You’ve Got Holiday Travel Questions—We’ve Got Answers: Women Who Travel Podcast

I’m saving up some TV shows that I know will be very bingeable during that time. I’m going to make sure my Kindle is loaded with books that I could read. And then I’m planning to just sleep a lot. Because again, in passing the time, I think planning it out is definitely my strategy. And having some balance of sleeping, working, entertainment time will be really great. And also I’m trying to frame it in my mind as true alone time that I will never ever, ever have again. If you think about 14 days in total isolation, without my husband, without my family, just me and food delivery on a daily basis.

MS: Every food delivery is going to taste so good when you have something coming to your door.

SW: Honestly, not having to cook, I’m looking forward to that.

LA: And you’re going to be home, so you’re going to get to order from all the places that you miss the rest of the year, which is a perk.

I am also trying to navigate what a potential quarantine upon entry in the U.K. could look like if I manage to go home anytime soon. The U.K. doesn’t have quite so defined requirements beyond you have to quarantine for 14 days and there is a very hefty fine if they find out that you don’t. But the issue for me is that my parents’ house only has one bathroom. And so quarantining in a way that I feel is responsible and doesn’t put my parents at risk feels tricky. And that’s something I have not found a solution for yet. I know that there are certain travelers who are looking into apartment rentals. I think there are certain hotels that are providing room deals for 14 day quarantines. So, I think there are options for people to explore. But I think you really have to do, especially if you’re visiting friends or family, you have to do something that feels, again, responsible in terms of both your own safety and for the people that you’ll be quarantining with once you get there.

MS: So, okay Lale, I had this idea this morning that I woke up with that I thought it was genius, which is probably not revolutionary. But I was thinking for all the people in your situation, what if you did a holiday-esque swap with someone who has an apartment in London who maybe is a friend of a friend who won’t be there, you can use their apartment to quarantine. Maybe they’re going to be in New York. I don’t know. I just think so many people are trying to get home and apartments where they can be totally alone. There might be something there.

LA: If she’s listening, look me up.

MS: Whoever has an apartment in London they can offer up for two weeks and wants an apartment in New York, shout.

MC: Before we move to the next question. I just want any listener who feels strongly about this to let us know if they think Lale is a Kate Winslet or a Cameron Diaz. Just update us.

LA: Very intrigued.

MC: Last question. Ending on a high note, or I guess a positive note, a forward-looking note since this has been a lot of more immediate planning answers. Leah Castillo asked, “How do you pick a place to travel when you have the whole world to choose from?” And I’m just going to say, right now we don’t. But in a world where we did, what would you guys say is the answer to that question?