How I Traveled Safely (and in Style) on the Road During Coronavirus

Are you planning on a road trip this summer during the coronavirus? With many states lifting their coronavirus restrictions this may be the best time to travel but you need to plan ahead. We just finished a 4-day road trip from Atlanta to Park City, Utah that opened my eyes to how many cities and people are following CDC guidelines and not.

This is a sponsored post with Anatomie, however, all opinions are my own.

What a summer to remember!

Who could have predicted our world as we know it would change so dramatically from the coronavirus outbreak! After months of staying at home, we’re now traveling and visiting family and friends this summer.

But we’re still under the cloud of the coronavirus while we move about the country this summer.

With states opening up and seeing a spike in COVID-19 in some states already many of us are still hitting the road to visit friends, family, and take a vacation while practicing safety guidelines set by the CDC.

So many of us are traveling by car this summer because of the fear of contacting the coronavirus on airplanes. Because we were taking our dog Bruno with us we had to go by car to Park City. Flying isn’t an option for us when Bruno comes along on vacation.

Traveling By Car

I have seen on the news that people prefer traveling by car this summer and RV’s are now in demand because people want to go on vacation but don’t want to stay in hotels either,

Traveling with your family and friends by car this summer limits contact with others, and those travel companions are likely to be the same individuals you’ve quarantined with over the past few months.

Make sure you give your car a check-up before your trip to avoid unexpected car issues on the road and have your tires checked! The last thing you want to be doing is waiting for a tow truck on your vacation this summer!

Stopping for gas was a real eye-opener in how many Americans are dealing with the coronavirus and following the CDC guidelines. About 60% of the people we met at gas stations wore masks and then the other 40% thought nothing of it. (I am sure wearing a mask has become mandatory in public places in many states as I write this, but in June it was optional.)

WEAR A MASK and WASH YOUR HANDS if you travel by car this summer and need potty breaks!!!

What to Bring in the Car

Pack plenty of water, snacks, and masks for the road. It’s also a good idea to have a first aid kit.

Don’t forget to pack your phone chargers and lots of hand sanitizer.  You will need to use hand sanitizer when visiting the public restrooms.

My Observation: I found the restrooms at the gas stations we stopped at had sub-par on sanitary conditions.  Rest stops and gas stations have the risk of getting COVID-19 because not everyone believes in following guidelines. Many state are making it mandatory to wear masks in public places but businesses like gas stations won’t ban those who don’t. Hand sanitizer really is important for traveling by car!

When selecting places to eat on the road stick to take out or drive-throughs on the road. There are restaurants open with outdoor seating but make sure the restaurant is following CDC guidelines with wait staff wearing masks and gloves.

Staying in Hotels this Summer

If you are traveling by car this summer you do need to plan out your trip if you are staying in hotels this summer. We were traveling with our dog Bruno so we needed to stay in pet-friendly hotels on our trip to Park City.

When you’re planning on booking a hotel room, check the hotel’s website to learn about precautions being taken and if amenities, such as the gym or restaurant, will be open. When we traveled in June the restaurants and gyms were closed in the hotels we stayed at. I know many hotels have been opening slowly in July in phases.

Bring cleaning supplies with you. When you get to your room, disinfect all high-touch surfaces, such as light switches, sink faucet handles, doorknobs, and remote control. The Marriott Hotels we stayed in had hand sanitizer in our rooms but if you’re REALLY concerned I suggest you bring cleaning supplies.

Where we  Stayed

This wouldn’t be a travel blog if I didn’t share my thoughts on the hotels we stayed in on our road trip this summer.  Booking our hotels through the Marriott Bonvoy program made planning our trip so easy! We are members and tend to stay only at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy family.  We are so happy that Marriott Hotels are practicing safety guidelines instilled by the CDC!

We also selected Marriott Bonvoy hotels near parks so that I could walk Bruno once we arrived.

Kansas City- Westin Crown Center

The Westin Crown Center was nearly deserted when we stayed there in June. There was only one front desk person and the restaurants and gym were closed. The pool was open to guests and I saw a few people enjoying it. The hotel staff was all wearing masks and gloves.

The area surrounding the Westin Crown Center is fun to explore if you have the time on your road trip if you stay in Kansas City.

The Westin has a beautiful lobby where no one sat nor did we see anyone walking around.

We upgraded to a suite at the Westin so that Sammy and Bruno had their own room. Each room had hand sanitizer and I know the Westing staff took every precaution for making our stay safe with them.

Sammy’s bed was a murphy bed that pulls down into a full bed. She also had a dining table in which we had a lovely takeout meal from the nearby Spin Pizza Restaurant.

The Westin is located next to a shopping center and a convention center. It was very quiet in June when we visited but I am sure the stores have opened in July. The convention center is closed.

The WWI War Memorial is next to the Westin Crown Center. Read more about the WWI War Memorial here.

We traveled from Kansa City to Denver and I must say it was a very beautiful drive along Interstate 70. I just loved seeing all the wind turbines along the highway. Did you know that Kansas is a leader in wind energy? But not everyone is happy about the wind farms in Kansas. Read more here.

Denver – Jacquard Hotel

We selected the Jacquard Hotel in the Cherry Creek suburb in Denver was our last overnight stay. This hotel is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.

This boutique hotel is located next to great restaurants and shopping in the upscale suburb of Cherry Creek in Denver.

Modern and compact are the bedrooms and bathrooms in the hotel. This hotel reminded me of a lot of large city hotels. Chic and compact.

We enjoyed the beautiful mountain views and the view of downtown Denver from the rooftop pool.  The swimming pool and the Rooftop Bar were closed during our stay at the Jacquard. But we enjoyed eating our takeout dinner from the nearby Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar on the rooftop.

A view of downtown Denver in the distance from the rooftop area.

I love the Vero water stations that are on every floor of the Jacquard. Glass bottles are in your room and fill your water bottle. You’re not wasting plastic bottles in this hotel!

My Traveling Outfit

I have again partnered with Anatomie for their summer collection. I wrote about Anatomie in February when I was flying out to Park City for some fun in the snow.

For our road trip, I backed a very small bag to bring into the hotel and wore my Anatomie outfit the entire time! The outfit is wrinkle-resistant and very lightweight which is perfect for traveling by car or by air.

How to Travel in Style with Anatomie.

For my road trip to Park City, I wore the Kim mesh Sleeve top with the Marisa Curvy High Waist Pants .

The Marisa pants are ultra-comfortable with a flattering rise and slimming fit. The Lightweight stretchy fabric is figure-flattering and stays wrinkle-resistant even while traveling for 3 days.

The Kim Mesh Sleeve top has a sleek silhouette and V-neck back with mesh overlay making it a modern wardrobe essential for travel and every day.

I am wearing a large in the Kim Mesh Sleeve top and a medium in the Marissa pants.

Great for Golf

When we got to Park City I couldn’t wait to play golf in the mountains! The higher altitude makes your golf ball travel farther. Since it is chilly in the morning you need to wear pants and long sleeves. The Marisa pants are perfect for golf with their deep front zippered pockets.

As you can see we traveled safely during the coronavirus summer by car and every week things are changing as we get news on the rise of the virus in certain hotspots like Florida, Texas, and Arizona.

As we move around the country and enjoy our time with family friends I hope you’re practicing smart social distancing and wearing a mask! We still don’t have enough information on how this virus attacks people and why some of us think it won’t happen to them.

I am seeing too many people on the news partying like it’s 1999, but it’s  Coronavirus 2020! Let’s flatten the curve and hope 2021 will be better!

Thanks for stopping by!