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| How to Reserve a Hotel Room in a Pandemic | How to Reserve a Hotel Room in a Pandemic |
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| The federal directive extending social-distancing guidelines to April 30, as well as multiple state recommendations to shelter in place, means that few people are traveling. Many hotels have closed for the interim and most major hotel chains have waived cancellation fees, often refunding even nonrefundable rooms. | The federal directive extending social-distancing guidelines to April 30, as well as multiple state recommendations to shelter in place, means that few people are traveling. Many hotels have closed for the interim and most major hotel chains have waived cancellation fees, often refunding even nonrefundable rooms. |
| But for travelers considering a trip in May or June — assuming travel restrictions aren’t extended — the logistics are murkier, with fluctuating and often less flexible rates and variable cancellation policies. | But for travelers considering a trip in May or June — assuming travel restrictions aren’t extended — the logistics are murkier, with fluctuating and often less flexible rates and variable cancellation policies. |
| The following are some considerations for booking a hotel in these uncertain times. | The following are some considerations for booking a hotel in these uncertain times. |
| MIND THE GRACE PERIOD Most major hotel chains have established a grace period for penalty-free cancellations, which are largely intended to encourage travelers to book without fear of losing their money. | MIND THE GRACE PERIOD Most major hotel chains have established a grace period for penalty-free cancellations, which are largely intended to encourage travelers to book without fear of losing their money. |
| Hilton, which has 18 brands in its portfolio, from Waldorf Astoria to Hilton Garden Inn, and Marriott, which has 29 brands, including Ritz-Carlton and Courtyard, are allowing refunds and changes even on nonrefundable rates up to 24 hours before arrival through June 30. | Hilton, which has 18 brands in its portfolio, from Waldorf Astoria to Hilton Garden Inn, and Marriott, which has 29 brands, including Ritz-Carlton and Courtyard, are allowing refunds and changes even on nonrefundable rates up to 24 hours before arrival through June 30. |
| IHG Hotels & Resorts is allowing penalty-free changes on existing reservations made through April 6 until June 30. For new bookings in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, cancellation fees will be waived for stays up to April 30. For other new bookings, it is advising travelers to book flexible rates, rather than nonrefundable ones | IHG Hotels & Resorts is allowing penalty-free changes on existing reservations made through April 6 until June 30. For new bookings in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, cancellation fees will be waived for stays up to April 30. For other new bookings, it is advising travelers to book flexible rates, rather than nonrefundable ones |
| Hyatt is offering changes and cancellations on most reservations held through June 30, including those with nonrefundable advanced purchase rates, up to 24 hours before arrival. | Hyatt is offering changes and cancellations on most reservations held through June 30, including those with nonrefundable advanced purchase rates, up to 24 hours before arrival. |
| BEWARE PREPAYMENT RATES When searching for a hotel, read the rate rules. Normally, prepaid rates are the cheapest offered, generally because they are nonrefundable. Now, some hotels, including the Gwen in Chicago and the Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney, are listing only prepaid options on their websites, including both lower nonrefundable prepaid rates and a new prepaid but refundable rate. The refundable prepaid rates allow changes up to a day ahead of the reservation, effectively providing the hotel cash flow and putting the onus on the traveler to trigger a refund if canceled within the allowable window. | BEWARE PREPAYMENT RATES When searching for a hotel, read the rate rules. Normally, prepaid rates are the cheapest offered, generally because they are nonrefundable. Now, some hotels, including the Gwen in Chicago and the Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney, are listing only prepaid options on their websites, including both lower nonrefundable prepaid rates and a new prepaid but refundable rate. The refundable prepaid rates allow changes up to a day ahead of the reservation, effectively providing the hotel cash flow and putting the onus on the traveler to trigger a refund if canceled within the allowable window. |
| “I would advise people to be very wary of any rate that requires an advance deposit even if the rate is changeable or can be canceled, because hotels are going to do everything they can to take your money and be slow about giving it back,” Henry H. Harteveldt, a travel analyst and the president of Atmosphere Research Group, said. | “I would advise people to be very wary of any rate that requires an advance deposit even if the rate is changeable or can be canceled, because hotels are going to do everything they can to take your money and be slow about giving it back,” Henry H. Harteveldt, a travel analyst and the president of Atmosphere Research Group, said. |
| BOOK CLOSER TO YOUR TRAVEL DATE Normally, the closer to your travel date, the higher the hotel rate, which rises along with occupancy. Now, however, rates may dip if hotels find that demand hasn’t rebounded. | BOOK CLOSER TO YOUR TRAVEL DATE Normally, the closer to your travel date, the higher the hotel rate, which rises along with occupancy. Now, however, rates may dip if hotels find that demand hasn’t rebounded. |
| “I think this may be a year where even leisure travelers’ booking horizon, which is typically a few months, will be much shorter, with people planning trips perhaps just a couple of weeks in advance, something more common for business travel,” said Makarand Mody, an assistant professor of hospitality marketing in the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. | “I think this may be a year where even leisure travelers’ booking horizon, which is typically a few months, will be much shorter, with people planning trips perhaps just a couple of weeks in advance, something more common for business travel,” said Makarand Mody, an assistant professor of hospitality marketing in the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. |
| Hopper, a travel booking app, found spring rates down an average of 9 percent nationally, but near pre-pandemic levels by June, indicating hotels, like travelers, are in a wait-and-see mode. | Hopper, a travel booking app, found spring rates down an average of 9 percent nationally, but near pre-pandemic levels by June, indicating hotels, like travelers, are in a wait-and-see mode. |
| “Even in the best of times, hotels are not actively managing rates more than a few months in the future,” Patrick Surry, the chief data scientist at Hopper, said. | “Even in the best of times, hotels are not actively managing rates more than a few months in the future,” Patrick Surry, the chief data scientist at Hopper, said. |
| READ THE CANCELLATION POLICY Most online reservation systems require travelers to check a box indicating they have read the terms and conditions. Now is the time to click the hyperlink to them and add the cancellation deadline to your calendar. Most hotels allow cancellations on refundable rates between 72 and 24 hours before the date of arrival. | READ THE CANCELLATION POLICY Most online reservation systems require travelers to check a box indicating they have read the terms and conditions. Now is the time to click the hyperlink to them and add the cancellation deadline to your calendar. Most hotels allow cancellations on refundable rates between 72 and 24 hours before the date of arrival. |
| Do cancel, rather than be a no-show. Hotel reservations must be actively canceled through a reservation website or via phone in order to avoid a penalty, which is usually one night’s stay. | Do cancel, rather than be a no-show. Hotel reservations must be actively canceled through a reservation website or via phone in order to avoid a penalty, which is usually one night’s stay. |
| Updated June 12, 2020 | Updated June 12, 2020 |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. | Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. |
| Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home. | Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home. |
| States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. | States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. | Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. |
| The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. | The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. | If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. |
| CONSIDER LONG-TERM PLANNING Some hotels and resorts seeking to generate cash are selling discounted gift cards and certificates redeemable for a future stay. For example, until travel restrictions are lifted, the Hotel Amparo in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is offering $100 gift certificates for $75. Near Portland, Maine, Higgins Beach Inn is offering a $20 voucher with every $100 gift card. Delamar, which operates three hotels in Connecticut, is donating 50 percent of the value of each gift card sold to a fund for furloughed employees. | CONSIDER LONG-TERM PLANNING Some hotels and resorts seeking to generate cash are selling discounted gift cards and certificates redeemable for a future stay. For example, until travel restrictions are lifted, the Hotel Amparo in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is offering $100 gift certificates for $75. Near Portland, Maine, Higgins Beach Inn is offering a $20 voucher with every $100 gift card. Delamar, which operates three hotels in Connecticut, is donating 50 percent of the value of each gift card sold to a fund for furloughed employees. |
| Gift cards can be a way of supporting a hotel or getting a good deal before you know when you might be able to travel, Mr. Harteveldt said, flagging service fees and expiration dates as potential pitfalls. “Take the time to educate yourself on the terms and conditions associated with these gift cards,” he added. | Gift cards can be a way of supporting a hotel or getting a good deal before you know when you might be able to travel, Mr. Harteveldt said, flagging service fees and expiration dates as potential pitfalls. “Take the time to educate yourself on the terms and conditions associated with these gift cards,” he added. |
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