Where are all my Germaphobes? I won’t ask you to raise you hand because you might touch something gross. It is not easy to travel as a germaphobe. There are so many gross things out in the world and leaving our comfort zones is hard enough. Even if you are terrified of germs and getting sick from contacting foreign surfaces, travel doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here are some awesome things to pack that will help you feel cleaner while you travel the globe and expand your worldview.

Travel with sheets

If the idea of sleeping in a hotel room creeps you out then we have the perfect solution. Pack your own sheets and you won’t have to worry about sleeping in filth. Hotels rarely wash the comforters and duvet covers so I generally toss those into the corner and keep my vacation moving.  I tend to keep an extra set of sheets in my car so why not pack them on trips as well.  There is nothing grosser to germaphobes than sleeping in a dirty bed.  

Hotels around the world treat cleanliness a little different than we do in the states. Their standards of cleaning can be below our standards, but that all depends on your destination. If you are going to London, their hotels are generally cleaner than say Bulgaria, so you may want to pick your destination carefully.

Simply pack a set of sheets in your luggage that you don’t mind losing or throwing away. Use them on your vacation and if repacking them grosses you out, toss or donate them. Some orphanage would love some slightly used sheets, I’m sure.

Surgical Masks

If you are a real germaphobe, chances are you already own a few surgical masks.  You see surgical masks all over Asia where the general populations are overcrowded, so why not travel with one? They are cheap, usually a few cents and for germaphobes they are lifesavers. Wear them when you are on crowded subways or airplanes and you can rest easy knowing you won’t catch anything that’s airborne.

Pack Medicine

If the congested airplanes or groups of people gross you out then make sure you prepare by packing some emergency and airborne with you. These medicines will boost your immune system and ease your worries of contracting some crazy foreign illness.  I get it, people are dirty and gross and being jammed packed with them on a plane tends to gross me out as well. I never travel without these two over-the-counter drugs.

Sanitize

Hand sanitizer should be on you at all times if you are a germaphobe. These convenient pocket sized sanitizers are awesome and keep germs at bay while you can explore foreign cities. Buy them anywhere and travel with some extras just incase you lose one. Shoot, I should invest in one of the companies, since I use them so often.

Water Filters

Germaphobes really hate drinking dirty water and I understand that. Water around the globe is not as clean as our water, unless you are from Flint Michigan. If you’re from Flint, drinking motor oil is probably better than drinking your city water, but I digress. When I travel I always pack my own water bottle with a filter on it. Its great, I can take river water and drink it without worrying about getting Giardia or any other water born illness. A great brand is Potable Aqua with PA+Plus. These are germicidal tablets that you can place in water and it cleans it without any weird aftertaste.

When you think of casinos in the United States, you automatically think Las Vegas, well, that’s your first mistake. Sure Las Vegas is great but it’s not the end-all be-all for casinos in the US.  There are awesome casinos all around the US that offer the same experiences as Vegas without a lot of the hassles. Check out this list of the best casinos not in Las Vegas that won’t need your passport to visit.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Biloxi

If you are in the south, why waste money on airfare and save that to waste at the tables instead. Don’t visit Vegas for your gambling needs, just head to Biloxi and have the same experience, without hopping on a plane. The Hard Rock in Biloxi is a rock n roll themed casino, just like any other Hard Rock, but this one is massive. Covering over 50,000 sq ft and with outstanding views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Nevada

Tahoe is such a special place that you should visit with or without going to the casino. How many casinos have a private beach? Not many, but the Hyatt Regency in Tahoe certainly does. Not only can you gamble away your life savings here, but you can also enjoy water sports and fishing, take that Vegas.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Niagara Falls

How many casinos are located next to incredible water falls? One that I know of, the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. Take in the falls by day and play in a huge casino with over 100 gaming tables by night. You get a Vegas style experience with none of the desert heat.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City

Surprisingly Atlantic City is still hanging on. Many resorts here have closed down but the Borgata stands strong. The elite Atlantic City resort, the Borgata has all you could ever want from a Vegas style resort without leaving the East Coast.

An easy drive form many huge metropolitan cities, The Borgata should be a top choice.

Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno

Reno is the little sister to Las Vegas with it’s own feel and identity. Much cheaper than an average Las Vegas vacation, Reno offers a slower pace and chiller vibe. If the all night parties aren’t for you, maybe check out the Peppermill. The Tuscany styled resort will make you relax while losing all your money.

Talking Stick Resort, Arizona

Talking Stick is a killer Indian Casino with tons of fun activities to keep you entertained while not spending money at the tables. Table in a round of golf or hit up the award-winning spa.

Foxwoods resort and Casino, Connecticut

New Yorkers already know just how awesome Foxwoods truly is. Foxwoods actually offers six different casinos in its little empire in Connecticut. There are two golf courses, two arcades for the kids and tons of live entertainment options. A short drive from New York City makes Foxwoods an easy winner as the best US casino, not in Las Vegas.

Hawaii opens its doors to vacationers. However, there are still several protocols that tourists need to follow.

On 15 October, Hawaii started providing visitors an easier alternative. Instead of requiring tourists to undergo a 14-day quarantine, would-be visitors must undergo testing, at least 72 hours before mainland departure, proving that they are free from the COVID-19 virus. Although this new Safe Travels protocol was supposed to start on the first day of September, the State of Hawaii had to suspend the program due to the sudden spike in cases. Yet, does Hawaii really want visitors now?

“I want people to come if they are fully prepared to test, know that they are healthy and are prepared to wear a mask,” mentions Lt Gov Josh Green, one of the leaders of the program. “If they do all those things, we are excited to resume our relationship with old friends,” he continues. He adds, however, that “…we are very mindful of risk, and we’re just trying to begin the process of a healthy restoration of our economy. We are not pushing for any large numbers. We just want to begin to kind of shake off the rust.”

To participate in the program—and to be given the chance to enter the state, all would-be visitors are required to undergo testing. This is a mandatory protocol that includes testing children who are aged 5 and above. Aside from the tests being done at least 72 hours before leaving the mainland, they should also be undertaken by accredited testing centers or health care agencies.

Green advises travelers to consult their chosen accredited testers regarding their own testing protocols. He mentions that some of these testing centers do not provide testing for children. Some merely offer COVID-19 tests to children who are 12 years old and above.

Nevertheless, the COVID-19 home testing kits from Hawaiian Airlines can also be used for testing purposes. Vault Health mentions that children can do their saliva-based COVID-19 test, as well. Big airline companies that provide Hawaii flights also offer travelers the option to take the test at the accredited clinics or have them done at the airports. They can also opt to do the home tests, as well.

A few of these airlines provide faster test results, too. For a fee of $250, United Airlines offers rapid testing at the San Francisco International Airport. For this kind of test, results are provided in a few minutes. Travelers can also obtain the tests from Walgreens and CVS.

However, the tests may only allow travelers to enter Hawaii. Traveling between islands may require vacationers to undergo additional COVID-19 tests, though. This is a protocol that applies not only to tourists but to Hawaiians, as well. They will also need to do the necessary 14-day quarantine each time they reach a new island.

Additionally, a second COVID-19 test may be requested from visitors, four days after arriving in Hawaii. This allows the government to make sure that visitors are, indeed, negative from the virus. Records suggest that 1 out of 1000 visitors are known to have come up positive during the retesting.