Believe it or not, it’s time to start thinking about holiday travel for this year!
While, thankfully, the pandemic is several years behind us, it did cause a lot of us to rethink how we travel during cold and flu season. And, in fact, many people who began RVing during that time continue to see that as a way to see the country and cut down on exposure to other potentially germ-carrying people during a higher-risk time of year. When you rent an RV with RVshare, you can use your own restroom, your own kitchen, and your own bed. You won’t be flying with countless other people or encountering them in crowded airports before you take off and after you land. Traveling by RV makes you almost entirely self-sufficient and significantly cuts down on your exposure to others until you get to your destination.
Perks of RV travel
There are other advantages to traveling by RV as well. If you’re headed to a houseful of people, you don’t have to worry about sleeping on a couch, or in a basement, or in another place without much personal space. You can bring kids back out to your RV to nap (or take a nap yourself!) without worrying about noise in the house. You can just escape for a few minutes if you need some calm. And you also don’t have to worry about missing out on those impromptu moments with family – sitting at the kitchen table in the morning for coffee, or having a late-night conversation – that you might not get if you have to return to a hotel each night.
You can also bring along more items from home. If the kids need to keep up on schoolwork, you can set up a station in the RV for them to work away from distractions. If you have pets, you can bring them along. You can even use the kitchen in your motorhome rental for cooking if you need the extra room!
How to travel safely
If you do choose to travel in a motorhome or RV this holiday season, there are a few things you’ll want to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
1.) Do some research & prep
If you are very concerned about yearly illnesses like the flu or COVID resurgences, you can check the CDC for the latest information on the areas you’re visiting. You can also get a flu shot or COVID booster at the beginning of the season.
2.) Keep it clean
Make sure to clean and disinfect surfaces that are commonly touched in your RV every day. Those include door handles, countertops, light switches, tables, faucets, toilets, and phones. Don’t forget the steering wheel, radio dial, and door handles up front! You can get other tips for cleaning your RV here.
3.) Keep yourself clean
Make sure to wash your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds each time. Keep hand sanitizer near the entrance to your RV for visitors, and bring a small bottle if you go on day trips. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, not your hand. Avoid other people if you’re feeling sick.
4.) Make reservations ahead of time
If you’re allowed, it’s a lot of fun to stay in your host’s driveway or on the street in front of the house you’re visiting. You get the feeling of being a houseguest, and the late-night talks and impromptu visiting that comes with being a guest but with the extra room an RV provides! However, not every neighborhood allows this, and depending on where you’re visiting, you may need to stay at a nearby campground. Check ahead to make sure that they’re open and make reservations so you know you have a place to stay when you arrive!
5.) Have a backup plan
Consider the possibility that even with your best efforts, either the family you’re visiting or someone in your group could get sick. Have a backup plan in case your trip is cut short due to illness, or in case your trip needs to be extended due to an illness that keeps you from traveling home on schedule. Bring your health insurance cards and any other pertinent information, and know what needs to be done and how to find medical help if someone in your group does get sick.
6.) Have fun!
Let’s face it – traveling during the holidays is not easy! It can require extra research and planning. But it can also bring families together. Traveling by RV means you may be driving through places you previously just flew over or traveling through places you’ve never seen before. You’re making new memories and having new experiences with your family. It can also make you appreciate and be thankful for these people in your life – both the ones you’re traveling with and the ones you’re traveling to see. You may find this journey makes you thankful in ways you never considered before this year.
Safe travels and happy holidays!
