Safety Tips for Traveling During COVID

Travel is a favorite pastime of many Columbus, Canal Winchester, and Troy, OH, residents, including our team at Mark Wahlberg RV. With proper planning and caution, it’s possible to get out of the house safely.

Check out our safety tips for traveling during COVID below.

1.Plan Ahead & Stay Informed

Before you set out for an adventure in today’s day and age, it’s of paramount importance to do your research. Keep tabs on the current COVID numbers at your travel destination and be prepared to make last-minute changes in order to avoid illness.

You’ll also want to do some research into the safety protocols of the hotel you plan to stay in. If you can, use alternative booking services like Airbnb to rent a home or cabin. These options reduce public exposure by eliminating elevators and lobbies from your stay.

PRO TIP: Check the reviews of destinations you plan to visit to see how they’re keeping visitors safe from the point of view of the visitor. They have no obligation to lie about conditions.

2.Create a Clean Kit

Bathing suit, sunscreen, hiking socks…these are all common items you’d see on a regular travel checklist. In COVID times, that list needs to include a clean kit to ensure you’re as safe as possible along your travels. Your clean kit should include:

• Hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol to kill off as many germs as possible
• Antibacterial wipes (and lots of them) for disinfecting high-touch areas
• Extra face masks that can cover both your nose and mouth comfortably
• Disposable gloves that can be used for high-touch surfaces like gas pumps

PRO TIP: Create a secondary, smaller clean kit (such as a fanny pack) that you can take into a public restroom with you while you’re on the go.

3.Follow All CDC Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following precautions help protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19:

• Wear a face mask over your nose and mouth at all times in public
• Maintain a distance of at least six feet from other individuals
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds at a time
• Test before and after travel and limit nonessential activities for 10 days after returning

In order to comply with CDC guidelines, you may need to consider different activities than what you normally do on vacation. Rather than dinner at a restaurant, try a picnic in a local park. Instead of seeing a museum, try renting kayaks or bikes (that you wipe down before mounting, of course).

4.Find Alternate Means of Travel

Public and paid modes of transportation—buses, trains, planes, etc.—are full of high-touch surfaces that can spread COVID-19, even when you are practicing all CDC guidelines. In COVID times, it’s best to consider more private modes of travel.

Taking a road trip is one of the safest ways to travel because you’re essentially cut off from the public in the comfort of your own car. Better yet, if you choose an RV, you won’t even need to worry about stopping to use a public restroom, eat in a public restaurant, or sleep in a hotel with other guests.

Rent an RV for Your Next Trip!

With an RV, you’re in control of your surroundings, making them one of the safest options for traveling during COVID. Learn more about renting an RV near Columbus, Canal Winchester, and Troy, Ohio, by getting in touch with our team at Mark Wahlberg RV today!