How to Plan A Socially Distanced Trip

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As many places around the world are reopening to varying degrees with countries opening their borders and domestic travel amping up, many of us are looking at the prospect of resuming our travels.  However, as the rules seem to change by the day, planning a trip can be confusing and a little overwhelming right now.  

Travel has always been such an integral part of my life.  Growing up, I can remember my mom taking us on spontaneous weekend road-trips all the time.  Since I started teaching, I’ve traveled somewhere pretty much every single school break I’ve had.  Flash forward to spring 2020—from lockdowns to stay-at-home orders, this year has been full of some crazy changes.  My go-to coping strategy for stress has always been to book a trip, so when this wasn’t possible, you can imagine I was feeling pretty lost.  From what I’ve seen all over my social media feeds—we’re all desperate to get away from it all. 

As governments around the world begin easing restrictions, it feels like finally we are seeing a little relief from our travel-time-out. However, this pandemic is far from over, so travel is looking very different these days, much like everything else. 

For my own mental health after essentially self-isolating since March, I was in desperate need for a little break. So, I planned a socially distanced trip with close family and friends.  If you’re feeling trapped and ready to—safely—plan a little getaway, here are some tips on how to plan a socially distanced trip of your own. 

“Social-distancing” — What does that even mean? 

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) explains social distancing as increasing the distance between individuals (keeping a distance of at least 6 feet between you and others) as well as “decreasing the frequency of contact” between people.  So basically, that means keeping your distance and avoiding activities that put you in high contact with others—like going out to a crowded night-club.  Keeping social distancing in mind, it is entirely possible to travel and still follow the rules. 

Note: I feel that travel right now is a very personal choice.  It’s a choice you and only you can make for yourself, keeping in mind your own comfort level and needs.  Everyone’s personal situation is unique so what works for one person, might not be the case for someone else. This pandemic is still a very real threat and obviously nowhere aside from isolation in your own home is completely safe, but as we begin to embrace this new normal, travel is becoming a possibility once again. For me personally, I’m at the place where I am comfortable resuming many of the activities I enjoy in a safe manner, while following all rules, protocols, and public health procedures. If you’re not comfortable traveling just yet, keep on doing you at home! (I’ve got some tips for experiencing travel from the comfort of your own home as well!)  

 If you’re ready to start planning travel again in this crazy new world, read on! 

How to Plan a Socially Distanced Trip: 

What are you looking to do? 

One of the first questions I ask myself when planning any kind of trip is what kind of trip am I looking to have?  Do I want to relax on a beach? Hike up a mountain? Explore a historic city? 

With social distancing, keep in mind that many activities we used to enjoy are not the safest, or even open/operational, at the moment.  Maintaining social distancing is still so important right now.  Try making a list of things you want to do that are possible with social distancing.  Most outdoor activities are easily adaptable to social distancing guidelines. 

Here’s some ideas:

• Hiking
• Biking
• Picnics
• A day at the beach
• Scuba diving
• Visiting parks and gardens
• Kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding
• Observing wildlife
• Tubing down a river

Once you’ve narrowed down a list of activities you’d like to do, choosing a destination becomes much easier! For instance, want to scuba dive? Start your search somewhere with reefs, like Florida or Puerto Rico in the US, or many of the Caribbean countries opening up for tourism this summer. Like to hike?  Look into more mountainous regions such as Colorado, the Ozarks of Arkansas or Missouri, or the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. 

Choosing a Destination: 

Now that you’ve got an idea of what you’d like to do… it’s time to choose a destination! 

How will you get there?

The biggest thing to consider is how you’ll be traveling and how far you want to go.  Are you taking a road trip or flying? 

While driving initially seems like the more socially-distant choice, that all depends on how you go about it. For instance, someone driving but stopping and sitting down to eat inside restaurants along the way could potentially be coming into contact with way more people than someone maintaining their distance, and keeping their mask on the entire time, on a short flight.  

What are the rules? 

Another major factor in choosing a destination will be the current regulations and procedures regarding travel to your destination.  Even within the USA, certain states, cities, and territories have their own rules regarding quarantines on arrival and  some are requiring a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. These rules change by the minute it seems lately, so it’s super important to stay up to date and check them regularly prior to your trip.  Check the tourism-board and health department websites of your destination to stay in the loop. 

Travel Off Path has a guide outlining countries that are open to US citizens for tourism without a quarantine requirement.  They’ve been doing a great job keeping this page updated, but as these things change rapidly, be sure to verify all policies on government websites before traveling. 

Want to stay local-ish? 

If you’re reading to start exploring, but not quite comfortable staying in a hotel or vacation rental just yet, try starting out with a fun day-trip in your area! I’ve been finding so many cool hidden-gems in my state and surrounding area that I’d never even known about before.  My wanderlust is forcing me to get creative once my region began lifting stay-at-home orders and local travel became possible again. Check out Only in Your State to find some cool places near you!

Getting there: Tips for socially distancing on the journey

If you plan to drive: 

Plan your route to avoid contact with others as much as possible.  Keep in mind how often you’ll have to stop for gas, food, restroom breaks, and if you’ll need to spend the night on the road. 

My last trip I took was a road trip.  In order to limit my contact with others, I kept the distance to something I could comfortably drive in a day and packed a cooler with some snacks, sandwiches, and everything I’d need on my trip.  That way, I wouldn’t need to stop for food.  The only time I needed to go inside a building were for restroom breaks.  Most rest stops I stopped in were larger in size so it was easy to keep my distance.

If you plan to fly: 

Research all the procedures of your airline/airport.  I haven’t flown yet, but I’ve booked some air travel for later this fall and I’m keeping myself updated on all the new airline policies regarding health and safety.  Southwest and Delta have both vowed to keep middle seats open through September, however some other airlines have been known to have  full flights.  If that possibility is something you’re not comfortable with—flying is probably not the best option. Also keep in mind any new rules in your destination—many countries and states are requiring negative COVID-19 tests within a certain time-frame before your flight.  Make sure you’ve taken care of all of those prerequisites before your trip. 

If you’re planning to fly, check out Bis to the World’s tips for flying during the pandemic.  She’s got some great hygiene and sanitation tips to help you stay safer on your flight! 

Whatever mode of travel you choose—keep social-distancing in mind, follow the rules, and please wear your mask when in public spaces! Remember, you’re ultimately the one responsible for your personal safety.  Educate yourself on the risks and how to mitigate them before you make your decision. 

The Food Situation:

I’m a huge foodie so eating at new restaurants and trying new dishes is part of the excitement of traveling for me.  However, sitting inside a restaurant to eat a meal is a higher-risk activity right now.  If you do want to try some local restaurants, see if they have outdoor seating or order your food to-go and take it to a picturesque spot for a picnic! 

If you’d prefer to prepare your own food, look into booking an AirBnb instead of a hotel where you would have an entire property with a full kitchen to cook your own meals.  You can still enjoy local cuisine this way. On my recent Florida road trip, my friends and I shopped for seafood at a local seafood market and cooked our own seafood feast!  It still felt super special and we had a blast connecting by spending some quality time together in the kitchen. 

Accommodations: 

As places around the world reopen, hotels and vacation rentals vary depending on local guidelines on their maximum capacity.  When choosing your type of accommodation whether it be hotel, Airbnb, RV, camping or glamping keep in mind how much contact you’d like to have with others.  If you’re looking to self-isolate as much as possible, look for options that let you prepare your own food. 

When choosing a place to stay, don’t be afraid to ask questions about health and safety protocols. Many places are integrating a contactless check in.  Both the Airbnb and the private cabin rentals I’ve used since the pandemic began used this system and I felt very safe.  

If you haven’t used AirBnb before click this link to get $35 off your first booking!

Camping, or glamping (my personal favorite), are some great options for a socially distanced trip as well! Just check and make sure the campgrounds in your destination are open for overnight stays and be sure to book your reservation—many state parks and campgrounds are running on a limited capacity.  If you’re planning that epic road trip you’ve always dreamed of—renting an RV could be a great way to ensure you’ve got your own space while you travel. 

Make Reservations for Activities:

I feel like this summer, outdoor activities and exploring nature are going to be hugely popular.  With good reason—it’s much easier to practice social-distancing outside  than indoors! However, be sure to plan ahead.  Many National Parks and other venues are requiring reservations in advance in order to limit the number of people inside a given space.  While I often like to leave some things up to chance when I travel and see where the trip takes me, in the age-of-Covid-19, it looks like us spontaneous travelers might have to put in a little more prior planning for the time being. 

If you’ll be visiting popular natural attractions, try to visit at less crowded times.  What better incentive to push to finally get that sunrise hike in you’ve always wanted to do?  (I know that’s always my intention, but whenever I’m in vacay mode, I just can’t get myself up early enough to do it!)

Whether you’re planning on flying, road-tripping, or enjoying some local day trips, as the world re-opens and we return to doing those things that bring us the most joy—traveling and exploring the world—it’s important to remember to always, always do so safely.  Keep the health and safety of yourself, and others, in mind as you go about planning your travels. Always research and stay up to date with the health and safety requirements of both your home-city and that of your destination (Will your city ask you to quarantine after your return? Will you need to provide proof of a negative-Covid test on arrival at your destination?).  Be safe, be happy, and enjoy life!  No matter whether your next trip is to a tropical paradise or to your backyard, each trip is exactly what you make it out to be. 

Have you traveled since coming out of lockdown?  What was your experience like? I’d love to hear all about it! Let me know your experience traveling in this “new-normal” and leave me a comment below! 

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