Niece Kelly and I took our first trip overseas this month and we jumped over a lot of hurdles and learned a bunch about traveling in the COVID era. Traveling internationally isn’t like it used to be. So, get ready to adapt and follow the new rules of COVID travel. Here’s what we learned when we flew to Africa to visit Uganda and Kenya.

It takes a bit of searching to figure out where you can go – so our first tip is:

1. Research carefully to find out where you are able to go as a US citizen.

Kelly researched which countries in the world would take US citizens and came up with two African countries, Kenya and Uganda – both of which we had never visited. Double-check with the country website and the US Department of State website. Ask your travel agent or advisor. But be sure you can safely go to the countries on your list before you buy any airline tickets. You’ll also need to check on COVID testing requirements to be sure you can visit that country (more on that below).

2. Be ready for airline cancellations and changes.

Be ready for the hassles. They’re going to happen, so don’t set your expectations too high. Remember that old tip: have a change of clothes in your carry-on and any necessary medications, toiletries – so you will be prepared if/when changes happen.

Our trip itinerary was changed three times before we left and another time while on the trip. Airlines are cancelling routes, changing times and increasing prices. Don’t think it is you – it’s everyone. You’re going to feel like you are being yanked around – and you are. But that is the reality of COVID travel. It’s challenging and upsetting, but be ready to deal with it. Before our trip, our return was changed to Nairobi (leaving at 5 am, ugh), north to Addis Ababa, south to Johannesburg (with a 10-hour layover), north to Newark and finally to Atlanta. The entire trip would have taken three days and would have been miserable.

While in Kenya, I looked at the flight and decided there must be a better way, so I connected by cell phone and called United. The extra challenge was I had booked the flights with mileage points, so we needed to find flights that were available with points. Luckily, after three dropped calls because of poor cell service and two hours on the phone (heaven knows what that is going to cost me), I got an agent who found a return flight that took us from Nairobi north to Addis and then onward to Toronto and finally to Atlanta. That trip was only 36 hours, so we were happy to find those last-minute available seats.

3. Bring plenty of disposable or other masks so you can wear a clean mask every four hours.

Although I’ve long been a proponent of wearing masks, I wasn’t quite prepared to wear a mask for the lengthy times we had in airports and on planes. Believe me, you’re going to get tired of breathing your own air. But there is nothing you can do about it. The airlines are strict about wearing masks and so are the airports. The best way to deal with masks is to bring plenty of them. Switch out your mask after four hours and toss it or pack it away. On a long overseas flight, you’ll need many, many masks, so be forewarned and give yourself a break.  Airlines even require you wear a mask when sleeping. I took off my mask and put the blanket over my head while sleeping to get a little relief.

You’ll be surprised at how many people overseas are wearing masks. Even in the poor areas we visited, people wore masks. Mask-wearing is not a political statement in other countries, so show respect for others and wear a mask. Everyone at our hotels and the restaurants we visited was very conscientious about wearing a mask.

4. Check out the country’s COVID testing requirements.

We found out before we left that both Kenya and Uganda required a COVID PCR test at least 72 hours before arriving in the country. Remember, there are two kinds of COVID tests: PCR and antigen. Be sure you get the correct test. We had to be tested here in the US two days before we travelled and had to have the results quickly. I had originally scheduled an antigen rapid test at CVS and realized the day before leaving that I had the wrong test. I found a local lab in Gainesville that could do a one-day turnaround on the PCR test. Whew! I was able to get the correct test the day before I travelled and got the results that evening and was able to print out the lab report.

For Kenya, we had to jump through more hoops. They required that we go online and get a Trusted Traveler number and a QR code from the Kenyan government. If you aren’t computer savvy, you may have trouble figuring this out. But believe me, you won’t get into the country without this info. We had print-outs and also kept the info on our phones, so we could show to the authorities when we arrived in Kenya. When you send in your negative lab reports, you receive an email with the QR codes.

Also, be sure to check the requirements for leaving the country you visit. We knew we needed an antigen test to return to the US. However, we found out in Kenya, that you couldn’t get into the Nairobi airport with an antigen test. They required a PCR test. This took a lot of double- and triple- checking by the manager at our lodge. So, be careful to check to see what is required.

One reason we ruled out visiting Tanzania, was that Kelly found that there were no places to get COVID tests back quickly. This seems like a little thing, but it can throw your travel itinerary out the window if you have a problem with rapid return of tests.

5. Allow time in your schedule for COVID testing.

Kelly and I had to get an additional three COVID tests when we were in Africa: one to enter Uganda from Kenya, one to return to Kenya and one to leave Kenya and return to the US. Luckily our first hotels in Kenya and Uganda arranged for the testing and had a doctor come to the hotel where we easily took the tests. Results were emailed to us later that evening. However, in our last lodge in Kenya, we had to be driven to the next town to take our COVID tests. This pretty much took up the entire morning. We were told we would get our results by 6 pm, but it was actually 8:30 pm before we got our negative result emails. I have to say, the manager of the lab was extremely helpful and kept calling us to be sure we got our results.

6. Be ready for restaurants and stores to be closed.

Because of COVID, many establishments are not open. Hotels may open only a few of their restaurants. Shops may be closed. Airports will have many shops and restaurants that are closed. Even the business class lounge in Istanbul was only half-way open. (We had an eight-hour layover there and would have loved to take a shower, but showers were closed.) You may be asked to sit in separate rooms while dining. Go with the flow, that’s really all you can do.

7. Sanitize, sanitize, sanitize.

In Africa, we were offered sanitizer a lot. People expect you to take a squirt and rub your hands together. Do it in front of them, so they know you are following the rules and respecting each other. Same goes for taking of temperatures.  Your temp will be taken many, many times – entering stores, hotels, restaurants. Accept it with a smile and move on.

8. Bring plenty of cash.

The COVID tests are expensive. Kelly and I paid $300 for both of us to take one test. Two of our hotels let us add to our bill and pay with a credit card. The other required cash. I had not accounted for using cash for the tests, so be prepared.

9. Bring plenty of sanitizing wipes.

Don’t be embarrassed to wipe down your airline seat, tray table and surrounding areas. Even though some airlines claim to sanitize between flights, I didn’t see any evidence of that happening. You’ll be touching lots of handrails, ticket counters and other surfaces. Clean your hands religiously. You’ll feel safer and will not infect anyone else.

10. Check your airline’s policy on food.

Ken and I travelled to Alaska just before the Africa trip. We booked first class airfare on Delta and planned for a hot meal on the plane. Imagine our surprise when we were given a box of junk food (crackers, cheese, beef jerky, chips and a cookie). Our flights to Africa did serve hot food, but on Ethiopian airlines, we were often mystified about what we were eating.

Kelly and I had a great trip, but we were lucky to be well-prepared.  Everyone we met was happy to see us. They had not had visitors in a long, long time. So, they were glad to see tourists. Many had been on half or one quarter salary for months, so they were looking forward to increased visitors. I over-tipped in all cases as I knew folks had been suffering. The bottom line is plan ahead and be prepared. It is different, but you can still travel internationally.

Bon voyage.