention it because wearing a mask, and washing your hands often, are by far the best ways to keep Covid away. It’s annoying remembering a mask but the more we do it the less bothersome it is. I look at it this way: our parents sacrificed far worse during World War II for the common good of all, so Covid is our war and we’re just doing what we can to help. It’s patriotic to protect not just our own lives, but others as well. And you can wear a flag mask if you want!

The CDC advises we oldies book flights with actual Covid protocols in place, and try traveling mid-week when planes are less crowded

To fly or not to fly?

That is the question, because flying is the fastest way to go places. And it’s safe: the way planes circulate and filter air, it’s probably safer than the air you breathe in an office (especially if you work in a place where people eat reheated Indian food at their desks), but the hard part is maintaining social distances, going through crowded security lines, etc. The CDC advises we oldies book flights with actual Covid protocols in place, and try traveling mid-week when planes are less crowded. Oh, and mask up for the whole ride, not just walking around. And feel free, nay, feel obligated to first sanitize any surface you may touch, e.g., lav door handles and lav faucets because honestly, nothing’s grosser than an airplane lav. Unless it’s the guy in the next cubicle in your office eating reheated Indian food.

Ship ahoy?

Not so fast, sailor: Though cruise lines had suspended most cruises around the world when the pandemic hit, greed has overcome common sense and many are ramping up again. But with the threat of a fall surge of Covid (and evidence is that it is indeed happening) maybe put your boat shoes in dry dock until 2021. But book now because cruises tend to fill up rapidly. You just can’t discount the drawing power of a 24-hour chocolate fountain I guess.

Go local

Another no-brainer, really, but think about it: we live in New England, one of America’s most beautiful places and usually safe from earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and catastrophic weather in general. Granted, global warming keeps moving those goalposts, but for now, stick close to home and take advantage of much lower hotel rates, provided those hotels are practicing Covid protocols.

The great outdooors

They are really just that: hike for exercise and to stay in shape, physical and emotional. Check your local land trusts or conservation areas like the Sippican Lands Trust and Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, and the Buzzards Bay Coalition, Trustees of Reservations, the Massachusetts Audubon Society and others for truly great places to get going and stay healthy in all that fresh air. One of my faves and a complete surprise how beautiful it is was the mile-long CoveWalk of New Bedford, a truly stunning jaunt atop the hurricane barrier with spectacular views of land and sea.

If you’re in one of those states that laugh at silly regulations designed to save their rebel lives like not wearing a mask, laugh right back – through your mask

When in Rome… or Boston, or Cleveland, or Houston or…

Check the regulations of any place you visit regarding Covid protocols and follow them. And if you’re in one of those states that laugh at silly regulations designed to save their rebel lives like not wearing a mask, laugh right back – through your mask. Better be safe than stupid, mom always said.

Virtually speaking

There is no surefire way to avoid exposure to disease unless you go full-on hermit and never leave the house. But take heart: there are a ton of places out there you can visit because armchair travel is the new sandals-and-white-socks for senior citizens. You can sit at home and tour national parks, museums, countries, just about anything your peripatetic heart desires. And there are many colleges and universities, including some of the Ivies, offering free courses in many topics.

Paul Kandarian is a lifelong area resident and, since 1982, has been a profession writer, columnist, and contributor in national magazines, websites, and other publications.