What to Expect: Traveling Since COVID

COVID-19 is no joke. It shut down the world for around a year and places are just now beginning to accept travelers. Here’s everything you need to know about traveling since COVID, from experience as well as some basic facts about changes and the “new normal.”

My experience traveling since COVID-19 (Dec. 2021)

I had a very positive experience traveling since COVID. I traveled December 2021 and January 2022. Obviously, there are many more hoops to jump through than before, but I never ran into any large problems such as being stopped or not being let onto the plane. The biggest things that have changed are the mask requirements, health declarations, infrared temperatures (depending on location), and PCR testing. 

Mask Requirements

Masks are required in most airports as well as on all airplanes. The only place I have experienced a relaxed attitude about masks is in business class airplanes. Such high paying customers receive significantly less reminders about their masks and this may be also due to all of us being more spread out. 
For resorts, masks are recommended at all times. This obviously depends on your specific resort. Masks are required when entering food places but not at the bar, while seated, or walking around. Most of the time, masks are required on boats. 
For those of you who are spa-goers, a mask was placed on me during the middle of my treatment which I felt was uncomfortable considering I am the only one in the room. 

Health Declarations 

Health declarations are now in effect with COVID. They are online questionnaires that require personal information, passport information, and photos of vaccine cards/PCR tests. These declarations are incredibly difficult to locate and can be found by lots of reading. Make sure you are filling out the correct one because some are specific to people coming from or going to different locations and countries. The health declaration must be filled out 24 or 48 hours before you fly and you must keep up with the QR code given to you after you fill it out. Usually the declarations are sent/available by the airline you are flying with and they are the one asking for your information. 

Temperature Checks

Upon disembarking from the plane in Doha, every single passenger was temperature checked. Additionally, Hamad International Airport is equipped with infrared technology that measures body temperature as people walk around the airport. If you are flagged with a fever you will be taken aside and tested and most likely made to quarantine, even if Doha is not your final stop. This is not an airport to mess around with, you could end up missing your whole trip. 
Temperature checks also happened at the resorts. Each time you enter for food in the buffet, your temperature will be checked via wrist. 

PCR testing

All destinations require PCR testing regardless of vaccination status. The PCR test can be done a day or two prior to departure, but check the specifics for your location. Almost all places have places to do a PCR test when you are departing. 
From the United States, it is hard to get a PCR test now. We were able to schedule one and get it, but we did have to wait a long time even though the clinic was not crowded at all. The swab went up our nose and our results came in within two hours of our visit. You do need to come back and pick them up. Make sure when you pick them up that you check and make sure they are all correct. We were given the wrong persons results and had to go swap it out last minute which is stressful. Make sure to make multiple copies per person at home before leaving because you need one to show and some to give to the airline, immigration, etc. 
On the way home, the swab went in our mouth for kids and the nose for adults and then we pick up our results back from the clinic or they are delivered to the room. Again, make sure to request multiple copies per person because you need one to show and some to give to the airline, immigration, etc. 

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As always, stays safe out there and enjoy your travels! Hopefully this helps some people understand exactly what to expect.