It’s going to be a long and winding road back from this global pandemic. And the clearest road to wellness is in taking the proper care to ensure that if you need to travel, you do so with COVID-19 safe travel guidelines.
We’re all navigating this new normal and adapting plans as necessary. Here at GoCamp we have COVID-19 safe travel at the very top of our priority list to keep van owners and van renters safe and healthy.
Before your GoCamp trip you will be asked to answer the following questions:
Have you or anyone in your party recently had a fever, respiratory or flu symptoms, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath?
Have you or anyone in your party been in close contact with anyone with these symptoms in the last 14 days?
Have you or anyone in your party had close contact with or cared for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days?
In the last 14 days have you or anyone in your party spent time in a group of fifteen or more people from multiple households?
If you answer yes to any of the questions above, we’ll want to hear from you. We’ll give you detailed instructions on how to answer these questions a few days before your rental starts.
If you need to or choose to travel during these times, consider the following so that you can travel safely and keep others safe.
Minimize Stops: Now is the time to load up on all the groceries you’ll need in one stop, rather than lots of little stops throughout your trip. If you are able to do your grocery shopping in a larger city (perhaps when you pick up your van) you’ll do a kind service to smaller communities by keeping your distance.
Be Adaptable and Have a Back Up Plan: The park you wanted to visit might be closed, or the campground on your list is at its maximum capacity. Do your research before you leave and make sure that campgrounds and sites you want to visit are open. While we very much appreciate the thrill of just heading down the road and seeing what happens, maximum occupancy at campgrounds has been greatly reduced this year, and simultaneously demand for services has increased. Have a plan and a back up plan.
Trip-Planning Apps: Should you need to find a safe place to park it, check out trip-planning apps like iOverlander or The Dyrt. Plus, when you book a trip with GoCamp you’ll get a 14 day free trial to the Dyrt PRO.
Find A Trusted Host: You can camp safely on private land with HipCamp. You’ll find wide open spaces, and contact-less interactions with site hosts. Or find your self-contained camping spot at wineries, breweries, and farms through Harvest Hosts.
Travel with Your Quaranteam: Minimize interactions with those outside your pandemic pod and opt for curbside hellos with non-pod friends instead of visits inside the camper van.
Minimize Exposure: Wear a mask outside of the van when you can’t achieve proper social distancing, like in rest areas or at gas stations. And of course, wash or sanitize your hands after touching common surfaces like gas pumps or door handles in public spaces.
Toilet Needs: Many GoCamp vans have toilets, and many don’t. Now is a great time to brush up on the principles of Leave no Trace.
We’re actively monitoring state and federal guidance regarding travel restrictions, as well as park closures, and we encourage you to do the same. Currently GoCamp offers camper vans for rent in Oregon, Washington, California, and Colorado. Please review current information depending on where you’ll be picking up your camper van: Oregon COVID-19 Information; Washington State COVID-19 Information; California COVID-19 Information; Colorado COVID-19 Information.
Should you have a reservation that is affected by new state or federal guidance, we will reach out to you directly to discuss your options.
Many GoCamp van owners are conducting self check-outs and/or contact free check-ins. If you have any contact whatsoever with the van owner, you are required to wear a face covering during the interaction. Our van owners will also wear a face covering.
Before COVID-19 GoCamp required 30 days notice on all cancellations. In light of the havoc COVID-19 can wreak on travel plans, we’ve updated our policy to reflect the times.
You can reschedule your trip with no penalty at any time.
You can cancel the vehicle for a full refund, less a 5% service fee, up to 14 days prior to the rental. If you cancel less than 14 days prior to the rental, you will receive a refund for 50% of the rental fee. Cancellations must be made in writing. See the Renter Policies for more on our cancellation policy.
Q: I made a reservation when stay at home orders were largely lifted, and then the state I was traveling to or in changed its guidance and is now requiring self-quarantine and/or other restrictions on travel. The guidance was changed with less than 14 days to go. Can I get a full refund on my trip?
A: Yes. We’ve been working with renters on a case by case basis as changing guidance affects reservations.
Q: I was well when I made my reservation and I’ve since tested positive with COVID-19. Can I get a full refund on my trip?
A: Yes; you can reschedule your trip or cancel it entirely for a full refund. We’ll ask you to submit paperwork regarding the diagnosis.
GoCamp van owners are all adhering to enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, including longer downtimes between rentals; thoroughly cleaning from top to bottom; disinfecting of all high touch surfaces such as door handles, steering wheels, parking brakes, radio dials; and wearing face coverings while performing tasks inside the van prior to your rental. All kitchen ware and laundry is sanitized between rentals. Ordinarily GoCamp vans come fully stocked with bedding, towels, linens, etc. If you would like to travel with your own bedding and the like, don’t hesitate to let the van owner know.
We’ve been following the guidance and recommended protocols from the following sites:
Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities — Interim Recommendations for U.S. Community Facilities with Suspected/Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
EPA Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 — List of products on this list meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
EPA Coronavirus Site — All EPA recommendations for COVID-19
NIH Coronavirus Site — The latest research information from the National Institutes of Health
World Health Organization — Coronavirus site