Q: Our family has decided to plan a vacation for next month. Considering COVID-19 restrictions, what advice may BBB provide?
A: The coronavirus has disrupted life, from a simple trip to the grocery store to planning the family vacation this summer. The Centers for Disease Control is recommending families stay within the U.S. for their travels or even just stay close to home.
If your family is still making plans for a vacation, consider these CDC recommendations:
* Never travel if you're sick or have been exposed to COVID-19; the same goes for anyone within your group.
* Always take a face mask with for public places.
* Pack your own food, water, plenty of medicine and hand sanitizer, in case the restaurant, gas station or convenience store can't serve you due to occupancy limits, or there aren't supplies available to you.
* Beaches and parks are fun outdoor places to go; keep a safe six foot distance from other people
* When going to a pool, take off the mask only when going into the water
* If renting a car, RV, or camper, carefully wipe down all surfaces, and continue to wash hands and avoid touching your face.
Before leaving on the trip:
* Check with state regulations for quarantine requirements. Some states are still requiring visitors to isolate for 14 days when visiting the state or coming back from going out of town.
* If planning to travel by air, carefully review cancellation policies, consider travel insurance, and make sure to clearly understand the restrictions; when booking the tickets, as the departure date gets closer, check to see how full the flight is getting to determine if you're comfortable being less than six feet from someone.
* Sign up for updates for any changes in policies at the location where you intend to travel. Many states are slowly re-opening for business but that may change between the time the trip is booked and the time of departure.
* Leave an emergency contact number for a close family member or friend
* Avoid online scams when booking a trip. Be alert for travel scams. Watch out for phone calls or letters claiming that you've "won a trip" or websites offering prices that are too good to be true. It's easy to extend questionable offers like these, but the vast majority of them leave hopeful travelers in limbo – and out money. Learn more about travel scams here.
Be prepared for delays that may occur when you are planning to travel because of the coronavirus.
* Wait to post on social media. We all like to share our vacation adventures with friends and family, but wait until you get back from your trip. Giving too much detail about when you will be away, and your home will be empty, could attract thieves.
* Check your home insurance. If your home will be unattended while you are away, make sure you know your responsibilities under your home insurance policy. Some policies do not cover damage if nobody checks on your home for a certain amount of time.
* Share a copy of your itinerary with a family member or friend. Include the contact information of someone joining you on your trip.
* Take a map. People rely heavily on smartphones and GPS. Have a hard copy backup in case of technical difficulties or if you are going through an area with poor cellphone reception.
* Check the weather conditions where you will be traveling and pack appropriate supplies and clothing.
* Avoid traveling alone. Use the buddy system and stick with your friends.
* Use a hotel safe to store extra cash and keep any valuables under lock and key.
Learn more about how to plan appropriately on BBB.org/coronavirus. Report suspicious websites or deals that seem to be too good to be true on BBB.org/scamtracker.
Jim Winsett is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga