How to Vacation (or Staycation) Safely During the Pandemic

CAUTION: ONLY TRAVEL WITH THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN AND IF PANDEMIC NUMBERS ARE LOW IN YOUR AREA & THE LOCATION IN WHICH YOU ARE TRAVELING. PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE IS EVERYONE’S RIGHT & RESPONSIBILITY

Being chronically ill and immunocompromised is hard enough, add a pandemic into the mix, and it feels impossible to get out and do the things you love. Particularly for those of us who have spent so much time in hospital beds or at home recovering from disease flare-ups and/or surgeries, that when we feel well, we want to seize the day.

Seizing that moment though has been next to impossible during the COVID-19 era. This pandemic makes us pine for the day when we could just pick up, hop into the subway or enter a restaurant and hang out with a bunch of friends. And it’s particularly worse in the summer when you just want to get out of your routine and prefer to dig your fingers through a sandy beach.

STAYCATION, HERE WE COME

While it’s not so easy just to do things on a whim anymore, with careful planning involved, my husband Anand and I were able to vacation (and staycation) safely this summer. The first was a staycation which helped me build my confidence to actually vacation a few weeks later. We both started off by getting COVID tests to make sure we weren’t carriers and then we proceeded to step out of our home.

I first got the blessing of my gastroenterologist who primarily manages my immunomodulating medications. He asked me to take the COVID test first and then travel. So Anand and I followed those instructions and were on our merry way.

We rented a car (since we live in NYC and don’t own one). We wiped down the steering wheel and dashboard with cleaning supplies we brought with us and we were on our way. We also carried snacks, lots of water for hydration along with extra paper towels and hand sanitizer with us just in case we needed to wipe down anything else during our journey.

The first day we visited family on the Jersey Shore with masks on and in an outdoor playground only. We proceeded to buy tickets to a beach that was relatively empty. We were able to wear our masks on the beach and socially distance ourselves by 30 feet or more from others. We also went swimming at a distance too. The next day we visited another couple in their huge backyard and sat a good 15-20 feet apart and were able to catch up with them while enjoying a meal together. And the last day we went on a socially distanced hike with another couple we hadn’t seen in a long time. This time we picnicked with them at a distance and enjoyed lunch together.

At each of these locations, anytime we got hungry and needed to buy food to eat, we made sure it was hot food, washed our hands and wiped down the containers with the paper towels and hand sanitizer we brought with us. Anytime I needed to use the bathroom, I usually found one with a little effort and emptied my ostomy without sitting on the toilet and exposing myself further to any virus or bacteria.

Each night, we drove the car back into the city and slept in our own apartment, feeling comfortable that we hadn’t stayed elsewhere and knowing full well our apartment is clean and COVID-free. At the end of the staycation, I remember Anand and me saying how refreshed we felt having done the things we enjoy responsibly and having spent time with the friends and family we so love.

TIME FOR A VACATION

Having built up the confidence with the staycation 4 weeks earlier, we started planning our mini getaway. I wasn’t comfortable staying in a hotel or AirBnb, so I asked a fellow friend with chronic illnesses who is also immunocompromised if we could rent her parents’ home in South Jersey. I knew she and her family were being extra careful and not renting their home out on AirBNB and other sites this summer so I felt comfortable staying in their beach home.

I brought some cleaning supplies and did wipe down countertops and the like just to be on the safe side but I generally felt very safe in that home. I also washed kitchen and bath towels in the laundry before using them and washed all our clothes, towels and sheets before leaving so as to leave the home clean and not to bring back any virus with us. I felt fairly comfortable outdoors and on the beach as the majority of people were wearing masks and socially distancing.

The rental car process was similar as was eating out. There were a couple times when we felt comfortable with outdoor dining so long as it was appropriately socially distanced. Other times, we felt more comfortable just grabbing takeout and eating at the home or on the beach. Regardless, we mostly only used forks and knives that were wrapped in plastic or the silverware in the home along with our own bottled water.

MY TOP TIPS FOR TRAVEL

In summary, my top tips for vacationing (or staycationing) during the pandemic would include:

Get a COVID test beforehand
Carry large and travel-size bottles of hand sanitizer & a full paper towel roll (Carry your own toilet paper, if you’d like)
Carry disinfectant wipes and wipe down the inside of the car and/or any surfaces at the place you’re staying
Wear a mask, carry extra masks and wash reusable masks daily (Carry gloves too, if that makes you more comfortable)
Take lots of snacks and water bottles in a cooler along with hydration solutions of your choice to prevent dehydration
Carry all your medications and ostomy supplies (and extras just in case)
Only buy hot food and wipe containers down, use utensils that are pre-wrapped or bring your own
Carry and wear sunblock and bug spray to protect your body from other extraneous issues.

And voila, there you have it. A staycation or vacation can be done with yes, some effort, but nonetheless, it’s important for us to cope with the situation we are facing and find ways to still enjoy ourselves safely and responsibly.

So, own your Crohn’s, own your chronic illness, and empower yourself to learn ways to work with the new normal in the midst of this pandemic.

Be well, my warriors, and don’t forget to wear your mask, practice physical distancing and be a good role model for public health and welfare during this pandemic!

LOVE, LIGHT & PEACE ALWAYS

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