Hilton Head Island with Social Distancing

[StarWarsGirl]

We badly needed a vacation, and Hilton Head Island had a studio open last minute. We just arrived.

Masks:
You're supposed to wear them everywhere on property minus the pool deck, including bike riding. They are not required at the Beach House except in Signals. In practice, most people seem to be walking around with them pulled down and then pull them up when they pass someone. We saw people sitting in chairs not wearing masks.

The Town of Hilton Head Island is going under a mask ordinance starting tonight at 11:59 pm where everyone over the age of two must wear masks in commercial establishments unless you have an underlying medical condition or you're consuming food or beverages.

Check-in:
They ask that one person check in. You wear the mask into the building.

Food:
Tide Me Over is open as usual. Signals at the Beach house is only open Friday-Sunday for some reason. The Shuffle Board court is closed and has a waiting area for Tide Me Over.

Gift Shop:
There is a CM outside the gift shop checking to ensure there aren't too many people inside. They open the door for you so you don't touch it. If it's open to capacity, you have to wait, and there's markers on the ground for social distancing. I had no issue getting in. I then bought a pair of sunglasses that was marked down from $20 to $6...and then used my AP discount on top of it.

Other: Grills are open, picnic tables are open.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

More packages in the rooms are sealed. The blankets had some sort of tab on them that you have to pull off. It was SWG-proof, took me a good five minutes. Sheets weren't on the sofa bed; they were in a sealed pack. I had to make the sofa bed myself.

Refillable bottles in the bathroom were also sealed.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

More updates:

The beach was still pretty crowded. Since it's a wide beach, everyone was easily six feet apart. No one was wearing masks (nor are you required to).

We did go up to the pool at the Beach House for a bit. There is a CM stationed there to control capacity. They assign seating. Seats are grouped together by party, so you're away from other parties. We just went in for about twenty minutes because I think ocean water on your skin is gross and it helps get the sand off. That was around 5; we had no problems getting it. Apparently the same thing is happening at Big Dipper, once it hits capacity, they put a sign up saying the pool is closed.

Not that the pool was anywhere near capacity, but I had no issues staying away from other people.

The pool table at the Beach House was unavailable.

The mask rule here is not really being enforced. Most people seem to be following it or putting on their masks when they pass people and just walking without it if they're by themselves outside. I have seen people who aren't wearing masks at all, though, and CMs don't say a word.

 

[Phonedave]

Kind of glad I canceled our trip - we would have been returning today. The fact that they changed my direct flights to a huge layover in DC sealed the deal

"We just went in for about twenty minutes because I think ocean water on your skin is gross and it helps get the sand off. " do you not shower before using the pool? Especially if you have salt water and sand all over you?

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Kind of glad I canceled our trip - we would have been returning today. The fact that they changed my direct flights to a huge layover in DC sealed the deal

"We just went in for about twenty minutes because I think ocean water on your skin is gross and it helps get the sand off. " do you not shower before using the pool? Especially if you have salt water and sand all over you?

Yes, but it still doesn't get all the grossness off, and we still have sand on us, and then you end up stepping into the sand, and yuck. The pool gets everything off. Plus I rode the bike back, and I want everything off, especially since I put on sneakers afterward. We've found jumping in the pool also helps keep sand out of the car.

We're at the pool today and they're testing the chemicals much more frequently and wiping handrails down. They ask you to flip the chairs down when you leave and then they come wipe them down.

Was that Dulles? That airport is a total pain. I'm from Baltimore but used it to go to Hawaii last year because there's a non-stop out of there. The flight was pleasant. The airport...nope. We just drove.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Tide Me Over gave us a number for our lunch and I waited for them to bring it. No trays, all disposable.

Signage reminding to keep your distance.

And not CoVid related, but apparently turtles are nesting

And the standard alligator warning sign. Which is good because when we were at the Marriott in December, we spotted one.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

More signage...
Chairs are grouped together by party. I actually like this setup. It's a nice setup even in non-covid times.

Outside of restrooms.

If there's a line for the Mercantile, then there's spacing for distancing. Same for Tide Me Over

Distancing at the rental window.

The pool is now closed for capacity, but I've had no issue getting out and back in. Once all the chairs are taken, they close. It's really pleasant, not too crowded, but you can't show up middle of the afternoon and expect to get in.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

And they're too lazy to do custom signs here apparently

 

[Phonedave]

Yes, but it still doesn't get all the grossness off, and we still have sand on us, and then you end up stepping into the sand, and yuck. The pool gets everything off. Plus I rode the bike back, and I want everything off, especially since I put on sneakers afterward. We've found jumping in the pool also helps keep sand out of the car.

We're at the pool today and they're testing the chemicals much more frequently and wiping handrails down. They ask you to flip the chairs down when you leave and then they come wipe them down.

Was that Dulles? That airport is a total pain. I'm from Baltimore but used it to go to Hawaii last year because there's a non-stop out of there. The flight was pleasant. The airport...nope. We just drove.

I didn't even look that closely, but I assume it was IAD and not Reagan. I have been in and out of both more than I care to. Neither bother me, but Reagan is smaller and more friendly. Of course my home airport is EWR, which last year was voted the worst airport in the US, and the 17th worst airport in the world. So, most other airports are in my mind, nice.


Just after 9/11 the EWR - DCA hop was interesting. If anybody was out of their seats roughly 30 minutes outside of Reagan, the plane would divert to IAD - no question asked - person stands up, plane diverts. The flight from EWR to DCA is so short that by the time you get to a flight level were you can remove your seat belts, you were entering the airspace with the no standing restriction. They would announce before the flight that nobody will be allowed out of their seats the entire flight for ANY reason, and if you got up, the plane would divert to IAD, and then you would have to contend with angry passengers, a bunch of fees, and a police escort.

Oh, and I am a bit of stickler when it comes to pools, probably since I maintain mine. They are not bathtubs. There should be nothing you are rinsing off in a pool - sand, stickiness, dirt, or grossness. It is hard enough keeping them clean and chemically balanced without people adding extra stuff to the mix.

 

[Lilofan]

I didn't even look that closely, but I assume it was IAD and not Reagan. I have been in and out of both more than I care to. Neither bother me, but Reagan is smaller and more friendly. Of course my home airport is EWR, which last year was voted the worst airport in the US, and the 17th worst airport in the world. So, most other airports are in my mind, nice.


Just after 9/11 the EWR - DCA hop was interesting. If anybody was out of their seats roughly 30 minutes outside of Reagan, the plane would divert to IAD - no question asked - person stands up, plane diverts. The flight from EWR to DCA is so short that by the time you get to a flight level were you can remove your seat belts, you were entering the airspace with the no standing restriction. They would announce before the flight that nobody will be allowed out of their seats the entire flight for ANY reason, and if you got up, the plane would divert to IAD, and then you would have to contend with angry passengers, a bunch of fees, and a police escort.

Oh, and I am a bit of stickler when it comes to pools, probably since I maintain mine. They are not bathtubs. There should be nothing you are rinsing off in a pool - sand, stickiness, dirt, or grossness. It is hard enough keeping them clean and chemically balanced without people adding extra stuff to the mix.

I remember post 9/11. Stand up from your seat flying out of DC you will get detained and possibly arrested.