A College Student’s Guide to Traveling...During COVID-19

Sister Hanna Kron dives deep into her COVID-19 travels and shares her best tips and tricks to stay safe while also having fun.

For all you college students out there, let’s face it, the past year has not gone how we had planned. Sporting events, tailgates, date parties, events, even classes were not how we had pictured they would be. Coming from a senior with only a semester left before graduation and getting a “big girl job,” it was quite the bummer. No matter what year or age you are, we were all affected in some way. HOWEVER… I am here to tell you about how many of my friends and I made the most of the semester and how you can turn yours around!

             Before I get into any tips and tricks for traveling with your besties, I want to preface a few things. First, I had chosen a tight-knit circle of friends, most of whom were girls that I live with, to travel with. With social distancing to keep in mind, it was extremely important to my friends and me to keep our “pod” of people close and tight. Second, I want to say that I was very fortunate to have had these opportunities to travel. Having a part-time job allows for me to be able to save up and afford these trips. Third, all quarantine regulations were met in the process of these trips- including receiving negative COVID-19 tests before and after arrival between states, quarantining, wearing masks, and social distancing.

Now, let’s get to it! 

Let’s start with my TOP TIPS (for general travel during COVID-19):

Do your research. 

In a non-COVID world, it is easier to wander the nearest city streets, approach and chat with locals, or go through a travel agent; however, these tactics are more complicated today. It was so important to my friends and me that we had planned out exactly where we wanted to eat and what we wanted to see ahead of time. To avoid unnecessary contact with others, we made sure to make reservations ahead of time at all of our must-go locations.

Look into outdoor activities.

Many of the places that my friends and I traveled to, fortunately, had warm weather conditions, which made it very easy to social distance and find activities outdoors. There are so many fun and creative activities to do, such as hiking, kayaking, swimming, walking, photography, biking, or site-seeing that have limited to no exposure to people outside of your bubble.

Find a solid group of people to travel with.

When traveling, it is very important to travel with others that have like-minded interests as you. Especially during COVID-19, it is crucial to make sure that you are on the same page as the others you are traveling with to ensure no one is being put in an uncomfortable situation. It also helps narrow down the type of activities you do and places you all want to see. I was very fortunate to have my pod of girls in Kappa Delta be on the same page as me and ensure that we are all keeping safety precautions while still exploring new places!

***The following cities are places that I traveled to from September to early November. At the time, we were able and allowed to travel to all of these locations, as long as all safety precautions were met and followed, which they were.***

Aspen, CO

Overall thoughts: 

Aspen was one of the most beautiful places I have ever traveled to. This was my first time in Colorado, and we could not have picked a better place and time. We went in mid-September, which meant the trees were just turning a vibrant shade of yellow and orange, and the weather was perfect! If you are looking for a great hiking area, this is your place. Not only was the hiking and outdoor activities excellent, but the food, shopping, and people were immaculate.

Tips: Aspen is VERY expensive. If you are a college student like we are, we are very conscious of money. If you are balling on a budget like us, I would recommend definitely getting groceries to store at your place, so you do not have to eat out for every meal. Also, for those of you that are 21+, like we are, we purchased alcohol at the nearest liquor store. All drinks are priced at  $10 and higher, which gets expensive, really fast. Also, I would invest in as many outdoor activities as possible. The area is so beautiful and worth it to spend as much time outside!! September is a great month to travel there because it is less crowded, mild weather, and the trees are beginning to change colors! Also, most lodging places near downtown have shuttle services that bring you right downtown, which helps save money on Ubers or renting a car.

Charleston, SC

Tips: I was fortunate enough to save money on lodging and crash with my best friend; however, I highly recommended staying in downtown Charleston if you plan on going into town frequently. Uber can get expensive, very fast. Although, Mount Pleasant is a quaint area about 15-20 minutes from downtown that is more private. North Charleston also has many lodging options, as well as locations closer to the beach. If you are trying to save money, grocery shopping ahead of time is a beautiful idea here too!

Another tip, The Battery has free parking 24/7 which is very helpful if you are not staying downtown or do not want to pay for a parking garage or meter spot.

Asheville, NC

Tips: Asheville is AWESOME! I was so so impressed with this city and would totally go back with more friends. One thing about Asheville is that many of the restaurants are reservation heavy. DO your research before and book reservations for restaurants in advance. I went on a weekend which might have been why it was so crowded, however either way I would definitely recommend reserving ahead of time. I think we made reservations at least a month in advance at some places, although not all places will require that. In addition, many of the breweries get very crowded so I recommend getting in line as soon as some of the main breweries open! :) 

Charlotte, NC

Overall thoughts:

Charlotte has always been a city that I’ve just driven through or stop in at the airport, however, never got to experience a getaway there. With a quick drive only 2 and a half hours from Blacksburg, it was a must- travel to spot.. I would highly recommend this city for a night out. Charlotte is extremely young, clean, hip, and up-and-coming!

Lodging/Travel:

I traveled with a group of Kappa Delta girls, celebrating our friend Christina’s 22nd birthday. We stayed at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Charlotte Uptown and it was so reasonably priced and easy to get around.

Tips: Charlotte is an awesome city! The wait for restaurants were reasonable and everything was relatively close which makes transportation super easy! My friends and I honestly went in with no plans and ended up just wandering around the city. We had a BLAST! Planning ahead is definitely not required, you can just go and have spotaneous fun!

Roanoke, VA