Tips for Holiday Travel During COVID-19

With school breaks quickly approaching, we're sharing tips and tricks for safe travel practices during COVID-19.

3 Top Tips

As you help your college student prepare to travel, double check the dates of breaks and exams as many school calendars have shifted this autumn.
Get tested and quarantine! Some colleges are testing students before sending them home for break but most don't have this capacity. You can help your student find a testing site before they travel and they can get tested again after they arrive. In addition, they should limit social interactions for a full two weeks before traveling. Once home, they should be prepared to quarantine for two weeks (or until receiving negative results of a COVID-19 test). This may be required by your state, but even if not, it's a good precaution to minimize the possibility of infecting someone in your household or contributing to community spread of the virus.
Be clear about the fact that, as soon as they hit the road (or the airport), in order to protect their health as well as yours your student needs to travel straight home without any detours to visit friends.

Important note: CollegiateParent has collected information and resources in order to suggest best practices. We can not guarantee the safety of you or your student during travel, nor do we vouch for any particular airline or hotel.

What Is the Safest Way to Travel?

There's a lot of conflicting information circulating on this subject. At the end of the day, you can only control your own actions and how you protect yourself.

Whether you or your student decides to drive or fly, here are tips to observe as you go.

Do Advance Planning

Take extra time to research what to expect from different companies. Whether it’s finding an airline that still keeps middle seats open or a hotel that has instituted extra sanitization, it’s important to assess the risks of exposure as you travel.

PLANES

Check whether or not an airline is blocking middle seats, if they're cleaning the plane before every flight, and whether masks are available for passengers. Information about COVID cleaning and safety protocols as well as updated policies around changing/canceling flights should be easy to find on the airline website (here's an example from Southwest Airlines).

Almost every U.S. airline requires masks, but some permit face shields as well which health officials state are less effective when used on their own than a properly fitted mask.

Some airlines offer sanitizing wipes for you to use on your seat and tray table, as well as making hand sanitizer dispensers available throughout your time in the airports and on the flight. It's still a good idea to bring your own in case the airlines or airports run out or you find yourself needing more than what is provided.

For a detailed look into the safety precautions of different U.S. airlines, here's a breakdown which is updated periodically.

HOTELS

Like airlines and airports, hotel chains have adopted rules about social distancing and face coverings in public areas and some are spotlighting enhanced safety and disinfecting measures (like the Hilton family of hotels' CleanStay program).

Breakfast buffets are on hold. The biggest risk will occur in high traffic areas such as lobbies and elevators. Frequently touched surfaces or areas that do not allow for social distancing should be avoided, which may drastically change what you look for in a hotel.

Experts have argued that motels or private rentals such as Airbnbs pose less of a risk purely because it’s less likely you’ll find yourself in close proximity with strangers. Staying on the ground floor or in a room with doors that lead directly outside will limit the need for elevators or other small, enclosed spaces.

A few other ways to minimize risk in a hotel:

Wear a face covering at all times in the lobby and hallways.
Bring your own supply of antibacterial wipes and, once you get to your room, clean any frequently touched surfaces (table tops and counters, doorknobs, telephones, light switches, remote controls).
Use the stairs rather than the elevator when possible.
If breakfast is offered, take it to your room to eat.

A Few More Things to Consider

Amtrak has partnered with RB, the makers of Lysol, to make train travel on Amtrak as safe as possible.
It's pretty easy to stay safe while pumping gas and using rest areas during a road trip — just wear your mask, wash hands thoroughly and frequently, and have antibacterial wipes or spray at the ready.
Find more information about reducing your risk on public transit (such as buses and when using taxis and rideshare) here.

If you don't feel well, don't travel!

Stay home, call your doctor, get tested for COVID-19 if appropriate. Most airlines are waiving change fees right now. Don't risk your own health and the health of others.

How Long Should I Wait After Exposure to Get Tested?

If you or someone in your household has been exposed to the new coronavirus, or if you want or need to be tested after traveling, it's ideal to wait 5–7 days after potential exposure before getting tested to reduce the likelihood of receiving a false negative result.

Some states require visitors from other states with high incidences of COVID-19 to quarantine after arrival or until the visitor can provide a negative COVID test result. Travel advisories should be available on the official state website.

Before you travel, research where you can get a test after arrival and make an appointment. Tests are available at urgent care centers and pharmacies (such as CVS), but in many places there will be limited slots so do plan in advance. While you wait to be tested after reaching your destination, isolate if you can, wear a mask and wash your hands frequently.

With a rapid saliva test, you will typically receive results within the hour. A deep nasal swab PCR test, which is more accurate, will take a couple of days.

The good news — COVID testing is a huge medical research priority right now so we can expect tests to continue to get easier, faster and better.

Important note: If at any time you develop symptoms of COVID-19, whether at home or while on travel, contact a health care provider to get tested immediately.

Can We Visit Older Family Members?

If you hope to visit with high risk individuals after traveling this holiday season, it's best to be as prepared as possible. Take thorough precautions including getting tested, wearing a face covering at all times and avoiding sharing items.

It may also be a good idea to spend time together outside, if weather permits, or allow for proper airflow when indoors to further minimize the risk. Pay special attention if you know you’ve traveled through areas of high risk, but also be aware that there are no guarantees even if you think your area has been low risk.

Family time has been scarce recently as we strive to keep our loved ones safe, but it’s also so important to spend time with our relatives — especially the older generation — while we can. Taking necessary measures to minimize exposure and being vigilant about hand washing, masks and social distancing will enable us to enjoy much-needed family time while keeping each other safe.

Click here for the Center for Disease Control’s complete guidelines on traveling safely during the pandemic >