Vacation During Covid-19

I know so many of us are sitting on our couches deliberating whether or not to go somewhere. Luckily we live in the US and we do have many options. In March of this year we had just reached one of our favorite destinations, LA, when my husband Rehan had to fly back because of the Covid-19 outbreak. I remember that time being scary, unknown, and he told my son Rafae and I to enjoy the vacation with out him. We were so stressed and upset we flew out the next day.

I remember my son’s crestfallen face when his father told us he had to go back to work. We had been looking forward to this since our last vacation which was June of 2019. That’s Covid for you.. so many lives changed, so fast.

Going to vacation or not? A much needed mental disconnect from everything.

Going back to vacation or not? Well, we decided as a family we needed a mental break and to disconnect from everything. Now that every day felt like “Groundhog Day”, we found a time to get away for a few days. I began doing my research and called up every resort I could find.

Even though Arizona was on high alert, their hotels were abiding by the Covid rules and we would have the option of 9 open pools. Neither of us had ever been to Scottsdale so this was the perfect opportunity.

We ended up staying at the Phoenician Resort and Spa I Scottsdale, AZ. The resort was breathtaking, and I felt like I was in a different world. The hotel was quiet, literally we could count the people staying there on our hands, but I was okay with that. In the morning and throughout the day the pools were practically empty. One day we had a huge gorgeous pool all to ourselves. They had a water slide, splash pad, and golfing on site.

While Rehan spent one morning golfing, my bear and I swam and enjoyed the pool. One thing about living in Houston is the humidity, which is a reason why we never really go outdoors.

I loved the dry heat, my hair was never frizzy, I could actually breathe in 112 degree weather.

The day before we left we decided to surprise our son by visiting an actual “western” ranch where several movies have been shot. We drove about 50 miles north of Scottsdale to Canyon Ranch. I can’t even begin to describe the beauty of this place. We took a 1.5 hour tour on horseback through the desert,

scraping against cactus plants and learning more about the region. After the horse ride we ended up going to a place called old town where you could throw an Axe, shoot a pistol, or try archery. Archery was my favorite part, there was something cathartic about releasing the arrow and watching it hit the target.

Overall the ranch experience was excellent! We had an amazing tour guide, rode on the friendliest horses, and had the luxury to get away from reality for a few hours. Rest assured the ranch was Covid proof as was every part of Scottsdale.

So if you feel like you’re having cabin fever and need to get away, do it! And do it the right way. We were very careful on the planes: masks, hats, gloves, you name it. The crew was very cautious as well. Do your research and pick a place you know will be less populated. You can still enjoy some time off during this Pandemic. I felt truly blessed to be able to travel.