I was hoping to be in another country this month traveling for my birthday. Alas, COVID-19 hit and threw us all for a loop.
No, like, a literal loop. When will this groundhog day end?
Well, it can end tomorrow if you want it to. I am here to report that all is not lost in the way of mixing up your life with travel. I discovered first hand last week, after a stay in a tiny house north of my home in Miami, that domestic and mostly local travel is still an amazing option.
Travel during COVID-19 just takes a little, extra creative thinking, planning, and—dare I say it?—deviating! This post includes a brief yet highly necessary overview of what your options are and the precautions you need to take to travel and stay safe.
Travel Options During COVID-19
Hanging out with local crowds of people is a travel experience that is a thing of the past—for now! (Curacao, 2019)
Let's face it—there aren't many options in the world of travel right now. Personally, I don't feel it is in my best interest or very socially responsible for me to engage in certain kinds of travel behaviors or experiences right now.
Even if I wanted to, certain kinds of travel are completely off limits. For instance, nearly the entire world agrees that US tourists are not welcome this summer.
Where US citiczens can travel this summer (graphic shared by CNN's Instagram on July 30)
I don’t have any intentions of traveling outside the country or even domestically in most cases anyway. I limit my time spent indoors where other people roam, which means:
no plane travel
no public transportation
no dining in restaurants or bars
no museum or gallery visits
no hotel or in-home stays
no sharing of rental equipment with other travelers, like SCUBA or snorkel gear.
Plane Travel? Cancelled. Traveling differently is temporary and it’s the right thing to do!
This definitely limits where I can go and what I can do. But it doesn't mean there are no options to satiate my travel cravings.
There are many really great options available regardless of whether your part of the world is as safe as New Zealand or as infected as Florida. The following are the travel options we all have, as long as we take the necessary precautions:
Any outdoor activity such as hiking a mountain, reading in a park, lounging at the beach, and kayaking
Road trips or driving anywhere to sightsee from your own vehicle
Sightseeing outdoors by foot or by your own bicycle or scooter
Overnight stays in separate vacation rentals or "entire home" airbnb spaces
Camping in a personally owned tent or vehicle
Photographing outdoor scenes, streets, and nature
Viewing street art around a city
Trying new restaurants via takeout and delivery
Relaxing in place (wherever you decide to stay)
I mean just look at all that! See? All is not lost, my travel hungry friends! The best part for me is that most of these make up the majority of what I love to do when I travel anyway.
Another note is that I’ve been able to do some of these as everyday, local activities, too! But if you want to change up the scenery, I recommend putting into place some safety procedures.
Physical distancing with my friend Victoria while hiking locally
COVID-19 Health & Safety Precautions
It's up to all of us to work together to slow the spread of this disease while scientists find a vaccine. So think about how you can prevent spreading COVID-19 to the area you want to visit and prevent acquiring it after you arrive. To accomplish both, I recommend the following precautions:
Be extra cautious and quarantine before your trip so you limit spreading it to your destination
Don't visit places where the cases are rapidly spreading
Wear gloves to pump gas or at least use hand sanitizer after
Wear a fucking mask
Bring at least 2 sets of cotton, filtered masks so you can always wash one and wear the other
Look for stays that separate you from staff and other guests as much as possible
Choose stays where there is a contactless check-in process
Identify if your stay states it's cleaning commitment, like Airbnb's "Enhanced Clean" protocol
Airbnb’s “Enhanced Clean” involves these precautions
Bring your own cleaning supplies for that extra once-over before settling in
Bring your own bedding and towels
Keep away from other people even when outside and even when wearing your mask
Cook or prepare your own food acquired via grocery store curbside pick-up when available
Pack a cooler or sack full of snacks and water for day-long outings to limit your visit to shops
If you must eat out, order takeout or delivery
Wear a fucking mask
Did you notice I mentioned wearing a fucking mask? Of course, some people cannot wear a mask because they are hearing impaired, have a pre-existing medical condition, or have some other invisible disability. But if you're not legitimately one of those people—wear a fucking mask. I hike with mine on in 90-degree weather.
Hate wearing a mask? Make it fashion.
In Conclusion
Feeling cooped up, a little unstable, and need to get away for a bit? Follow my above recommendations for traveling safely and responsibility during this global pandemic. You got this, we got this! With a few precautions, you don’t have to let this virus stop you from being your adventurous travel self!
Stay tuned for next time when I share all about my tiny house and kayaking adventure up near Melbourne, FL!
