Holiday travel guide: How to celebrate safely

The holidays are a time of tradition: family reunions, sale shopping, napping in front of the TV... some things are inevitable.

But in a year that’s been anything but predictable (especially when it comes to making travel plans, are we right?) holiday Celebrations will look a little different. It may be time to swap time-honored traditions for safer ways to reconnect with friends and loved ones.

For many of us, the Holiday season will be the first time considering interstate travel since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Here are our best tips for making the right decision on whether or not to travel at all, and how to do so safely.

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The first question you should ask yourself is, how much do I really need to travel this year?

The CDC (Centre for Disease Control) has now advised Americans not to travel over Thanksgiving, saying "the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with" in their Holiday Celebration guidelines. The CDC previously recommended that “you should assess current COVID-19 levels in your community to determine whether to postpone, cancel, or limit the number of attendees”, but with rising new virus cases across the country, the advice has since been tightened.

The bottom line is that you’ll have to make a call based on your own assessment of the situation, the health conditions of those you’ll be celebrating with, and those you may be putting at risk when you travel.

Of course, staying at home and choosing to celebrate remotely or at a later date is the safest option.

Many people will be spending the holidays away from family and friends this year, so you’re not alone if you choose this too. If you do plan to skip family visits all together, be sure to check out our website to get some inspo for alternative, socially distanced things to do near you.

If you’ve decided to travel, there are some steps you can take to make the journey as safe as possible.

Firstly, if you can, drive. This will limit your exposure to other travelers much more than getting a plane or public transportation. You're in complete control of the environment within your car, and you can avoid risk by bringing your own food and snacks (rather than eating somewhere the road). Be sure to pack hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes for extra cleanliness.

If flying is your only option, you’ll be pleased to hear that the cabin might not be as unsafe as you'd expect it to be. The air filtration system on aircrafts helps immensely to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on board the plane, bringing fresh air into the cabin every few minutes.

While you're in the airport remember to maintain distance from other passengers at the gate, try to eat something before you get there to avoid congregating in in-terminal restaurants and of course, wear a mask at all times.

Read: How to fly safely during Covid-19.

#KlookTip: Book an airport transfer

Another step you can take to stay safe during air travel is to book an airport transfer.

Klook airport transfers have enhanced safety measures to keep passengers safe during Covid-19, including sanitization after every trip and mandatory face masks for drivers. Best of all? You won’t have to walk 15 minutes from the terminal to the carpark - your driver will be right there waiting when you arrive.

For a limited time, get 50% off your airport transfer booking with Klook. Simply enter the promo code HOLIDAY50 at checkout. Get a quote here.

There are several steps you can take to reduce the risks of contracting Covid-19 when you get to your destination, or if you're staying put and hosting celebrations at home.

Firstly, an additional safety measure (for any trip during the Coronavirus pandemic) is for you or your guests to consider getting tested. Covid-19 testing in the US does vary in price, availability, and speed of results, so we recommend doing your research for the best test available near you. Some US airlines including United and American Airlines have started offering tests themselves, so it’s worth checking if this is an option from your flight provider. 

A negative test doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, but can alleviate some apprehension, especially if you’re coming from a high risk area. 

Read: Hawaii Reopening Guide - What Travelers Need to Know.

Another safety recommendation some experts recommend is staying at a hotel rather than with family, unless everyone in the group is very low risk and has plenty of space to spread out.  To help you with this, you can get 5% off hotel stays with Booking.com, Agoda and more when you book through Klook. 

Other tips for holiday gatherings include: Maintaining 6 feet distance, try to eat outdoors where possible, limit food sharing, regularly disinfecting your home and washing hands regularly.

Finally, border restrictions and state-level quarantines may impact your travel so we recommend continuing to check up on your travel plans all the way up to your departure date. And of course, cancel your trip and make sure you isolate if you have any Covid-19 symptoms. 

Whether you celebrate at home or away, wishing you a very happy holiday season from Klook.

Like this? Check out more things to do in the USA over on our blog.