5 Things I Learned Road-tripping during COVID
For those of us who absolutely love to travel, this season of COVID-19 has been particularly difficult. Not only has it caused us to pay more attention to our physical health and that of our loved ones, but it has taken away our freedom to explore and engage in new adventures.
Since flying poses a bit more risk for a traveler, road-trips are becoming the way to go! While international travel is at a halt, domestic travel is looking better than ever, and I’m finding that road trips are the best way to see all that there is to see.
I’ve done a bit of road tripping myself over the past couple of months, and here are 5 things that I’ve learned to make a road trip during COVID-19 successfully smooth.
1. Remember Your Essentials...but Pack Lightly!
It’s so tempting when traveling by road instead of by air to pack more than what you need. This is because when we don’t need to worry about paying more for oversized or overweight luggage, we tend to overpack! I’ve learned the ease and joy of packing lightly...but still remembering my travel essentials!
During this COVID season, our travel necessities do look a bit different. It’s important to remember to bring your masks, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and reusable silverware (protect the planet AND protect your health)!
2. Each State is Different...
Make sure to check up on what your state’s out-of-state travel rules are. If you’re crossing borders, be careful that you’re not traveling to a state that is considered “high-risk.” These change all the time, so I recommend getting your info from reliable sources such as government websites.
For instance, there was a point when the Governor of New York issued a no-travel warning to 5 states. Residents of NY who traveled to those states were required to quarantine for 14 days once they returned home. It’s better to check and be safe rather than sorry!
3. Just Wear Your Mask!
Like I noted in the first point, you’ll want to have a stash of masks handy!
While your state may not require you to wear masks while in public, many states and private establishments do require it. I learned it’s just best to comply with each state's rules and be totally cool if they’re different than what I’m used to. Plus, love thy neighbor...right?
4. Double Check Your Reservations
If you’re traveling and staying in a hotel or airbnb/vrbo while on the road, make sure you *double check* your reservation! When using third party booking sites, some of them are not updated to let you know that the home and/or hotel is actually not taking bookings right now.
The best thing to do would be to call the hotel or message your host home directly to be sure that all is good with your reservation...even up to the day that you’re traveling! You may save yourself a lot of blood, sweat and — yes— tears by doing so! Better yet, have GlobeSage book your hotels for you! This way, we can verify listing accuracy and be able to assist you if anything goes south!
5. Take the Road Less Traveled
Lean back and enjoy the open road! Because many people are still working from home, and not many are traveling, traffic is way lighter than usual. If you’re thinking about taking the back roads instead of driving the highway...you definitely should!
Now's the time to travel to the places that you wouldn’t typically travel to if the world were open. What about that lake in your state you always thought of visiting? That national park that’s been on your bucket list for years? How about that small country-town you’ve driven by but never stopped to explore?
Take the road less traveled! Take pictures, make memories, and appreciate these humble experiences. You’ll never get this time back!
#travel #travelmore #roadtrip #theopenroad #theroadlesstraveled #UStravel #COVID #wanderlust