 Guest Post: Jessie Clarke from Soulful Travel Most of us are choosing to skip flying the friendly skies this holiday season. Between the risk of transmission during layovers to quarantine guidelines of a week or more, flying just isn’t feasible for those with just a few days off. This means we will take to the roads this year, and that requires some preparations. Here are a few great suggestions for safe road travel during the current global crisis. Know your en-route accommodation options. If your drive requires an overnight stay, map out potential accommodations before you leave. Take the time to get to know what they are doing to combat the spread of the coronavirus. As Hotel News Now explains, most hotel chains have adjusted their cleaning procedures to improve sanitation and reduce contamination. You can check travel websites for reviews from recent customers. Plan ahead for working from the road. Even if you've scheduled days off, you don't know what the road ahead will bring. Make sure that you have all the tools and equipment you need to work remotely, if necessary. If you do not currently have a laptop, now is a great time to invest in one as many technology manufacturers are offering deep deals and discounts throughout the holiday season. You will also want to ensure that you have enough mobile data to act as your own hotspot if necessary. Keep your gatherings small. The vast majority of the United States has enacted strict gathering restrictions in light of the pandemic. Keep your get-togethers at or below the recommended numbers, and plan to wear a mask at your destination. This is especially important if you will be visiting with elderly or immunocompromised relatives. Talk to your friends and family about ways that your holiday parties will look different this year. This might mean playing no-contact games, such as Christmas charades, or utilizing video conferencing software to allow at-risk relatives to join the festivities remotely. If someone begins to feel ill, turn around. A runny nose or cough usually means something as simple as a cold or allergies. However, given that we're in the middle of a global crisis, even mild symptoms should be taken seriously. Hopkins Medicine explains that the symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, and headache. If you are experiencing any of these, do not proceed to your target destination, and contact your healthcare provider for further guidance. Avoid indoor pit stops when possible. The general consensus is that the coronavirus spreads more efficiently in poorly-ventilated indoor areas. Minimize the number of stops you have to make by packing snacks and ensuring you have all of your essentials in your bag before you go. For the inevitable bathroom breaks, don't touch doors, use paper towels instead of the air-based hand dryers, and maintain a six-foot distance between yourself and other travelers. Our holiday travel plans may look different this year and maybe even the next. Until the vaccine is widely accessible, it is up to us as individuals to take as many precautions as possible to keep ourselves and our families safe. While traveling far from home is typically not advisable, there is nothing wrong with visiting with friends and family throughout the holidays, as long as you do so safely and sensibly. Contact Allen Batista Travel today to plan a fun yet safe trip for the holidays and beyond!
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 Guest Post: Stephanie Zito from Creditcards.com If you are planning to travel this year, make sure you are prepared for all possible scenarios. As more and more of us start to return to travel, health and safety are top of mind. How do we travel responsibly in this new normal? Is it smart to consider traveling for the upcoming holidays? How do you know where you are even allowed to go to these days? Whether you’re travel planning for the holidays, packing for a trip or already on the road, here are a few tips to level-up your travel and pandemic preparedness. See related: The cost of safety: Budgeting for solo female travel How to travel during a pandemic Tips for travel planning Holiday travel Health and government officials are asking people to avoid nonessential travel during the holidays, but for many that’s not an option. If you find yourself traveling during the holidays, there are steps you can take to keep yourself safe:
Know the entry and exit requirements of your destinationIf you’re traveling outside the U.S., check the current COVID-19 requirements for the country you’re visiting. Ask the following questions: Will the country allow passport holders from your country to enter? Will you need to show a COVID negative test before boarding or on arrival? Is there a mandatory quarantine? Don’t assume that you can get into a country just because an airline will sell you a ticket there. Sadly, there’s not a magical website that’s updated daily with this information, so you’ll have to do some digging around. For international travel as an American, try the U.S. embassy website. Do your destination researchLearn everything you can about how COVID-19 is being managed in your desired destination, so you know what to expect. When I was planning my trip to Cabo, I’d frequently visit the Cabo tourism board website to look for updates on safety measures. I had also emailed the hotel concierge in advance to check on which amenities at the resort were open and closed, and if the restaurant, spa services or pool needed advance reservations. Click here to read the full article |
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