[LynneH]

If you choose to drive and possibly nap in your car, there are parking lots along I-95 North that are well lit and you can snooze safely at night.

[ron@jayron]

Originally Posted by Stuart Zaikov

I would be afraid to stay at a hotel who knows how well they cleaned since last occupant. Would have to sleep in our car and not something we would want to do at this age.

Waiting for things to be better and will do a road trip out west.

Definetly by air. Driving and having to be harrassed at every state line not woth it

[Villageswimmer]

A couple posters mentioned that the middle seat in their plane will be unoccupied.

There was an article (with photo) on the Internet this morning discussing a packed cross country flight. All seats filled. This was United which has been advertising that they are not filling center seats. If this would be upsetting for you, you may want to check with your airline.

[Redstonelady]

Will the larger chains, ie, Hampton, Residence, Fairfield, etc, take people going north with Connecticut plates?

[Barborv]

We plan to drive down from NY in July. I am not a fan of driving long distances anymore. We dont want to stay at a hotel so we plan on going straight through. I even was shopping around on line for Portable YOU KNOW WHAT... Because I dont think I want to even stop at rest rooms anywhere! LOL But my main concern is falling asleep at the wheel. That's scary! I was thinking about the AMTRACT train you pick up in Virginia but I dont think that you can stay in your car, or could you? Otherwise might as well fly. Same thing.

[B-flat]

Originally Posted by canyonblue

That is probably the most widely circulated rumor on how an aircraft cabin air system works. It's almost as bad as the STD in The Villages rumor.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CABIN AIR

Filthy, germ-laden, rotten, disgusting, wretched, skanky, rancid, putrid, fetid, and fart-filled are just a few of the adjectives used to describe cabin air, and legion are the accounts of flyers allegedly made ill by microscopic pathogens circulating throughout a plane. In reality, the air is very clean.

On all modern aircraft, passengers and crew breathe a mixture of fresh and recirculated air. Using this combination rather than fresh air only makes it easier to regulate temperature and helps maintain a bit of humidity (more on the humidity in a moment). The supply is bled from the compressor sections of the engines. Compressed air is very hot, but the compressors only compress; there is no contact with combustion gasses. From there it is plumbed into air conditioning units for cooling. It’s then ducted into the cabin through louvers, vents, and the eyeball gaspers above your seat. The AC units are known to pilots as “packs.” That’s an acronym for pneumatic air cycle kit. Usually there are two per plane.

The air circulates until eventually it is drawn into the lower fuselage, where about half of it is vented overboard—sucked out by the pressurization outflow valve. The remaining portion is remixed with a fresh supply from the engines and run through filters, and the cycle begins again.

Studies have shown that a crowded airplane is no more germ-laden than other enclosed spaces—and usually less. Those underfloor filters are described by manufacturers as being of hospital quality. I needn’t be reminded that hospitals are notorious viral incubators, but Boeing says that between 94 and 99.9 percent of airborne microbes are captured, and there’s a total changeover of air every two or three minutes — far more frequently than occurs in offices, movie theaters, or classrooms.

Thank you for that informed post. I really appreciate it because in the next 3 weeks I may have to fly north. On the subject of air travel I have 90 year old uncle who flew with his 70 year old friend from Tampa to the Northeast. He has not contracted corona virus.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Professor

We will travel slightly more than that distance, about 1100 miles and we will do it all in one day. Leave at 2 AM and get there about 11 PM after time zone adjustment. We will take our own food (sandwiches and so on) and our own drinks. Gas and pit stops will be short and we will wear masks and gloves at these stops. One of us has a compromised immune system so we are not taking any chances.

How do we stay awake that long? We listen to an audio book...a long one spanning 11-12 discs usually. I could drive around the clock if I have something like that to listen to.


Before everyone gangs up and tells me how unsafe this is we have been doing this for years and I happen to be one of those people who rarely gets more than 5 hours of sleep a night (my dad was the same way actually) and functions just fine at this lower sleep level. My spouse cat-naps occasionally and keeps me company most of the trip so we do just fine. This is not for everyone though.

We have discussed how we would stay at a hotel if we need to and we are taking our own bedding, including pillows, and we have a big canvas cover to lay over a hotel bed before we put our stuff over it. Carry a plastic bag to drop the remote into (using a tissue to pick it up with) and alcohol wipes to get all the surfaces we plan to touch. We also never go barefoot in a hotel except in the shower. May be overkill but with a compromised immune system one can't be too careful.

Safe travels.

I will say Better you than me (only because of my aching back!) but you really have it well thought out. Obviously you know your limits. Good luck on your drive.

[spofford]

Will be driving back to New Hampshire, with one overnight stay in Virginia. Will stay at better known chains, Marriot, Holiday Inn, Hilton. Will bring food and truck stops for gas and bathroom breaks. 200 miles and rest, is my rule of thumb. Will use our sleeping bags and pillows, and lots of cleaning supplies. You can always pull in rest area for cat naps when you get sleepy. Make it a little interesting and do a little sightseeing on the way.

[rjm1cc]

The aerotrain might be an option to eliminate meal and sleeping problems.

[thelegges]

Other half drove straight thru to Michigan. Always has. I stay at a comfort inn every week, in Gainesville. Except for the first floor which is pet friendly, all rooms are sanitized and left empty for 24 hours.
They have no problem since there is usually less than 10 rooms occupied. Staff wears mask and gloves, and hand sanitizer at elevators and desk. I have no choice, and am happy with my stay.

[canyonblue]

Originally Posted by B-flat

Thank you for that informed post. I really appreciate it because in the next 3 weeks I may have to fly north. On the subject of air travel I have 90 year old uncle who flew with his 70 year old friend from Tampa to the Northeast. He has not contracted corona virus.

You're welcome. I'm glad all is well with your uncle and his friend. The airlines need passengers to return to survive. I would think that with all the precautions they need to take it would be one of the safest bets out there.



I can bet you won't find cleaning like this at other places we congregate.