8 ways travelers can save time and travel safer
Many people shelved their wanderlust during the pandemic. Now that things are back to normal, it’s time to start exploring life again. If you’re dreaming about a big vacation, you’re not alone.
A study by Expedia says 37% of American travelers are planning international and domestic trips next year. As they say, go big or go home — but no matter where you go, you should prioritize your safety. Tap or click here for five tips to keep you safe while you travel.
If you plan to hit the road next year, prepare to be flexible. Things are still a little shaky, which is why you should do more advanced planning than usual. Luckily, we put together a quick to-do list: Check off each of these to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable vacation.
1. Know what you’re getting into
Before you pack your bags, research your destination. You want to know if you’re entering a highly contagious area or not. You can get a scope of the situation by checking out an official COVID-19 data tracking map.
These maps can help you figure out if you’re entering a potential danger zone. Ever since South Africa identified the Omicron variant, the new strain made headlines and spread like wildfire. NPR reports that 19 U.S. states have detected the omicron variant.
Stay safe by using the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker. This comprehensive tool gives you valuable information on community transmission on the county level.
Once you’ve gotten a handle on the situation, it’s time to follow step two.
2. Back up your data
If you’re taking important devices while on vacation, you need to take precautions. There are many opportunities for you to lose your gadgets, from your Uber ride to the airport to your hotel stays.
Say you use a device during your flight. If you find out later that you left it on the airplane, you could be in big trouble. Calling up the airline might reveal that your device is in another country!
Nowadays, many devices contain the keys to your entire digital world. If you have critical programs like password managers, losing your device could mean no more access to critical accounts. Luckily, there’s a simple way to keep track of your tablets, smartphones, laptops and more.
11 tech and everyday essentials dirtier than your toilet
We all remember the mad rush for cleaning products and hand sanitizer at the start of the pandemic. It’s still difficult to get these products in some areas.
Unfortunately, there are always people who take advantage of others in times of need. They appeal to our desire for cleanliness and safety with websites and product listings containing fake cleaning supplies. Tap or click here to spot fake Clorox and Lysol websites.
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It’s been difficult to find essential supplies like toilet paper, face masks and hand sanitizer for weeks. Not only have brick-and-mortar store shelves been empty, but online marketplaces have run low or sold out, too.