Six Takeaways From Traveling Across the Country During COVID-19 Pandemic

My first out-of-state trip since the COVID-19 pandemic took me nearly 3,000 miles out west to Las Vegas and California's Central Coast and featured a pair of nonstop flights, one-week-long car rental and five different hotel stays.

And while the experience was certainly different—face masks, a lot more hand washing, some closed attractions and no indoor dining in some cases—there were plenty of benefits, including discounted airfare and reduced room and rental car rates as well as lighter traffic on the roads and sidewalks. Overall, my first travel experience during the time of coronavirus was memorable, overwhelmingly positive and taught me a few lessons.