Travel During COVID-19 Outbreak: 10 Rules For A Safe Hotel Stay

by Tania Tarafdar
Travel During COVID-19 Outbreak: 10 Rules For A Safe Hotel Stay

When was the last time you grabbed a coffee at your go-to spot? Our lives, including our work, have been driven indoors amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But now, with some restaurants, and hotels reopening around the country, you might be wanting to book a little getaway for yourself. You are perhaps contemplating a road trip to avoid flying. But if you are to stay back somewhere, you need to take steps to ensure you are safe and healthy. Here’s how to warrant safe hotel stay:

 

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1. Wear A Mask For Safety

We do not have to remind you to wear a mask, do we? Always enjoy the hotel amenities while social distancing and wear a mask in the lobby and other common areas. A cloth face mask would be your best bet!

2. Wash Your Hands

News flash! You can have up to 3,200 microbes on your hands, at any time. Not all of them are harmful, but your hands can get re-contaminated after only about an hour of washing. So, wash your hands as regularly as possible and ensure that you utilise the hand sanitiser stations after any interactions. Hand sanitisers will be there for use at your leisure, so always clean your hands and don’t touch your face.

3. Do Not Swim In A Crowded Pool

If the hotel pool is open and you want to take a swim, you can do it!  Relax in water, as the virus can not survive in a chlorinated pool setting. Just be extra vigilant to ensure that there are no crowds and you are cautious when outside the water. Take a look some of the Luxury Hotels In India Offering Great Deals As Lockdown Eases

4. Skip The Spa

No matter how tempted you are to get a relaxing massage, avoid going to the hotel spa. You do not want to risk your safety by coming into any physical contact with anyone. Maybe you could carry your own electric massager for the staycation!

 

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5. Say ‘No’ To The Gym

The hotel gyms will likely remain close, but in case they are open, you should still choose to exercise outdoors to ensure safe hotel stay. If the weather cooperates with you, ask the hotel staff ahead of time about popular hiking trails or treks.

Also read: Google Maps Will Now Tell You About Covid-19 Travel Related Restrictions.

6. Let Go The Housekeeping

As much as possible, try and restrict the entry of others in into your room and that includes the housekeeping. At the start of your stay, you could request extra towels and sheets, or they can bring you fresh towels and leave them outside your door.

7. Book And Pay Online

Look options for online reservations and contact-less payments. It would be great if you could also get the mobile room keys and check in the hotel room without even having to go through the lobby. Every major hotel brand now has an application, so all you have to do is. Just download and go!

8. Request Outdoor Dining

Dining outdoor is not only enjoyable but also safe. So, request for an outdoor setup, and if that’s not an option, take advantage of grab and go food takeaways or request contact-less room service delivery.

Also read: This Is What Staying In A Luxury Hotel Will Be Like Now

9. Take The Stairs For Safe Hotel Stay

Whenever possible during your hotel stay, skip the stairs and opt for the elevators. This will cut down on your interactions with hotel staff and other guests and reduce the risk of virus transmission. Bonus? Taking the stairs will also give you a great workout.

10. Park Your Car On Your Own

Stop being lazy and ask about options for self-parking. But if you are still utilising the valet, be sure to disinfect the contact points within the vehicle.

Bottomline: Ultimately, it would be best if you weighed the risks of staying in a hotel against your own risk of getting infected. Adding that, you should not travel if you have been sick, someone you live with has been ill, or if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past two weeks.