Roadtrip planning Checklist amidst COVID-19

Even if it is your own car or a rental, make sure to get it disinfected with ideal chemicals that have proven to fight COVID-19 virus. There are many sprays and travel disinfectants that are being manufactured by pharma companies. You can find some of these on Amazon too. Purchase them and ahead of your road trip, use them to clean the insides of your car. This includes your seat buckle, steering wheel, gear shift, dashboard, seats, handles and more. Think of it this way, the most touched surfaces of the car need to be wiped clean to make sure that you and your company are safe. Don't just wipe it once though. Repeat the process twice to make sure that the surface is clean. Don't miss out the windows as well! You can do this once you get your car fully serviced. It is essential to get a thorough check and service done of the car to ensure that it doesn't cause any problems later during the journey.

The WHO and the CDC (Centers for Diseases and Prevention) has announced that sanitizers with an alcohol base of 60 per cent or more is known to be strong and ideal to fight COVID-19 virus. They have further recommended that you use the sanitizer every 20 minutes as it provides the best results when used at a short interval. Many travellers, with a view to ensure travel safety on roads are also carrying gloves with them. Roads can be quite unpredictable, as can your car be. You might need to change your tires midway during your road trip too. As you do change your tires or check your engines, avoid doing it with your bare hands and opt for gloves. Disinfected gloves are your saviour and should be on you when you step out of the car.

Similarly, even wet wipes or tissues come to the rescue to add to the travel safety on road. You can also keep a PPE kit with you, just in case it might come in handy. Besides, when you do take pit stops during your road trip, you cannot just go and sit anywhere or touch anything in sight. That would just aggravate your chances of contracting the virus. Instead carry these essentials and keep yourself coronavirus-free!

No matter where you go or what you do, the mask remains on your face! One of the most important road trip tip to ensure safety is to wear a mask at all times to safeguard yourself and your company during the COVID-era. Instead of carrying disposable masks, try to go for the ones which can be reused. By carrying reusable masks, you would actually be helping out the medical professionals who are in bigger need of the disposable masks while curing patients of all kinds! Considering how the demand for face masks is high presently, it would only make sense for you to carry one with you and not stock up unnecessarily. For those who are driving, carry not more than two face masks and ensure to change it every 10 hours.

Social distancing is one of the most important things to follow for road trip safety. Not just you but there are many travellers like you who would be using the same facilities. Hence, the best thing to do would be to ensure that you are safe by carrying out all the essential safety protocols. By sanitizing your hands regularly and wearing a mask, you would be helping out the person you're interacting with during your road trip. Simultaneously, downloading and keeping apps for online transactions would be better than exchanging currency. Even before the COVID-era, the Swedes have been propagating the idea of conducting online transactions or cashless transactions!

You do not have to make excessive pit stops during your road trip. As one of the road trip safety protocols, the best thing to do would be to keep the pit stops as minimal as possible and to reach the destination soon. While the saying of the journey being more beautiful than the destination is true, it is probably not the one you want to indulge in during a pandemic. Reaching your destination or being away from crowds is the key to travelling safely by road. Sure, you could make a few stops and relish the refreshing air and verdant greens of the milieu, don't get too caught up in it. It would be safer to reach your hotel room or villa before sundown.

Do not sneeze without covering your face

One of the most important things to remember during a road trip to ensure safety is to not sneeze or cough without covering your mouth! Carry lots of tissues with you and utilise them when you need to sneeze, cough or even blow your nose. Keeping your germs away from others is of prime importance right now. In fact, if you are feeling a little under the weather, avoid joining the others for the road trip for their safety.

Avoid sharing food and water

Sharing is caring but in the COVID-era, not sharing is caring! Even though you are travelling together in one car, it is best to avoid sharing food or bottles of water with each other. You simply do not want to pass on your germs to the others. It used to be an adorable gesture up until earlier in 2020. But things have changed since then. The pandemic is here to alter your lifestyle and sharing food and beverages is one of them.

Use a sanitizer at intervals

As mentioned earlier, a regular 20-minute interval between every use of the sanitizer is a must. Whether you are driving or sitting in the backseat, you should make sure to use the sanitizer and wipe your hands at all times. In fact, try and avoid touching your face, especially your nose and mouth. The gush of wind might make your face itch but try to tie your hair properly to avoid this situation.

Book your preferred hotel stay for your breaks in between your roadtrip on our hotels platform and earn InterMiles on your completed stays. Also, you can redeem your accumulated Miles for a free stay at a property of your choice.

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