Last week we shared some tips for how to make the good ole family road trip stress-free and fun – for both kids and adults. A big part of that, in these pandemic days, is staying healthy. Of course, those health concerns don’t end when you arrive to your destination, so there are definitely some things you’ll want to keep in mind for your time in your hotel, rental, or while staying with family and friends, and medical and health professionals have a number of recommendations.
Before you even leave home, you’ll want to make sure you have some essentials with you both while traveling, as well as at your destination. These include:
- Disposable gloves
- Hand-sanitizer
- Disinfecting wipes
- Plenty of face masks – One tip for families is to have children try out a variety of masks at home – before you leave – until you find a type that’s comfortable and help them get accustomed to wearing it well before your trip. It’s entirely possible that your destination will require guests to wear masks for greater lengths of time than you might be used to for the quick run into your local grocery store. Comfort is key so plan ahead!
In addition, be sure to have your digital wallet or credit/debit cards handy, as many businesses are no longer accepting cash as a form of payment.
Staying in a Hotel/Rental – Whether you’re staying in a hotel, resort, or home/condo rental, there are some basic things you should do to keep everyone healthy, both before you arrive and while you are there. These include:
- Make sure you are familiar with the state and local pandemic policies as they may be different from what is in place where you live. Each state’s website will have a link to the current policies, so be sure to check it well in advance of your trip – as well as again before you leave, as policies change regularly. In addition, check the local or county policies as they also may be different from the overall state regulations.
- Inquire about the cleaning/disinfection protocols and safety precautions being implemented at the property where you are staying and determine if there are any specific policies you will need to adhere to yourself during your stay. Again, you’ll want to do this before you arrive.
- Wear a mask while you’re in public places, like lobbies and entryways, to prevent the spread of germs.
- If the property offers keyless or non-contact check in procedures, take advantage of them. (You actually may not have a choice as many properties only offer this now.)
- Even if the room has been cleaned, you should freshly disinfect hard, non-porous, high-touch surfaces yourself upon arrival, such as doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, countertops, drawer handles, and curtain or blind pulleys. As already mentioned, it’s a good idea to bring your own cleaning, disinfection and hygiene/protection products with you, rather than relying on their being available at your stops.
- Even if the space appears clean, you might consider washing any dishes/cooking tools before using them, to ensure cleanliness.
- While the hotel or property’s cleaning process should get rid of germs on towels and sheets, you could certainly consider bringing along your own pillows and blankets, as those are typically washed less frequently. One good thing if you’re taking a road trip with kids – you probably have brought them anyway for road trip comfort.
If Visiting Friends/Family – Staying with family and friends is a bit different than being on your own in a hotel. Honest conversation is important to make sure everyone is comfortable. Things to consider chatting about are:
- Be sure that no one is experiencing symptoms or feeling unwell and contact them ahead of time to assess their comfort level with having you in their home. They may ask you to self-isolate during the two weeks prior to your trip, wear masks while visiting or keep to a separate part of the house.
- It’s ok to ask them if anyone has been ill, and to request they let you know if so.
- If staying with them overnight, consider having family gatherings outdoors where possible, limiting interaction while indoors and wearing masks. Every region of the country is different though, so keep in mind where you are visiting as certain areas may require more vigilance than others.
In addition to all of this, whether staying with friends, family, or at a hotel/resort or condo, be sure to bring a first aid kit with basic health essentials like band-aids, antiseptic ointment, alcohol wipes, pain medicines, stomach aids, and a thermometer. Make sure your family’s prescriptions are filled, and you have brought any health records that might be needed, as well as phone numbers for your family’s medical providers. It’s also not a bad idea to be aware of your health insurance coverage in the area that you will be traveling, as well as local health provider options in your destinations. Hopefully none of these things will be needed, but when it comes to safety and health, it’s definitely “better to be safe than sorry”!
Safe – and healthy – travels to you and your family!
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