Ask about ventilation, pay with cards, and avoid indoor public spaces even if you are vaccinated.
Everyone wants to go on vacation. Of course, many people have already traveled during the pandemic, and others are about to. Some of you are boarding the plane right now in fact, destined for the best post-pandemic wonders one can imagine. Tropical beaches, Disney, the list of leisure opportunities goes on and on.
The best part is, much of this travel is not being done as an act of rebellion. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you delay all travel plans until you are fully vaccinated, traveling post-vaccine in the US is now being labeled as “safe”. (Traveling in and out of Canada is another matter yet, however).
Domestic travel within the US for those who are fully vaccinated is now supported by the CDC. International travel for the same group is as well. At the end of April, the European Commission president reported that fully vaccinated Americans will be welcome to vacation in the EU during the summer of 2021. So, there are a lot of destinations to choose from.
If only the fully vaccinated are traveling, why do you need to worry about avoiding the virus? While the coronavirus vaccines are miraculous, they are not foolproof. With each, there is still the chance you could catch the virus and spread it to others. You might not have any symptoms, but you could be a carrier.
How can you reduce the risk? Part of pandemic travel safety is in choosing the right place to sleep. Check out these tips offered by CNN’s medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen on how to stay at a hotel more safely during the pandemic.
Find Out About the Ventilation
About five years ago, your friends would certainly have considered you crazy if the first thing you inquired about at the reception desk was if the hotel you were booked in used HEPA filters in their internal ventilation system. Paranoid much? Now, of course, this is a run of the mill question. Or, according to Wen, it should be. When making your reservation, consider doing it over the phone.
Related: Are the Variants Deadlier?
Ask if the hotel uses a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration system. How often does the air turn over each hour? About four times per hour (every 15 minutes) should be sufficient experts say. (Of course, more than this is better).
Do the windows open? When was do hotel staff last in your room, compared to your arrival time? Are they wearing a mask? Inquire to make your best choice.
One Room? Immediate Household Members Only
If everyone you are vacationing with has been fully vaccinated, (they’ve gotten two shots of vaccine, unless it’s the Johnson & Johnson vaccine), you can all safely stay in one room, even if you do not normally live together, according to the CDC. Is someone not fully vaccinated? Do you not live in the same household? Seperate rooms are in order.
Go Contactless
In order to avoid interacting with hotel staff, book your stay over the phone or online in advance. You could also consider paying with contactless payment (credit or debit). Ask the front desk (via your room phone) how to do this before check out, if you are unsure. Most hotels are now operating this way, due to the pandemic. Skip the free breakfast buffet if you are not fully vaccinated, and get drive-through takeout to eat in your room. Better yet, order contactless room service.
Avoid Public Indoor Settings
It is advised that you avoid sharing space indoors with other people outside your household. This means, go for a jog on the beach and avoid the hotel gym. Even if guests and staff are practicing social distancing inside, you could be at risk. Stay away from indoor hot tubs, lobbies, indoor hotel restaurants, shared elevators, bars, and any other busy indoor hotel areas. Stick to your own room, and don’t hang out in the hallways.
As always, wash and sanitize your hands frequently, wear a mask indoors in public spaces, and stay 6 feet apart.
For more on traveling during the pandemic, click here.
photo credits: Beliphotos/Shutterstock.com
