Safe Holiday Road Tripping: Pandemic Edition
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Traveling home for the holidays? As families remain wary of air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are opting to drive to their holiday destination rather than fly. Road trips have hazards of their own, however. Not only must travelers contend with icy roads and holiday traffic, but driving isn’t a foolproof way to avoid illness. To arrive at your destination in good health and good spirits, here’s what you need to know.
Prepare your car.
There’s never a good time to break down in the middle of nowhere, but especially not in the midst of a pandemic. However, if you’ve been working from home and limiting travel, your car may not be running in peak condition. Schedule a tune-up with special attention paid to the tires, brakes, and battery. Alternatively, consider renting a car for your road trip.
You’ll also want to protect your car’s interior from the wear and tear of a road trip. All-weather floor mats are a must for winter travel because they protect your car’s carpets from slush, salt, and grime. Look for rubber construction and raised edges to trap dirt and moisture. Kick mats and car seat protectors are also worthy investments if you value a clean interior. Don’t forget a hanging trash can to contain drink cups and food containers.
Pack heavy.
One big advantage of road trips? You can pack a lot of stuff in a car if you’re smart about it. That’s good news during the pandemic when families should avoid pit stops as much as possible. A hitch-mount rack makes it easy to stow a cooler full of food without consuming precious cargo space, while packing cubes and backseat car organizers keep the interior tidy. Instead of loading up on bottled water, fill a 5-gallon travel jug and pack reusable bottles.
Of course, not everything should be stowed away. Store your trusty hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes for gas pumps, and plenty of face masks where you can easily access them and keep a smaller, soft-sided cooler in the cargo area to replenish during stops.
Plan your rest stops.
Normally, you’d drive until you’re tired and then find the closest chain hotel to rest for the night. But when illness is afoot, it’s worth putting more thought into your overnight accommodations.
Vacation rentals, whether through Airbnb or another service, are a better option than hotels right now because families can rent an entire house or apartment with a full kitchen. That eliminates any need for indoor dining or sharing space with strangers.
What about bathroom breaks?
When duty calls, what should you do? While the pandemic presents an additional reason to be concerned about public bathroom cleanliness, you can be smart about pit stops. Wear a mask, wash your hands thoroughly, and use hand sanitizer after leaving the restroom if you touch handles while exiting. If possible, use single-stall restrooms or time bathroom breaks so you stop at interstate rest stops, which tend to be quiet and well-kept, rather than gas station bathrooms.
To quarantine or not to quarantine?
Getting to your destination is only half the battle. Once there, you’ll need to decide if your family should quarantine for 10 days before visiting loved ones. There’s no question that quarantining is the safest option, but is it really necessary?
Ultimately, the answer depends on your personal risk tolerance, as well as the risk tolerance of the people you’re visiting. Consider your activities before leaving on the road trip. Did your family quarantine prior to travel, or did you recently spend time with people outside of your household? Did you travel through areas with high community spread? Are your loved ones low-risk, or are they likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19? If you choose not to quarantine, wearing masks and maintaining separate accommodations will make your stay safer.
Road trips are a safer solution for holiday travel during a pandemic, but it’s still smart to be careful when you get behind the wheel. From making certain that your car is road-worthy to limiting stops along the way, these tips will ensure your upcoming trip is as safe as possible.
This guest post was brought to you courtesy of Jesse Clark.
Soulful-travel.com :: Jesse@soulful-travel.com
“Not all who wander are lost” — J.R.R. TOLKIEN
