COVID-Where are we going now?

 

Wow, what a year it has been so far. Who would have thought? Not one person had any of the events that have occurred so far in these 7 months on their vision boards.  It seemed like 2020 was suppose to be “THE” year. It was the year we were all gonna get our things together, in other words, it was not supposed to look like this. However, I am quickly reminded of how human we are, we think that we have control over our lives and plan as if we have for certain that tomorrow will come. This year has exposed what King Solomon knew all along, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” Proverbs 16:9. If there is one thing that 2020 has thought me so far is that all though we can plan God is still in control and HE can do WHATEVER HE PLEASES.  

That being said, TRAVEL plans for 2020 went out the window. We are currently dealing with a pandemic called COVID19 which has made any travel plans seem like an illusion. Hotels, restaurants, rental car companies, touristic sites have been directly impacted by the low traffic since people are either in quarantine or afraid to leave their homes, which is very understandable and in no way am I condemning those who chose to not travel.  However, that still leaves out a few of us wander lusters who have chosen to safely travel, including me.

If you are thinking about travelling and need the scoop for what happening, you’ve come to the right place. You WERE on my mind as I went on my most recent adventure.

Let’s start with the basics:

What was check-in like?

 It was definitely different since there was not a lot of people. They closed some of the kiosks to abide by the 6ft apart social distance rule which did cause some waiting but nothing compared to any other travel experiences. Overall, the check-in was very smooth. We arrived 2 hrs before boarding mostly because I thought the airports would be requiring extra check-in time.

Was the airport full?

No, this was so weird. In Houston, I’d say that there was about 40% capacity. In Arizona, the same applies.

Did they have sanitation stations?

The airport had all the “‘normal” social distancing markers. Everywhere you turned the corner there were sanitation stations equipped with hand sanitizers and wipes. Overall, I’d say if you weren’t carrying any of that yourself, you’d be good!

Were other people practising social distancing?

People were aware of others and kept their distance. You’d have your occasional people who forgot and all I had to do was make it obvious I didn’t want them to close.

What was the boarding process?

Easy! Keep your mask on. Once you get to TSA you will have to remove your mask to show your complete face. At the gate, you’ll board with your boarding group.

Requirements for flying?

• Masks at all times
• No middle seats
• Keep 6ft distance

What was it like inside the cabin?

• No snacks that you need to grab with fingers
• Only canned water
• Clean, you can wipe for extra precaution.
• Middle seat not occupied (Southwest)

Here are some of the safety measures I took:

• Clothing- I wore a long maxi dress, a sweater, and shoes with socks. I did this so that when I arrived in Arizona  I could change immediately and not have airport clothes on throughout the day.
• Hand Sanitizer-  Used it at all times whether I was eating or not.
• Wipes- I used these to clean the rental car, areas of the hotel, and any other thing you could think of.
• Alcohol Spray- I bought this at a Walmart once we arrived because it’s highly flammable and they didn’t allow it on my check-in. I used it to spray our hotel room, bed, and Airbnb’s.
• Bed Sheets- I already bring a sheet and a pillowcase to spread over the bed. This is something I learned from travelling with my best friend Katherine.
• Shoes- As I’ve grown older I now cringe at the idea of not wearing shoes while in a hotel, so I’d say take some sandals you can wear around and while you shower.
• Gloves- Can come in handy but I didn’t need them.
• Masks- THIS IS A MUST. Just wear the mask because you care about yourself and others. I know many may not be up for the mask thing, but trust me you’d better be safe than sorry.  It doesn’t matter what activity you’re doing, being around people you have a higher chance of being exposed so KEEP that Mask on. (If I HIKED the Grand Canyon with a mask on, you can wear it too.)

How safe did you feel? Because I took all these safety measures, I felt safe. Please keep in mind that my trip was geared towards being out in nature.

• Arizona- In Arizona, we visited Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon, Camelback Mountain, and Willow Springs lake. At each location, you were spread out and could safely practice social distancing. I didn’t see a lot of people wearing a mask but I also didn’t see anybody close to me coughing or “sick”. This is why I truly recommend wearing a mask. I understand that for some activities it’s hard to do, but even then use your shirt, or try not to breathe in the air of those passing by you.
• Utah- In Utah, we hiked The Narrows and enjoyed it so much! I was able to wear my mask and was able to practice social distancing. I did notice that not a lot of people were wearing masks.
• Nevada- In Nevada, things were different. Tourism in Las Vegas has lowered significantly. People were wearing masks,  you can find a sanitation station packed with masks, gloves, a sink with water and soap, and hand sanitizers at each corner inside the casinos.

Should I do COVID testing and do self-quarantine? It is my recommendation to get tested as soon as you come back and keep in quarantine until you get your results.

Overall, my friends, I hope all the information I shared with you here helps you make up your mind on any travelling plans. Please remember all these tips even apply as you go about your life in our daily lives.

I know we are living in such uncertainty but we do need to remember this will be our “new” normal for a while, so we need to start living this out.  All in all, please take account of your medical condition, your family’s medical conditions, make wise choices, but please do not live in fear.

 

 

XOXO,

Natalie