6 Items to Add to Your Packing List for COVID-Era Travel - 6 Additions Every Traveller Must Make to Their Luggage

In an era where contactless payment methods are becoming increasingly popular, it is worth using contactless credit cards with "Tap to Pay" technology. Swiping credit cards through reading machines not only means that strangers will handle your credit cards but that the card will also come into contact with the card reader, which goes through hundreds of credit cards every day. Those who secure cards with near-field communication technology, on the other hand, can simply hold the card near the reader to successfully carry out a payment or transaction. If you are unsure whether your cards have this particular feature enabled, check the logo for Touch and Pay, which resembles the Wi-Fi symbol on your phone.

This is an accessory that will come in handy regardless of whether there is an infectious disease on the loose or not as having a fully-charged mobile phone is essential when one is away from home. COVID-19 has created a world in which most of our exchanges, whether it's booking a cab, ordering meals, or securing a visa are performed online; therefore, a functioning mobile phone with internet access is a must-have for all travellers.

While there is no need to carry everything but the kitchen sink on holiday, using restrooms on the road and in foreign airports can be a tricky experience during a global pandemic. In addition to wet wipes and hand sanitisers, travellers will also benefit from carrying a pack of disposable toilet seat covers so that no surface of the bathroom comes into contact with your skin. Toilet paper, tissues and cleansing agents will also come in handy when flushing toilets or handling public surfaces.

When it comes to situations where your signature is required on bank documents, hotel reservation forms, and other types of paperwork, having your own pen can be a literal lifesaver. While it was common practice to use any pen on hand to sign documents one comes across on the road, it is no longer safe to handle pens and other stationery that has been used by other individuals.

While Theme Resorts and most other Sri Lanka resorts will provide bottled water for their guests, travellers must have a personal water bottle on hand to which the water can be emptied and stored. Drinking straight from the bottle, even if it is sealed, is not necessary when you can have your own bottle while it also prevents tourists from having to use drinking fountains and public taps.

Eliminate the need to ask strangers to snap photos of you on vacation by using a selfie stick instead. Your phone should not be handled by anyone else but you, even if it is for a quick photo.