Q // I’m due to fl y in January, but am concerned about the risk of coronavirus transmission. Do you have any advice on staying safe on a fl ight?
The risk of catching Covid-19 on a fl ight is very low. The characteristics of the aircraſt cabin naturally limit the spread of droplets — everyone faces forward, the seat backs act as a barrier between rows, people generally don’t move around very much on a fl ight, and the air in the aircraſt cabin circulates from the top to the bottom of the cabin (instead of along the length of the fuselage). Cabin air in modern aircraſt is 50% fresh air from outside the aircraſt and 50% recirculated air, which goes through High Effi ciency Particulate Air fi lters, which are over 99% eff ective in removing bacteria and viruses, such as Covid-19.
Besides wearing a face mask
throughout the entire travel process, it’s important to practise good hand hygiene. That means washing your hands regularly with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially aſt er contact with commonly touched surfaces on the aircraſt , such as seatbelts and table trays. And while boarding in today’s
context tends to be done in an orderly manner with physical distancing, do also take precautions when disembarking at the destination. And most important of all, don’t fl y if you’re unwell or experiencing any symptoms. DR DAVID POWELL
Q // I’d hoped to spend my 2021 gap year backpacking on a diff erent continent. Do you have any suggestions for equivalent adventures closer to home?
Firstly, don’t give up on your dreams of a far-fl ung gap year. Borders will reopen, and when they do there’ll be great deals to be had. We fi nd many gap-yearers like to kick off their trip with a group adventure, followed by working and exploring independently, so for 2021 we’re off ering working holiday visas free with certain trips to Australia and New Zealand to facilitate that combination. But there are also many options
Q // I’m looking for a UK hotel escape in the new year. Where would you recommend?
You’re in luck. There’s no denying 2020 has been a diffi cult year for the hospitality industry, but there’s still been a heartening number of new openings in spite of these tricky times. London, perhaps unsurprisingly, has led the charge with a fl ush of new hotels, including The Mitre, a 36-room boutique address just a stone’s throw from Hampton Court Palace. With a quirky, classic-yet-contemporary design, it’s perfectly placed for exploring the Tudor residence, as well as for riverside rambles and deer- spotting in Bushy Park. From £178, room only.
mitrehamptoncourt.com Just outside the capital, in
Hertfordshire, is Birch, an opening that’s attracted lockdown-weary Londoners in their droves. It’s little wonder: set on the grand Theobalds Estate, it’s a welcome antidote to the winter blues, with an on-site farm, two restaurants,
three bars and a bakery, as well as ceramics workshops, yoga classes, a screening room and a cultural events programme. Factor in the amount of space to unwind in (55 acres, no less), and your front room will feel a million miles away. From £150, room only.
birchcommunity.com But if it’s the sea air you’re
aſt er, then look no further than The Pig at Harlyn Bay. Hotel group The Pig’s latest addition has all the hallmarks of its porcine cousins — elegant furniture, a stately setting, farm-to-fork dining — with the added bonus of being a bracing clif op stroll from the pretty town of Padstow on the Cornish coast. Want to indulge? Book a massage in one of the treatment rooms, housed in cosy, former potting sheds. From £150, room only.
thepighotel.com CONNOR MCGOVERN
closer to home, and operators are increasingly fl exible in terms of the experiences they off er and booking terms. This is due to both the current uncertainty and the projected rise of the ‘micro-gap year’. Contiki off ers the Ultimate European plus Greek Islands (17 countries in 45 days), or there are shorter trips such as the Scandinavia & Russia Tour, or Italian Escape & Sicily Tour, which take a deeper immersion into the destinations. For independent travellers keen to meet new people and learn something new, then adding in a three-or-four day mini adventure (such as Truffl e Hunting in Italy, or Surf & Yoga Retreat in Morocco) is a great way to get off the tourist trail. DONNA JEAVONS
THE EXPERTS
SEAN NEWSOM // FOUNDING EDITOR,
WELOVE2SKI.COM
DR DAVID POWELL // MEDICAL ADVISOR, INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION
IATA.ORG
CONNOR MCGOVERN // COMMISSIONING EDITOR, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK)
DONNA JEAVONS // SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR, UK & EUROPE, CONTIKI
CONTIKI.COM
Jan/Feb 2021 137
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