Here are my tips for your vacation planning during this time of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Before you make plans, evaluate the age and pre-existing conditions of your travel party.

As we all know by now, older adults and people of any age who have a serious underlying medical condition are at higher risk for severe illness from Covid-19.

It is totally okay to be concerned about the pandemic.

Remember that you are not alone with your safety and health concerns relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is real and everywhere, perhaps some places much less than others, but unfortunately, it is all around us. Covid-19 cases and deaths have been reported in all 50 states, and the situation is constantly changing. If any person or establishment minimizes this fact and makes you feel like you are overreacting, simply move on, pass on them. Those who want your business are proud to talk, upfront, about measures that they are taking so that you are well protected. Keeping you and themselves safe and healthy is the number one priority for all serious establishments. By now, most established vacation venues know that a high level of cleaning is paramount and deep cleaning is not optional.

Plan to voluntarily add 14 days self-quarantine time to your vacation at the tail-end, once you’re back home.

We all need to adapt and think differently about the duration of our vacations. You need to leave healthy, be healthy during your vacation, and stay healthy after you are back home. Let’s face it, traveling increases your risk of getting infected and spreading Covid-19. Being within 6 feet of others increases your chances of getting infected and infecting others. Also, if you get infected while traveling, you can spread the virus to loved ones when you return, even if you don’t have symptoms.

Select vacation spots nearby you

Why nearby vacation spots? Let’s start with driving times. Drowsy driving is similar to drunk driving. As those who have gone on a long continuous journey on the water know, there is the watchkeeping or watchstanding role on a boat or ship to operate it continuously. The watch schedule of the crew is based on so many hours on and so many hours off, for this reason.

Until a safe vaccine and a treatment medicine are found and widely utilized, try to select locations near your home location. Social distancing-friendly coastal travel destinations are all around us. The reality of any type of travel, be it by car, airplane, train or bus, RV, passenger ship, or even private boat, is that it carries with it a degree of risk due to our dependency on a number of services, which bring interaction with others.  When you add in trying to maintain a 6-foot social distancing requirement into the mix, it is not difficult to realize that it is much less risky to reach your vacation spot, fast, while having as few service stopovers as possible. So, pack your lunch or dinner, have all your drinks ready, and eat in your vehicle.

Check out the State Health Department of your selected vacation spot and learn the latest status there, not just in the state but also in the county where you will be vacationing.

This may sound like tedious work but, remember, not every county in the US is equally impacted by Covid-19. Selecting a spot in a county with a small number of Covid-19 cases and deaths may improve your safety and health while you are vacationing. Follow state and local travel restrictions. Check the state or local health department where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn the latest information. Also, at any point, if you or a member of your trip feel that they are coming down with something, anything, do the Covid Check as many times as needed.

Select higher-end, reputable establishments for your vacation

You will quickly find out that during the current pandemic times, a bit more costly vacation in a reputable establishment will buy you a bit more health safety. You will immediately notice that when asked, or even before, they will tell you all the safety measures that they have implemented and are applying. Don’t expect or try to negotiate discounts, more than likely it will not be there.  Due to enhanced cleaning, as well as 6-foot social distancing requirements, health safety costs have gone way up, leaving little or no margin for discounts.

Bring your protective mask supplies and wear a mask in public places at all times.

Use hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol) and keep them within easy reach. Exercise your standard approach of taking enough of your medications to last you for the entire trip. It may sound odd, but have some non-perishable food in case restaurants and stores are closed. If you need to learn more about how to clean during the pandemic, check out this CDC link for household disinfecting tips.

Well, that’s it for now. Stay well. I hope to say hello to you if you spot my boat, Life’s AOK, in one of the locations that I’m hoping to visit in 2020, that is if Coronavirus permits us.

I bid you Fair Winds and Following Seas.

2 things I learned

• Not every county in the US is equally impacted by Covid-19. Selecting a spot in a county with a small number of Covid-19 cases and deaths is a good strategy.  Follow state and local travel restrictions. Check the state or local health department where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn the latest information. Also, at any point, if you or a member of your trip feel that they are coming down with something, anything, do the Covid Check as many times as needed.
• When we look at the history of the 1918 pandemic, we see that communities worldwide lost people at different rates. While 60% of some communities were wiped out, losses in others were less than 10%. Recently, Dr. Jeremy Brown of the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Emergency Care talked about his book on the history of influenza, covering the 1918-1919 season: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History.

1 thing I recommend

• Adapt, adapt, and adapt some more. In March, I posted my blog titled, “1 more addition to CNN’s social distancing suggestions during the coronavirus pandemic – boating*”.   Yes, boating is truly a great option to consider this summer, and as long as social distancing is required, even if you do not have a boat. (See my January blog, “You want to buy a boat, eh?”)

How easy?