Everybody miss traveling, especially after the trying circumstances of COVID-19 had put us in a disadvantageous position, to a point, where we change our mind even before we plan to go anywhere.

I’m really irritated about the boundaries and obstacles that restrict our travel, unlike the ease with which we traveled before coronavirus. It is as if we have a new definition of travel that’s far form the travel we know and the great pleasure we got and liked during travel.

Earlier, when only passport and sometimes visas were needed, travel seemed like a child’s play. But today, it is slow in pace with many added issues to the passport and visas. Many things must to be resolved in order to travel, like taking the vaccine, providing proof of tests of being COVID negative, going to particular places only and to be quarantined according to the terms and conditions of that country.

Amid all this, I’m not completely confident about the timing of the international flights opening in the Kingdom, as the numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths globally have shown a strong surge again, indicating a need to postpone opening up the flights, an action likely to cause delay to travel at this period of time.

Before deciding where and when to go, let us view the current situation and consider the aspects seriously. This pandemic is still alive and authorities in an effort to curb the spread of the disease could resort to lockdown again. Some countries are already imposing these measures.

In such a scenario, I would likely to opt for short trips only and select places least affected by coronavirus, for this we need to check the available information before making a decision.

An important point to consider is also what type of trip we are going to take, individually or with a group of people? I would prefer one-person maximum with me as a source of pleasure and satisfaction, also to move quickly, if God forbid, anything were to happen anywhere.

The idea is, in case we are allowed to travel and we decide to take this step, then we have to make our strategy in advance for this “travel project” in order to have a fulfilling journey. As I believe the secret of attaining success is in the way we plan to achieve it.

— Saudi writer can be reached @moionlynoor