After 12 weeks of solo lockdown in my small apartment due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, it was time for a change of scenery. For someone who had been traveling on average at least once a month, the desperate need to pack a suitcase and go somewhere (anywhere!) was becoming apparent.
No one enjoys packing, but packing even the smallest of bags after quarantine is the best feeling in the world. I dusted off my carry-on bag and filled it with my old friends, travel clothes.
I wasn’t going far, or for long, and I wasn’t going on a plane, but I was going SOMEWHERE!
Cape May Lighthouse; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
Choosing A Location
As the world slowly and cautiously started to open back up during the novel coronavirus outbreak, I began to research the possibility of a quick getaway. I needed to be able to drive to the location, and stay in a safe hotel that was doing more to keep its guests healthy. I needed some things in the town to be open to tourists. I knew I wasn’t going to get any full-on adventure travel at the moment, but if I could sit on a beach and explore a new place, I would be happy. I also needed restaurants to be open for at least takeaway food and I wanted it to be a destination that I hadn’t yet visited.
Ultimately, I decided on Cape May, NJ. I grew up going to the Jersey Shore as a child, but I had never really explored much of Cape May. The beaches were open and restaurants and stores were open for takeaway and curbside shopping. It’s about a 90 minute drive from the Philadelphia area and it was some place new for me to explore, even in the smallest way.
Ocean Club Hotel in Cape May, NJ; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
Choosing a Hotel
Choosing a hotel during a pandemic required more research than choosing a destination. I wanted a hotel that was doing more to stay clean and keep guests healthy. But I also wanted a hotel that would pamper me just a little bit! I wanted a bartender to make a drink for me, even if I couldn’t sit at the bar to drink it. I wanted to be able to walk to the beach. A pool would be a bonus. And I needed it to be inexpensive. Not asking much at all!
I decided on the Ocean Club Hotel. I liked what the hotel had listed on its website about what pandemic changes they were making to ensure safety. The bar was open for takeaway cocktails and they offered poolside and beachside service. Plus, the price was right for a weekday visit.
Beach at the Ocean Club Hotel in Cape May, NJ; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
Pandemic Getaway
Upon arriving at the Ocean Club Hotel, it was clear things weren’t “normal” but everyone was trying to make them as normal as possible. The hotel’s front desk had plexiglass separating the staff from the guests. Everyone was required to wear a face mask whenever in the hotel’s indoor common areas. There were hand sanitizer stations everywhere, and a sign by the elevator requested that only one family at a time entered the elevator together. Guests were not required to wear face masks when outside by the pool or on the beach.
Inside the hotel room, the television remote and all glassware were wrapped in plastic and any pens or paper had been removed from the room. Room keys were not digital. It was still a key card and the card was needed inside the environmentally-friendly room to keep power on in the room. There were no decorative pillows or decorative duvet covers on the bed. Other than that, it was your average hotel room. As soon as I entered the room I went around and Lysol wiped everything down for my own peace of mind. I wiped every light switch, door handle, the thermostat, phone and tables. There was no seal across the hotel room door telling me I was the first to enter after it had been thoroughly cleaned. It would have been a nice added touch.
I chose not to have housekeeping enter my room at all during my stay and left the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. An information sheet provided at check-in, informed guests they were welcome to do that and housekeeping would check back later in the day to see if you required fresh towels or anything else. However, it did appear that some guests permitted housekeeping to clean their rooms each day.
The hotel’s pool area was perfectly relaxing. Swimming was not yet permitted by order of the governor during my visit in early June. But guests were welcome to lounge around the pool on the cushioned lounge chairs that were spaced 6 feet apart. The pool bar was also conveniently located for takeaway cocktails, which was what I was most excited to re-experience. I never realized how much better a drink tastes when a bartender (who was wearing a face mask and gloves) makes it for you. The drinks were all poured into plastic cups with lids and a security seal covered the straw hole until you were ready to drink it.
The beach and beachside service were even better than the pool! The beach attendants, who were wearing face masks, were happy to set up a lounge chair and a beach umbrella for you and I was happy to let them. The tiniest bit of pampering was a welcome change from quarantine. Having an umbrella and a beach chair prepared for me is by no means a massage or even a manicure, but it was a small luxury and I LOVED it! I have quickly learned that it is truly the little things that bring happiness during a pandemic.
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Cape May Victorian House; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
Exploring Cape May
I knew my little pandemic getaway was not going to include visiting museums or experiencing anything out of the ordinary. I wanted to sit on the beach and read a book by the pool and walk around Cape May to see what it was all about. A paved promenade runs along Beach Avenue in Cape May. One side of the promenade is the beach and across the street, Beach Avenue is lined with Victorian houses, bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants and shops. I took a long walk to explore and take photos along the way. The ornate and colorful Victorian homes are amazing to see as you walk through the Cape May neighborhoods. As one of the country’s oldest seaside resort destinations, you are quickly transported to a different time. Philadelphians began frequenting Cape May in the mid-1700s, but the seaside town became even more popular with the construction of the resort hotel called Congress Hall in 1816. Congress Hall, which four sitting presidents enjoyed in the 19th century, is still run as a resort hotel today and it is an icon to Cape May.
I visited Cape May in early June during the week so I did not experience much of a crowd at all. I saw young families with kids, small groups of 20-somethings, and retired-age couples. Everyone was practicing social distancing, wearing face masks where required and remaining patient if there happen to be a line for takeaway food or drinks. Everyone was pleasant and happy and appeared to be tentatively re-entering society like myself after months of quarantine.
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Should You Travel During a Pandemic?
Non-essential travel is highly discouraged at this time. It is not 100 percent safe to travel and you are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 by traveling and coming in contact with more people. So while I’m not promoting that anyone travel right now. I do understand the desire and mental health need for a change of scenery. It is a personal question that only you can answer for yourself and your family. You must be aware of all of the risks to yourself, your family and your community. Take all initiatives to keep yourself and others safe, and remain informed as to what is currently happening with the virus where you live and wherever you may be traveling.
For me, I decided getting away for a few days, sitting on a beach, while continuing to socially distance the entire time — was something I needed.
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