Now that December is here, we can finally share some cheer as the holidays draw near. COVID19 has managed to ruin most of our family memories from this year in some way, from the loss of see our teams play, to not being able to go to church, to our kids missing out on trick-or-treating. If you’re like us, you are determined not to let COVID19 take away the joy of a holiday season. So we’re offering up some holiday travel tips & tricks in the COVID Era.
- Get Organized In Advance - The first step in every battle is to count the steps to the battlefield. Mapping out everything you want to do, and creating lists, will save you the risk of being out shopping and trying to remember everything you’re going to need. A good hour thinking the whole matter through will save dozens of trips later.
- For all the trips you take in mid to late December, use pre-planning to save yourself terrible moments where you needlessly risk an infection. If you’re taking a long trip to see friends or relatives, know that there are resources to help you. GasBuddy is an app for Android and iPhone that will help you locate the lowest-priced gas in your vicinity, or on a route.
- Keep Your Head - Before you get into a car this season, know exactly where you need to go and what you’re there to get. Do not head out on aimless trips, because time spent outside of your house is time you are spending at risk of catching COVID19. The beauty of the lights and decorations of the holiday season can be a little hypnotic as our minds travel back in time to our Christmases Past. When you are a driver, this can lead to trouble. So don’t go anywhere without a checklist reminding you of what you need to get.
- Be Kind and Be Safe - We don’t really know what the winter shopping rush will be like during COVID19. We know that people are turning to online ordering more and more since the pandemic began, but it’s unclear how busy things will be at the moment you find the time to shop for your loved ones. What we can hypothesize is that the same fear people have had all year will turn to shame, frustration, and anger. People will be kicking themselves for waiting so long no matter what the crowds are like… they’ll be frustrated that they can’t get in and get out with the things they need. And that will likely make them angry as they look for somewhere to project blame. The best advice about dealing with other shoppers and drivers as you go is to be kind and to be safe. If you can not be that person who cycles through shame, frustration and anger, that’s already a victory for the world. But if you can tolerate someone else being rude because of their cycle and genuinely just feel glad everyone is safe, you are coming out of Christmas shopping a massive winner.
- Be Proactive - To go on trips or just to get around Lake Forest Park, you’re going to need your car to come through for you. And preventative maintenance is the best way to take care of a car. If you bring your car in for a service like changing your oil filter, did you know that we’re also doing a digital vehicle inspection for you? Like Santa’s elves, our auto mechanics are going to catalog any outstanding issues we see that your car needs, and report them back to you, along with recommendations for when you need to replace parts to prevent wear or damage to your engine. What you do with that information is up to you, but we hope you’ll believe us and plan to come back for all the services your car is going to need along the way.
We hope you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season with lots of good memories this year. Remember to get an inspection if you plan on travelling any distance! Schedule your appointment and let us ease your mind and ours. We’re located at 15017 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155. We’re open Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 4 PM. All We Do Is Subaru!