As new phases continue to rollout and restrictions get lifted, domestic travel is becoming more of a possibility for many. We, of course, say this with the absolute highest level of care due to the world’s current health climate. If you are thinking about taking your family on the road, here are a few helpful tips to ensure a wonderful time with safety in mind.
Who’s coming with?
Although there’s an excitement to spontaneous trips, there is a certain level of preparedness that is essential during travel, especially now. First and foremost, you have to consider who you’re traveling with. If any person has a compromised immune system or underlying health conditions, it is recommended they stay behind. Future interactions should also be taken into account such as seeing friends or family upon return and allowing time for a quarantine period if needed.
Plan your route
We want to stress the need for careful planning and that includes choosing the route to your destination. If you are traveling by vehicle, limiting the number of bathroom stops is a great way to lessen your interactions with public areas and surfaces. Planning is also a great opportunity to use those research skills to see which areas along the route may be experiencing a spike in cases or possible closures. Some destinations have traveler restrictions or requirements, so you’ll want to be sure to spend some time looking into locations prior to your departure.
Packing
Normally, “overpacking” is frowned upon, but when it comes to sanitary essentials, we can’t stress enough how important it is! We recommend packing plenty of face masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, and tissues. Wear your mask in public places as well as try to stick with using your debit or credit card to decrease money handling and in-person transactions. Remember, cards can always be wiped down but cash can’t!
Dining and Sleeping
Many restaurants have opened up for indoor dining, but not all. Be sure to keep your phone on you and call restaurants before arriving to ask about guidelines and restrictions. This will overall leave you better prepared to truly enjoy your dining experience. Mayo Clinic offers more safety tips per location. Click here to read more.
If you have a camper or RV, they are convenient for maintaining your own cleanliness and overall space. If you are planning on staying in a hotel make sure to visit their website to determine what cleaning measures are being implemented to keep guests and staff safe. You will also want to call the hotel prior to arriving to confirm your reservation and receive any updates regarding your stay.
Other travel tips:
- Being on top of hygiene on the road limits the spread of germs and can help keep you, your family, and others safe.
- Get your vehicle inspected or serviced prior to leaving
- Packing all snacks and water will also help limit the number of stops and entering various gas stations, stores, etc.
- Only make stops if you really have to.
Visit CDC’s website for more travel safety guidelines here.