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When will it be OK to travel again? What is the definition of travel, exactly? These are the questions I kept asking myself lately. The last few months in my household have been stressful, to say the least. This whole virtual school has been a challenge. Did I say challenge? I meant “slash my wrists”, “get me out of here” type deal. Since the first option is out of the question, I turned to the latter.
Not too long ago, many counties in Florida (where we live) have opened their beaches back to the public. I’m sure you have seen the photos of the crowds, as well as the story of a local lawyer dressed like a grim reaper to make a point
Only in Florida…
As a local who lives here, I can tell you that some beaches get more crowded than others. There is no question that spring break in Miami should have been cancelled this year. On the other hand, there are spots where social distancing is much easier to implement. Siesta Key in Sarasota is one of those places.
So, as soon as Florida governor lifted “stay at home” order for my state (except for Miami and the surrounding area), I was planning to drive to the beach for the day in order to save my sanity. But then I started thinking… What if we book a two-night stay instead?
Even though social distancing in Florida is still recommended going forward, the hotels are once again allowed to accept any customers, not just essential workers. I wouldn’t be comfortable staying in a multi-story resort, but an apartment with an outside entrance would cut back on human interaction substantially.
So, that’s what I did by booking Tropical Breeze Resort and using Expedia points (it’s a VIP property). I’ll have a separate post with a review later on, but here are a few thoughts. Overall, this place was a decent option in the era of social distancing. BTW, why don’t they call it physical distancing instead? Anyway, they even let you check in over the phone, and you use a code to enter the apartment.
That said, there were quite a few people walking the streets near the resort, as well as the beach. We did our best to keep our distance, but it was challenging at times. I also took the kids to the pool, something that in hindsight I probably should have avoided. There was only one family there, but it’s still unnecessary exposure. Try telling children that they can’t play with other kids in the pool. It’s not that simple.
We brought our own groceries, and I used Lysol wipes to clean all the surfaces in the apartment. If there was any virus present, I’m confident I got rid of it. As far as the beach crowding goes, it does depend on the day of the week, but here is a photo at 10 AM on a Sunday morning:
The beach does get a bit crowded at sunset, but it’s definitely possible to find a deserted spot. So, was it worth it? Well, ask me in about 10 days or so (the incubation period of Covid-19). I can tell you this short getaway did wonders for my mental health. Walking on the beach was just what the doctor ordered. I’m ready to face the virtual school again.
Was it really travel?
Technically, yes. But keep in mind, we were planning to go to the beach anyway. We would most likely still pass by other folks and have to use public bathrooms. In this case, we had a clean apartment within walking distance of the beach. We also enjoyed a stretch of the sand located far from the parking lot (less accessible to the public).
Obviously, nothing is safer than staying at home and not going anywhere. But let’s face it, that’s easier said than done. The kids (and me!) definitely appreciated fresh air and sunshine. And I guarantee you, access to our beautiful Florida beaches is something I will never take for granted again. Ever.
Things to consider when making any travel plans
I’ve mentioned before that my family probably won’t fly until at least April of next year . This isn’t something I personally feel comfortable with, but won’t judge those who choose to do things differently.
It goes without saying that I would never encourage anyone to break the law. Regardless of how we feel about stay-at-home orders, I strongly believe in complying with government’s regulations. Once those are lifted, it becomes a personal choice. Also, every family’s situation is different, so it’s impossible to make a blanket recommendation.
I also believe where you live as well as where you plan on going matters. In my case, Siesta Key has a rate of Covid-19 infection that is similar to my hometown. Flying from NYC to somewhere like Kauai is a whole different beast. The island would not be able to handle an outbreak, and medical system would quickly get overwhelmed. Even though 14-day quarantine for visitors seems draconian to some, I completely understand the logic.
The pandemic is obviously very real and not a hoax, despite what some TV pundits may tell their gullible audiences. One of our relatives works as a respiratory therapist, and he mentioned that so far they weren’t able to wean even one Covid-19 patient off a ventilator in his hospital. The current situation needs to be taken seriously, period.
On the other hand, it’s important to use common sense. Not too long ago, Nancy mentioned that she has booked a cabin in the woods for an upcoming getaway. They will drive there and bring their own groceries. I fail to see how this is more dangerous than staying at home. As long as you disinfect everything to the best of your ability, how is it irresponsible?
Once again, I encourage everyone to follow the laws and use common sense. There will be a lot of judgment in the travel community during upcoming months and possibly years. I respectfully encourage everyone to mind their own business. Stay safe, folks.
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Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
Leana, please ignore those who are judging your decision. Glad you got a break. We will be doing the same next month.
@Natasha Thanks for stopping by! I knew going into it that the post would get under some people’s skin. I don’t actually relish the drama, got plenty of it at home at the moment. 😉 But I didn’t want to get into this particular topic in the review of the resort. I trust that people will use good judgement before deciding whether to do a trip or stay home for the foreseeable future. My post isn’t meant to change anyone’s mind. Hope you enjoy your getaway!
Thanks for your post. I don’t think you did anything wrong. You waited until the stay at home order was over and took all the necessary precautions. If other people are afraid to get out, then they can stay home. Florida fortunately has not been as hard hit like other more densely populated areas. I live in Florida too and being out in the sun at the beach is one of the safest things you can do to get some much needed Vitamin D and much needed respite for your mind and body. I’m a nurse and I would do the same with my family.
@Diana I really appreciate your input. First of all, thank you so much for your service to the community, especially in these tough times. I have so much respect for you folks.
It’s certainly a tough balance, and I don’t claim to know the answer on what constitutes an acceptable risk. That’s why I mentioned pool interaction. Even though it was only a couple of kids, it did make me me feel uneasy. It was an oversight on my part, but we did our best to maintain physical distance at other times.
Renting a stand-alone house on the beach somewhere is certainly a better option, but Vacation rentals are banned in Florida at the moment. So, I had to compromise by booking a licensed resort with an outside entrance. I was doing my best to comply with the law, while giving my kids a chance to play at the beach.
I feel like we are in uncharted territory here. Realistically speaking, people won’t be staying at home until there is a vaccine. It’s important to minimize risks as much as possible while trying to maintain some normalcy. I’m still learning how to do so successfully.
@Beth Not sure if you signed up to receive follow-up comments. Not to start an argument or anything, but I just wanted to share this article with you https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them This is one of the best written pieces on risks of Covid-19 spread, at least IMO.
It makes it very clear that your greatest risk is indoors, in a poorly ventilated area. That is why hanging out at the beach with your family is probably one of the safest things one can do. Of course, it does depend on whether you interact with others in close proximity. Merely passing someone on the beach is unlikely to infect you, though caution is needed.
Like I said, I can see that you are passionate on this topic, and for a good reason. I think the more we can learn on how to protect ourselves and others around us, the better.
I’m sorry, but this is why some of us will be stuck inside for a long time to come.
I appreciate that you did your best to limit infection points as I see some people who definitely do not, but you still had interactions which is why it is more dangerous than staying home. Even if you only had to stop for gas, it’s still a potential point. Saying you were going to go the beach anyway makes it worse.
If you don’t want people to comment, then don’t post. I always appreciate your blog for goof family travel tips, but I am disappointed in this. Florida lifted the order while disregarding the surge in cases originating from people interacting at beaches.
I’m really frustrated because I have cancelled all travel period for the next year. I have not seen any family members for months. I spend free time sewing masks. My best friend’s mother works in an emergency room and I asked what I could do and she begged me to “just stay home.” And people are using being stir crazy as an excuse to do what they want. You have the potential to infect others now. Are you completely isolating for two weeks including no trips for groceries? I hope so.
I am sick of staying put as much as everyone but I also value the health of the people around me. Yes, it is your choice to this, but it isn’t just a risk assessment for you personally, it is the risk of people around you.
@Beth I appreciate your comment. I can feel the frustration, and certainly respect your point of view. Nowhere did I say that comments are not welcome, see my response to Dan earlier. This is a sensitive subject, and I almost didn’t write this post. But I plan to review the resort at some point, so wanted to address this topic separately. I didn’t expect that everyone would approve of my choices. Not to sound like a jerk, but I don’t live my life wondering if the readers of this blog will approve of what I’m doing. But neither do I like to stir controversy. Hopefully you can find value going forward. I record things that I think might be helpful. It goes without saying that nobody should be making life-and-death decisions based on actions of an internet blogger.
I absolutely believe this pandemic is a real threat, and do my best to minimize the exposure. The death toll in the country is terrible, no other way to describe it.
So, when we were at the beach, we stayed six feet from others at all times. I did mention that my kids did interact with two other kids at the pool, something I thought was a mistake on my part. I’m not perfect, and I made sure to mention it in the post.
In no way am I telling others what they personally should do. Of course people are safer staying at home. But realistically, how long do you think that’s going to last without government mandate? A year or longer? What’s acceptable to you may not be acceptable to others. Even experts can’t agree. As to Florida governor’s decision to lift stay-at-home order, I had nothing to do with it. You won’t see me protesting on the streets, in fact, I don’t get involved in politics.
Personally, I won’t be flying or going on a cruise for a long time. However, depending on the situation at the time, we might do some local getaways. I respect your choice to totally stay home over the next year, hope you can respect mine.
Thanks for your comment, I do appreciate it.
Go out of business already. Your harping a disease spreading lifestyle is tone deaf and irrelevant in the new world
@ Brent W Thanks for your input! I appreciate your comment.
You tried your best but its still not enough. Its impossible to prevent infection when you are out and about. Even if you were mostly responsible, were your kids? And most other people who travel?
Also you can’t tell people to mind their own business when you post about your life on a blog.
@Dan First of all, my apologies! Not sure why your comment went to spam, so
I had to manually approve it.
I completely understand what you are saying, and expected that sort of reaction. I agree, by putting this post out there, I waived my right to privacy or non-judgement. I wasn’t referring to myself necessarily, but to others who may be hesitant to talk about their travel plans in the upcoming months for fear of backlash.
You bring up a good point that it’s hard to control kids. Heck, yeah! This is why I don’t feel comfortable taking them on the plane in a near future. Here we mostly walked to the beach, and kept our distance from others. As I’ve mentioned, we would be driving to the beach regardless in order to spend the day outdoors. I strongly believe that being in the sun (in Florida humidity) is just about the safest thing we can do for recreation as a family. In fact, we are planning to go this weekend to a mostly deserted beach in Gasparilla island. Obviously, maintaining distance from others is key.
Yes, there is human factor, but I’m doing my best to reduce the risks. Unfortunately, you can’t remove the danger 100%. For example, I still have to go shopping, so I make sure to wear mask at a local Walmart. I honestly believe if I pick up the virus, it will be in Walmart.
My point is, as long as folks comply with regulations, it becomes a personal choice. Some may strongly feel that we shouldn’t go to the beach until there is a vaccine. That’s their right, but I don’t plan to wait that long.