Traveling With Long COVID Is a Challenge. Here’s How I Made My Journey Safer.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Traveling With Long COVID Is a Challenge. Here’s How I Made My Journey Safer.
Long COVID’s debilitating symptoms often prohibit travel, but sometimes we may travel out of necessity. Whether it is for work, family, healthcare, or pleasure, consider these practical tips for a more successful trip. Here are three helpful guides for traveling during the ongoing pandemic: “How to Travel Safely During COVID,” from a nurse; this handy travel guide from the Clean Air Club; and ‘How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Flight,’ which includes guidance from physicians. For the three weeks I was gone, I was fortunate to have the privilege of many buffer days. Fitting your mask with a sip valve can also be helpful if you are taking any kind of public transportation. Mine allowed me to hydrate and helped protect me from another infection. When traveling from Chicago to Ireland, I went two days early to stay in a hotel and recoup so that I could start the trip with some energy. I’m happy to report that I achieved my goal.
Then I saw a post for a retreat in Ireland that September. I decided then and there that I was going to travel across the Atlantic and make that happen.
Still, I wasn’t sure what travel with long COVID would look like. I knew I wanted some joy: my mental health had taken such a dip with the endless doctors’ appointments, tests, and long stretches in bed. To prepare to use my limited energy for something more fun, I began diligently looking into every detail of how to make this trip happen under my circumstances — researching best practices, baking in rest days, and preparing lists of my health tools to bring.
So last fall, I went on a trip to Ireland, traveling thousands of miles from my home in Illinois. I encountered many obstacles on my journey, but in the end was able to balance my energy and disability with some enjoyable ventures. I’m happy to report that I achieved my goal.
While long COVID’s debilitating symptoms often prohibit travel, sometimes we may travel out of necessity. Whether it is for work, family, healthcare, or pleasure, consider these practical tips for a more successful trip.
1. Avoid flare-up seasons: It’s not always possible to choose the dates you are going to travel. However, if you do get to choose, or if you can set some boundaries with the people asking you to travel — I highly recommend picking a time of year in which you are most likely to feel your best. For instance, I know that I flare up a lot in the spring and late fall, as many others with chronic illnesses do in the northern hemisphere during the “October Slide.” But the retreat that interested me was in early September, which was a good window of time for my trip.
2. Travel precautions: A huge part of our health plan involves not getting reinfected. And planes and other forms of public transport can carry a high risk of transmission, especially if you’re not wearing a high-quality mask. As such, COVID-19 safety is of the utmost importance when traveling.
Here are three helpful guides for traveling during the ongoing pandemic: “How to Travel Safely During COVID,” firsthand travel accounts from a nurse; this handy travel guide from the Clean Air Club; and “How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Flight,” which includes guidance from physicians. Fitting your mask with a sip valve can also be helpful if you are taking any kind of public transportation. Mine allowed me to hydrate and helped protect me from another infection: a lifesaver!
3. Stick to your daily routine: It is easy to fall out of sync with our daily routines during travel. However, it is paramount to stick to them. Over the past five years with long COVID, I have found a specific set of steps that improves my odds of feeling better. So I made it my priority to stick to my wellness groove. For me, this included packing my supplements, medications, and compression stockings for my dysautonomia.
Setting aside time each day to do my stretches, dry brushing, and meditation — just like I do at home — made such a difference for me. What are things you do at home to feel better? Do them while you travel, too. Our bodies need that consistency.
4. Build in buffer days: Another component for a successful trip while chronically ill is baking in rest time and allowing yourself to be okay with some days in bed, if you’re able to. For the three weeks I was gone, I was fortunate to have the privilege of many buffer days. When traveling from Chicago to Ireland, I went two days early and stayed in a hotel after the flight to recoup so that I could start the trip with some energy. I did the same when heading home.
Long days on a plane, train, or bus are often the hardest part of a trip, so scheduling rest days before and after made a noticeable difference for me. I also scheduled time during the trip for days I needed to stay in bed. I knew I couldn’t pack in activities every single day. I gave myself a big pep talk before the trip, reminding myself that it was okay to have whole days in bed.
5. Choose a mode of transportation that your body can handle: In my case, going overseas only allowed me to fly, which is why so many buffer days were necessary. However, when I have taken short trips that don’t necessitate flights, I have found the train serves my purposes well. When I need to drive, I know that I need to plan for frequent stops and breaks.
And if I have a travel partner, I will ask them to drive. If you are traveling for work or another necessity, ask if there are accommodations or options to travel in the way that most suits your body’s needs, and plan ahead for the best way to do that.
6. Utilize disability services: Many facilities offer services to support travelers with disabilities — you are entitled to use them! For me, that was airport wheelchair services. I felt awkward about this at first, since I can walk. However, a friend with long COVID encouraged me to do this, and I’m glad I did. The unbearably long treks through airport terminals, the lengthy and slow-moving lines, and belongings to carry are enough to wear out a long-hauler before we even get on the flight, especially if you experience post-exertional malaise from physical activity.
The energy I saved for the drain of the flight by using wheelchair services cannot be overstated. You must request a chair in advance, when you check in online a day or so before your flight. If you are traveling by train or bus, Amtrak trains offer wheelchair and baggage-carrying services, and Greyhound bus lines offer disability assistance as well.
Travel services recommend contacting customer service in advance to ensure they will have enough porters on your departure day. Typically, there is an option when checking in for your flight — you click a box stating you need this service and answer questions about your specific needs. If doing this online is not your cup of tea, I recommend calling the airline or other service a few days before your flight to request accommodations.
All in all, my trip to Ireland looked a lot different from any of my travels prior to long COVID. The diligence, details, and mindfulness that went into planning and taking this trip were of the utmost importance.
Anyone with a cursory awareness of long COVID knows our symptoms and disability tend to prohibit many of our previous activities. However, if you are able to or must travel, proper planning can make our journeys more comfortable and successful. Of course, our mileage will always vary!
Krista Atkinson is an Illinois-based freelance writer. She is passionate about advocating for awareness around chronic illness, mental health and wellness, and body positivity.
This article was published by The Sick Times, a website chronicling the long COVID crisis, on June 10, 2025. It is republished with permission.
Traveling With Long COVID Is a Challenge. Here’s How I Made My Journey Safer.
Long COVID’s debilitating symptoms often prohibit travel, but sometimes we may travel out of necessity. Whether it is for work, family, healthcare, or pleasure, consider these practical tips for a more successful trip. Here are three helpful guides for traveling during the ongoing pandemic: “How to Travel Safely During COVID,” from a nurse; this handy travel guide from the Clean Air Club; and ‘How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Flight,’ which includes guidance from physicians. For the three weeks I was gone, I was fortunate to have the privilege of many buffer days. Fitting your mask with a sip valve can also be helpful if you are taking any kind of public transportation. Mine allowed me to hydrate and helped protect me from another infection. When traveling from Chicago to Ireland, I went two days early to stay in a hotel and recoup so that I could start the trip with some energy. I’m happy to report that I achieved my goal.
Then I saw a post for a retreat in Ireland that September. I decided then and there that I was going to travel across the Atlantic and make that happen.
Still, I wasn’t sure what travel with long COVID would look like. I knew I wanted some joy: my mental health had taken such a dip with the endless doctors’ appointments, tests, and long stretches in bed. To prepare to use my limited energy for something more fun, I began diligently looking into every detail of how to make this trip happen under my circumstances — researching best practices, baking in rest days, and preparing lists of my health tools to bring.
So last fall, I went on a trip to Ireland, traveling thousands of miles from my home in Illinois. I encountered many obstacles on my journey, but in the end was able to balance my energy and disability with some enjoyable ventures. I’m happy to report that I achieved my goal.
While long COVID’s debilitating symptoms often prohibit travel, sometimes we may travel out of necessity. Whether it is for work, family, healthcare, or pleasure, consider these practical tips for a more successful trip.
1. Avoid flare-up seasons: It’s not always possible to choose the dates you are going to travel. However, if you do get to choose, or if you can set some boundaries with the people asking you to travel — I highly recommend picking a time of year in which you are most likely to feel your best. For instance, I know that I flare up a lot in the spring and late fall, as many others with chronic illnesses do in the northern hemisphere during the “October Slide.” But the retreat that interested me was in early September, which was a good window of time for my trip.
2. Travel precautions: A huge part of our health plan involves not getting reinfected. And planes and other forms of public transport can carry a high risk of transmission, especially if you’re not wearing a high-quality mask. As such, COVID-19 safety is of the utmost importance when traveling.
Here are three helpful guides for traveling during the ongoing pandemic: “How to Travel Safely During COVID,” firsthand travel accounts from a nurse; this handy travel guide from the Clean Air Club; and “How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Flight,” which includes guidance from physicians. Fitting your mask with a sip valve can also be helpful if you are taking any kind of public transportation. Mine allowed me to hydrate and helped protect me from another infection: a lifesaver!
3. Stick to your daily routine: It is easy to fall out of sync with our daily routines during travel. However, it is paramount to stick to them. Over the past five years with long COVID, I have found a specific set of steps that improves my odds of feeling better. So I made it my priority to stick to my wellness groove. For me, this included packing my supplements, medications, and compression stockings for my dysautonomia.
Setting aside time each day to do my stretches, dry brushing, and meditation — just like I do at home — made such a difference for me. What are things you do at home to feel better? Do them while you travel, too. Our bodies need that consistency.
4. Build in buffer days: Another component for a successful trip while chronically ill is baking in rest time and allowing yourself to be okay with some days in bed, if you’re able to. For the three weeks I was gone, I was fortunate to have the privilege of many buffer days. When traveling from Chicago to Ireland, I went two days early and stayed in a hotel after the flight to recoup so that I could start the trip with some energy. I did the same when heading home.
Long days on a plane, train, or bus are often the hardest part of a trip, so scheduling rest days before and after made a noticeable difference for me. I also scheduled time during the trip for days I needed to stay in bed. I knew I couldn’t pack in activities every single day. I gave myself a big pep talk before the trip, reminding myself that it was okay to have whole days in bed.
5. Choose a mode of transportation that your body can handle: In my case, going overseas only allowed me to fly, which is why so many buffer days were necessary. However, when I have taken short trips that don’t necessitate flights, I have found the train serves my purposes well. When I need to drive, I know that I need to plan for frequent stops and breaks.
And if I have a travel partner, I will ask them to drive. If you are traveling for work or another necessity, ask if there are accommodations or options to travel in the way that most suits your body’s needs, and plan ahead for the best way to do that.
6. Utilize disability services: Many facilities offer services to support travelers with disabilities — you are entitled to use them! For me, that was airport wheelchair services. I felt awkward about this at first, since I can walk. However, a friend with long COVID encouraged me to do this, and I’m glad I did. The unbearably long treks through airport terminals, the lengthy and slow-moving lines, and belongings to carry are enough to wear out a long-hauler before we even get on the flight, especially if you experience post-exertional malaise from physical activity.
The energy I saved for the drain of the flight by using wheelchair services cannot be overstated. You must request a chair in advance, when you check in online a day or so before your flight. If you are traveling by train or bus, Amtrak trains offer wheelchair and baggage-carrying services, and Greyhound bus lines offer disability assistance as well.
Travel services recommend contacting customer service in advance to ensure they will have enough porters on your departure day. Typically, there is an option when checking in for your flight — you click a box stating you need this service and answer questions about your specific needs. If doing this online is not your cup of tea, I recommend calling the airline or other service a few days before your flight to request accommodations.
All in all, my trip to Ireland looked a lot different from any of my travels prior to long COVID. The diligence, details, and mindfulness that went into planning and taking this trip were of the utmost importance.
Anyone with a cursory awareness of long COVID knows our symptoms and disability tend to prohibit many of our previous activities. However, if you are able to or must travel, proper planning can make our journeys more comfortable and successful. Of course, our mileage will always vary!
Krista Atkinson is an Illinois-based freelance writer. She is passionate about advocating for awareness around chronic illness, mental health and wellness, and body positivity.
This article was published by The Sick Times, a website chronicling the long COVID crisis, on June 10, 2025. It is republished with permission.
Source: https://www.covidhealth.com/article/traveling-long-covid-challenge-made-journey-safer