Travel tips during covid times. Shaping better ways to travel next year
New restrictions in recent years mean that the old ways of mass tourism have become impractical. When we travel again, let’s do better and travel deeper: Be a Traveller, not a Tourist. At Gourmet Trails, for over 10 years we’ve advocated meaningful travel focused on quality over quantity. Continuing expertise and travel guidance during covid
7 ways to travel safely in 2022
With tourism worldwide experiencing a reset, here are better ways to travel in 2022 to make your journey worthwhile:
A breath of fresh air. Literally!
Pristine nature surroundings are the perfect choice nowadays. Free from crowds, idyllic nature destinations continue to be our favourite for pandemic travel. No face masks, no vaccine status checks, doesn’t this sound liberating?
Nature destinations that are life-changing →
Even if you just cannot give up cities, do select our itineraries that encompass beautiful lesser-known regions as well as iconic highlights. Travel deeper.
Private tours – create your own travel bubble.
Create your own travel bubble. Private tours are the better way to travel, even before the pandemic. From family gatherings to corporate off-sites, it offers full control over safety and travel style. Much more than just assigning a private vehicle/guide, it is about genuine moments and connecting you with the wonderful hosts… sometimes we feel like a matchmaker!
Moreover private tours are good value for money too. Private jet can match VTL airfares depending on the route and number of passengers. There are boutique & luxury accommodation options to suit various budgets.
6 Reasons to go private →
Destination support.
If you’ve always planned trips yourself, now is good time to consider an escorted private tour. In case of Plan B, you want to be in good hands. Travelling during uncertain times may be an adventure – but we want a happy adventure instead of a nerve-wrecking nightmare! Each of our tours is assigned a Destination Manager that provides emergency ground support. When pandemic situation changes, you want excellent ground handling by proven professional experts. With over ten years of insider connections, we can make this happen.
Preferred airlines. Book the right flight.
Emirates was the first airline with complimentary travel + covid insurance for all passengers. A generous medical coverage of up to USD500,000 plus quarantine allowance (in case one tests positive!) and this coverage applies to onward journeys. Qatar Airways has followed suit a year later. As the world reopens even more, such special benefits will be a thing of the past. Get in touch for more tips on air travel during covid times.
Here are other crucial factors when choosing your flight:
‘Gourmet Diversity’
Food lovers know that good meals come in various forms. GOURMET DIVERSITY is a phrase we created in recognition of the variety of world cuisines. That’s why we curate your meals too! Embracing good food in all forms. Traditional and Modern. Formal and informal. Meet the growers. More about our tours. Eat well like a local foodie →
Beyond the classic ideals of European fine dining, world cuisine is diverse in what and how it’s prepared and how it is enjoyed. In Mexico, some sauces are so complex that they are prepared by a collective community. Middle Eastern and Asian banquets are a feast for the senses. When the Michelin Guide expanded to Japan, its evaluation criteria had to be adapted to Japan’s dining landscape. Tiny 8-seat establishments sans ‘white glove service’ were gourmet experiences. Japanese sake and whiskey are regarded as highly as wine.
Our definition of GOURMET = quality ingredients and time honed techniques that result in sublime deliciousness.
Time your trip.
As covid waves rise and subside throughout the year, speak with your trusted travel advisor to pick a destination that’s right for you. It’s not just about the covid numbers but the bigger picture: knowing the healthcare system, vaccination rates and governing tendency of the country’s authorities (for example, whether rules will change again soon). We’ll help you shortlist a few destinations, and then book with flexi dates.
MYTH: Travel will revert to the old ways in 2023.
TRUTH: There is no end-date for covid. Governments around the world are rolling out policies for “living with covid”.
Sustainable Travel.
‘Sustainability’ is not just a buzzword anymore. Facing the hard truth: our individual actions collectively add up, therefore have significant impact on the countries/people we visit. Mindless travel needs to be a thing of the past. Hence our new motto: Be a Traveller, not a Tourist →
A tourist comes home tired, while a traveller comes home inspired (it rhymes!). While we’ve always designed unique & meaningful tours, you will soon see new itineraries that showcase more of lesser-known or secondary destinations. This will help to balance the distribution of travellers’ dollars and reduce overtourism that’s too concentrated at famous sights. We recommend longer trips, with longer stays at each point of your journey so that you can explore more via land and fly less. Eating seasonally and locally will continue. Where available, we also support greener properties although not all places have this option unfortunately. So in those cases, we’ll choose the best options which are progressive in their own right.
This pandemic pause is a good time to reset and improve the way we travel. When we travel again, let’s do better!
Like us?
Stay in Touch
Join our mailing list to receive quarterly e-newletters and more covid travel tips
