Stressed out by Valentine’s Day Mailbox pressure? Don’t buy a pre-made mailbox for school, instead…
How to Travel Safely and Stress-Free During Covid-19
Travel during Covid-19 is a different experience than what we’re used to. I’ve compiled my Top 10 tips to help make it as safe and stress-free as possible. I’ve used all of these tips myself and I’m glad I planned ahead with Tip #10. It saved me a lot of stress!
Disclosure: This article contains Affiliate Links to products I love from Amazon. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission which goes to support my website but does not affect your purchase price. Thank you for your support.
As with most people, we cancelled our summer plans this year because we just didn’t know what to expect with the onset of Covid-19. We opted for a nice, quiet summer at home with a few local day trips sprinkled throughout.
I was worried about leaving my little cocoon of the last 4 months (aka house) but I knew for the sake of my family’s sanity, we needed to get out and experience a change of scenery.
So we opted for a couple little local day trips.
Our first one was a trip up to Summit County, Colorado. This is where a good chunk of the ski resorts are located so there were lots of options for outdoor fun!
I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I packed a big cooler of snacks and sandwiches and hand wipes and purel and purel and purel (did I mention purel?), and we were on our way.
After I got over my nerves, it turned out to be pretty relaxing. And I wrote down my lessons learned as tips to share with my readers.
BY THE WAY—-Are you following me on Instagram? If not, please take a second to Follow me now. I share LOTS of great #momhacks and other Family Fun tips and stories that doon’t always make it on to my blog.
10 Ways to Travel Safely and Stress-free During Covid-19.
Tip #1: Bring a mask and extra masks in case so you can switch them out if they get dirty or lost
Tip #2: Bring plenty of Hand Sanitizer and hand wipes
(This one’s pretty obvious but I feel it still bares repeating).
Tip #3: Don’t use Cash (if possible)
We all know cash carries germs in a normal situation but now it can also carry Covid-19 germs. In fact, many places are not even accepting cash at this time. Some good alternatives are of course paying by credit or debit card, or electronic pay like Apple Pay and Venmo.
If you do have to use cash, try to have the exact amount so you don’t need change.
Tip #4: Take your own toddler portable toilet.
No, I’m not joking. I’m completely serious.
When my girls were potty training, we bought the Potette to use when we were on the road. But it turned out it was so amazingly handy, we’ve kept it and STILL use it!!
My girls are now 8 and 10! It still works like a charm!
We usually just use it on long car rides. It’s perfect for when you’re in the middle of nowhere and the kids cry “I Have to go now, Mommy!”
And it’s even more handy now that we’re trying to limit our time in closed spaces!
The Potette is made for kids, but I’ve used it before myself in emergency road trip situations. It’s strong enough to hold adults.
Tip #5: Pack extra snacks and food.
If you want to minimize your interactions, pack more snacks, water, and food than you normally would. You may even want to pack a picnic lunch or dinner in case you can’t find outdoor dining. It just depends on your comfort level during this time.
Also, pack water extra water—it is summertime.
Tip #6: Look for towns that have closed streets for extra outdoor dining.
It makes your dining choices a lot broader and more enjoyable.
Tip #7: Check out the mask mandates and Covid-19 rules before you head to your destination.
Make sure you feel comfortable with the situation to make it as stress-free as possible.
Tip #8: Check on new hours of operation and reservation requirements.
Because of social distancing limitations and new guidelines some tourist activities are limiting occupancy and may require advance reservations or you may need to arrive early to obtain “day of” spot.
Tip #9: If you’re visiting a state or local park, try to arrive early to beat the heat and crowds or arrive late in the day/early evening.
Peak hours are midday and this is when you’ll experience the most crowds.
Tip #10: Know what your limits are and what you feel most comfortable with.
Talk about this with your family beforehand. Make a list of alternate plans / activities in case you don’t feel comfortable with the situation (ex: overcrowded spaces, people not wearing masks, etc). Then you can leave with confidence knowing that everyone in your group is on board with your decision.
Tip #11: Acknowledge things that cause you stress and try to manage it
This goes along with number 10. Part of combatting stress and anxiety is understanding what causes it. If you can recognize your triggers, it’s a lot easier to either avoid them or deal with them in a more balanced manner if they occur.
For example: I get stressed out if I’m underprepared for something. I’d rather overpack and not need something than be in the middle of nowhere freaking out that my daughter just puked all over her 1 pair of shoes. (Been there! It wasn’t fun).
So—give yourself grace—it’s ok to overdo something a little if it will make you feel more relaxed especially in unusual times like these.
For more tips on stress-free travel, check out my article about Stress-Free flying. It’s focused on air travel but has some great mindfulness tips as well.
Bonus Tip #12: Take an On-the-Road Photography Checklist so you don’t miss any important photo opportunities!
Fill out the “Tell Your Story Creatively” form below this post to receive your free Photography Checklist!
Looking for more Travel Tips?
Don’t forget to pack lots of fun activities for the kiddos in the car.
We love these removable stickers from Melissa and Doug. My girls still play with them.
Check out this Mess-Free travel activity ideas article for more great ideas!
If you’re going on a road trip, no matter the season, be sure to check out this list of Must-Have items for a Stree-free Day Trip.
If hiking with kids is on your itinerary, check out my article on Fail Proof ways to Have Fun Hiking with Kids even if they’re not into it.
And for more Travel inspiration, check out my Travel Tips section.
DON’T FORGET to Fill out the “Tell Your Story Creatively” form BELOW to receive your free Photography Checklist!
And be sure to PIN this article so you can refer to it again later!
HI! I’m a Shana, self-proclaimed Media Mixologist, wife, and mom to two little girls. I love to mix up cocktails of crafts, recipes, wellness, family and business with just the right amount of sparkle to help you shine everyday. So, grab a glass, and let’s celebrate the cocktail of life!
Leave a Reply