By Sandra Bolan
You’ve been quarantined for nearly three months, only leaving your home to get groceries, go to work or for a long walk somewhere that is not your neighborhood because you’ve walked your dog around it so many time you’ve worn your own path.
Before the pandemic, you had trips booked for spring break and summer vacation. If you’re lucky, all of your money has been refunded by now.
Being home has provided you with a lot of time to daydream about every place on earth you plan on traveling to once life gets back to normal.
“(The) CDC recommends you stay home as much as possible, especially if your trip is not essential and practice social distancing,” states the CDC website.
While you might believe a trip to the Bahamas is essential, the CDC views essential travel a little differently: grocery shopping, grabbing take-out, banking, getting gas and going to doctor’s appointments.
However, if you have to travel, there are some things you should do to minimize your risk.
Traveling by Plane
Check in online, if possible and only bring carry-on luggage. Most airlines, if not all, have online check in available on their apps.
Wipe down the plastic bins you have to put your stuff into for TSA screening.
Wear a mask. American and Delta airlines require them for all passengers.
Wipe down your seat, arm rests and tray table before you even sit down.
Hotels
Just like you sanitized your airline seat area, be prepared to wipe down your hotel room.
Bring a Ziploc bag to put the TV remote control in.
Don’t count on free freshly baked cookies and a continental or buffet breakfast.
Most important, be prepared for anything.
“Just because there are no restrictions at the time you plan to leave does not mean there won’t be restrictions in place when you arrive,” states the CDC website.
“If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be disrupted and you may have to remain outside the United States for an indefinite length of time.”
Something else you need to consider before booking a trip – will anything be open for business? Many tourist destinations, museums and amusement parks are still closed. So, you may want to stay put a little while longer.
Beaches
As the weather warms up across the United States, some beaches are re-opening, but with restrictions.
For example, in Myrtle Beach you must socially distance and groups of three or more will be dispersed.
Along Florida’s Gulf shores, you are able to sit in groups of no more than 10 and you must social distance with strangers.
In Georgia, you must social distance with people outside your household and gatherings of 10 people or more is prohibited.
Many people have been flooding state and local parks on the weekends, which has them thinking camping is a great way to vacation this year. However, you may find the traditionally quiet campgrounds are now filled to capacity.
“Please consider staying in your community and visiting your local park. Visiting Georgia’s most well-known state parks is not recommended at this time,” according to the DNR website.
If you still plan on going to a state park, be forewarned – park staff is limiting the number of people in the park at any one time and all visitors centers, museums and various other buildings are closed to the public.
Playgrounds, splash pads, swimming pools and exercise stations are also closed. Recreational equipment such as bikes, kayaks and boats are not being rented out. Picnic and group shelters are limited to reservations of 10 or less people.
