Photo: Lake Palace, Udaipur

Some of my own post-pandemic trips include Diving in Fiji, a family visit to New Zealand, a wildlife trip to India, a cultural journey to Bhutan, a wildlife and birding trip through Southern British Columbia and Vancouver Island, a visit to see the Polar bears in Churchill, travels through Provincial parks in Ontario, and a birds, scenery and cultural trip to the Colombian Andes and Caribbean. It will be a busy 2025 with planned trips to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, a heritage journey through England and Ireland, and a family wedding and wildlife return to India. I follow my own advice when I travel!   

1. Although contactless servicing is a new norm, don’t assume your digital wallet or smart phone will work every where - every time. While these technologies offer convenience, smaller restaurants, taxis and supplier services can be offline or not digitally connected to your systems. In a remote locale as I visited recently (Taveuni, Fiji), I traveled with 3 nations currencies as well as 3 debit cards and one credit card. Not all bank cards work in local ATM’s. During the week I had to use 6 of the 7 payment options due to technological alignment and accepted options by the service providers. Cash was still handy when transactions failed and was also appreciated by the local companies. And finally, keep a copy of your ATM, hotel, taxi, and tour receipts in case of post-travel dispute.

2. You are entering an ever-changing landscape for global entry requirements. The UK and Europe have recently added new entry formalities that might surprise those who have typically waltzed through immigration on previous trips. Get your evisas or register for the ETIAS (European Information and Travel Authorisation System) well in advance. Although advertised as a same day to 72-hour digital approval, a recent electronic travel authority for a trip I took to New Zealand took 6 days to arrive and obtained only 24 hours before my flight. This story is repeated in travel forums with many travelers turned away at the airline check-in counters. Pre-planning can eliminate or reduce departure stress.

3. Keep both digital and hard copies important documents. This includes airline tickets, visas, certifications for driving/diving, proof of vaccination for any recommended or mandatory inoculations, and any other Government document. This will streamline the process at counters and points of entry or should the need arise where items are lost.

4. Buy travel insurance. Delays, trip cancellation, out of country-health, trip interruption, unforeseen incidents become less concerning with the peace of mind of the insurance policy in hand.

5. Disruption has become the new normal. Check the weather and your flight status prior to traveling and prepare accordingly. Bring a good book or downloaded movie on hand for potential delays along with healthy snacks. With a snowstorm hitting metro Vancouver on my day of departure, my own 26-hour flight to New Zealand took 3 days with a night on the floor of the airport, and a night in an unexpected stop-over hotel mid-way. If you aren’t following the news from North America, Europe, and Asia, I can assure you this delay scenario is playing out heavily due to both weather and mechanical issues.

Photo: Solento: Colombia

6. Keep a change of clothes, your medications, and any can’t do without items in your carry-on in case of lost or delayed baggage which is also a more frequent occurrence lately. Travel lightly. I often put everything I think I will need on my bed as I pack, then remove 40%. While International flights might offer generous baggage limits, domestic flights may be significantly stricter.

7. Pad your time between flights, tours, and any transition points. A once two-to-three-hour window can evaporate quickly in the new disrupted travel norm. And while you wait, adopt an attitude of patience. Stress is not a friend to your well-being.

8. Consider doing less better. Stay longer in each location and move at a slower pace. Taking my own advice on a future trip to India, I eliminated one area and added a night extra in three locations.

9. Support local economies heavily. Most of the destinations you will visit are still running at levels below pre-pandemic volumes. This in addition to higher food and staff costs translates to reduced revenue in the past five years.

10. Expect higher prices. The cost of doing business is higher in almost every destination worldwide. I have traveled or worked with tourism on five continents since tourism’s re-launch and everyone of them has increased by 15 -30%. And despite the higher price point, service levels can be lower than in previous years due to labour shortages (globally), neglected machinery, and supply scarcity.

With all the moving pieces, the travel scene is still remarkable and rewarding.