A bit long winded here, but I want to share some tips and highlights from our pandemic getaway experiences. Traveling is a touchy subject and the COVID situation is constantly changing, so I understand the concerns. By no means do I take what is going on lightly. Do what is best for yourself, your families and others. Take the time to assess where to travel, how to get there and what to do, safely. With that said, I received questions about our travel during this pandemic, so I hope it offers a bit of comfort and ideas if you are making travel plans.
For my family, a change of scenery and to our daily routine was needed, and I’m so thankful we could pack up the car (roadtrips are the easiest option and what is most comfortable for us right now) and head out of town. I must say (strangely/sadly), it was very reassuring to see many masked faces and clear signage of the ‘do’s, don’ts and you better not’s’ in the places we visited.
Tips & recommendations:
- Limit stops. For our roadtrips we packed lots of snacks and drinks. We also had two to three stops planned out along our routes to stretch our legs, pick up (more) food, and it helped with planning out potty breaks. Knowing in advance where we were stopping, gave us a good idea of our surroundings, capacity and any restrictions.
- Pack the essentials. Extra hand sanitizer, masks and face/body wipes. I also brought hand soap, disinfecting cleaning wipes and spray. Ever since having a child, it is automatic for me to do a quick wipe down of tables, counters and chairs, so keeping this up (not just now) is an extra precaution I like to take.
- Research your accomodations and destination. Every hotel website and Airbnb listing I viewed prominently details their specific safety and health plans and changes. It was also clear to confirm what amenities were available too (limited Spa services, contactless in-room dining, self-park, etc.). Depending on your destination, I recommend visiting the city’s official website to learn about closures and guidelines. Also, most hotels can provide local city updates. For our Lake Tahoe Airbnb, I messaged the owner asking for the cleaning protocol and and to confirm there was sufficient time in between the last guest and the cleaning crew before we arrived. (I still did my own wipe down before we settled in!) At hotels, look for contactless check-in/check-out, and if you are only staying a couple of nights, you can limit how often your room is cleaned. Some hotels are not offering turn down service. In Carmel, we stayed at The Getaway. Staying at a smaller boutique hotel made it easier for us to navigate all the contactless changes, encouraging us to be more self sufficient. However, looking forward to the day when we can interact with more hotel staff!
- Wipe down. At every place we stayed, it gave me peace of mind to wipe down all high touch point areas (light switches, door handles, tables, remotes, etc.), especially with Arthur touching EVERYTHING.
- Get up early. Take walks and explore during less populated hours. We found that early morning strolls worked best to avoid crowded sidewalks and the busy outdoor areas at restaurants.
- Dining outdoors. I always research and have a list of restaurants to choose from during our travels, and this was no different, other than finding restaurants that had plentiful and spacious outdoor seating. I found locations that already had preexisting outdoor dining space with plenty of room for safe distancing, and if we didn’t feel completely comfortable, we did take out.
- The musts! Always wear a mask, postpone your travel plans if you are not feeling well, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer if you do not have immediate access to wash hands, and as best as possible, keep a safe distance from others.
This is what worked for me and my family. Do you have any plans to travel soon?
