The Biggest COVID-Related Travel Mistakes People Are Making Right Now

As vaccination numbers rise in the U.S., so does interest in travel. The Transportation Security Administration screened 1,707,805 passengers on May 9, the highest number since our pandemic began in March 2020. But as people navigate this era of travel, there are several new questions and opportunities for missteps. This is especially true for international trips. We asked travel experts to share the mistakes they see people making as they plan and go on trips now. Read on for their “don’ts.”

“Travelers are making the mistake of not planning. The rules differ state by state regarding capacity guidelines at hotels, restaurants, and even state and national parks. We’re seeing this play out with the run on rental cars. Gone are the days of the last-minute vacation. Plan, even for a trip you plan to take in 2022.” ― Erika Richter, senior director of communications at the American Society of Travel Advisors.

“What I see happening a lot right now is a sudden rush to travel. With vaccinations rolling out and outside opening up, people are itching to take their first big trip of the year, but they aren’t doing it with the same level of care or research they did pre-pandemic. My suggestion is not to jump the gun: Use research tools like Google Flights price tracker, and still book accommodations a few weeks or months before your trip.” ― Gabby Beckford, travel expert, and digital storyteller at Packs Light.

“A common mistake when traveling internationally right now is not properly researching the destination’s entry rules. A COVID test is often just one requirement. You may also be required to submit a health form or register online before departure ― different countries use entirely different systems. Not knowing this can lead to sore disappointments! Last summer, a friend of mine had to cancel her trip to Greece, as she hadn’t filled out a pre-departure form that generates a personal QR code (it needs to be filled out at least a day in advance, so you can’t do it at the airport). So, check the official information, and pay extra attention to any instructions you may receive from the airline.” ― Marek Bron, travel blogger at Indie Traveller. Kemal Yildirim via Getty Images Make sure to determine whether you must fill out any forms or collect specific paperwork before heading on your trip.

“People are so keen to return to ‘normality’ that after almost a year of adhering to lockdown rules, social distancing, and mask mandates, they are in danger of rushing back too quickly to what was considered normal tourist behavior pre-pandemic. This is understandable, bearing in mind the past year’s events. Still, a certain degree of caution is recommended to enjoy the reopening of borders and travel to our favorite destinations. Too many false starts have occurred over the past year, with second and then third waves hitting many regions and countries to the detriment of tourism. Just because you may be fully vaccinated does not mean everyone else is. Still, as long as travelers respect the local COVID rules and behave sensibly, then summer 2021 should be there to enjoy … cautiously.” ― Alan Fyall, interim chair for the tourism, events, and attractions department at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

“The vaccinations are great, although they’ve given a lot of people a false sense of security who think they can’t get COVID and can’t give it to somebody else. When you combine that with the fact that many people haven’t left their house — let alone had a vacation — in more than a year, you’re seeing people get extra excited about traveling to new places and not being careful after they arrive. Look at what happened in Miami a few weeks ago during spring break, where the city declared a state of emergency and imposed an 8 p.m. curfew due to all parties. But it’s not just college students ― I’ve been on a few business trips in the last six weeks, and I’m seeing people who are not wearing masks in airports, in airport lounges, in Ubers, and in hotel lobbies.” ― Randall Kaplan, founder of the travel startup Sandee and author of “Bliss: Beaches.”

“Treat the place you visit with the same or more respect you use locally. For example, if you are strict with mask-wearing at home, don’t travel and suddenly let loose, go clubbing, and ditch your mask for the whole trip. Follow local guidelines, and even if the guidelines are fairly loose, exercise pandemic precautions that you have been doing daily for the last year!” ― Victoria Yore, travel blogger at Follow Me Away.

“I think a big mistake people are making right now is not booking flights direct with the airlines. I used to love shopping around for the best deals and would often book flights through third-party apps and book the most basic fare I could. But travel is still so volatile right now that saving a few dollars is not worth the risk. Instead, I strongly recommend booking directly with the airline and ensuring you book a fare you can change with minimum fees. It’s also worth paying a little extra for a flexible flight if you need to change it. This could be because you decide the plane is too crowded, so you want to take a flight with fewer people, or if you tested positive for COVID before your flight. I think 2020 showed us anything could happen, and we need to learn from that lesson moving forward.” ― Summers.

“One of the more common mistakes I’ve seen people make when it comes to traveling during this pandemic is not continuously checking entry and exit requirements for the destination they’re visiting and for the destination, they’re returning to at the end your trip. Information is constantly changing. There is one constant when traveling during this pandemic. It’s important to understand whether you need to show proof of any negative COVID-19 tests, what kind of test is applicable if you need to quarantine at any point, and so on. Also, the information you learn today could change in a few days, so it’s important to check it continuously. It can be overwhelming to find the information you need, but make sure to use government websites where applicable, or call your travel providers if you’re unsure where to find the information you need.” ― Tausha Cowan, travel blogger at The Globe Getter.

“Things are changing by the minute, and it is essential to do research! After many hours of agonizing over correct travel documents, as we were flying to Jamaica, we saw countless fellow tourists getting turned away at the gate as they didn’t have the correct COVID test and documents filled out. In another instance, a fellow travel influencer didn’t do their research and lost out on $3,000+ flights as they weren’t allowed to [have a] layover in a country that didn’t allow their nationality due to COVID. Many national parks require booking tickets, including Yosemite and the Rocky Mountains. Disney World requires reservations, and every day, people book tickets without booking their reservations and are stuck with tickets but no way to use them. It is essential to do travel research when considering venturing out in 2021, as things change quickly and almost daily! It is better to be safe than sorry!” ― Yore.

“The number one mistake when people resume post-pandemic travel is not giving themselves the grace and understanding that it’s OK for their comfort zone to be temporarily changed. Everyone has had a hard year filled with isolation and fear. You may need to spend more time researching flexible flights and making advanced reservations than you used to. It’s OK that you have a transition period before returning to your old, adventurous self.” ― Konrad Waliszewski, co-founder and CEO of TripScout.

“The United States is one of the select few countries to be far along in their vaccine process ― the vast majority of countries in the world are not. Even wealthy European countries have vaccinated a mere fraction of the United States’s people. Though life is approaching normal in the United States, that doesn’t mean Americans can travel without abandoning abroad. American travelers must be wary of spreading the virus to more vulnerable populations and bringing back dangerous new strains. Travel is how virus variants spread so quickly ― travelers are responsible for trying to mitigate that. Remember that the pandemic isn’t over yet, even if it might seem like it. Everyone is tired of the pandemic by now, but that doesn’t mean you have a free pass to throw caution to the wind. It doesn’t matter how desperately you need a break — your vacation should never be at the expense of someone else’s life.” ― Alex Reynolds, travel blogger at Lost With Purpose.

“People assume that flights will get expensive now that everybody wants to travel again and that cheap flights will end along with the pandemic, but we’re still awash in cheap flights. I think folks got very attuned to airfare being so cheap during the pandemic and forgot how cheap it was before the pandemic. Forty years ago, airlines made most of their money from economy tickets. Still, in recent years, they have made it selling credit cards and miles, premium tickets like business class, corporate contracts, transporting cargo, etc. It doesn’t matter to them nearly as much what you pay for your economy ticket. So I recommend recognizing that the expensive flights you first see when you search aren’t permanent. Airfare is extremely volatile, so today’s expensive flights might become tomorrow’s cheap flights. Competition between airlines drives down fares and forces airlines to offer cheaper flights to match each other’s options.” ― Scott Keyes, author of “Take More Vacations” and founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights.

“People are so eager to get out of the house and onto the next plane that they take the first offer. Yes, travel deals have been at an all-time low, but not anymore. As more get vaccinated, more and more are traveling, and prices have skyrocketed. Be patient and do your research. Don’t jump at the first opportunity. Look into the best times to travel to that location, or even be flexible with your days. Traveling midweek could save you a fortune. We all want to take that trip right now, but you do not want to blow your entire budget or, even worse, get stuck in an overcrowded city and not feel safe. Be patient and take your time before you book” ― Lindsay Myers, budget travel expert.

“Most people’s normal way of searching for flights is picking the destination, picking the dates, and then looking at the prices. But to get the cheapest options, flip that order. First, ask, ‘Where are cheap flights available from my home airport?’ Then, ‘Of those places with cheap options, which interests me the most?’ And then, ‘Looking at the cheap dates, which dates do I want to travel?’” ― Keyes

“While we are super excited about travel coming back to life, we’re also realistic that the travel climate is constantly changing. The biggest mistake you can make is investing a lot of time into planning a trip that must be canceled due to COVID. You also have to plan things out because you need a reservation for everything. My suggestion is to plan and be prepared for things to change. Have backup options for hotels, activities, and even destinations. Don’t get married to a single idea.” ―.

“One of the biggest mistakes I see is people assuming that they’re invincible once they have a negative COVID test result. It’s like getting through the airport is the magic test, and once they’re through, anything is possible. Travelers must remember that negative tests are only good for that moment and must take precautionary measures before and after the test. COVID can take up to two weeks to be detected. Spending more than 10 minutes talking to someone, sitting inside an enclosed space, and taking your mask off are all possible exposures and should be treated as such. Negative tests are just one of a variety of safety measures we must take to stop the spread and travel responsibly.” ― Reynolds.

“Many vaccinated travelers believe that because they’re vaccinated, they can no longer catch COVID-19. They have a complete expectation of large gatherings like conferences and concerts immediately resuming, the end of all mask mandates, and life returning to relatively normal. Of course, the CDC tells us this is not true. Just because one is vaccinated doesn’t mean they can’t still catch and become sick with COVID-19, especially with the new variants. More importantly, you can still infect non-vaccinated people.” ― Beckford.

“Another mistake I see is the urge people seem to have to ‘get back to normal or ‘pre-pandemic times.’ The systems we had in place pre-pandemic were neither effective nor sustainable, and I think it’s important that everyone truly accepts that things will not fully go back to how they once were, and in many ways, it’s a good thing! High hygiene requirements are a good thing. Consideration for others is a good thing. Sustainable tourism economies are a good thing. And just because things are different doesn’t mean they can’t be incredible, but they will be different.” ― Beckford. Quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity. Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.