When the ball dropped in Times Square on December 31st, 2019 if someone told me I would be blogging about traveling during a pandemic in 2020, I would have just laughed and taken their champagne away. Now I’m laughing thinking about how we had no idea what was coming. This has been a year for the history books to say the least, and who knows how long it will continue. For now, the best thing we can do is adapt to the situation, and never stop living our lives.
First things first, if you have to travel or just want to, take a minute to think through what that looks like and how comfortable you are with different options. How would you feel if social distancing wasn’t enforced, like on a full flight or busy beach? Would you still go? Are you comfortable walking around a big city, or taking public transportation? Are you headed to a place where the policy on wearing a mask is what you would expect?
If you feel ready to travel, even jump on a plane, great! Let’s talk about what you need to do to prepare. If flying is still not in your comfort zone, but you still want to travel, there are other options to ease that pandemic induced wanderlust.
Do you ever catch yourself saying “I want to go there someday!” about a small town or city, but it always gets pushed aside for big bucket list trips? Guess what? Now is the PERFECT time to finally explore those places. The best way to do that, if flying is not an option, is a good old fashioned road trip.
I have said it way too many times already, but I love road trips, and even perfecting the art of packing for them. Road tripping gave me the opportunity to experience parts of the United States on much deeper level than a quick fly in/fly out. I bet even by taking a road trip around your home state, there are tons of cool things to discover.
Packing for travel during a pandemic is a little different than what we’re used to. There are a few obvious additions, and a few that you may not have thought of. The first few times I traveled I wish I would have had a picnic blanket and extra snacks (more than usual.) Or knew this next tip about masks.
Wearing a mask is new for all of us, and takes time to get used to. Wearing one when traveling is different than running into the grocery store for a few items. Prepare to have yours on from the moment you step into an airport until the moment you step out of another one. Yes that means during long layovers, waiting at baggage claim and standing at the rental car desk it will be on.
With that in mind, take a quick inventory of your mask collection. My favorites that fit well and are (somewhat) stylish are terrible to wear all day. Breathability is key. The best ones I have found that are the easiest to wear for long stretches of time are basic disposables. Even better, they come in black, so it almost feels like fashion.
Another obvious, but important one, is hand sanitizer. Sanitizer is usually bouncing around the bottom of my bag anyway, but now is the time to pack it for easy access. Some airlines allow bigger bottles than the standard 3.4 oz. No Touch sanitation stations seem to be popping up all over, and I make it a point to use them when walking by.
One thing not typically on my packing list, but is now is a picnic blanket. With so many restaurants closed but open for carryout, a blanket is a great way to create a spot to sit down and eat on a nice day. I visited a large winery in Michigan with only a small number of hard to reserve tables, but welcomed guests to toss a blanket on the ground and order wine.
Some changes I’ll mention later call for additional packing. Snacks and drinks are no longer given out on many flights. The same goes for pillows and blankets. If these are things you expect and want to have, be sure to bring your own.
If you feel overwhelmed by the large amount of information out there, you’re not alone. Facts and recommendations seem to change so often it’s hard to keep up. Different cities have different rules as to what is and isn’t allowed. What that means for us, is just a lot more pre-planning.
Many restaurants, shops and tourist attractions have changed their hours. Some are closed entirely. For anything you plan to do, make sure to call in advance for the most up to date information. If possible, make reservations for the places you would hate to miss. Restaurants are running at limited capacity, so for a place where you could normally walk up and be seated, that may no longer be the case. As far as tourist attractions, the limited capacity is resulting in people having to buy tickets in advance or have a timed entry. Take extra care to check each spot.
Border restrictions are another point to research. Even within the U.S, some states will not let most travelers in without proof of a recent, negative Covid-19 test. Hawaii has strict guidelines for tourists, and at the time of publishing this post Alaska still requires a negative test.
This is a good idea when traveling anywhere, but even more so now. If you start to feel sick the best thing to do is get checked out as quickly as possible. When planning an itinerary make sure to include the addresses of local hospitals and urgent care locations. Review your health insurance to see if you’re covered at these locations. Keep your insurance card with you at all times and a photocopy of it in your suitcase.
When borders begin to reopen, this gets more complicated. Talk to your insurance company to understand if and how you are covered in different countries. Find out where you are able to go for medical care and what tests you can have, to be prepared. Receiving healthcare in another country can cost a fortune. Get the facts up front to not only understand what to expect, but to ease your mind.
Additionally, research a country’s policy for foreign (or even out of state) visitors. If you do happen to test positive for Covid-19, it’s possible you may be stuck there and forced to self quarantine. Plan ahead for this just in case. If you were unable to fly back, where will you stay? Do you need a house or pet sitter back home? How will this affect your job? Yes, it’s a lot to think about and none of it’s any fun, but in today’s world, having this information at your fingertips can keep a situation from going bad to way way worse.
It’s easy to come to have certain expectations when we travel. Simple things like ordering an orange juice during an early flight. Hitting the hotel pool for a quick swim before bed. Relishing a few minutes of quiet at the local coffee shop before the day gets hectic. These things that seemed so simple and routine before may be unavailable. Keep that in mind when going about the day to ease frustration.
When it comes to dining out, some restaurants may offer limited menus. A certain dish you wanted to order may not have made the cut. That sucks, yes. Maybe special excursions or tours you hoped to do are temporarily closed. That also sucks. So now what?
This is the ideal time to explore new things and try new restaurants! When you may have taken a trolly tour, try walking around a city instead and paying attention to little details that would have been missed driving by. That famous spot is closed? Visit a place that sounded interesting, and now there is extra time to squeeze it it.
Every airport is different, but there are a few points that are generally true. Many shops and restaurants are closed, especially in smaller airports. If you planned to grab some magazines or a quick lunch, you may be out of luck. If possible, eat or pick up anything essential before checking in.
Most regular flights have suspended drink and snack service. While you can ask for water, don’t expect the usual full service selection. Some flights hand out pre-packed bags of snacks and drinks. Others do nothing at all. If you need a snack on the plane, bring it with you from home.
Checking into a hotel for the first time threw me a bit I’ll admit. Right away the concierge rattled off a list of every amenity that was closed, which was most of them. The spa, fitness center, lounge, and lobby seating area were just a few. Only one person (or family) in the elevator at a time. Housekeeping will refresh towels but that’s about it. The breakfast included only prepackaged choices. Nope, no eggs if that’s your thing.
Did this really make much difference? No it didn’t. After any initial surprise and minor disappointment, we carried on like normal.
Travel is not the same as it was even just a year ago. Masks and sanitizer wipes in my bag? Wiping down the hotel room? Not things I would have ever pictured being part of my travel routine. It’s not much fun, it can get frustrating and sometimes it’s a little scary. That’s totally ok.
Before the trip, give yourself a moment to digest all this. Think about your expectations and how to prepare for changes. As you go, slowly take it all in. Don’t be hard on yourself if it takes a little time to feel comfortable. No one knows how they will react to new situations, and this is a new situation for all of us. Things will happen along the way that weren’t expected. Pretending everything is normal and ignoring the issue isn’t healthy. Try writing about it in a journal or talking about it with your travel partners.
The same things we practice every day at home shouldn’t stop just because we’re traveling. If anything, we need to step them up. By now it’s safe to assume we all know these, but this IS a post about traveling during a pandemic so bear with me.
Wipe down the hotel room with disinfectant wipes. Walk through the room and clean everything you would touch. Certain things like light switches, remotes and door knobs are obvious. Others like the chain pulls on blinds, iron and hair dryer, and closet doors are less so.
Practice social distancing. Some places are great with managing social distance guidelines, telling guests exactly where to stand or sit. Some aren’t as good, so be aware of when you may need to step back a bit.
Keep sanitizer on you and use it often. Wash your hands just as often. As easy as that is, the worst part of that is how dry my hands get! I always carry an intense hand cream to try and balance it out. My absolute favorite product for dry hands (and it’s even vegan) is hemp hand protector from The Body Shop. I think I’ve been using it for more than ten years, and have never found anything that works better.
When the trip is over and you’re safe at home, it’s still just as important to be conscious of how you’re feeling. If you did end up contracting the virus, these are the symptoms to look out for. If there are any doubts, or you want to make doubly sure before heading back into the world, go get tested. If you are feeling ill but don’t have access to testing, self isolate if possible for the recommended amount of time.
One last thing to do. Empty your suitcase, carry on or backpack and sanitize everything inside. Wash all the clothes, even if they were never worn. The same goes for packing cubes, shoe bags, make up bags, everything. Wipe down anything else that can’t be thrown in the washer. Finish with the lining of the suitcase. I know that sounds excessive, especially if it takes you a week to even consider unpacking (like me), but at least you’ll have nice clean luggage for the next trip!
This is a terrible answer, I know, but it’s completely up to you. I have taken three trips since the pandemic began, two road trips and one domestic flight with connections. There was never a time I felt uncomfortable or unsafe. I was a little leary about the flight because it was completely full, but with masks and sanitizer it felt ok. If that’s something you wouldn’t be ok with, consider a road trip or short regional flight instead without connections. Of course, I used all the tips and precautions which really made a difference in raising my comfort level.
Regardless of how the pandemic continues, I think this new way of traveling is here to stay. Simple actions like sanitizing more often, social distancing, and paying attention to what we touch may become the norm. Only time will tell.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor do I have any medical knowledge for making recommendations. These tips are based off my own personal experiences while traveling during the Covid-19 pandemic. Be sure to consult your doctor with any questions relating to Covid-19.
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