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- How to Travel Safely Now
Most Important Questions to Ask before Booking Your Lodging+−
- What is your cleaning protocol for the rooms?
- What is your cleaning protocol for common areas?
- Will your employees be wearing masks?
- Are you testing your employees regularly?
- Have you reduced staff?
- What’s your policy for delivering fresh towels and sheets?
- How will breakfast be served?
- Do you have contactless check-in available?
- What happens if someone tests positive for Covid-19?
- Where is the nearest hospital?
Most Important Questions to Ask Before Booking a Cruise+−
- What is your cleaning protocol for the cabins?
- What is your cleaning protocol for common areas of the cruise ship?
- Will your employees be wearing masks?
- Are you testing your employees regularly?
- Will you test passengers before they board?
- What happens if someone is diagnosed with Covid-19?
- Have you reduced staff?
- Are you limiting capacity on the ship?
- What activities and venues will be open?
- How will you keep kids safe in the kids’ club?
- What will meal service look like?
As America slowly starts to reopen, those of us who love to travel are starting to think about that first post-lockdown trip. But how do we know if it is safe to travel again? That is a very personal choice. What feels safe for a family that has no medical challenges will be very different from what feels safe for a family that does. Asking these questions before making travel plans can serve as a checklist to help you decide what is right for your family. And, remember, in uncertain times it’s critical to have a Plan B.
Travel prognosticators, our SheBuysTravel Facebook fans and our SheBuysTravel writers all agree: People who love to travel are ready to travel again, the minute they believe they can do it safely.
For sure, family vacations will look different this year. In our post-coronavirus outbreak world, we are likely to stay closer to home, at least for the next few months. That could start with day trips to nearby state parks, national parks, hiking trails and other relatively safe outdoor spaces. And, of course, trips to hug the grandparents again!
How to Travel Safely Now
But there will come a day when we once again want to travel further afield. Maybe a weekend road trip to a neighboring state.
And the lure of incredible travel deals for flights and cruises could prove too hard to resist.
For families, safety will trump even the best deal. Before you book that first post-lockdown family vacation, get answers to these 46 questions. And share the list with the young adults in your life. Just because the deal is too good to ignore doesn’t mean they can’t prepare like a pro – and avoid bringing the virus home to you or their grandparents.
Most Important Questions to Ask about the Trip Overall
What is the cancellation policy?
You will want to know this for everything you book – flights, rental cars, lodging and attraction tickets. Be sure to read the fine print. Are there blackout dates for rebooking? Can you get a refund or just a credit for future use? What dates are covered by the refund policy?
Should I buy travel insurance?
I am, generally, a big proponent of travel insurance. But a lot of what I use it for – trip delays and cancellations – are likely already covered by the airline, hotel and destination Covid-19 refund policies. However, if your kid gets injured on the trip and ends up staying a couple days in the local hospital, your hotel and meals could be covered under the “trip interruption” provision.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Make sure you read the fine print before buying travel insurance! Especially now. Make sure it covers Covid-related illnesses. Also, if you’re planning to travel close to home, check the policy. Some exclude coverage for trips that are less than 100 miles from home.
What will be open at my destination?
This is very much a moving target. An attraction, park or museum that is open today could be ordered closed tomorrow if the rates of illness spike. Troll the destination website regularly before your trip, right up until the day before you leave. And check the attraction’s capacity limits. You might need to make a reservation to ensure you can visit on the day you want to visit.
Always have a Plan B — and discuss it with the kids so they won’t be disappointed at the last minute you can’t go to the place you all wanted to visit.
Will I be welcomed at that destination?
It’s not a given, even for domestic travel within the United States. Local governments remain wary of out-of-state visitors, particularly if they hail from states with coronavirus hot spots. Others require their own residents to self-quarantine when they return home if they’ve visited states with higher rates of infection.
It wouldn’t be much fun to spend the first two weeks of a family vacation hunkered down in a hotel room. Or stuck at home for 14 days after your return.
If I go and get exposed to the virus, what happens?
At the very least, you will need to self-quarantine for a CDC-recommended period upon your return. But it could be worse. You could get stuck at your destination. Or you could get sick away from home.
Again, Plan B. Where would you stay if you got stuck? How would you pay for it?
Is anyone in my family among the medically vulnerable?
People with an “underlying medical condition” such as asthma, obesity, old age and diabetes, are at higher risk if they catch Covid-19. So ask yourself: Is anyone in your traveling group with medically vulnerable? If so, how will you protect that person?
Also, is anyone you’ll be returning to medically vulnerable? If so, are you ready to self-quarantine upon your return before seeing that person?
Can I even afford a family vacation?
The economic impact of this virus is just as devastating as the medical impact. It doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t go anywhere. It just means setting a family vacation budget and sticking to it.
To find free and cheap things to do, check our list of free things to do in the 50 states.
Most Important Questions to Ask before Going to Disney
When you’re planning to head to
We keep you up to date on Disney’s latest precautions, regulations, and updates here.
How will theme park entry change?
You’ll need to make both park reservations and have tickets to get in. No more winging it. Make sure you follow the correct procedures.
What capacity level is Disney at?
Crowds at Disney are returning. If parks are marked as unavailable during your trip you can bet it is a busy time! Check out more info on Disney crowds here.
How will food service change?
Unless you already had reservations, expect to eat at quick service restaurants and order via the My Disney Experience app. Will sit-down restaurant reservations be available when you are there?
What about the getting to Disney from the airport?
Disney has dropped their complimentary Magical Express service. There are multiple options to get to Disney from the Orlando Airport, including some group options and some private options.
Most Important Questions to Ask before Booking Your Lodging
The last time I stayed in a hotel — on a business trip to Miami 5 days before the lockdown orders kicked in — I was one of only two guests. It was an eerie experience.
These days, hotels chains are touting their cleaning protocols and being rewarded with sold-out bookings.
Here are the questions to ask before booking a hotel, Airbnb or vacation rental.
What is your cleaning protocol for the rooms?
You should be able to find the details on the website for that hotel or vacation rental. If not, call and ask for details. If the reservation agent doesn’t know, ask to talk with the manager. This is the most important thing you need to know to feel safe sleeping in a rented room post-Covid-19.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Even if you’re satisfied that the hotel is doing a good job, you should consider disinfecting these parts of the hotel room yourself.
What is your cleaning protocol for common areas?
This goes beyond the front desk. Are they cleaning the elevators and all railings and other touchpoints? How often? Are they using CDC-approved disinfecting products?
One of the interesting by-products of coronarius: Cleaning protocols, once kept mostly out of sight of guests, now is on full display in hotel lobbies as companies seek to make guest feel more comfortable.
Will your employees be wearing masks?
What other equipment will employees have to keep them safe and prevent them from spreading germs to guests? Also, are all guest expected to wear masks in common areas? What happens if someone refuses?
Are you testing your employees regularly?
What happens if someone tests positive for the virus? And will you take the temperature of guests when they arrive?
Have you reduced staff?
How does that affect your ability to keep the facility clean and disinfected? What will it mean for the level of customer service?
What’s your policy for delivering fresh towels and sheets?
The first time I book a hotel room post-Covid, I plan to put the “do not disturb” sign on the door and refuse housekeeping service for the duration of my visit. There’s no need to have strangers going in and out. But if I need extra towels, how can I get them in a non-contact way?
How will breakfast be served?
The extensive breakfast buffet included in the room rate was the family vacation budget savior for us when the kids were ravenous teens. But the days of the breakfast buffet with that fun communal waffle maker are done, at least until there’s a vaccine. What will replace it?
Do you have contactless check-in available?
Check-in via an app or even over the phone can limit the need to hand over your credit card and use that communal pen to sign in. Some hotel chain apps can even serve as your room key, further limiting human interaction.
What happens if someone tests positive for Covid-19?
Will the hotel quarantine all guests? If so, who will pay for the extra nights and meals? What is the policy for contacting other guests if someone tests positive?
Where is the nearest hospital?
And is that hospital prepared to deal with Covid-19 patients? Equally important, is the hospital already dealing with Covid-19 patients? If so, it means that if you have to take your daughter there because she broke her arm, you all risk exposure.
Most Important Questions to Ask Before Getting on an Airplane
Airports and airplanes are some seriously germy places. Or at least they used to be. Stunned by the coronavirus shutdown and lack of demand for air travel, airlines have been aggressively cleaning their planes and airports are testing contactless check-in and security experiences.
Those planes definitely needed a cleaning! Ask these questions before booking your flight:
What is your cleaning protocol for the plane?
Check the airline website first. It should be easy to find mentions of the plane’s “hospital grade HEPA air filters” and “hospital grade” cleaning products.
The International Air Transport Association published a list of guidelines airlines should follow to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In covers everything from limiting food and beverage service to cleaning the lavatory every two hours in flight, or after it’s been used by 10 people.
Will your employees be wearing masks?
And will passengers be required to wear them throughout the flight? What happens if a passenger refuses to wear a mask?
Are you testing your employees regularly?
And what happens if an employee tests positive?
Will you test passengers before they board?
The International Air Transport Association guidelines even suggest that passengers on long haul flights have their temperature taken every four hours during the flight.
Most Important Questions to Ask Before Buying Attraction Tickets
With the uncertainty, it’s tempting to wait until the last minute to buy tickets to a museum or even a theme park. But many attractions plan to reopen slowly, with crowds limited to 50 percent or even less of capacity.
That means tickets can sell out and you might miss the chance to visit the attraction you traveled to see.
The safest approach is to buy the tickets online and get an electronic ticket delivered to your smartphone. No paper to touch or hand to someone else.
Just be sure to check the refund policy in case you can’t visit at the last minute. Can you get your money back? Or will the tickets expire before you can use them?
Here are 5 more questions to ask:
What is your cleaning protocol for the facility?
Like hotels and airplanes, museums, theme parks and other attractions should have a plan for consistently disinfecting high-touch areas throughout the day.
How will you ensure guests can socially distance themselves?
They should have a plan to keep people at least 6 feet apart. That may include limiting the total number of visitors at any one time. If so, ask how you can ensure you’ll be able to visit on the date you want to visit.
Will your employees be wearing masks?
And will guests be required to wear them as well? What happens if a visitor refuses?
Are you testing your employees regularly?
What’s the plan for dealing with a sick employee and contacting visitors who might have come in contact with the employee?
Will you take the temperature of guests before they enter?
If not, what is the plan for keeping out people who might be carrying the virus?
Most Important Questions to Ask Before Booking a Cruise
Cruise lines really took it on the chin from this health crisis. The world was left with the indelible image of passengers stranded on ships, shut in their cabins for weeks on end as the ships sailed around looking for a US port willing to accept the passengers.
So cruises are off the table as a travel option, right? Wrong! Cruises from the US are unlikely to resume until April 2021, but Cruise Industry News says cruise bookings are up by 30 percent. And that’s not just from people re-booking cruises that were canceled because of the lockdown.
And, when I asked my Facebook friends who was ready to travel, one woman said she has already booked five cruises — at $200 a pop! — because it was too cheap not to cruise.
Here are the questions to ask before booking:
What is your cleaning protocol for the cabins?
This should be easy to find and understand. The reservation agent should know and be able to explain it to you. You should be able to find the details on the cruise line website.
What is your cleaning protocol for common areas of the cruise ship?
Same thing here. It should be well documented that the company is regularly cleaning and disinfecting all common areas and touch points, including touch screens, railings and elevators.
Will your employees be wearing masks?
And will passengers be required to wear masks any time they are not in their cabins?
Are you testing your employees regularly?
And what happens if someone tests positive for coronavirus?
Will you test passengers before they board?
And will you test regularly during the cruise?
What happens if someone is diagnosed with Covid-19?
What is the plan for keeping everyone else safe? Can you ensure we will be able to disembark as planned? How will the cruise change — Will we forgo cruise stops? Will entertainment and dining venues be closed? Will we be confined to our cabins? If that happens, what is the refund policy?
Have you reduced staff?
If so, will it mean reduced service levels? And how will you keep the ship clean and disinfected with fewer crew members on board?
Are you limiting capacity on the ship?
If so, by how much? And how will that change the onboard experience?
What activities and venues will be open?
Onboard activities, from swimming to Broadway-style shows, are an important part of the cruise experience. But all of those require close contact with other passengers. The cruise companies should be able to reassure you they will keep you safe as well as entertained. Ask how you’ll reserve spots at the events and activities and how you will know when the venue is full.
How will you keep kids safe in the kids’ club?
This can include anything from cleaning protocols to staffing levels to socially distanced play.
What will meal service look like?
Chances are the buffet, a staple of most cruises, will be closed and replaced with plated meals. But don’t worry, you can still order as much as you want and eat waaaay more than you need!
Katherine Finch says
Wow, amazing your 46 Questions solved all of my problem. Now I can easily book my tips without any tension.
Jenelle says
While booking your hotel, it’s important to know about the service details like: food facilities, communication facilities, booking facilities etc. Thanks for sharing your great article.