We are all missing our travel plans. As we continue to social distance ourselves, we still have a glimmer of hope that soon we will be able to trek through the rainforest or sit by the beach. But how comfortable would we be to travel once the bans are removed? What would reassure us of the safety of our family when we venture out, especially with our lil’ ones?
The year 2020 has brought with it so many things: some good, mostly bad. But nothing has been worse than the coronavirus pandemic. Here we are, huddled up in our homes, hoping that this too shall pass. I like to think that it will and we will once again walk stress-free out in the open world. One of the things I do to pass time these days is to think of what it will be like to get back on the road again, to see new places, to travel. How different will the world be once this pandemic passes? What will it mean to us when we decide to take a trip again with all our babies?
To give you a brief background, I’m a mum to three babies: one human and two canines. The thing that we love doing the most as a family is to travel. Living in the city of Mumbai, the urban grind often gets to us and our escapism are the road trips that we take. Just the sight of the dogs running wild and free on a beach or by a hillside or in a meadow is the very reason we travel. Of course, there are multiple challenges when it comes to travelling with a baby and two dogs. And there will surely be quite a few new ones that will crop up post the pandemic. Here are some of the hurdles that I foresee we might face.
I think the number one challenge will continue to be finding a pet-friendly stay option. But this time to add to it we would need to look for a place that will be clean, hygienic and sanitised. Anybody with a small baby will know that it is almost impossible to regulate what goes into a baby’s mouth. While staying away from your home this is going to be extremely worrisome since there are so many variables. Homestays are a more convenient and reassuring option during these times considering there would be fewer staff and guests to deal with. Another option would be to opt for a hotel that follows guidelines issued by the health authorities. Perhaps, going forward, hotels could highlight the steps undertaken to ensure the safety of its patrons. This could include sanitising of all surfaces in the room as part of its regular housekeeping procedures. It would also help if they were transparent about the procedures they follow to monitor the health of their employees and the usage protocols for their swimming pools, gyms, gardens and other common areas. This would be quite important to us considering our dogs often like to explore the grounds of the places we stay at.
Whenever we have travelled one of the things that we have loved to do is sample the local cuisine. We have found some absolute, hidden gems because we have just taken a chance and stopped by that sleepy, wayside restaurant we saw driving past. This brings me to the next challenge that I foresee: the food arrangements on overnight trips. I think we might have to opt for a stay option where we could cook ourselves or get a local cook who has been vetted previously by the owner/manager. Comparatively, a hotel that has its standard operating procedures in place to dine in or order room service would be more confidence-inspiring.
The third factor that I would consider before travelling would be the location. I would avoid the commercial, touristy places and opt for lesser-known places. This would ensure that there aren’t many people around where we choose to go. Finding the right location could prove to be extremely challenging considering I would probably look at a place that is 2-3 hours drive away and not more. Any longer would mean we would have to stop somewhere for a meal. And I am unsure of how that would work out considering a) social distancing b) whether the employees are healthy would be unknown c) all the surfaces that we would touch. Of course, to find the right location will require some extra research on the internet. Alternatively, you could just opt to ask a travel consultancy like DMC Leisure that specialises in travel to places off the beaten path.
When it comes down to it, travelling in the days after Covid-19 is not going to be easy. But the flip side would be not to travel at all and what sort of a life would that be. I think with a few precautions and some pre-planning we absolutely can plan a trip once all of this blows over and some semblance of normalcy returns. We learn so much when we travel. We experience life when we travel. And that is an experience that I wouldn’t want my children to be deprived of.
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