This Is the Riskiest Part of Your Vacation

The psychological reason vacations are great is also why they can be dangerous

Ashley Abramson
Elemental

--

Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Five months into the pandemic, you’re probably familiar with the potential risks that come with traveling. Being on public transit like buses, trains, and airplanes, which don’t always allow proper social distancing, can potentially expose you to the novel coronavirus. Even road trips aren’t a guarantee of safety. (Chances are, you’ll have to make a pit stop or two.)

But no matter how you travel, you’re definitely not off the hook when you arrive at your final destination. In fact, experts say the riskiest part of traveling during a pandemic isn’t necessarily the journey but the place you’re visiting and the choices you make while you’re on vacation.

There’s no guarantee you’ll be safe around friends and family

Normally, vacation is a good time to let your guard down, take a break from the normal routines of your daily life, and have a little fun. But this time is far from normal, and letting loose during a pandemic could come with significant risks, says Cassandra Pierre, MD, an infectious disease doctor at Boston Medical Center.

--

--

Ashley Abramson
Elemental

Writer-mom hybrid. Health & psychology stories in NYT, WaPo, Allure, Real Simple, & more.