With non-essential travel now off the cards for most people, and with uncertainty as to just when free travel can resume, families in need of a holiday break will find their options to be somewhat limited—even if they’re planning months in advance. However, travel within provincial or state boundaries is a fairly certain option although concerns about contact with people outside the family are realistic. We look at 5 tips for safe luxury holidays that will help the holiday-starved minimize risk on a local trip while still enjoying luxury and comfort.

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Bypass Hotels and Resorts

Ordinarily, hotels and resorts add to the holiday feeling, but with such stays, catered meals and visits from service workers seem inevitable. As an alternative, consider short-term rentals of furnished apartments instead. It doesn’t mean you’ll sacrifice much in the way of comfort. For example, downtown Toronto apartments illustrate just how luxurious a furnished short-term rental can be, and with kitchen facilities part of the package, it’s easy to maintain social distancing.

Renting an entire apartment for your holiday can be a safe alternative for traveling. Photo by Krystian Kociszewski from Pixabay

Plan Outdoor Activities

Outdoor activities in spots where you and your family can maintain social distancing from those outside of your family bubble should head your list of things to do. At first, this might seem a little limiting, especially if shopping, art galleries, and trips to the theater are part of your usual holiday itinerary, but a little research will uncover a host of options that take you back to nature. Using Toronto as an example once again, there are plenty of trails, parks, and beach walks to enjoy. Pack a picnic and take in the scene, try your hand at golf, or go on drives to explore the surroundings.

Head outside to enjoy nature during your holidays. Photo by Maridav via iStock by Getty Images

Dine Out as Little as Possible

With a kitchen at your disposal, it shouldn’t be necessary to dine out at all. You might find yourself asking, “How is this luxurious?” But it has its advantages. After all, you get to choose the dishes you’ll eat, and with full control over the preparation of meals, you can be sure of their quality.

You can make mealtimes part of the fun when you rent an apartment or your own home during your holidays. Photo by Drazen Zigic via iStock by Getty Images

Families can divide chores among them, and with many hands to help, meal preparation can be light work. If you do decide to dine out, limit risk. Consider choosing take-out meals or dine in establishments with outdoor tables.

Shop Smart

Whether you’re home or away, fewer shopping trips means less contact and less chance of exposure to infection. Develop a meal plan and base your shopping list on that. If you can have your groceries delivered to your door, that’s even better.

Get groceries delivered for both protection and ease during your holidays. Photo by Kiwis via iStock by Getty Images

When packing for your trip, try to keep contingencies in mind. Ideally, you shouldn’t find yourself having to make “emergency” shopping trips to pick up essentials that were forgotten in the excitement of trip preparations. And since you’re planning on a luxury break, do take along some of the home luxuries you’ll enjoy while you’re away.

Spend a Little Extra on Comfortable Face Masks

Wearing a mask is part of the daily routine at present, and face masks are notoriously less than pleasant to wear. Spoil yourself with some of the luxury face masks that are already making a hit among consumers. Brands like Reebok, Lululemon, and Asics are among your options, and reviewers agree that they’re both comfortable and effective. Since you’re going on holiday, you absolutely should spoil yourself, and if you’re tired of ugly and uncomfortable masks, a designer choice will help you to overcome the problem ahead of your holiday.

Go ahead and splurge on a fun, colorful face mask to wear on holiday and everyday. If you need, you can also wear a surgical mask under the decorative mask. Photo by Maryviolet via iStock by Getty Images

Not Your Usual Holiday? It Can Still Be Fun

It’s certainly true that being on holiday won’t alter the need to follow the advice of health experts. Keeping yourself and your family healthy means that you can’t relax in the ways you previously did. But for those of us who are tired of staring at the same four walls, relatively safe luxury holidays are possible. Your self-catering accommodation will be a key advantage, so make sure that you’ll find it a pleasant change. Meanwhile, mask up, sanitize, and enjoy your holiday. You can find great places to explore in Canada on Wander, along with our ideas for a pandemic-safe vacation.