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It’s what all of us travelers have been wondering for months: when can we travel again? While traveling has been allowed for a while, as Flytrippers has said all along, we should only travel when it will be responsible to do so. And we can now say it might (FINALLY) be time! But not for everyone/everywhere/every situation, just in some specific cases. That important decision depends on each and every traveler… and we’ll help you make it.

We’ll also have a lot more content to help you start traveling again, whenever that will be for you (sign up for our free newsletter to never miss a thing).

Now, first this two-part very detailed ultimate guide covers:

You could always go directly to the main part… but we think it’s vital that you be responsible and take the time to get all the information for this decision.

 

5 very important notes before you even CONSIDER traveling

Here are a few crucial warnings for those thinking about traveling again.

 

1. What is Flytrippers’ travel recommendation

For those who care about our opinion, Flytrippers has been telling you not to travel (and not traveling ourselves) since March. We take our role as travel experts very seriously and as much as we love to help Canadians travel (and love to travel ourselves), we care even more about doing the right thing.

So finally, after careful consideration and having analyzed the situation thoroughly for months, Flytrippers now recommends responsible travel within Canada, if it is right for your own situation.

That last part is very important: we do not recommend that everyone starts traveling again. We recommend that you consider it carefully, while before we said that out of an abundance of caution, nobody should travel.

That’s why the 15 factors to consider below are so important. Those will show you that for many of you, all the conditions might be reunited for travel to resume within our beautiful country as long as it is done responsibly and safely.

This is very doable: prioritize outdoor activities, keep a physical distance as much as possible, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, etc.

As with all our many travel tips and deals, we’d never recommend something we wouldn’t do ourselves. Since we are now very comfortable with traveling within Canada, we are comfortable making this conditional recommendation.

So we’ve restarted publishing the flight deals we spot daily on our flight deals page (well, flight deals to Canada only).

 

2. Why we (currently) recommend travel within Canada only

We know many can’t wait to visit another country. Us included.

So why only recommend travel within Canada, and not international travel (for now at least), even though many countries are open to Canadians and traveling internationally certainly is possible?

Is it riskier to be infected by the coronavirus elsewhere?

Of course not. In fact:

  • 78% of the world’s countries have had fewer coronavirus cases than Canada per capita 
  • 90% of the world’s countries have had fewer coronavirus cases than Canada overall
  • 70% of the world’s countries currently have fewer active coronavirus cases than Canada

That has nothing to do with it. We’ll cover that in greater detail once we recommend traveling internationally, which could be soon enough too, for specific cases of course (update: here’s why we will be traveling internationally).

But you’ll understand in the second part of this guide: it’s that there are many other factors to consider.

At least for those who are at very low risk for the coronavirus (a vast majority of people). Others should not even leave their home, much less travel.

By the way, it also has nothing to do with Canada’s non-binding travel advisory either. It’s a fact that these were overly alarmist for experienced travelers before the pandemic, and while the advisory means you should take many factors into consideration (they’re all below), we strongly encourage you to make your own informed decision based on your own situation and certainly not just based on a blanket one-size-fits-all advisory.

 

3. Why it’s very important to make your own personal decision

It’s worth repeating: every traveler is different, and every travelers’ situation is different. As a traveler, you have likely developed your common sense and are able to make your own decision.

And that’s what you should do: deciding to travel or not is your responsibility and is a very personal decision.

This guide aims to help you make it by being very detailed about what to consider, and we’ve worked hard to include every element possible.

But we also strongly encourage you to get as much advice as you can:

  • talk to your doctor about the coronavirus risk for your specific health situation
  • see the recommendations by authorities at your destination
  • read about the safety measures in hotels, on planes, etc.
  • read about the experience other travelers who’ve already started traveling
  • read about the coronavirus situation at your destination
  • etc.

There is obviously some level of risk, like everything in life. Read our guide and determine if you want to take that risk, or if traveling is even riskier than everything you are doing now here.

 

4. Why you should respect others’ travel decision

One thing we care strongly about is that you not criticize those who are ready to travel. It’s absolutely fine to not be ready (and makes a lot of sense in many cases), we’ll never criticize you. As we just said, it’s a personal decision. But it’s a personal decision the other way around too.

People traveling responsibly and doing it safely are certainly less dangerous than many people who are not traveling but are being irresponsible and not being careful here. Those who decide to travel are in a situation that is likely very different than yours and might consider travel essential.

Just because you don’t consider it essential, doesn’t mean it isn’t for others. I personally don’t care at all if hairdressers are considered essential or not… but I won’t tell others that they are wrong if they feel it is for them, even though there is no rational argument that getting a haircut is more important than becoming a better human by exploring our world. It’s all about doing it safely.

So respect the decision of those who are ready to travel, because many are.

 

5. Why you should consider traveling

To close out this introductory part, I think it’s worth looking at the positive side too instead of just constantly focusing on the negative like the whole world seems to have been doing for the past 4 months.

I want to summarize why you should want to travel (independently from whether it should be now or later). It’s weird to even have to do this for an audience of travelers, but it’s just that we’ve seen way too many comments about people not even wanting to travel (regardless of the situation) and not even wanting to consider it (which is fine for them of course, again: personal decision).

But I want to remind you why it’s worth at least looking into whether starting to travel makes sense for you.

There are 7 main reasons to want to travel during the pandemic:

  • travel is awesome
  • even the worst trip is better than no trip
  • you’ll literally never get back wasted time off from work
  • everything else is reopening in the safest way possible
  • travel can be less risky than many other things
  • travel is more essential than many other things
  • the coronavirus situation elsewhere might be way better than where you live

I’ll share more in a detailed post if you are interested, but what matters is that if you want to travel, you still need to carefully consider every aspect of the decision.

 

15 factors to consider before you DECIDE to travel

Here we are. This section will help you make your own decision on whether or not you should travel.

There are two parts, and it’s important to understand the distinction (although if you follow us you probably already know this):

  • 1 thing that determines if you CAN travel
  • 15 things that determine if you SHOULD travel

Yes, you CAN travel if:

  • 0. your destination has no entry restrictions

Yes, you SHOULD travel if:

  • 1. you choose a destination with no conditions (or are okay with the conditions)
  • 2. you can abide by your province’s (or employer’s) conditions upon return (if any)
  • 3. you are comfortable with being flexible if restrictions or conditions change
  • 4. you are comfortable with the risk of being stuck away from home (abroad mostly)
  • 5. you are okay with the fact that the experience at your destination will be different
  • 6. you are okay with the fact that the experience in planes/hotels/etc. will be different
  • 7. you can afford to travel now
  • 8. your destination wants you to visit
  • 9. you are not at a high risk for coronavirus complications
  • 10. you are going somewhere with a low risk of infection
  • 11. you are okay with the risk of taking a plane (if applicable)
  • 12. you are not putting others at risk when returning home
  • 13. you are not putting others at risk at your destination
  • 14. you can get medical travel insurance for COVID-19
  • 15. you can get medical travel insurance for everything else
  • Bonus. you are comfortable with the complexity of planning and booking trips

As this is an ultimate guide, here’s everything you need to know about each of those factors.

 

0. Are there entry restrictions at your destination

The one thing that determines if you CAN travel. This one isn’t even numbered because it’s not a factor to consider. You can’t consider it, it’s just a fact: some destinations have entry restrictions (also sometimes referred to as border restrictions, border closures, travel restrictions).

You can’t decide to travel there and there’s nothing to think about: they’re closed, end of story. While it’s far from being every country or province, some have closed to Canadian travelers.

For all the other destinations where you CAN travel, absolutely everything else is a decision you make about whether you SHOULD travel, since it is 100% allowed.

You are allowed to leave Canada (or your province), you are allowed to re-enter Canada (or your province), international (and domestic) flights are all allowed… no other restrictions exist, despite the many widespread myths about travel restrictions.

So to be clear as many mix up these concepts: the restrictions that matter are those at your destination (and don’t forget those at your transit point too, if any), not Canada’s entry restrictions. Canada’s restrictions are absolutely irrelevant and never apply to Canadians.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

There is no Flytrippers assessment here because there is nothing subjective: either it’s open or it’s closed.

Canada: Check out Flytrippers’ map of travel restrictions in Canadian provinces which includes official links for more info for each province.

International: Don’t miss Flytrippers’ interactive map of travel restrictions for Canadians soon (sign up for free).

 

1. What are the conditions imposed by your destination

Now, the first of the elements that determine if you SHOULD travel is whether your destination has any conditions upon entry.

Just because you are allowed to enter, doesn’t mean there are no conditions. Quarantine/isolation upon entry is the one that some destinations require that (but many don’t have any).

Finally, this isn’t the case within Canada, but internationally some countries are open but require one or more of the following:

  • proof of a recent test to show you aren’t infected by the coronavirus
  • a test upon arrival (which you often have to pay for)
  • other conditions to look into

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

Choosing destinations with no entry conditions at all is very easy, and there are many of them.

Canada: A majority of provinces that are open do not have any conditions. The few that do are coded yellow on our map of travel restrictions in Canadian provinces instead of green, because yes you can enter (which is better than not even being allowed—in red), but that condition is enough to make it unattractive to most travelers. And no open Canadian province requires testing of any kind.

International: Many countries are open to Canadians with no restrictions, we’ll cover which ones very soon (including some that offer free hospitalizations for COVID-19).

Who shouldn’t travel based on the conditions imposed by their destination

If traveling to the many destinations that don’t have any conditions, no one should limit themselves because of this factor. But for destinations where there are some, only those who are comfortable with those conditions should go.

 

2. What are the conditions imposed when you return

As you probably know, Canada requires a 14-day mandatory quarantine/isolation upon return to Canada, but only if you arrive from outside of the country.

This doesn’t apply for travel within Canada, but some provinces require it for those who return from elsewhere in Canada. Some employers might have specific rules for their workforce too (although some are willing to accommodate remote work as well).

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

Not really an issue within Canada for most provinces.

Canada: Use the links for each province to see if yours has any quarantine upon return requirement if you travel within Canada. Check with your employer to see its rules for domestic trips.

International: You must absolutely isolate for 14 days when returning to Canada (may or may not expire on August 31st).

Who shouldn’t travel based on the conditions imposed upon return

If your province or employer requires isolation after domestic trips and you can’t afford it or don’t want to do it, you shouldn’t travel. If you want to travel internationally but can’t/won’t do the mandatory 14-day quarantine upon return, you definitely should not travel either.

 

3. Are you comfortable with being flexible with changing travel conditions and entry restrictions

Traveling during this pandemic will be a lot easier if you are easygoing and don’t get too stressed out (which is a great ability to have in travel and in life anyway). But keep in mind that a destination’s entry conditions are not set in stone, just like the aforementioned entry restrictions and border rules are not set in stone either. During this pandemic, nothing is.

Just because a destination is open (and without any conditions) today, doesn’t mean it will be open forever, not even two weeks from now. Conditions and restrictions can change

A destination could suddenly decide to close entirely or impose a new mandatory quarantine period or proof of a negative test for those arriving. While unlikely, a province could even decide to add a quarantine requirement upon return home, even for domestic trips.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

The risk is very low within Canada and those who are able to be flexible with destinations and plans can deal with this easily everywhere else.

Canada: In the short term, it seems unlikely that any of the provinces currently open would close or that provinces open with no conditions would suddenly decide to impose a quarantine upon entry or any type of testing. It is also highly unlikely that a province would add a requirement to quarantine upon return from a trip within Canada, or that an employer that does not currently require isolation would suddenly become more strict.

International: Many countries are reopening to international travelers, but it is very new, as most have reopened in late June or July. It’s not impossible that they change restrictions or conditions since we have very little data on the impact of reopening at this time.

Who shouldn’t travel based on changing travel conditions and restrictions

If you are a traveler who hates being out of your comfort zone and can’t live with any uncertainty at all, maybe you shouldn’t travel. Same thing if you cannot tolerate any risk of something changing at all, or if you are not comfortable with the possibility of needing to change your destination.

 

4. Are you comfortable with the risk of being stuck away from home

It’s not just about being flexible and changing your plans, but also about actually being stuck somewhere for an extended period due to restrictions changing during your trip.

This is nearly impossible in Canada unless going to an extremely remote location, but internationally, changes in entry restrictions can leave you stuck because they often lead to canceled flights and canceled routes, as we told you back in March.

That means you could be without a way back home, you could be forced into lockdown somewhere, and you could be forced to miss work.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

As I just said, this is very very very very unlikely within Canada.

Canada: Flights between Canadian provinces weren’t even entirely canceled at the peak of the pandemic when absolutely everything shut down, so there is little to no risk of being stuck. You’re in your own country.

International: Also still a very low risk as of now, at least for countries reopening to Canadians and those that have things under control.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the risk of being stuck away from home

This factor shouldn’t be an issue for anyone within Canada, unless you really can’t live with any risk at all. Those who don’t want to risk being stuck abroad should not travel internationally.

 

5. Are you comfortable with the experience at your destination being different than usual

Many people seem to be worried about attractions and activities being closed or unavailable or even just less enjoyable. And about the overall impact of measures related to coronavirus (rules in public places like parks, restaurants, nightlife). Keep in mind that measures elsewhere are almost certainly different than where you’re from, possibly less restrictive (or more).

But you have to accept that the travel experience probably won’t be exactly the same as it was before.

Again, to us, even the worst trip is better than no trip at all. Whether traveling is like it was before or not isn’t even that relevant. You should be asking yourself if traveling is better than not traveling.

Some say wearing a mask on a trip is not fun. It might not be, but if you’re like me, the prospect of spending anything more than a long weekend near where you live (when you could invest that time into discovering a new place further away) is even less fun. Just use the right comparison for you.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

Many destinations are at least as open and “back to normal” that where you live, some even more so. A common error is that many look at whether they should travel based on the situation they know (where they live). That situation is completely irrelevant in this case, what matters is the situation where you are traveling to.

If this is a major concern, focus on this factor when deciding on your destination and choose one that fits what you are looking for. Good research and good planning have always been the way to be a better traveler and it’s even truer now. You’ll find everything you need to know on the Internet (and we’ll help with our upcoming content about destinations).

Canada: Most attractions have reopened in all the provinces that are open to travelers. And all of these have great national or provincial parks you can focus on, as big open spaces are where the impact of the coronavirus is less felt.

International: When we publish the definitive list of countries open to Canadians, we’ll share what the current situation is in terms of things being open.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the experience at the destination being different

If you want traveling to be exactly as it was before the pandemic and are looking for a magic bubble where none of this has happened, you shouldn’t travel. If you are more of a vacationer than a traveler, or if you don’t want to adapt as you already have to do for everything at home, you shouldn’t travel. Finally, if you don’t mind the fact that the trip you don’t take now is one less trip you’ll experience in your life and that you’ll never get it back (given the limited time off from work most people have), you can wait a bit more and things will get a bit more back to normal.

 

6. Are you comfortable with the travel and lodging experience being different than usual

A bit like the previous one, but we want to make sure you accept that every part of traveling will be different. It’s not just the activities and the experience at your destination itself that will be different: it also includes planes and hotels for example (which are a big part of traveling for many), but also the roadtrip and camping if that’s your type of trip.

Every part of the experience has adapted. You have to be able to appreciate a trip despite all the constraints, which isn’t for everyone.

Yes, in many places, you’ll have to wear a mask on the plane and in public areas indoors. No, service won’t be at the same level as it was before in planes, hotels, and lounges. If you go on a roadtrip, the fun spontaneous stops will require a bit more logistical planning than usual. Even in campgrounds or motels, I am sure things have changed a bit.

(It seems weird, but I’m actually somewhat looking forward to discovering all the new measures. Not just because I am passionate about the travel industry but because I love to travel precisely to experience new things… and this will certainly be new. We can just look at the negative side, that’s easy, but we can try to see some positive out of this too.)

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

Honestly, as travelers, these seem to all be pretty minor compromises to make to be able to finally travel.

Canada: For many, driving seems less unpleasant than flying, so it’s easier to avoid that step by going on a roadtrip. The rules for lodging also seem well defined in each province, which can be more reassuring.

International: I actually have a flight to Europe on August 3rd (booked pre-pandemic) that I haven’t canceled yet… I’ll share more on this topic until then.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the travel and lodging experience being different

Same as previous point essentially.

 

7. Can you afford to travel

This one is pretty obvious, but it’s an exhaustive guide with everything to think about after all. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and the state of the economy is obviously not great, so some might be more comfortable cutting down on discretionary spending to be safe.

Also, traveling within Canada is extremely expensive of course. In fact, it’s one of the countries where traveling costs the most, so if you are a budget-traveler like us, used to traveling to affordable destinations and used to $10-a-night hostels and $25-a-day total travel budgets, it’s a whole other ballpark here. Flights within Canada are expensive as well.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

Even here, there’s always a way to travel for less so it’s definitely doable for those who can afford it.

Canada: It really depends on the type of trip you like and your profile, but while it will still be expensive, incorporating as many budget-travel tips into your Canada trip can help you lower the cost somewhat.

International: That previously mentioned flight is to Turkey, home of extremely affordable everything. We’ll cover budget destinations open to Canadians soon, but there aren’t many.

Who shouldn’t travel based on being able to afford travel

Those who are in a precarious financial position or want to be more prudent shouldn’t travel, as is the case for those who don’t have the budget to travel to an expensive country like Canada (or who prefer keeping the same budget for a trip literally 4 times longer elsewhere later).

 

8. Does the destination want you to visit

I think we’ve made our point about how recommendations/advisories are not the same thing as restrictions. But while some countries and provinces might not restrict you from entering (meaning you are allowed to go), they might not really want you there.

You can either read it explicitly or figure it out from reading between the lines. Some might not care about this, but in case you do, it’s something to look into. Either to be respectful of that destination’s desires, but also because it might mean that locals won’t treat you well if they don’t want visitors.

That said, it’s probably more of an issue internationally, as we Canadians are so nice and polite.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

We always try to be respectful of locals, but at the same time we kind of feel that if a destination doesn’t want us to visit, they should forbid it and make it easy for us to know.

Canada: For example, Alberta’s coronavirus website says that “travel between provinces is not recommended”. It seems to be the website for Albertans, telling them not to travel outside Alberta (not binding), but others are interpreting it as meaning that it’s not recommended for other Canadians to visit Alberta (although it is 100% allowed). That said, readers have told us that they have arrived in Alberta recently and have been welcomed warmly by locals.

International: Some countries might eventually reopen without really encouraging travelers to visit.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the destination not being welcoming

Those who value the importance of feeling welcomed should maybe consider not traveling to places where it’s not explicitly stated that travelers are encouraged to come.

 

9. What is your personal risk level if infected by the coronavirus

While there are many unknowns with this virus and everyone has different risk tolerance levels, the data is pretty clear about hospitalization rates, ICU admittance rates, and death rates (it’s not all that matters of course, but it’s what we have).

Older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are by far the most at-risk.

And while nobody wants to be infected purposely, it’s important to put things into perspective as well: as of today, 99% of active cases around the world are considered mild according to Worldometers data. The safety measures are important, but even from the start, it was clearly stated that these have never been about protecting everyone but rather about protecting the vulnerable and maintaining our health system’s capacity.

The risk for your specific situation is therefore very important to take into consideration.

And if you are infected away from home, it can have a financial impact despite the insurance below (like missing work, having to pay for lodging, or having to purchase new flights in some cases). That should be considered as well.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

We’ll let Health Canada’s official epidemiological report do the assessment. Figures 3 and 4 show the age distribution of cases and hospitalization rate per age group.

To clarify how to read this data, here’s an example: Canada has had 109k total cases since March (0.003% of the population). Out of that 0.003%, around 15% have been hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, around 16% were younger than 50 years old, despite the fact that the under-50 group represents 51% of all cases.

Who shouldn’t travel based on their personal risk level

We can only say for our own personal risk level, you have to do it yourself for your age and medical conditions, if any. If I was older or had a medical condition, I wouldn’t leave home, much less travel. Being young and having no medical condition, I personally can tolerate my risk level.

 

10. What is your risk of being infected by the coronavirus at your destination

Take a look at the coronavirus situation where you are going: number of active cases, what the case curve looks like, current daily new cases (thankfully all relatively easy-to-find publicly-available data). The more localized it is for a precise region, the better. If you are particularly worried about this element, look at how many tests were performed to put the case numbers into perspective as well.

More subjectively, it’s good to research whether they seem to be taking the pandemic seriously, which requires a bit more effort of course.

What you want to know is how things are going there and how under control it is. But how it compares to where you live now also matters. Many places likely have a lower infection rate or a better overall situation.

To evaluate the incremental risk, it really depends on how active you would be at home too. If without traveling you would be visiting museums and doing outdoor activities here, there is statistically no more risk of doing those same activities elsewhere if their infection rates are similar.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

We’re very rational so we look at the numbers in many places around the world and feel comfortable with the risk of infection, but it really depends on you and the destination.

Canada: Searching individual provinces will give the best results but CBC’s tracker has some info centralized about new daily cases.

International: Our favorite tool is Worldometers as it has an amazing table with all countries sortable by cases, cases per capita, active cases, etc.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the risk of being infected at your destination

Those who are not leaving their home much right now will increase their risk by traveling. Those in destinations less affected by the coronavirus traveling to destinations more affected by the coronavirus will also increase their risk.

 

11. What is your risk of being infected by the coronavirus on the plane

We wanted to split this one because the only additional risk that travel brings (for those who will do the same activities as they do at home and choose a destination with a similar infection rate) is the flight, if any.

While it’s important to debunk the completely false myth that the air on planes is bad (it is not recirculated and is actually of higher quality than in all air-conditioned buildings on the ground thanks to HEPA filters for example), it’s true that there is a risk in terms of physical proximity.

Surfaces are thoroughly disinfected between flights, in many ways planes have never been this clean. But it’s during the flight, with other passengers around you, that there is some risk (but not from the air from the ventilation system).

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

With the mandatory masks and temperature screenings before the flight, we are comfortable flying but only because of the our own personal risk factor.

Canada: Masks and temperature screenings are mandatory.

International: Most major airlines have implemented thorough processes for health and safety.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the risk of being infected on the plane

Same as the previous two factors.

 

12. Are you putting your loved ones at risk when you return

You might not care about being infected, but others close to you might be more vulnerable.

Even if it’s not mandatory for trips within Canada, limiting the number of people you interact with upon return makes sense.

Especially with those close to you who are at risk, as you probably don’t want to be the one to infect them unknowingly.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

It’s pretty easy to be careful and limit your physical contact with others even if you don’t go into complete isolation.

Canada: Low risk as the coronavirus is under control, but it is recommended to be careful upon return.

International: The 14-day quarantine is mandatory.

Who shouldn’t travel based on putting others at risk when they return

Those who have family members or people close to them who are particularly vulnerable should not travel if they can’t limit physical contact upon return.

 

13. Are you putting others at risk at your destination

Again, if you’re traveling, hopefully, it’s because you’re at a low risk. But it’s also important to not put others at risk at your destination.

This means taking measures to prevent spreading the coronavirus in case you are infected but asymptomatic.

Of course, if you do get sick, go into self-isolation.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

It’s not that hard to take some precautions to protect other travelers or locals.

Canada: As listed in the intro, you should prioritize outdoor activities, keep a physical distance as much as possible, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, etc.

International: Same thing.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the risk of being infected on the plane

If you aren’t going to be somewhat careful to not put others at risk, stay home.

 

14. Can you get medical travel insurance for the coronavirus

This one is also split into two, because that’s how travel medical insurance works. Let’s first look at medical travel insurance for the coronavirus specifically.

As of now, most insurers don’t cover COVID-19 (although some group plans do) outside of Canada because of the current government travel advisory. When it will be lifted, some will cover it, others won’t. Some might offer it even before the advisory is lifted. We’re watching this closely.

UPDATE: two insurers now cover COVID-19 with their medical travel insurance!!!

Within Canada, most provincial health authorities have agreements with each other, and you are covered all across Canada for emergency hospitalizations for free. In some provinces, only emergency issues are covered (which obviously COVID-19 would be) so see next factor for the rest.

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

If you are covered for free by your provincial health insurance if you were to require hospitalization for COVID-19, that’s one less thing to worry about.

Canada: Check your provincial health insurance rule to make sure you are covered.

International: As of now, we haven’t found any insurers willing to do (except group plans from certain employers), but that will surely change. As mentioned, some countries offer free hospitalization for COVID-19 to attract travelers, we’ll tell you more about that.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the medical travel insurance for the coronavirus

Within Canada, those who aren’t covered by their provincial health insurance all over the country should only travel if they are willing to take the risk having to pay out-of-pocket if infected. Same for international travel for almost all travelers, as almost all aren’t covered.

 

15. Can you get medical travel insurance for everything other than the coronavirus

Now, medical travel insurance for everything other than COVID-19. Well, everything other than COVID-19 will start being covered again all over the world just like before, as soon as the travel advisory is lifted. At least for most insurers.

In the meantime, since many medical coverage plans are “out-of-province” coverage (especially free credit card coverage) and there is no advisory against domestic travel, most of these will still cover everything except COVID-19 within Canada.

Scotia Gold: the best card for travel insurance for those who earn under $60k

Internationally, we found tugo Insurance as an option to get insured for everything except COVID-19, despite the current advisory (and also works for Canada).

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

You won’t have a problem with getting insurance for everything other than COVID-19.

Canada: Check to see if you are covered for free by your insurer for everything except COVID-19. And if not, tugo Insurance is an option.

International: Check to see if you are covered for free by your insurer for everything except COVID-19 (probably not, because of the advisory). If not, tugo Insurance is an option.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the medical travel insurance for everything other than the coronavirus

Within Canada, those who can’t afford to pay for travel insurance or aren’t covered should only travel if they are willing to take the risk having to pay out-of-pocket if required. Same for international travel for almost all travelers, as almost all aren’t covered.

 

Bonus. Are you comfortable with the complexity of planning and booking trips

We love giving you more at Flytrippers, so here’s a bonus factor.

The days of planning any trip being so easy are behind us, at least temporarily. It certainly is a little bit more complex than it was, although it’s really not that bad honestly (we’ll help you with a lot of content on the topic now that we recommend traveling).

Flytrippers’ assessment of the current situation

It’s really not that complicated, especially for travel within Canada. Is a province open? If so, apart from coronavirus-related special measures or flight booking rules,  everything else in planning and booking is exactly as it was before.

Who shouldn’t travel based on the complexity of planning and booking trips

If you are willing to put even the slightest effort, you’re good to go. If you don’t want any complexity and don’t want to put any effort in at all, or if you are more of a vacationer than a traveler, you might find this too complicated.

 

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Summary

Hopefully, this thorough guide helps you decide whether to travel or not by listing everything you need to think about before starting to travel again.

What do you think of traveling within Canada? Tell us in the comments below.

 

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Featured image: Moraine Lake, Alberta (photo credit: Andre Furtado)

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Andrew D'Amours

Andrew is the co-founder of Flytrippers. He is passionate about traveling the world but also, as a former management consultant, about the travel industry itself. He shares his experiences to help you save money on travel. As a very cost-conscious traveler, he loves finding deals and getting free travel thanks to travel rewards points... to help him visit every country in the world (current count: 71/193 Countries, 47/50 US States & 9/10 Canadian Provinces).

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Rosie

    Hi Andrew. Very informative article.
    Question: I have a flight booked in the second half of September from Toronto (residence) to Winnipeg for 2 days and then Winnipeg to Calgary. As of today there is a self-quarantine imposed after arrival in Manitoba from Toronto. However, I am only there 2 days! What will happen at the airport in winnipeg when I arrive? How will anyone actually verify that I am respecting a quarantine order? And what happens if we don’t stay in? (While of course respecting social distancing and mask wearing while there).
    I know there is still a lot of time between now and then for Manitoba to lift the restriction, but what if they don’t?

    1. Andrew D'Amours

      That’s a good question, but since the quarantine is mandatory I would assume it would definitely be a problem. I wouldn’t disregard their rules for sure, but maybe they would allow you to quarantine for those 2 days and then be allowed to make your way back to the airport, and if not Canadian airlines are now offering one free change for most flights 🙂

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