One of the ways travelers are getting back out into the world, as well as seeing family and friends, is embracing a new breed of group travel. Travel pods (also called vacation pods) is when a group (either multiple households, multigenerational families or even solo travelers) follow the same health protocols before and during the vacation to reduce the risk of spreading sickness amongst participants.
The protocols can range from everyone getting a COVID test before meeting, wearing masks, or socially distancing from the outside world as much as possible when together. Whatever the group decides requires a high level of trust amongst participants, but done right, pod vacations can be the safest way to finally get out of town.
The range of possibilities for a pod vacation is also greater than most people think. Groups can rent out a villa, charter a boat, camp at a national park, or even buy out a small hotel. The sheer variety is probably why a whopping 79 percent of participants in a survey held by Virtuoso this summer said they would be willing to participate in a travel pod.
So what should you know about pod travel before you go? First, consider your own health. If you have underlying health conditions, traveling at all might not be worth the risk. Second, consider the destination. You’ll want to avoid areas with high infection rates and choose locations were it’s easier to social distance. Third, make sure you trust who’s in the pod and agree to follow the protocols set up before the trip.
