Words of encouragement for this nervous traveller

This last year I have been on 7 major trips. I came down with Covid twice. The first time was not associated with any trip. It was just picked up in day to day life in my community. The second time I had been returned from a trip to the UK for just 1 day when the symptoms started. This told me I was infected in the UK (not the airplane). Both times I used Paxlovid with excellent results.

The truth is that you can get Covid anywhere and it isn't going away. You will need to decide for yourself which is worse: Never being able to travel because you are worried you might get sick or traveling and perhaps getting ill on one of your trips. I have chosen traveling but each person must make their own choices.

Well this trip is a done deal and I will decide thereafter if long haul trips are worth the amount I seem to fret and cannot control. I am so thankful I have been able to travel so much through out my life. I just did not want Covid to win over us being able to celebrate a milestone anniversary. I was naive when I booked as I figured it had abated.

Was hoping for a prescription of Paxlovid in case but they are not giving it out here in Ontario right now. And we do not have the new vaccine yet..that comes in October. How did you handle Paxlovid?

annemarie, my sister is on tour right now. She tested positive on one of the 1st days, she masked, rested, stayed away from people, missed a couple group meals/events and sat in the back of the bus. She was not terribly ill, more a cold than anything. She had gotten the latest vax a couple weeks prior to the tour. I think that is why after about 4 days she tested negative and is feeling great. She missed a couple of events, but is very glad she stayed the course and is now on track again. I got covid right after my tour last fall. I rested more than usual, didn't go many places, but I was in southern France and still could sit in outside cafes and watch the world go by. It wasn't the trip I had planned, but I still enjoyed having the chance to see bits of Provence. Think positive, wear a K94 or 95 mask on the plane and in groups, get plenty of sleep. I hope you don't get covid, but if you do I hope your experience is similar to my sis and mine and still get to enjoy being in Italy.

You are giving fear control. Go and enjoy! Wear a mask on your flight and on your tour if it gives you peace. I live in the US and because of a medical condition my doctor sent me on my trip with Paxlovid this past April. I didn't need it, until I returned home. I did get covid right after we returned. It was mild, but I took the paxlovid; and then got rebound covid which I'd never heard of until I got it.

So we weren't so much concerned about it; just mindful of it's possibility before our trip; but absolutely not willing to worry about it. We could catch a cold; get the flu too, or what we didn't worry about or possibly foresee was one of us taking a misstep; injuring our foot and ending up needing to seek medical attention.

Stuff happens. Go have a great time! We definitely did; in spite of the detours. Three weeks in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Glad we didn't stay home!

I’d encourage you to make sure you know what your tour company’s Covid policy is. Some are don’t ask, don’t tell. Some are mask and stay away from other tour members. Some have you leave the tour.

In any of those areas you listed you would be able to continue public transit if you wished. I don’t think there is any quarantine procedure in Italy at present. You can also return home on an airplane as no one checks covid status any more.

I’ve been on 4 group tours with different companies since 2021 and have not contracted Covid. I do take test kits with me as I have allergies and want to make sure I am not infectious.

Thanks everyone. Waiting to get an email from our travel director. She may have more info. I have heard others say they got sick with whatever and just powered in. That people dont test anymore, that the tests dont work with the current variant.
I will, we will be okay. Take it as itcomes.

In 2022, my buddy Chuck and I spent 2 weeks in Europe at Oberammergau (Passion Play), Salzburg, and Vienna. He spent the whole time worrying about his pre-departure COVID test, which was then required to get back in the US. I just enjoyed myself. He got a sore throat toward the end of the trip. I got a bit of a runny nose. He was plotting alternate routes back to the US (fly to Mexico and then walk across the border at Tijuana). I just enjoyed myself. COVID tests done 24 hours before departure -- negative for both of us. He regretted his worry. I had a great time.

Moral of the story? Enjoy the trip. Cross the COVID bridge only if you come to it. If you've had your vaccines along the way (even without the booster), you should be in good shape even without Paxlovid. And I'm not just some Joe Schmoe talking about something he knows nothing about...

I also want to add, Rick Steves was very strict on tours when it was required. But by our tour this past April, that was out the window. If you got sick, (whatever it may be) you got sick; wear a mask, be mindful of others; if you pull yourself off the tour then that's on you...etc.

At our intro meeting, one lady really wanted to talk about covid and the tour guide and everyone in our group shut that conversation down quickly (but politely). So, I'm not sure what tour you are taking, but the old mindset of policing simply doesn't exist anymore; so keep that in mind and don't expect it.

I am a full time traveler. As soon as travel was allowed after the pandemic, I was traveling.

Mask wearing is almost non-existant. Place are crowded. I keep traveling.

Every year, I get the Covid booster. If I hear someone coughing or sneezing, I try to move away.

So far, I have never had Covid. Maybe it's luck, maybe I have a good immune system. I don't know.

But I'm not going to let the fear of Covid stop me from doing what I love.

YMMV

I still mask up on all public transportation and in crowds and theaters. I don't like doing it, but I also don't like getting any type of illness. Seems like even a cold is harder to kick as a senior. Just my way, I'm not preaching to others.

Thanks to all these voices of reason. I will attempt to be more rational going forward because, you are right, worrying about all of this will ruin the whole vacation.

We travelled to Italy in late 2022, 23 and now in 24. We masked in the airport and on the plane for all these visits.

In 2022 we masked on all public travel methods (it was still required at the time but was not completely followed) and in museums or areas that felt too close. We were still "getting back into the world" and masking was almost automatic when around large groups because it still felt weird to be around a lot of people in general.

In 2023 we masked less but on trains or buses when they felt crowded or busy was still pretty automatic. There was much less masking but it wasn't unusual.

Now in 2024 masking is very rare - it seems like it is mostly cautious tourists rather than locals judging by dress and behavior. We masked on the plane but were very much in minority but the two people we were sharing our row with did as well.

Honestly I'm more afraid of being on a plane with Americans poorly filtered air than I am walking in the street with Italians. I had heard there was a rise in cases in Italy but when I checked the "rise" was still less than it had been when we were there the previous year so I decided to be "okay with it".

Anyway we have done all this without catching covid on any of our travels. I personally think masking on the plane is most important thing you can do to try and arrive fine and I worry about that more than getting it while you're there. Maybe a tour is different and masking on the bus until you're sure everyone arrived fine is prudent but what you need to do to feel secure is up to you.

Have a great trip and don't forget to enjoy yourself,
=Tod

We are heading to Italy soon, and we will be masking on the plane, along with using “Covixyl”. It’s an over the counter nasal spray that helps block airborne viruses. It has a little tickle when you use it, but it lasts 6 hours. We will probably use it for more crowded places as well. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Thursday I came back from a 4 week trip of Italy, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia. I saw maybe 5 people with masks, but never heard or saw COVID mentioned at all.

How did you handle Paxlovid? If you do get sick on your trip, doctors & medication are reasonably priced in Italy. You're with a tour group, they will have experience dealing with getting you to a doctor & then an appropriate medication isn't difficult to get. The usual things about washing hands frequently, give yourself some space when you can & mask on planes & in crowds, I use Zicam & eye drops on flights. Lately I've been one of few people wearing a mask on airplanes, but wow is it ever great not getting sick as often on trips as I use to pre-Covid. I hope you can relax, have a fabulous time in Italy and enjoy your anniversary!

We've been away for a week now, five days in Italy and two in Switzerland. I haven't seen a single person with a mask and it wouldn't enter my head to wear one unless I was actively sick.

We're from Australia and no-one tests any more. The just got a bug and that's it. We've travelled every year since Australia let us out again and to my knowledge we've never had covid, the worst has been a sniffle for a day or two. We are fully vaccinated and boosted though, although I have no idea which vaccine as it's isn't discussed any more.

Go and enjoy your holiday. Have good travel insurance, be sensible and you'll be just fine.