Well…we’re barely allowed to leave the country the pandemic has presented a blessing in disguise of being able to work remote, no questions asked. From my experiences researching, flying, and driving around Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado, here’s what I learned about
It’s safe to assume that anyone who had plans this summer probably had to reexamine and go through the hair-pulling chore of cancelling plans and trying to get their money back from hotels and airlines. The American passport — under normal conditions — is considered something of a golden ticket thanks to the number of countries we can enter without a visa. This summer has been a travelers nightmare. As I write this in mid-August, a few dozen countries — mainly in the Caribbean — opened their borders for Americans who can produce a negative COVID-19 test from within 72 hours of travel or are willing to quarantine for 14 days. Otherwise, we’re more or less limited to traveling among Mexico, Turkey, Serbia, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Options, am I right?
Even traveling domestically is a challenge these days with no uniform regulations among states. Some regions such as New York and New England have formed unofficial partnerships but all this means is that the states have agreed to share data. Most states have mask orders or risk paying a fine but that’s only enforceable to a certain extent. And I’m sure we’ve all seen the viral videos of people getting kicked out of stores and airplanes for refusing to wear a mask and do so properly; I shouldn’t have to tell you it’s ineffective if the mask doesn’t cover your nose as well…
I’m fortunate enough that a friends’ parents have a house in Park City that they offered for us to stay at as it was otherwise unoccupied and I’m working in an entirely remote capacity these days. Taking advantage of a new home base for a few weeks, I was able to combine this trip with a camping trip I had planned in Colorado. Plenty of people have asked what it was like to fly, stay in hotels, and travel this summer so here it is.
How Safe is Flying?
The verdict is still out on this one and I’m not a scientist so I’ll believe what I read. This Wall Street Journal article is a much more trusted source than I am so I’ll direct you there. The gist is airplanes use hospital-grade HEPA air filters; the air flows vertically from the ceiling vents to the floor; the cabin’s air volume is cycled through in a few as three minutes. Research is showing this is effective when combined with wearing masks. The article states the riskiest period of time is when the plane is on the ground and onboard power may not be running the air filtration systems. There are no FAA guidelines but Boeing has issued a guidance — and most airlines say it is standard practice — to run the ventilation system while grounded.
One I was in the airlines domain, I never felt like my health or safety was being put at risk. All airlines have a mandatory mask requirement from when you’re at the gate until you disembark. Between June and August, I’ve flown Jet Blue three times and Delta twice; both airlines have taken identical procedures. After boarding first class and families, passengers boarded by row, filling from the back of the plane first. Jet Blue and Delta are keeping middle seats unoccupied for the time being but this looks to be a purely American solution for peace of mind. While embarking, you are handed a pre-packaged sanitary wipe by a flight attendant wearing a mask and plastic gloves. Instead of a snack service, the flight attendants offered each passenger a pre-sealed quart-sized plastic bag filled with a sanitary wipe, a small bottle of water and one or two small snacks.
What about restaurants?
The double-edged sword that has emerged this year is that the hospitality sector is hurting. Local businesses are doing all they can to scrape by so they are doing everything they can to maintain a clean and sanitary environment. They want customers to feel safe and willing to return.
Regardless of being in tourist-focused cities like Jackson Hole and Bryce Canyon or small towns like Escalante, Utah and Gunnison, Colorado — more on this in an upcoming post but I definitely recommend this outdoor enthusiast’s haven — restaurants have taken the same precautions I’ve come to expect here in Boston. When sitting down was an option, tables were always spaced out and all of the staff were wearing masks. Some have now taken to using QR codes on the table to pull up the menu on your phone instead of handing out physical menus. If we weren’t sitting down, most everywhere we went had markers on the ground to reminder customers about the six foot recommendation. A few smaller stores and cafes only let customers order at the door and wait outside for their order.
Are hotels safe?
Does anyone really have an answer to this one? As always, it depends on the hotel. Every hotel website I looked at specifically called out their precautions from trying to limit guest interaction in the hallways and reduced turndown service to changes to the continental breakfast. My two hotel experiences led me to an independent hotel in Jackson Hole and a Best Western Plus in Bryce Canyon. Just as with flying, both hotels took nearly identical COVID-safe measures. The only sighting of the fabled Karen came when checking into our hotel in Jackson Hole and she was complaining that her room was not being cleaned to her specifications and she paying full price! The hotel had a handout for new guests and signs throughout the lobby stating their new measures including mandatory masks and rooms would be cleaned once per week or between guests. Seems perfectly reasonable to me.
I was traveling for the outdoors so the only time I spent in either hotel was to sleep and grab a quick breakfast in the morning. When it came time for breakfast, both hotels offered quick to-go buffets. There were minimal opportunities for guests to touch more than their to-go container and we were quickly ushered down the line as to keep a safe distance from other guests and to keep the line moving quickly.
Overall Thoughts
The problem with loud people is they get the most attention. Outside of the one Karen encounter, I didn’t see or hear anyone protesting wearing a mask or any other safety measures. Masks were required to go inside regardless of which state I was in. Going grocery shopping? Wear a mask. Dining in a restaurant? Wear a mask except for when seated at your table. Buying coffee or talking to a park ranger? Wear a mask. Pretty much any time we went indoors, there were sanitizer dispensers next to the entrance.
When outdoors, people proved to be slightly more problematic. Despite there being public mask orders, the number of people wearing masks when social distancing wasn’t possible was too high for my tastes. The only time this proved problematic was when we hiked some of the more popular, accessible trails. From my experience, the more hiking-oriented people were more respectful of social distancing and wearing masks when passing other people on trails. Especially when the trails were narrow and it wasn’t possible to give appropriate space. More popular spots like Bryce Canyon and the Inspiration Point hike in Grant Teton National Park were the only times on the entire trip I felt I couldn’t keep a proper distance from people who weren’t wearing masks.
Where Do We Go From Here 