School is out….and has been for a while. Not to mention we are all a little stir crazy these days after 3+ months of quarantine. Luckily, vacation Season is upon us! Which is why today I’m going to share my best COVID-19 travel tips.
I think it is safe to say Summer 2020 is going to be unlike any summer we have experienced. It comes amidst a global pandemic, in which the United States is not out of woods yet; as well as an economic crisis that has unemployment numbers drastically increasing by the day.
Give me a margarita or 7 (since quarantine has my stress level and alcohol tolerance at record highs), a babysitter and the beach. NOW please! And how about AMEN because God knows I need it.
If I wasn’t clear, I need a freaking vacation. However, COVID-19 seems to be cramping everyone’s style; particularly when it comes to booking travel plans. With every state reopening at different rates, it is hard to know what is going to be open and when.
Due to the hesitation of people in booking vacations, gas prices and the cost of plane tickets are both incredibly low; which is a good incentive for people to travel despite these new obstacles.
As of now, we are free to travel but that could change so I would highly recommend getting insurance, in case a refund is needed. Also, keep in mind (especially if you are flying) that travel bans and restrictions are constantly changing individually by state, so flights may be canceled and you may have an extended vacation. Just be aware and accordingly plan.
Right now, booking vacations and traveling seem risky but from what I have gathered regarding responsible travel, as long as you are diligent about taking appropriate measures to follow COVID-19 restrictions, people should be ok to travel.
That being said, the risks of travel are usually more dependent on personal choices of the traveler rather than the means of transportation. So if your travel bug can’t be ignored, here are some suggestions on how to travel responsibly and make intelligent choices during these unprecedented times:
COVID-19 Travel Tips
- Decide on the best mode of transportation for you or your family. Then educate yourself on proper CDC safety tips for the type of transportation you plan to use.
- Stay up-to-date on state and local government travel restrictions due to COVID-19. A list of each state’s department of health website can be found here.
- Anticipate pandemic travel needs:
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- Bring enough prescriptions or medications to last the entire trip plus extra for any unexpected changes in travel.
- Keep hand sanitizer easily accessible.
- Pack enough PPE and masks for everyone.
- Bring food and drink for trip to limit stops and potential exposure to COVID-19.
- Pack your own cleaning supplies to clean lodging accommodations before use.
- Frequently clean and disinfect any touched surfaces particularly in your vehicle (seatbelts, steering wheel, gear shift, radio/temperature dials, door handles, etc. )
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- Be diligent about practicing social distancing and wearing masks in public. Do not forget the masks. For example they are REQUIRED in Nashville.
- Cancel trip if anyone is sick. Also, make sure anyone who shows COVID-19 symptoms, has been potentially exposed to someone who has contracted the virus, or is high risk individual stay home.
- A tip when taking a road trip: improve ventilation in your vehicle as much as possible by keeping the windows open or setting the air vent to non-recirculation mode.
- Constantly WASH your hands for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
- Try using AirBNB and property rentals, as opposed to hotels and resorts, to limit the number of human interactions.
Unfortunately, until we have a vaccine for COVID-19, the new normals of traveling will be around for the foreseeable future. This means traveling during these unprecedented times will always have some risk involved. However, as long as travelers value public health and believe in following the appropriate recommended CDC COVID-19 safety guidelines, we all should be ok to travel this summer.
Use these times to get creative and get back to the simpler summer nights. Happy responsibly safe travels!
Do you have any extra COVID-19 travel tips? Let me know in a comment below!