5 Tips for Traveling in a Pandemic

After almost 9 months at home, not even traveling to visit with family, I finally decided to take a much needed trip to Austin just to get away. To settle any anxiety I had with the decision, especially considering the number in Texas have gone up rather than decline, I spent alot of time planning what to bring to prepare my occupied space, and how to remain free from contact. For those of you needing a little more confidence to step outside and travel even if for a change of scenery, here are 5 tips tips for traveling during a pandemic.

Travel During the Week
My advice is to travel during the week when everyone else is working. I had most places that would typically see an influx of locals enjoying the leisure to myself on both the Thursday and Friday I traveled. I felt comfortable with visiting famous local attractions because I knew I’d have it all to myself. I was able to maneuver in ease and sanitize without getting overwhelmed with the idea of possible exposure.

Travel with Personal Bedding
Honestly, prior to the pandemic, traveling with my own linens like a throw blanket and at the very least a pillow case, was something I’ve always done. In edition to cleaning the space, removing the hotel’s bedding and spraying with lysol, I add an extra level of protection by bringing in personal sleep aids like a pillow or pillow case and blanket from home. Its an added comfort for those who are already skeptical about the cleanliness of hotel rooms.

Pack Sanitizing Wipes & Spray
Prior to the pandemic, my sensitivity to sanitation was already at a high, the pandemic heighten it even more. Even though the properties say they’ve implemented additional measures for cleaning, I felt better going over things myself with my products. Lysol spray for the room, air filter and bed and sanitizing wipes, I found a few packs of Purell sanitizing travel wipes to go over surfaces like sink handles, door knobs, remotes and light switches. Whatever I expected to touch I deep cleaned.

Extra Masks
Really, we should be dedicating 1 mask per day without reuse, so whether you have disposable, reusable (washable) or a mixture of both, travel with plenty and pack an extra in your bag or pocket to access during the day’s activities. Consider your mask breaking, tearing or falling into an unsanitized area, a backup mask on your person can prevent getting caught in any of these likely scenarios.

Plan Ahead
Knowing I wanted to keep as much distance between myself, other people and not having access to my own kitchen for meals, I only ate at restaurants with outside seating. With the cooler temps rolling in here in Texas, surprisingly things were comfortable and sitting outside even for dinner was pleasant. I called ahead and made reservations for places I’d expected to book up quickly and specified a patio set up. This way I didn’t have to worry about the restaurant’s inside capacity, or airflow system. I relied on the natural air to do the work and ensured my tables and placement were a good distance from the remainder of the crowd.