Because of the pandemic, many people have not left home for months. Nowadays, despite the fact that some restriction measures have been relaxed, traveling with the ease of before seems to be a distant idea. However, there are studies that show that planning a trip is good for mental health.

In this sense, and after being locked up at home for months, more and more people need to change their environment, disconnect from the screens and connect with nature. But how do you go out into a world where you can find the coronavirus, anywhere?

We know that the threat of COVID has not passed, however, we share nine tips that you can take into account, to plan your next trip, so that you can do it when circumstances allow:

1. Think in the long term, including that you will be able to make your trip during 2021. Today, there are many options so you can buy today and redeem your trip during the next year.

2. Depending on the traffic light you are at, first look for options close to where you live. For example: near Quito, you have options in Cotopaxi, Imbabura, or Mindo where you can leave the door of your house and go straight to the door of your hotel. When the measures become more flexible, you will be able to make regional trips – to the rest of the country – and later international ones.

3. Look for options with flexible exchange policies. Nowadays, hotels and airlines have made their policies for changes, cancellations, and penalties much more flexible.

4. Take advantage of available discounts. Hotels with great effort have made packages with discounts to reactivate their sector and stay operational. It is your opportunity to know that place that you have loved so much!

5. Avoid visiting places where there are crowds. Fortunately in our country, there are several small hotels and in places surrounded by nature. Analyze how easy it will be to keep your distance from other people who are not traveling with you.

6. Find out about the biosecurity protocols applied by the hotel of your interest. It is important to know, How do these hotels handle the protocols? Both their staff and the security they provide to their visitors. But remember, that the responsibility belongs to everyone, so you must also abide by the hotel rules.

7. Set an intention on your trip. Take the time to remember what is most significant or memorable about your travel experience. Maybe remember childhood times? Or the excitement of a special meal? Or the adrenaline that an outdoor sport produces? Or the tranquility that inspires you to admire a landscape? We know that now trips are not going to be as frequent as before, so you should make the most of it.

8. Get advice from experts on the destination to visit, the places of interest, and what you cannot miss.

9. Remember that by traveling, you are energizing the local economy, and supporting the families that depend on these enterprises.