First and foremost
Before you do anything check for requirements and the often changing restrictions. Travel.state.gov is a good source for national and international.
About the destination
The Centers for Disease Control at CDC.GOV keeps an updated list of states and countries with a risk factor of getting COVID. They are ranked based on high, moderate, low, and very low. It’s important to understand that regardless of a countries risk, travel for Americans to a lot of countries is currently off-limits or with quarantine requirements.
If you fly?
Give yourself extra time at the airport to allow for new procedures that are in place at most airports. These processes include temperature checks, social distancing, enhanced screening, staggered boarding, and disembarkation.
Since most airports are moving towards touchless processes, print your boarding pass ahead of time or download the boarding pass to your mobile device.
Wear a mask! Most airlines have a mandatory mask policy. Bring hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to wipe down your seat, tray table, armrests, seatbelt buckles and entertainment equipment!
Not flying and Hitting the road instead?
Many have decided to take a staycation or a short distance one and hit the road. Driving your own car means you may have to stop along the way so, being prepared with hand sanitizers and other cleaning products. If renting a car know that most rental car companies have new cleaning standards and techniques for cleaning vehicles after each rental with special attention to the interior and all the things people naturally touch. Still, I’d bring my own disinfectant and spray areas myself.
Accommodations
Many hotels have reopened with new public safety procedures with daily disinfections, hand-sanitizing stations in common areas, keyless entry room access options, or single-use room keys. You’ll also find Social distancing and reduced occupancy at facilities like the pool or gym, and hotel workers wearing protective equipment.
Vacation rentals have seen an increase. And they too have new public safety procedures and offer contactless check-in and check-out procedures and enhanced cleaning protocols.
What to pack
Most places require a mask be worn so pack a bunch, I’d recommend two a day and the disposable ones. It may be difficult to wash and dry a reusable one or you should pack enough to keep in rotation. Pack disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant spray or wipes. Of course, wash your hands frequently. To learn more about traveling safely, follow guidelines outlined by the Word Health Organization and CDC.
Yours truly,
