Some Tips to Stay Safe While Traveling

According to a recent AAA Travel survey, American travelers are making vacation plans through the end of the year but remain cautiously optimistic about those plans. AAA advises travelers to take proper precautions to help keep themselves and others safe while away from home. Here are some tips for your next road trip.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

• Planning is more important than ever. When looking for places to stay, search for hotels with free or flexible cancellation policies.
• Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 data tracker, municipal and state health departments and local news for updates on coronavirus cases and continue to do so while on the road.
• AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map at TripTik. AAA.com also has the latest state and local travel restrictions.
• Consider taking your car into a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop and ask them to do a trip check. To find one near you, visit AAA.com/autorepair.
• Make sure your AAA membership is up to date to provide peace of mind if you have car troubles while you are on your trip.
• Call ahead to understand capacity limits and, where possible, make reservations.

PACKING

• Be sure to pack face coverings, cleaning supplies – like disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer – and a thermometer.
• Consider packing extra snacks to reduce the need to stop at restaurants – which may not be open or may be operating at reduced capacity.

HOTELS

• Always call ahead to ensure your hotel is open and to ask about any restrictions or changes to the check-in process. The hotel has likely reduced face-to-face interactions with guests.
• Ask what precautions the hotel is taking to protect guests. Ask about social-distancing protocols, like capacity reductions in common spaces, and hotel staff requirements to wear masks at all times.
• When you check into your room, remember to wipe down high-touch surfaces with disinfecting wipes. Some surfaces to pay special attention to include light switches, doorknobs, remote controls and room phones.

ON THE ROAD:

• Travel with all necessary travel documentation, including health insurance cards.
• Pack snacks, water, disinfectant spray or wipes and a thermometer.
• Get rest before you hit the road. Drivers should not rely on their bodies to provide warning signs of fatigue and should instead prioritize getting plenty of sleep (at least seven hours) in their daily schedules
• Have an emergency kit in your vehicle. Consider this list of things to include and tips on where to stow them. Be sure to replenish any depleted items as needed.
  • Cell phone and car charger
  • First-aid kit o Blanket
  • Drinking water/snacks for everyone in the car, including pets
  • Flashlight with extra, fresh batteries
  • Rags, paper towels or pre-moistened wipes
  • A basic set of tools along with duct tape and car emergency warning devices such as road flares or reflectors
  • Ice scraper/snow brush
  • Jumper cables/jump pack
  • Traction aid such as sand, salt or non-clumping cat litter
  • Tarp, raincoat and gloves
  • Shovel
  • Face masks
  • Hand sanitizer