Ah, our first major Canadian road trip during the pandemic. Road trips are in our blood and after being cooped up since March, it was glorious to get out. The Rocky Mountains have been beckoning me through the window of our home—majestic rock sentinels looming in the distance provoking a sense of adventure yet a sense of peace. Approaching the mountains by car removes the anxiety of city life. The massive rock cliffs stretch to the sky. Evergreen trees crawl up the sides until the harsh rock cliffs turn to snow-capped peaks. How small you are in the world becomes a gripping reality.

But what would this road trip bring? Are people going to welcome us? Are they going to be afraid? Will we enjoy our adventure or will be praying to get back home because the “new normal” is too abnormal? Perhaps you have the same concerns which inspired the writing of this article about what we learned while taking a Canadian road trip during the pandemic.

*Note: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning that if you book through my link, I will make a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

1. Picnic Lunches are Popular and Safe

One of our favourite aspects of any road trip is stopping at outdoor sites along the way for picnic lunches. Breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery. Spontaneity is at the heart of road trips. The fun lies not in planning where to stop but in discovering a new sight around the next curve.

Road-side stops are generally not busy and the solitude is welcome. On this Canadian road trip, we found the roadside stops busier than usual. More people are taking advantage of getting outdoors. The different comfort levels of everyone is apparent. Some people just sit down wherever and start eating. Others spray the entire table down with disinfectant, cover the table with cloths and placemats before digging in.

Small-town Travel Tip: Pack a tablecloth along with your cooler to add extra protection for your dining out experience. I wish I would have thought of this earlier.

2. People Want to Travel by RV and Camp

There were a lot of RVs and campers on the highway. Many campgrounds appeared full. People were behaving and maintaining distance at places we stopped. Some campgrounds and picnic areas were closed, however.

3. Car Rentals are Safe and Clean

Our car is in need of repairs (what’s new) so we opted to take a rental car for this trip. The entire process went well from booking to picking up our car to exchanging it for a new one in Vancouver for the drive back. Why did we do that? The battery died on our first car so it was not a good idea to keep it for the long drive home. The car we exchanged for was a hybrid and we liked it better than the original car we had. Plus, it was better on gas. Bonus.

Our experience gave us the opportunity to try out two different rental cars in a short period of time. Both cars were clean and we felt safe driving in them.

Rental car companies have clean care programs in place where all touch points are disinfected ensuring the interior of the car is safe for passengers. I would recommend renting a car if you plan on taking a Canadian road trip.

The rigorous cleaning and disinfecting guidelines in place include washing, vacuuming, wiping down, and sanitizing vehicles after each rental with a disinfectant that meets the requirements of leading health authorities. Specific areas cleaned include the key fob, steering wheel and column, seat belts, console, spaces between consoles, interior and exterior doors and handles, seat pockets, cupholders and compartments, instrument panel, visors, mirrors, dashboard, vents, gear shift, trunk release, and other high-touch areas. The thorough cleaning is for the protection of everyone. Source: Is a Rental Car Safe? Also, my son works for Enterprise so I have full confidence in their principles for customer care.

4. Taking the Ferry was a Breeze

I have not been on public transportation of any kind since the COVID shut down began. Not because of fear, but because there has not been a need. We took the ferry from Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver to Bowen Island. It is a short, 20-minute ferry ride each way.

The trip could not have been easier.

All BC Ferries require masks onboard. So, my husband, my son, and I donned our PPE and got in line to buy tickets. Everything went smoothly with the ticket purchase. Boarding can be a little confusing with 2 metre restrictions in place as it was hard to tell where the line-ups were to get on our ferry. No questions were asked of us before boarding.

Many seats on the ferry were cordoned off with yellow caution tape. This was kind of annoying because there were three of us in our party; however, there was nowhere for three people to sit together. Our son ended up standing most of the ride, which was no big deal. He had a better view out the ferry window by standing up.

The ferry was not full. There were many empty seats for walk-on guests. However, the drive on section was 100% full. The majority of drive on passengers sat in their cars for the duration of the voyage.

Those of us who walked on enjoyed our pleasant expedition. People were talking and the mood was light and happy. Food and drinks were available for purchase onboard via vending machines. And of course, hand sanitizer was at each level upon entrance.

Bathrooms were the challenging part. There were only two available for use with the others taped shut. This, I do not understand. The bathrooms all have physical barriers around them, always have, so why can only two people use the facility at a time? Perhaps to avoid a lineup to use the latrine? Certainly less stalls mean more lines. Confusing.

Our return trip was much the same. Most importantly, the ticket to Bowen Island is good for both ways so you do not have to purchase a return ticket. You line up at whatever departure time you want and head back to the mainland. Our ferry back had about the same capacity as the arrival. People physically distanced while lining up but once boarding began, everyone walked as they normally would have. There was a sign indicating people would be asking questions about COVID. This did not happen. You simply got on the ferry and took a seat. No one was there to regulate entry.

5. Expect to Give your Name and Phone Number at Every Public Place You Visit on a Canadian Road Trip

Our first lunch stop was at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. We knew they had clean bathroom facilities and picnic areas. Staff wearing masks welcome visitors at the door. We were asked to provide a name and phone number for tracking purposes in case someone with COVID visited the facility. There were two cups with pens at the registration table. One blue plastic cup held unused pens. The second blue plastic cup held pens with a sign on the table marked “Dirty”. Take a clean one, dispose of the used one. Simple enough.

Providing a name and phone number is the norm at every public facility such as restaurants and other visitor information areas.

6. Hotel Protocol Has Not Changed Much in Canada

From webinars I have watched on what hotels and resorts are doing in sun destinations, I was surprised Canadian hotels do not seem to be adhering to the same or higher standards. Not much has changed from the pre-COVID era in the hotels we stayed at. We stayed at three different hotels on this trip with all of them ranging in the 2.5 to 3 star level.

Here is what we discovered:

• Some hotels required masks in the common areas, some did not.
• The colourful physical distancing circles that have become prevalent in society were in all the lobbies.
• Hand sanitizer is available at all front desks.
• Clear, plexiglass barriers are standard at all front desks.
• Some workers were wearing masks behind the shields, some were not. All other workers on the hotel grounds had masks.
• Some workers had on disposable gloves, but most did not.
• There is a cup to discard used pens at all front desks.
• Some hotels have cancelled their complimentary breakfasts, others have not. However, breakfasts that are included are grab-and-go. Sitting in the common areas to eat is not allowed. We were provided with paper bags to gather our food. The breakfast was ample with fruit wrapped in plastic, packaged banana bread and muffins, cereals, granola bars, cookies, yogurt, juice and milk in containers, and coffee in paper cups. Even chicken and cheese sandwiches were provided, all individually wrapped in plastic.
• Some hotel rooms had individually wrapped plastic cups, others still had real glasses.
• Coffee makers were in all rooms. Some with individual paper use options, others with small, glass decanters.
• Hand sanitizing wipes or hard surface sanitizing wipes are available in the rooms.
• There was no change in toiletries from pre-pandemic times.
• There were no pens or paper in any rooms we stayed at.
• The fitness room in our hotel in Burnaby was closed but the laundry room was open.
• Overall cleanliness appears to be no different than pre-pandemic times. This could be concerning to some individuals.

I would like to see hotels in Canada require all high-touch items such as toiletries and the remote control be wrapped in plastic bags showing they have been sanitized before your arrival. Even before COVID this would have been welcome. Also, a seal over the entrance door indicating the room has been sanitized and no one has entered since the cleaning would help put travellers at ease. More visual cleanliness instills confidence for the traveller.

Keep this in mind while staying at a hotel:

“Remember that most of the transmission of the coronavirus is respiratory—it’s not through inanimate objects.” – Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of the division of infectious disease at the University of Buffalo.

Source: Travel Market Report, September 9, 2020 online edition.

7. Restaurants and Varying Regulations

Eating out posed different challenges. We found most restaurants to be open with reduced hours. Some were open for take-out only. Hand sanitizing is common before seating. All restaurants have hand sanitizer at entrances for use. With some establishments, you had to wear a mask for seating or if you went to the bathroom. Others required no masks for guests. Some restaurants had paper menus only, some had both paper menus and QR code options. Others had no paper menus at all, stating, “We are not allowed to give out paper menus.” It seems regulation has been left up to the management rather than the jurisdiction. We would eat out at two different restaurants a few blocks away from each other and the rules were different.

Most importantly, restaurants are doing everything in their power to survive while keeping their staff and guests safe. Moreover, those with the option have extended their outdoor patios so they can serve more people while still physical distancing. This is an excellent option—until winter arrives in Canada. The likelihood of anyone sitting outside in -40-degree Celsius weather enjoying a meal out with friends in Canada is next to nil.

We did see tables and chairs cleaned thoroughly after use, usually done by a different person than the server.

Salt and pepper shakers have disappeared as have all table condiments. Sorry, Salt and Pep.

8. Hand Sanitizer is Abundant

I wish I would have bought into a hand sanitizer company before 2020… And hindsight is 20/20. The germ-killing product is everywhere. I appreciate the ability to sanitize my hands upon entering and leaving public places. I do keep hand sanitizer in the car (even before the pandemic).

Hand sanitizer was available at every public toilet we saw. All shops, gas stations, restaurants, and hotels have an ample supply of this tool to combat the virus.

9. Rules are Different Everywhere

The ability to adjust and be patient is paramount during these times. Some hotels closed their pools. Some are open with strict guidelines such as booking a time to swim holding you to a half-hour of time in the pool. We found smaller towns were more lenient than big cities in most matters.

10. The Road Less Travelled is not Overcrowded

Our visit to Vancouver took us to new places we had not ventured to before. Small, hidden coves, tiny islands, and towns not frequented by travellers were on our agenda. People are not flocking to the road-less-travelled areas. Yes, there were more people at outdoor haunts than we have seen in the past, but they are not overcrowded. If you are looking to get out, go for hikes. Canada has tons of space and hiking trails are plentiful. Parks are not overcrowded and people are going with friends or family and they are staying in their bubble groups.

A Western Canadian Road Trip During the Pandemic

Travel is alive. I would like to say it is alive and well but that would be getting ahead of myself. Travel is alive and it is possible. What did this Canadian road trip bring? Joy. Freedom. Appreciation. Did people welcome us? Yes. People are social beings. We crave interaction with others and the stimulation it brings to our senses. Were people we encountered afraid? Not from what we witnessed. Cautious, yes. Did we enjoy our adventure in the “new normal”? Absolutely. We cannot wait to get back out again.

Other Travel Resources

During our travels in August and September 2020 from Alberta to British Columbia, there were no travel restrictions in place between the two provinces. The current travel environment is ever-changing so here are some additional resources to help you make an informed decision. Know before you go. Weigh out your risks and options. The decision to travel is yours—as it should be.

• Where can Canadians Travel in Canada Right Now?
• Tips for Late Summer Travel
• Why It’s Okay to Stay in a Hotel Right Now
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Center for Disease Control
• Government of Canada Travel Advisories

 

All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.