Is it Safe to Travel Right Now?
Is it Safe to Travel Right Now in a Post Lockdown COVID-19 World?
Given the recent increase in cases some of this information may need to be
weighed against the risks near where you live and plan to travel to, but the
general precautions and guidelines referenced here should be heeded for your
personal travel.
Some of these common-sense guidelines include the following:
- Wear a mask when indoors or around other people
- Keep your distance by practicing Physical/Social Distancing as much as possible
- Avoid shaking hands
- Wash you hands frequently
- Limit exposure to large crowds
- Limit exposure to dining inside a restaurant
- Wipe down high-touch surfaces
- Stay home if feeling sick or with a fever (and get checked by your doctor as needed)
With these safety precautions & guidelines in place for when you
venture out, here are some things we strongly considered when planning
our trip to Lake Tahoe:
What to Pack?
In addition to what you'd typically pack for your trip, it is essential to
have the following items available readily:
- Hand Sanitizer
- Disinfectant Wipes
- Disinfecting Spray
- Extra Paper Towels
- Face Coverings/Masks
- Anti-Bacterial Hand Soap
- Thermometer
- Medicine (just in case)
- Snacks and Water (especially important with kids so you don’t have to stop too often if they get hungry on the road)
Where to Stay?
It is re-assuring to see that all major hotel brands, resorts and
condo-style accommodations have implemented enhanced safety &
cleanliness measures to help guests feel more at ease during their
stay.
Even with those additional measures in place, we decided we wanted to get
out but further limit our interactions with potential crowds, dining in
restaurants, etc, so we decided to book a more home-like accommodation with
a full kitchen.
We figured by being able to bring groceries and buy groceries as needed, we
could effectively limit having to dine in restaurants, limit interaction in
crowds and have much more space than a typical hotel room.
Having a lot more space was especially important for us when traveling with
our kids and still allowed us to dine-out, but getting it as take-out and
enjoying it in the comfort of our room.
But even if you do decide to stay in a hotel, it is re-assuring to know that
they have implemented enhanced cleanliness standards, clean high traffic
areas more frequently, require face coverings, require social distancing
measures, and more; so you can vacation with greater peace of
mind.
All of these safety measures may not prevent you from getting sick, but can
greatly reduce the chances of it.
What Safety Measures are in place?
Ultimately, whether or not you are ready to start venturing out comes down
to your own personal risk level and comfort level, with a variety of other
measures coming into play.
Personally, for us, when we ventured out we took extra precautions with
our two kids, i.e., wearing masks when appropriate, maintaining social
distancing and booking condo-style accommodations with kitchens to reduce
our visits to restaurants.
If you are planning a trip, I highly suggest checking the hotel website
for what safety measures they have put into place.
Some things to verify with where you'll be staying to help give you
peace of mind may include:
- What amenities are open/closed?
- What restaurants are open/closed?
- Are face coverings required?
- What social distancing practices are being implemented?
- Are there capacity restrictions in place at restaurants, at the pool, beach?
- What cleanliness measures in place
- And lastly, whatever else you feel needs to be addressed.
Some great examples of safety precautions we saw on our trip to Lake Tahoe
include:
Here is another great example of some of the safety measures in place for
our recent stay at the Hyatt Residence Club Lake Tahoe, High Sierra
Lodge:
Resort Status: Open, with modified amenities and
services.
Important: Due to a government order, face coverings are required for
all Owners and guests over two years of age when outside your villa
(including in all common and public areas) except when an individual is
unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition, or
disability. Please visit the links below for official information on the
mandatory restrictions including facial covering requirements, etc.
The current status of resort amenities and services is subject to
change at any time due to governmental requirements and/or changes to
operating guidelines. Please continue to check this website frequently
for updates prior to your upcoming reservation.
The adjacent hotel is open with modified amenities and services. The
Spa remains closed The pool at the Hyatt Residence Club will be
open from 12 p.m.- 8 p.m. daily, and the BBQ grills will be open at 50%
capacity. Beach access is available.
The pool and fire pit hours at High Sierra Lodge are from 12 p.m. to 8
p.m. daily.
Cashless Resort: To help promote health safety, there is limited
cash available at this property, and credit cards are the preferred
method of payment.
What are your thoughts? Are you ready to travel?