10 Tips to Travel And Stay Safely in Hotel During COVID-19 Outbreak

As most countries have shut the borders down to prevent the spread of COVID-19, domestic travel is flourishing while international travel has taken a hit. Jumping on this immense opportunity, the Thai government is going full force in promoting the domestic travel industry to stimulate the economy. Thus, many hotels are giving discounts this year, giving domestic travelers ample opportunities to take advantage of cheap travel without too much of a crowd. Before you embark on your next trip, keep the following tips in mind to stay safe during COVID-19. The following are 10 tips on how to stay safe in a hotel:

1.Choose your destination wisely.

In order to avoid entering a full-blown pandemic zone, it's important to monitor the current COVID-19 cases and make sure they aren't experiencing an upswell. Of course, this information is easy to access through the news, government websites, as well as on social platforms, Twitter at (Covid-19 News Tracker TH) for example. This is absolutely essential to ensure that you aren't putting yourself or loved ones in a dangerous situation.

2.Look into the hotel's plan to protect guests before you book.

It should be common sense that the fewer people you come into contact with physically, the lower the chance of contracting COVID-19. That is because we can't ask other people to take responsible measures such as wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, or know where they have been. However, most hotels have published information about what they are doing to protect guests and employees.

The most important guideline to check is whether the hotel is asking guests to wear masks in public. Additionally, check to see if the hotel provides masks in the event that guests forget to bring their own. Make sure there are appropriate social distancing guidelines in place, and preferably see if there are signs to remind customers about the hotel's regulations. Another offering to confirm is whether or not the hotel offers contactless service, provides hand sanitizer, and takes appropriate measures to sanitize public areas.

Finding this a bit hard to wrap your head around? Don't worry, the easy way to check is through the SHA website to see if the hotel you are planning to stay at has received SHA certification. If so, simply relax and enjoy your trip.

Note: SHA stands for Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration. It's a certification offered by the Thai Tourism Bureau. It's an indication of whether a place follows all COVID-19 guidelines.

3.Are there any medical services provided by the hotel?

We've got to be fully prepared for the worst case scenario. If all of a sudden you don't feel well, is the hotel ready to handle your medical needs? So make sure you ask the hotel if they have doctors, or any information about hospitals nearby.

4.Wear masks and keep 1.5 m distance

Wearing masks is a regulation that every one of us has to follow. You are not allowed to take any public transportation, such as BTS or MRT without wearing a mask. Regarding social distancing, it's hard to keep a certain distance from other people indoors, especially inside of a tight space such as an elevator. However, always keep 1.5m distance when possible!

5.Request to stay in a hotel room that's been empty for days.

According to a report by the New England Journal of Medicine, the maximum time COVID-19 virus has been found on plastic or stainless steel surfaces is 72 hours. So, one way to limit the possibility of exposure to COVID-19 is by staying in a hotel room that has been empty for a few days.

6.Sanitize your hotel room

Hotels usually sanitize the room before new guests arrive. However, it's still a good idea to sanitize the room right when walk in. For example, make sure to sanitize the flat places where people frequently touch such as door knobs, light switches, TVs and air conditioner remotes, bathrooms, tables or bar tables.

7.Open the windows to get some fresh air

When you get to the hotel room, if the windows can be opened (it depends as some hotels don't allow windows to be open due to safety concerns.) We suggest you to open the windows to get some fresh air to maximize air flow.

8.Reduce housekeeping service

Even though the hotels require housekeeping personnel to wear masks, some people still are not playing by the rules. The easiest way is to decline housekeeping services to reduce the number of people in your room.

9.Choose room service instead of eating out

You can't eat with a mask on, so this is when the chance of contracting the virus is highest. Choosing room service is the best way to keep yourself healthy! If you want to be more careful, then you can request hotel personnel to keep 1.5m distance when delivering meals, or simply request them to leave the meals at the door.

10.Avoid using the hotel gym or spa

Even though the hotels are now opening public areas, it doesn't mean that you have to use them. Just like when eating, while people are using these amenities they cannot wear masks. This is dangerous and you should avoid these places.

We'd like to remind you that even though the spread of COVID-19 is gradually slowing down, you should still be careful.

If you still have questions after reading the article, you’re welcome to leave your comments below or click here, and we’ll answer all your questions within a short time.