Tips For Making Vacation Rental COVID Safe
Traveling over the last year during the Covid-19 pandemic has been a tricky business. Vacations for most people have looked very different, and the new normal is likely to continue for a while yet. But while a cruise to Puerto Rico might be off the menu for the moment, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy a vacation.
Vacation rentals have actually seen an increase in bookings in the US! Renting a cabin, lodge, or holiday apartment is a perfect way to get out of your home and explore a new setting while remaining safely distanced from others. Beaches, remote mountain escapes, and lakeside getaways all offer the breath of fresh air that many people have missed, and a vacation rental is the perfect way to travel safely during the current climate.
Of course, even with a vacation rental, there are a few precautions to take to ensure that everything is safe and secure for your family and for the community you are visiting. Here are a few important things to keep in mind to help make your vacation rental Covid safe.
Research the destination
It is always worth researching your vacation destination, but particularly so at the moment. Take a look at the CDC’s guidance on the area you are visiting, find out the risks, what the transmission rates are, and the relevant health authorities you are going to say. You might want to explore things like hospital capacity, and it is definitely worth making sure that your health and travel insurance is up-to-date and will provide coverage.
Understand the local restrictions
Clueing yourself up about the local restrictions is really important when traveling at the moment. For starters, you need to know what regulations you are required to comply with when it comes to mask-wearing, social-distancing, and quarantining. You’ll also want to know what you can and can’t do – if you end up somewhere expecting the full vacation experience only to find restaurants and attractions shut down, you might be disappointed.
It is also important to know whether vacation rentals themselves are allowed. The situation is extremely fluid, and rules change rapidly, so knowing exactly what is acceptable is important. Most vacation rentals offer flexible cancellation policies, so there shouldn’t be a problem, but it is best to be prepared.
Think about the property
If you are renting a lakeside cabin or mountain lodge, chances are your interactions with others will be pretty limited. But in less remote areas and apartment blocks or condos, it is worth thinking about shared amenities like reception areas, pools, and gyms.
For beachfront areas, you can most likely rent a villa. If you book vacation rentals in South Carolina like Seabrook Vacation Rentals SC, you can have complimentary access to their Island Club and easier access to East Coast at the Equestrian Center, Audubon-certified golf courses, and a tournament-level racquet club.
Making a risk assessment about what you are happy with and understanding all the protocols your rental is following will make for a smoother trip.
Talk to the host
The ease and simplicity of booking platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo have meant that we often don’t speak to our hosts when booking vacation rentals unless something goes wrong. But touching base with the owner beforehand is the best way to get on-the-ground info about the situation and check in about what cleaning protocols they are following. This will give you peace of mind and make for a more enjoyable stay.
Vacation Rental COVID Safe: Bring your own cleaning supplies
At the end of the day, the best way to ensure that everything is cleaned and sanitized to an acceptable standard for you is to do it yourself! You can run an eye over your vacation home to ensure that everything looks clean (no grime on worktops and sparkling bathroom fixtures are classic indications of a decent clean), but bringing your own sanitizing wipes and spray for high-touch areas will allow you to be certain that everything is perfect.
