We’re currently in the unlock phase, as the curve has flattened in Maharashtra. I hadn’t seen my friends since the end of February and I was desperate to see them in a safe way.

We decided to have a staycation together

I have a beautiful beach house in Raigad which had no cases of Covid-19 within a 10 km radius, so I decided to take some friends there.

We had all been very careful not to get Covid-19 and wanted to ensure we would not catch it on this trip, therefore we took the following:

5 steps to ensure our safety

When travelling with people from different households, it is important to get tested before travel for peace of mind that you’ll be safe during your trip.

After exposure, it is recommended to socially distance for one week from your household before getting tested again.

So that you can feel safer integrating with family when you return from your trip, it is recommended to do the covid-19 test one week after exposure. The test is much more accurate at this time.

Many states will not let you in without an e-pass, aadhar card, drivers license, doctors note and/or negative covid-19 test. You will need to work on these a few days in advance, as paperwork clearance can take some time.

Plan your journey properly. Do not rely on GPS as internet can disconnect during heavy rain in this monsoon season. You should know the way if you lose connection and you should have your travel documents ready in case you get stopped.

Before travelling, we tested the car, ensured the gas tank was full, checked the pressure of the tires/windscreen fluid levels and made sure we had a spare tire/jack.

If you don’t want exposure yourself to roadside assistance, it is important that you know how to change a tire. It’s a great skill to have even if you aren’t planning to travel right now!

If you are going on a long journey, you will need to take a rest stop. Try to plan safe rest stops that many people don’t go to, to minimise contact with others.

If you’re stopping, you should make sure you’re wearing a mask, and have hand sanitiser/antibacterial wipes handy as you may be exposed to others.

Your car could also be stopped by the police if you are crossing borders. These officers will be in close contact with multiple travellers when checking their validity to travel, so it’s best to have a mask on when you interact with them.

Hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes will also help after exchanging money at toll roads. The toll booth operators will be exchanging cash with many other travellers, so you want to be able to sanitise after interacting with them.

Staff is common in India. However, we didn’t take any cooks/drivers/helpers on our trip to minimise contact with others. We cooked ourselves, drove ourselves and brought pre-cooked food. The beach house had unexposed staff that lived there, who helped clean. We ensured that they tested negative for covid-19 before we arrived.

Do you have any more tips to share that can help others travel safely during covid-19 times?

If so, let me know what they are in the comments below. After all, sharing is caring!