Your European vacation is canceled and your shoe-box sized apartment is sitting at an unbearable temperature of 105°. If you’re one of the lucky ones who still has a job, Mondays are basically indistinguishable from the weekend and your vacation days feel pretty much useless. At least we’ve made it to summer, and halfway through this dreadful year.

The CDC still advises against travel, and the best way to avoid contracting and spreading COVID-19 is to stay home and limit your interactions with other people. However, being around people—particularly in enclosed spaces—is what spreads coronavirus, not the actual act of traveling. This means that there are still ways to take a vacation and plan ahead to ensure you stay as safe as possible this summer. As every company’s email newsletter informed us back in March, these are unprecedented times. So take precautions when allowing yourself to decompress, safely take a vacation, and try to dull the pain of 2020 with tequila sodas.

Travel, But Make It Local

Travel, both internationally and domestically, has obviously taken a serious hit due to the pandemic, with a low point on April 14th of only 87,000 fliers, according to the TSA. Since then we’ve seen a gradual increase in travel both in the air and on the ground as states rushed to open. Memorial Day weekend seemed to be the turning point when everyone just thought we could forget about the pandemic and get on with our lives, with a 48.5 percent increase in road travel compared to the previous weekend. Unfortunately, this jump and people’s general unwillingness to socially distance resulted in a huge spike in coronavirus cases. Anddd this is why we can’t have nice things.

The moral of the story: don’t be that guy! If you’re going to travel this summer, now is the time to keep your group exclusive and spend your money on fancy sh*t rather than just flocking to the hottest vacation spot (or literal COVID hot spot). Forgo the crowded Lake of the Ozarks pool party and show off your bikini body via Instagram from a private pool in an Airbnb instead. Skip the long flight and treat yourself to summer loungewear or dinner on a socially distant street-side patio. We’re always talking about how we want to be where the people aren’t, so let’s take advantage of this opportunity and built-in excuse for getting out of plans.

It also helps to limit your groups, wear a mask when social distancing isn’t possible, and avoid peak travel times. Before booking and going on a trip, be sure to monitor the number of cases in the area you are visiting, follow travel recommendations, and definitely don’t ignore some states’ 14-day quarantine mandates and get arrested.

“Help Me, I’m Poor,” -The Airline Industry, Probably

 

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A post shared by Betches Travel (@betchestravel) on Jul 22, 2020 at 6:30am PDT

While your pink Away luggage set collects dust, your preferred airline has gone into a tailspin and the remainder of 2020 is looking increasingly bleak for the industry. American Airlines may furlough 20,000 employees starting October 1st when the federal bailout expires. United said they could lose 36,000 jobs in the fall. That said, should you be rushing to give them your money? While before, you would probably book flights based on what was cheapest, now you might want to choose your airline carefully. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, airlines have claimed to be doing all they can to prevent the spread of coronavirus. However, as the economic pressures loom and lockdowns are lifted, there has been a gradual abandonment of precautions. Flights have become increasingly full, and airlines like American are booking back at full capacity. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called his jam-packed connecting flight to Texas  “incredibly irresponsible” and “high-risk.” Meanwhile, airlines are not prioritizing cleaning, according to a recent Association of Flight Attendants survey where only 44 percent of flight attendants said their planes were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between flights. A worker from American Airlines’ evening shift also stated that she and a few colleagues had only ten minutes to clean some incoming flights before they had to board more passengers. Considering I spend double that amount of time just on my nighttime skin care routine, I don’t think ten minutes is enough time to sanitize a whole plane’s armrests and tray tables.

As we know from collecting air miles (remember those?), not all airlines are created equally. Delta will continue to not sell middle seats through the summer, and United will allow you to switch to a different flight if the one you are booked on becomes too full. While most airlines have policies advising all passengers to wear masks during flights, some airlines (you can guess which one) are not enforcing them.

Not Feelin’ Fly Like A G6

Air travel is risky due to the increased time around large numbers of people in enclosed spaces, but if you must travel by plane, be sure to take the necessary precautions. Take the time to disinfect your seat, area, and hands, and opt for shorter flights without layovers to help reduce your exposure. Dr. Farley Cleghorn tells National Geographic, “Choose a window seat as far from the restroom as possible. Keep the overhead vent open and toward your face—continuous airflow creates a small, invisible ‘wall’ that restricts (at least slightly) the exhaled air from other passengers.”

If international travel is essential for you, be aware that some airlines are prioritizing business class seats, which currently can cost as much as some people’s annual salary. While on July 10th American Airlines told flight attendants that “for now, it’s OK for customers to move to different seats in the same cabin,” that policy isn’t always the case. For one couple trying to get home to Australia from the U.S., their only option might be a $24,000 USD business class ticket. Somewhere out there an out-of-touch, super-rich person (Ivanka, is that you?) who only flies private thinks that must be the normal cost of a seat in economy…must be nice.

Trains: Bad And Bougie, Or Just Bad?

Trains can conjure two types of imagery: relaxing on a humming passenger train in comfortable seats like you’re on your way to Hogwarts, or being shoulder-to-shoulder on the subway with a guy who smells as you try to drown out someone’s argument with a podcast on your daily commute. 

Doesn’t the first option of train travel just feel so European? While you may just be chugging upstate, it feels like you could be making your way through the Italian countryside. Even though European travel is off the table this summer, trains remain a safer option during coronavirus. Amtrak offers flexible bookings, limited seats for sale, and even private rooms. If your train travel is a little less “martinis in the lounge carriage” and more “essential commute on the L in Chicago at 6am”, you definitely deserve a vacation. Even though cities like New York have gone to great lengths to clean and sanitize their subway systems, transit employees have been heavily impacted by coronavirus with many deaths in the early stages of lockdown. Regardless of the type of train you’re taking, be sure to stay six feet apart when possible and wear a mask.

Roadtrip > Eurotrip

 

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A post shared by Betches Travel (@betchestravel) on Jul 27, 2020 at 6:31am PDT

Ok, fine, an Aperol Spritz in Positano is probably better than Bud Lights from a cooler by a murky lake, but traveling by car is likely the safest way to vacation this summer. It allows the least contact with other people and the most control of your surroundings, plus gas is at record low prices. If you’ve ever dreamed of being Britney Spears in Crossroads and driving down the highway in a convertible with your besties, now is the time!

“Traveling by airplane is much higher risk than traveling by car with your family,” Carl Fichtenbaum, an epidemiologist with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, tells CNBC. If you don’t own a car, renting one is fairly easy, or upgrade to a camper van and convince your boyfriend that you are the next Caelynn and Dean, without having to meet on Bachelor in Paradise. Once you rent the vehicle, clean and sanitize it, then download Britney’s full discography for when there’s no cell service. (That last part is just a personal recommendation, not the CDC’s.)

Before you leave, pack a COVID tool kit with hand sanitizer, masks, and wipes. While on your journey, try to limit interacting with others as much as possible: bring your own snacks to avoid going into convenience stores, pay at the pump rather than inside, and limit your number of stops—particularly in public bathrooms, as they can be cramped, and flushing a toilet can stir up aerosol particles. (If we weren’t germaphobes before this pandemic, I’m pretty sure we are now.) Once you’ve completed your road trip checklist, you’re ready to hit the open road like a suburban family in a minivan.

Drinks Well Alone

2020 is certainly a wild ride, and America continues to be the world’s Florida. We won’t be getting drunk in the airport lounge this summer, and Maine is the new Greek Islands, but at least the panhandle state stays consistently wild. Plus, on the bright side, you can delay buying another millennial pink bridesmaid dress for your cousin’s destination wedding for at least a year.

With things looking so depressing, it’s definitely time to salvage what’s left of summer 2020 and book a vacation or even a long-term stay to take advantage of working remotely. Being safe doesn’t mean you have to stay in your apartment alone, but it does mean you have to take precautions and limit your interactions with groups of people. And remember, drinking alcohol doesn’t act as an internal sanitizer, but multiple White Claws can help you forget the terrible Zoom dates you went on in April and make summer feel a bit more normal.  

Images: Anna Shvets / Pexels

Listen—it’s March. It’s cold. The holidays are long in the rearview mirror. Now’s about the time of year we start collectively banging our heads against our desks and sobbing into our sh*tty salads, wishing we were on a plane heading somewhere warm and tropical. 

Spring break is fast approaching, and if you’re lucky enough to get the hell out of the office and onto the beach, you’re going to have to book a flight and set foot in an airport soon enough. Every time I go to the airport it feels like I lose half my vacation budget on a pack of M&Ms and SmartWater. It’s easy to drop major coin while coming and going for your flight, and you probably want to save more of that sweet, sweet cash for drinks on the beach. If you’re looking for tips to scrimp and save on your flight and at the airport, look no further.

I just took out a second mortgage on my house in case I get hungry at the airport tomorrow.

— Tracie Breaux (@traciebreaux) July 24, 2018

1. Try Not To Check A Bag (I Know It’s Hard, But Trust Me)

You can tell a lot about a person by whether or not they check a bag at the airport for a three day weekend

— Ashley Fern (@disco_infern0) May 24, 2019

It is NOT easy to pack everything in a carry-on, especially if you’re going on a week-long trip. Believe me, I’ve been there. However, checking a bag tacks on at least another $30-$50 or more each way, depending on the airline. Plus there’s the possibility of losing your luggage, which could force a last-minute shopping spree (fun, but not ideal, and definitely not financially responsible). Avoid extra fees and stick with your carry-on.

2. Travel On Off Days And Off-Hours If You Can.

If you book an 8am Monday flight from a busy airport… I mean… godspeed to you. It is going to be a true nightmare, and it’ll cost you (literally). Mondays and Thursdays tend to be filled with business travelers and tourist families, while flying on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are statistically proven to be the cheapest days to fly. Round trip fares will be cheaper if you choose an off day for both your inbound and outbound flights, so plan accordingly. Plus, traveling on an off day makes you more likely to get a seat to yourself. Can I get an amen?!

3. Bring Your Own Snacks To The Airport.

The airport is a lawless place. 7am? Drink a beer. Tired? Sleep on the floor. Hungry? Chips now cost $17

— Alyssa Limperis (@alyssalimp) May 23, 2018

As we know, airports are like some sort of time warp where people order $25 glasses of champagne at 7:30am and walk around with bare feet like this is a completely acceptable thing to do. It’s tempting to want to join the party and drop $30-$40 on a measly sandwich and glass of wine before your trip, and that little airplane menu of weird sausage and cheese trays looks miiiighty satisfying after three hours in the air. But say it with me… Just! Say! No! Bring little containers of snacks with you and save the spending for the poolside bar. And, protip: you can bring those little mini bottles of liquor in your carry-on, provided you follow all the other TSA rules, like putting it in a plastic baggie.

4. Use A Reusable Water Bottle

An easy but effective money-saving tool: bring your own reusable water bottle to the airport. Contrary to popular belief, you CAN bring your own empty water bottle through security no matter the size. Most airports sell water for anywhere between $3 and $7 (ew), so save the environment AND your wallet by bringing your own.

5. Take Your Medicine Cabinet With You

No, I’m not saying bring the nail polish remover that’s been sitting in your bathroom since 2014, but as we all know, airports are, like, a guaranteed way to get sick and it never hurts to have some Advil, hand sanitizer, and Emergen-C when traveling. Bring some with you (make sure it follows the TSA guidelines) and avoid paying for marked-up items in the terminal.

6. Exchange Money In Advance

Going abroad? If you need cash where you’re headed (which is tbh probably a good idea in case of emergency), exchange it at a bank before you get to the airport. Most currency exchanges have an added airport fee. This pesky “airport fee” shows up a lot—currency exchanges, car rentals, gifts, and food—and it can quickly add up. Avoid the fee and save yourself the panic of not having any cash on hand and exchange currency before you leave for vacay.

7. Download Your Shows Beforehand

Some of us get so distracted by booking hotels, flights, and activities for our trip that we forget that before we get there we’ll be sitting in the middle of the sky for hours on end with no internet access to mindlessly scroll through TikTok. We end up succumbing to the boredom and paying $10 for two mid-season episodes of Modern Family in order to make time move a little faster. No? Just me? Avoid the boredom and the price tag and remember to download your shows, books, and podcasts before your flight while you still have WiFi. 

8. Find A Cheaper Ride

nothing screams vacation quite like spending $80+ to get to the airport

— @betchestravel (@betchestravel) November 14, 2019

Getting to and from the airport racks up tons of charges, and is pretty unavoidable, since you literally have to get there some way or another. However, some options are better than others. Do your research—in some cities, rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft will be cheaper than taxis, or there might be public transportation at the airport that will land you close enough to your hotel. Look into public transportation in your city to get you to the airport, or, better yet, get a really nice friend to drive you and promise to do their taxes or something to make up for it.

the most unrealistic thing about love actually is that someone will pick you up from the airport

— Chelsea Nachman (@chelseanachman) December 24, 2017

You totally deserve a vacation and I know you’ve been saving up for it, so don’t lose that hard-earned cash at the airport. Sip an extra margarita by the pool with the money you saved on airport snacks, buy a new bikini instead of checking a bag, and when you arrive at your hotel room super early in the morning because you flew at 3am, upgrade that sh*t.

Images: K Hsu  / Unsplash