How to Safely Travel during COVID?

I have been on multiple trips since COVID started, even before we had vaccine. Some of my friends were worried about traveling during COVID. They asked how I felt about it and what I did to keep myself safe. My recommendation is always: stay home, because travelling will expose you to extra risk. You will dine in restaurants sitting close to other people and be locked in a contained space on the plane. What to do when you have to travel during COVID? Mask up. That’s the easiest and most effective way to stay safe. In addition to masks, I also took other safety measures on my trips.

Transportation

Transportation is probably the first decision you have to make before a trip. During COVID, I tried to avoid public transportations like trains or planes at any cost. For example, I spent Christmas in Los Angeles in 2021. It’s faster, easier, and probably cheaper for me to fly from the Bay Area to SoCal. I still spent two days driving round ways. It was tiring. But at least I was safe and got to visit many small towns on the way when taking breaks.

It’s much safer to have a road trip, that is, to drive your own car or even rent a car or RV (see my tips on how to pick an RV). When you drive in winter on snowy terrain, I recommend constantly monitoring weather conditions and checking highway closures online. More importantly, bring snow chains with you if you don’t have snow tires. Trust me, all-wheel-drive is not enough in extreme weathers. Many places including Lake Tahoe will require both all-wheel-drive and snow tires; otherwise you will have to install chains.

I used Peerless auto-trac tire traction chains but don’t recommend it. The chains were helpful and effective in snow weather. They helped me drive through a winter storm. However, it took some practice for me to be able to install the chains quickly as a first-time chain user. Installing them in snowy weather was 3 times harder and my knees got all wet. Furthermore, a piece of chain broke after only one use.

Accommodation and Cleaning

During the pandemic, both hotels and Airbnbs took extra caution (or at least they claimed they did) in cleaning and sanitization. For hotels, I tended to book big brands that had good recent reviews about cleanness. My theory is that they have more resources to maintain the cleaning standard. Additionally, they are more willing to go the extra mile to protect their reputation.

When looking for Airbnb rentals, I tried to find places that had signed up for enhanced cleaning protocols and would be vacant for at least two days before my arrival. I also only booked entire places and never shared rooms with others to minimize exposure.

Regardless of the types of my bookings, the first thing I did upon arrival was sanitizing the entire place with alcohol wipes. I would wipe all furniture surfaces that I thought I would touch, including counter tops, toilet seat, door knobs, faucets, cabinets, hangers, hair dryer, etc. My favorite brand of alcohol wipes is Caresour hand sanitizer wipes. It contains 75% alcohol and is long lasting and soft. I would also wash the kitchenware that I would use with dish soap and place them only on the counter tops or shelfs that I had wiped.

The one extra thing I did for COVID travels that I wouldn’t normally do was to clean washers and driers if I expected to use them during longer stays. I would run a cleaning cycle with Affresh washing machine cleaner and also wipe the drier with Affresh machine cleaning wipes.

Packing

I’m normally a light packer and only bring the bare minimums. But to have a safe travel during COVID, I packed much more than usually. On top of the cleaning supplies mentioned above, I also brought my own linens including towels, pillow cases, sheets, and comforter cover. Some people may say that’s too much. But it provided me an additional layer of safety and comfort.

Another thing that I always have with me but don’t see other people bring is a pair of slippers. To me, the floors at public showers, hotels, or even Airbnbs are filthy. I never feel comfortable directly stepping on them with my bare feet. A pair of lightweight, water-friendly and easy-to-clean slippers is essential.

In addition, to protect myself from COVID and to be environmental friendly, I brought reusable utensils with me. I got a pair of chopsticks, a spoon, and a fork stored in a sleek container. It’s super convenient and easy to pack.

Last but no the least, I can’t live without hand sanitizers and I only use the ones with 75% or more alcohol. It has become one of my daily essentials, so I wanted to find better-looking ones. Touchland was a brand I used to order. It’s colorful, cute and compact and offers lots of scents. The spray is in consistent, soft mist, instead of chunky, uneven drops from other products. But I found the smell too overpowering and the product too expensive ($9 each and not refillable).

Doing Activities

In the US, I felt masks were never mandatory when in outdoor settings even at the peak of the pandemic. But I have been wearing them since the very beginning. It’s become my habit, thanks to which I never got COVID (knock on wood). I wear masks everywhere as soon as I step out of the door, doing groceries, hiking, jogging, walking dogs, answering doors, and even kayaking. Similarly, on my trips, I brought masks with me and wore them all times. On tough hikes, I would occasionally need to lift the mask to get extra air and drink water. But I only did that when no one was around. As soon as I caught my breath, I put the mask right back on.

My favorite brand is BYD. Their masks are too thick for many people. But they are high-quality surgical masks that provide you full protection. The ear loops never fall apart. One box includes 50 masks packed in 5 individual bags. It’s both sanitary and also easy to pack for travels.

Dining has been another challenge for traveling during COVID. I didn’t feel comfortable dining in restaurants any more. So often times I went for take-outs instead. I would then eat at a quiet park while Ariel chased squirrels, which ended up working better for both of us.