Dominique Olowolafe, Bébé Voyage contributor and founder of Lightly, shares her thoughts on a new kind of getaway.

While the implications of this pandemic continue to leave us all cooped up and separated, we’ve also been forced to discover unique destinations within our own backyards. Where are you looking to go when in desperate need of a change of scenery, a family wellness escape, or extra outdoor space that will allow your little ones to run around? 

New Kind Of Getaway

I’ve found myself creating vacation rental bucket lists with an emphasis on “a return to nature.” Big cities have almost lost their appeal with our minds redirecting towards more isolated and socially distant safe locations. Think log cabins located in deep forests, desert compounds with fabulous pools, or beautiful villas on hilltops overlooking cities, camping, and road trips have also made a comeback. With that being said, I’ve had to keep the following in mind when figuring out how safely to enjoy these remote destinations: 

1. What are the guidelines for the country we are traveling to?
2. Will there be any outdoor sightseeing adventures still open? What are the protocols and curfews in that particular city? 
3. Can we drive there? Or should we fly? What’s feasible when traveling with a 1 and 3-year-old?
4. How can I protect the locals in these smaller communities? Are we able to curb store visits? How can we still support their economy safely?
5. How can I make my travel more sustainable?

Compassionate and Conscious Travel

I’ll admit the travel planning process is a bit trickier than what we are used to. Gone are the days of quick searches for a last-minute getaway. Now planning a holiday entails far more than picking a country and looking for a place to sleep. On the other hand, Covid has taught us something in return. If there is still some beauty in all of this, it’s that we’ve become more conscious about how our decisions impact others. I’ve always been a fan of exploring new places in order to absorb other cultures. Now more than ever it’s important that we stay flexible, compassionate, and conscious of our decision making when it comes to traveling to our remote getaways. We must make it our mission to respect and protect each other and the nature we are visiting.

And for those of you still stuck in the diapering phase, consider traveling Lightly, in order to curb store visits and take one less task off your plate.

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