Top tips for keeping you healthy when staying in a hotel when COVID is still around

When traveling, there’s always one obstacle that you must deal with: COVID19!

Even when you have traveled to your destination, COVID19 and its pesky symptoms can still be an issue when you get to your hotel room at night. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent and even treat the most common symptoms of COVID19 while staying in a hotel while on business travel or vacation.

Check out these top tips for staying healthy while staying in a hotel room when COVID19 strikes!

Select the destination according to the COVID restrictions

First of all, check the COVID travel restrictions on the destination you are traveling to. Regulations change frequently, for example for travelers to the United States and also for the United Kingdom.

Find out what these restrictions are and then plan your travels accordingly. Hotels that have been COVID-certified should post information on their website, but if they don’t, ask them to confirm it before making any reservations.

(Note: Some hotels will help with vaccinations upon request or offer packages with vaccines) and check to see if it’s required before purchasing travel insurance.

When you choose where to go, keep your family’s health first. No matter how far away from home it may be, do what it takes to ensure that no one falls ill on vacation!

Check the hotel's cleanliness policy

Due to the Coronavirus, many hotels have changed the cleanliness policy of the place, make sure what has changed and what is the new policy of the hotel.

And in general hotel rooms can be breeding grounds for nasty and even dangerous things, such as mold, mildew, and E. coli. When choosing your accommodations, look up their ratings on travel websites to make sure they’re clean enough to sleep comfortably.

You should also ask what kind of cleaning agents they use. If it’s bleach instead of ammonia or some other toxic ingredient—excellent! That means no harmful vapors will be coming off your bathroom surfaces and poisoning you while you sleep.

Make contactless check-in and Check-out

If you can make your check-in and check-out as quick and painless as possible, so much of your time won’t be taken up with waiting.

Most hotels have made their systems more efficient, so there’s no need to queue at reception. Make sure to check what kind of technology they offer (online/mobile app/at reception) before arrival and try to book into one that suits your needs.

Check the hotel's policy in case one of the guests does not feel well

Usually, hotels ask their customers to give them notice if they are planning to be away from their rooms. This information could prove essential in case someone has an emergency that necessitates his or her absence from his or her room.

Be sure to notify staff about any special circumstances and needs that your group might have before you arrive at your destination.

You can even contact hotels directly by emailing them so that they can ensure accommodations are set before check-in time. Also, check if there is a hospital or clinic near the hotel or a COVID testing lab.

Be sure to wear a mask and maintain social distance

While it’s rare that you’ll ever come into contact with someone carrying a contagious virus, it can happen. That’s why it’s essential to take precautions to protect yourself. If you have allergies, be sure to pack an allergy medicated inhaler like Albuterol or Accuhaler with you if your allergies are severe.

Ventilate your room on arrival

When checking into your room, take note of how warm or humid it feels. Rooms with poor ventilation can trap heat and humidity, making them feel up to 20 degrees warmer than they are.

While changing rooms may not be an option, ask to have the air conditioner turned on (or switched from heat to cool) and keep your windows open slightly while you sleep. This will help ensure that your room stays cool while you rest.

If possible try to request a room that has not been used in the last few days

No one likes knowing that someone else has slept in your bed with their sweat, germs, and possibly bodily fluids.

This is especially true if it’s not just one person but multiple people. The best way to avoid these problems would be to ask them if they have any clean rooms available, otherwise, we recommend checking with housekeeping once you are settled into your room and using fresh sheets.

Clean surfaces before use

Bedsheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers are great places to find dust mites. A study from The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that these tiny arachnids can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms. Be sure to wipe down every surface with anti-bacterial wipes before making your bed.

You should also make sure room service trays aren’t left out overnight. Bed bugs may have crawled on them during delivery and then proceeded to go into hiding when room service knocked on your door.

If possible, avoid housekeeping

If you can’t avoid housekeeping services, consider asking if your room can be skipped. Sometimes, hotels will offer special do not disturb passes that let guests skip having their rooms cleaned on certain days of their stay. It never hurts to ask!

If skipping housekeeping isn't an option, bring your cleaning supplies to limit what they touch and give them less opportunity to enter your space unannounced.

If possible, avoid shared facilities available at the hotel

Try to book your stay at a hotel that has private bathrooms and shower facilities. To prevent potentially harmful diseases and infections, avoid public facilities shared by other guests. Choose accommodation that guarantees individual privacy. Most importantly, make sure it’s clean!

You don’t want to catch some kind of weird disease just because your hygiene was not on point while traveling or attending any conference. That would be horrible!

For more information check the World Health Organization recommendations