Wander Woman - Navigating Travel in the Days of Covid

Lauren's journey to cross the globe, one amazing Experience at a time

by Lauren Raps

Planning travel used to be such a different experience. When traveling internationally, we used to worry only about passports or global entry expiring.

These days, we must adhere to the restrictions of the destination we are leaving and those of where we are going, and sometimes even where we are transiting through. We have had to become experts on Covid testing and travel insurance, all while tap dancing as these restrictions and guidelines can change at a moment’s notice.

The fun of travel planning is simply yet another temporary casualty of Covid.

I am often asked where to get the best information and guidelines to use as resources as we navigate the new normal. With most of us here in Singapore, I recommend first referring to the ICA (www.safetravel.ica.gov.sg) and other Singapore government sites. These sites are the primary sources of the latest regulations and should be the first stop for you to determine what you need to do if you indeed plan on returning to your home country. Also, utilize any guidance offered by your Human Resource department. Some large companies have departments whose sole responsibility is getting their employees and their families in and out of Singapore.

Here are some additional resources to keep in your back pocket as we navigate travel in the time of Covid.

Airline Websites

Airline websites have been quite good about having the most updated information. I often use Delta.com whether or not Delta is the airline I am flying. The website offers a terrific interactive map that allows you to input the countries you are seeking information about and provides all the restrictions and guidelines needed. You can also perform a search on your destination for the operating hours and safety measures required for restaurants, museums and non-essential businesses.

Delta.com

CIBT.com

Traditionally a great resource for Visa guidelines, CIBT now also offers a tool to get the latest info on Covidrelated guidelines and restrictions. The site offers links to the destination’s government website so that you can easily have access to the forms you might need to fill out prior to travel.

CIBT.com

Reopen Europa

(reopen.europa.eu/en) For those interested solely in European destinations, the European Union has released Reopen Europa, an extensive website offering the current travel guidelines throughout Europe. There is also an app. Great resource, particularly because it’s an official government service.

Reopen Europa

Sherpa (apply.joinsherpa.com)

Add Sherpa to the list of companies you never heard about until Covid. Sherpa is now bookmarked on the browsers of all of us in the travel industry. The data feeds many of the websites for airlines and tourism companies. Easy to navigate and full of updated information, Sherpa also has a section where it lists all of the recently released changes in policy by governments. I do wish you could set something up so these updates could go automatically to you if opted in, but regardless, a very good resource.

One last tip — I recommend printing essential documents in case there is any confusion when you go through immigration.

Good luck and smooth travels!

Lauren Raps is AWA's Bar Night Chair. She moved to Singapore in January 2021 with her husband and three boys. She is the President and Founder of Travel Prospect, a full service leisure travel planning company.