Pick quieter times to travel
The pictures in the news of packed beaches in Bournemouth and Brighton are a stark reminder of what happens when everyone decides to flock to the coast at once. To avoid the crowds, look for less popular beaches and beauty spots, or plan your visit midweek when it tends to be quieter. Early mornings or dusk, as the sun is setting, are also great times to be socially distant while still getting your fill of the good stuff.
Remember, if you’re travelling by public transport, avoid peak times and remember to wear a face covering.
Check what’s open and when
To get the most out of your staycation, it’s worth doing your homework first to see which attractions and leisure facilities are open, and importantly, what they’re doing to make you feel safe. While many are welcoming visitors back, some have remained closed, and others have different opening hours to normal. To avoid disappointment, check official websites before turning up. Look out for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ green mark, a UK-wide industry standard designed to give us confidence that Covid-safe processes are in place.
Before you travel, it’s also a good idea to check that facilities such as toilets, car parks and cafes are open as you don’t want to get caught short.
Pre-book attractions and restaurants
Many attractions, including stately homes, museums, zoos and theme parks, are now operating with restricted visitor numbers and pre-booked time slots only. While this makes it harder to be spontaneous on your holiday, it does reduce queuing and helps limit contact you have with other people. Some places get booked up very quickly though, so why not go off the beaten track and uncover a hidden gem?
You’ll likely also need to book a table if you’re planning to eat out at a restaurant or pub. This is for contact track and trace purposes, as well as to manage customer demand.
Choose activities that work with social distancing
If you don’t fancy chancing it among the hordes of beach-goers, there are plenty of options for a more distanced getaway.
For those with a sense of adventure, why not take a road trip, cycling holiday or trek through the hills of the Great British countryside, soaking up some incredible scenery as you go?
Sports enthusiasts, meanwhile, could enjoy socially-distanced golf, tennis, swimming or surfing.
Limit the number of people you holiday with
Even if you’re only meeting up with one other household on your staycation, try not to travel around in a big group as this makes social distancing much harder, especially when visiting beaches, bars and restaurants.
Travelling with your own household also makes it more convenient for using lifts in hotels and other venues, which are being restricted to one or two people at a time or single households only.
Keep to the 1 metre-plus rule
In busy tourist spots, pubs and restaurants, it can be difficult to stay 2 metres apart from other people. Where this isn’t possible you should still maintain a distance of at least 1 metre – while taking other measures to keep yourself safe, such as wearing a face covering, sanitising your hands or staying outdoors.
If you’re worried about coming into close contact with others, keep to the original 2 metre distance rule as much as you can. Stay socially distanced from anyone outside your household while walking, cycling, sunbathing and picnicking.
Avoid using cash
Whether you’re buying a postcard or treating your family to ice-cream, avoid exchanging cash with anyone outside your bubble and use contactless payments instead. In many places, you’ll find that outlets will only accept cashless payments anyway. If you do handle notes or coins, always wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
Order hotel room service
If you’re keen to get away for a break but don’t fancy the idea of mixing with people in restaurants and bars, you can enjoy meals and drinks in the comfort of your own room with a stay at one of our Hotels That Care. We’ll leave a tray outside your door, which we’ll pick up after you’ve finished!
