According to Euronews, tourist arrivals were down around 70% in 2020. It’s time to stop the rut (while remaining safe, of course). So, if you’re hoping to be travelling during the pandemic, we’ve got a few tips for you. Namely, make sure to do your research on the destination country’s rules, which can change at the drop of a hat, and definitely check cancellation policies before booking flights. At Plum Guide, for example, we’ll always provide a full refund if you are living in an area where travel is not permitted, you’re travelling to an area where travel is not permitted, or you’ve tested positive for Covid before your trip and will be self-isolating at the time of your booking. You can book with us with confidence, given you can cancel at late notice, and we have introduced deep-cleaning regulations for our hosts. In any case, we’ve picked out a few of our best destinations in countries from which many of our customers hail: the UK and the US.
Explore the countryside in Cornwall
Escape from the virus, the people and everything in between, with a trip to the southwestern tip of the UK. Take in the fresh air as you stroll along the South West Coast Path, and reach Land’s End to be about as far away from everything as is humanly possible in the UK. Check the latest news around the Eden Project, which occasionally opens its external gardens during the pandemic. Admire the picturesque topography of Cornwall, snapping photos of the Disney-esque Saint Michael’s Mount and passing through the famous Lost Gardens of Heligan. Relax on the Fistral Beach, stroll through the Bodmin Moor, or even conquer the Tintagel Castle. There’s so much to do outdoors in this serene countryside that you’ll soon forget the difficulties of travelling during the pandemic (just stay away from the news). Restaurants might be closed, but you can take a picnic down to Lizard Point and gaze out at the sea before returning to your luxury Plum Guide home.
View from Land's End, Cornwall
Festoon Nights, Plum Guide home in Cornwall
Visit the old-world villages of the Cotswolds
Head north from Cornwall to reach another area of unforgettable beauty in the form of the Cotswolds. Like the former, the latter is also replete with stunning British countryside, and lots of space, which is just what the doctor ordered during a pandemic. But rather than fishing harbours and coastal walks, the Cotswolds is better known for its old-world villages and quaint visions of the past. If it is open, hop aboard the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (or at least drive alongside the tracks) to see the stunning countryside pass you by. Visit the rustic villages of Bibury, Tetbury and Castle Combe, while making sure not to miss the Stourton Distillery and the Cotswold Wildlife Park.
Rambler's Barn, Plum Guide home in The Cotswolds
Discover the sights of North Yorkshire
Known locally as God's Own Country, Yorkshire has endless opportunities for visitors like yourselves to appreciate the countryside in its simplest form. Visit the North York Moors National Park to feel on top of the world (literally), or head to the Yorkshire Dales to get away from all traces of a pandemic. If you don't mind a bit more of a drive, travel south to Marsden's Butterley Reservoir, where miles of uninterrupted hills provide the perfect setting to get some serious steps in. If the purpose of your trip is more to put your feet up than tire them out however, North Yorkshire also has a number of beaches to enjoy. Soak up the sun at Filey Beach and Robin Hood's Bay, or visit Whitby and suddenly regret not packing your copy of Dracula. Literature lovers can also spend a day doing the Bronte Stones walk, or take a trip to Scarborough and visit the final resting place of Anne Bronte.
Filey Beach, North Yorkshire, England
Grange, Plum Guide home in North Yorkshire
Enjoy family days in The Hamptons
Depending on where you happen to be right now, as you read this very blog post, it may well be that you’re finding travelling during the pandemic to the UK difficult. And there’s a reasonably high probability, given our demographics, that you’re in the States. If you find yourself east side, why not bound on down to The Hamptons. As one of the classiest spots in the country, it’s also a family-fun hub packed with beaches, picturesque coastal walks and some of the world’s most exclusive neighbourhoods (we even considered removing the ‘u’ from that word for you. We didn’t, but we considered it). Bring the unappreciative little ones to the Long Island Aquarium or pack a picnic for the famous Cooper’s Beach, where you might spot a celeb or two (just bring a mirror). Check in at the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge to continue exploring the great outdoors.
The Captain's House, Plum Guide home in New York
Saunter along at the Joshua Tree National Park
Of course, if you’re on the other side of the country, it might be tough during the pandemic to reach New York. It’s about as far as you are from the UK. Fortunately, we’ve got a whole host of spectacular homes on the West Coast, stretching from Utah and Colorado to today’s focus, California. You could stay in one of our many stunners in Los Angeles, but if you want to escape the urbanity of it all in Covid times, lose yourself in the Joshua Tree National Park. Forget about all your troubles back home, as you saunter along the Barker Dam Nature Trail, the Cholla Cactus Garden and the Hidden Valley among myriad treks and trails. And don’t forget to look up: the stars make for an unforgettable sight.
Joshua Tree National Park California USA
Desert Adventure, Plum Guide home in Joshua Tree, USA
Travel out to Telluride
Not a million miles away from Joshua Tree, Telluride is the perfect place for anyone hoping to hit the slopes. Skiing is a tradition for so many, so don't let the pandemic stop you from (safely) getting your fix of the snow. However, the mountainous town tucked away in South West Colorado is so much more than just a ski haven. The Rocky mountains make for some enviable photos, and hiking trails such as Bear Creek Falls and Blue Lakes Trail give you the perfect opportunity to take it all in. Become so immersed in the nature that you forget the pandemic is even happening. Then, when your day of exploring, thrill seeking and avoiding other people is over, return to your luxury Plum Guide property and rest easy, ready to do it all again tomorrow.
A red brick building in front of snow-capped mountains in Telluride Town Centre, Colorado, US
