This year, a car trip around the country during the summer holidays will certainly be more common than usual for the Portuguese. In a small country like Portugal, with so many attractions and places to visit, traveling by car is a good way to discover all the corners and details. But this is a different year, which requires more planning, preparation, and care than usual. Follow these tips to better enjoy your vacation and reduce the risk of getting sick while traveling. More than ever it is important to plan your trip Although there are no traffic restrictions in the country at this time preparing the travel route in advance is always good practice and avoids setbacks. Set the duration of your trip and choose the places where you will be each day; In your choice, avoid very crowded places, with a large tourist flow, or where active covid-19 outbreak are known to exist; If it is your intention to visit monuments, museums, parks or other places of interest with visiting hours, confirm the times and check if there are special access rules, for example prior reservation or limit of persons present; If you intend to go to the beach, do not forget that in most of the beaches in the country there is an occupancy limit and rules of circulation and physical distance; If you intend to park your car and use public transport in the places you want to visit, remember that the capacity of these transports is now smaller and count on that when planning the circuit you intend to do in the place. Where to sleep If you are going camping, check if the chosen campsites are open and make your reservation whenever possible; Confirm your hotel reservations or apartments prior to travel; Whether it is a camping site, an apartment, or a hotel, find out if there are any new rules for clients related to the covid-19 pandemic that you should know before starting your trip. In hotels, know in advance that you will find things different from the usual. For example, you will not find breakfast other meals buffet services or the access to swimming pools may be restricted. Where to eat Currently, all restaurants and cafes are open. However, there are limits on the closing hours for this type of establishment. Its capacity may also be less than usual due to the rules of physical distance and hygiene measures mandatorily implemented to protect everyone, so the number of meals served may be less. If the objectives of your trip are some restaurants in particular, try to make your reservation in advance. What to bring In addition to your usual luggage and adapted to the type of trip you are going to take, this year you must include some additional items . Masks, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, personal use cleaning wipes and garbage bags for placing those that are already used (when there is no dustbin on hand) should now be part of your luggage. Take slippers so you never have to walk barefoot. Drinking water and some snacks are always part of the luggage of all who travel by car. Stay safe Take enough disposable or reusable masks for the trip , with some tolerance for unforeseen circumstances. Even if you are going to be traveling most of the time or just with your limited group of traveling companions, you will need a mask when filling your car, buying food, visiting closed tourist sites, among others. At some point you will need to fill the fuel tank or charge your car battery. Always wear disposable gloves when filling your car . Some gas stations have paper towels and gloves available, but it is always safer that disposable gloves are part of your luggage. If you must use public toilets, adopt enhanced hygiene care and always wash your hands thoroughly after using them . When leaving, do not touch the door handles directly with your hands or disinfect them after doing so. If you spend two nights in the same hotel, consider skipping the cleaning service . This will limit the number of people entering your room. Whenever possible, make your card payments using the contactless functionality or use payment applications . Try not to make cash payments. And, do not forget, keep listening to the news during your trip and keep up to date. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
