Spring break is approaching, and as you plan an exciting family trip, the question may linger as to how you and your family can travel safely with the ongoing COVID-19 worries and precautions. As if traveling with children wasn’t hard enough, throw in the fact that the Omicron variant is still ever present and has spared no state or country, how can we make it out of this in one piece?
It is possible to travel by plane or car (or RV) and enjoy a safe, happy, and COVID free vacation together! Hopefully some of these tips can help you plan ahead and feel a little calmer about your Spring Break vacation so that your family can have a trip to remember!
Check guidelines and requirements
Before planning your vacation, make sure that you check the local rules and guidelines. If you’re traveling to a different state, it’s a good idea to look into their mask regulations in general and compare that to what you feel comfortable with. If traveling overseas, checking out the country website to see the requirements for travel is imperative before even booking. While some countries require vaccination, testing, and sometimes even quarantine: others may not have as stringent rules. The last thing you want will be to plan an amazing trip and then realize you don’t meet the requirements to enter the country or will have to quarantine for half the time you’re there. Ensure that you have everything in order a few days before travel and stay up-to-date on the ever-changing rules so that you’re ahead of the game.
Get vaccinated
For yourself and kids of eligible ages, make sure that you’re vaccinated for the best protection from severe effects of COVID-19, if you do end up contracting it. It is your strongest line of defense when all else fails. Discuss boosters with your medical professional, for those eligible, and remember that the full effectiveness of vaccines come 2 weeks after their administration. For those with kids under 5, we hope to have some access to COVID-19 vaccines soon so that we too can enjoy some peace of mind that comes from being vaccinated. But if not, taking extra precautions can help protect those little ones.
Staying safe during a road trip
If traveling by car or RV, keeping your car loaded with some basics: hand sanitizer, alcohol spray, masks, tissues, and disinfecting wipes will protect you and your children from many day to day germs, including COVID-19. Making sure kids of all ages keep their hands clean and out of their mouth can go a long way. Traveling in a car allows you to control who and what you come into contact with a little better, and also lets you plan your own timeline. Enjoying the outdoor fresh air, visiting many places during one trip, or making a straight shot to your final destination is all part of the control you have with a road trip!
Breaks for those that get antsy can come easier when you’re driving and a quick stretch of your legs, and your kids’ legs, can help breathe new energy into everyone in the family! Make the car ride fun…play “I spy” games, sing songs, take lots of snacks, tablets, and a few new toys to keep kids of all ages entertained.
Staying safe during a plane ride
Similar to traveling by car, it is important to take your necessities with you onboard. Pack masks and extra masks, especially for little ones, in case they soil them. If you have a medical exemption, be sure to contact your airline beforehand to avoid any complications before boarding. While on board, for those without exemptions, make sure masks are kept on and only removed briefly for eating or drinking!
If you’re worried about younger, unvaccinated, or immunocompromised children, limit eating and drinking as much as possible to avoid extra exposure. During longer flights where this can't be avoided, the importance is mitigation. Remember the air is filtered with HEPA filters and airlines are doing everything possible to keep their passengers safe. Throughout the flight, keep children from putting their fingers in their mouths or touching their faces too much so as not to ingest any of the germs that may be circling.
Take plenty of entertainment, stickers, coloring books, tablets, or a small pencil box full of brand new small toys to keep them from getting stir crazy. If traveling with infants, the best tip, during COVID or not, is to keep a bottle or nurse your baby during take off and landing to avoid pressure on their little ears.
Arriving at your destination
Letting kids know what you expect from them and what they need to do can help your family stay peaceful before and during your Spring Break vacation. Upon arrival at your final destination, enjoy all your original plans and do only as much as your family feels comfortable doing. If that means limiting your dining experiences to outdoor seating, by all means! Excursions can be either indoor or outdoor depending on where your comfort level lies. Being safe does not mean you have to sacrifice fun family time. Remember, hand-washing can go a long way!
Keeping all these things in mind and staying safe will ensure that, although it may look different, you can have an amazing Spring Break trip with memories that will last a lifetime!