We have now been in this global pandemic for a few months. I hope you all have been staying safe. While most countries in the world seem to have gotten their infection rates under control, we here in the U.S. are not so lucky. We continue to have record numbers and thus many of us have had to re-think our travel plans. I myself had plans to go to Hawaii in May with my family, which we promptly had to cancel. With air travel continuing to be a big risk, and this being summer (usually the busiest travel season), how can we continue to “travel?”
- Stay local. Airlines are easing up restrictions (allowing all seats to be filled, for example) so you really only have the requirement of wearing masks on board to protect you, which is definitely not enough in an enclosed space like that. There are many hidden gems right in your back yard, or in your state, that you have likely not explored. Do a day trip where you could go and enjoy but return home at night. Rent a cabin, for example, so you can do your own cooking and avoid public places like restaurants. This will still get you out of your four walls. Have plenty of hand sanitizer ready. When you are visiting a public place like a museum be sure to follow local guidelines, mask up, and keep socially distant from others. Now is the time to be extra respectful of people’s personal space. If you absolutely have to get on an airplane right now, don’t be that person who ends up going viral for getting thrown off a plane because you threw a fit that you had to wear a mask or that it took extra time to get through security.
- Road Trip It. Plan well ahead so that, once again, you can control your interactions with others. Pack snacks, taking your family’s needs into consideration. Be aware that many places are restricting the use of public restrooms so this can be tricky to navigate. Be selective about who are you traveling with.
- Avoid hotspots. This may seem like common sense to many of you, but there are others that really need to hear it. For example, as much as I know people appreciate my home state of Florida, with its beaches and Disney, now is really not the time to visit. Instead, choose an area that has a lower infection and positivity rate. Be mindful of any restrictions another state might have on allowing outside visitors, and whether or not you fall into that category. Many states like New York are placing quarantine restrictions if you are coming from a state like Florida with high numbers of infections.
- Be Patient and Kind. When having to deal with any service worker (like a waiter, or hotel receptionist) be extra mindful that these people are working through a pandemic, risking their health and the health of their families, in order to provide you some semblance of normalcy and also to support themselves. We know through contact tracing that they are also some of the first people to get sick with Covid through exposure to people they have to serve. Overtip and do not whine when being asked to wear a mask in a public place. The faster we can all do what we need to do the faster we can all get through this.
- Visit family. Many are taking this opportunity to visit family that they know have been taking precautions, if only to be able to see people. I have now had a couple of extended stays with my parents in NC. Living alone, this has made things more tolerable and been a welcome reprieve from loneliness and isolation. Of course, if you are someone who has not been taking precautions, whether you are symptomatic or not, please do not risk your family members’ health. I have heard numerous stories of people who have become infected because a family member came to visit them
These are just a few tips for traveling during the age of Covid. I hope that you all are still able to get out some and stay safe while doing so.
Buen viajes,
Colleen