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For travel, the greatest gifts come in small packages

May 30, 2020

As an owner of Canalside Inn, I offer my thoughts on why staying smaller may be the #SafeStay choice for this summer.

COVID-19 has really changed the entire world. Being an inn owner, all I’m thinking about is traveling. My first thought is when can I go somewhere, because we’ve been at home with two preschoolers doing project after project. We have painted four rooms, redone the stairs, trimmed trees, and power washed the building – and then we did more.

I had travel plans for 2020, and I’m a little sad that I didn’t get to attend a couple of weddings, plus I’m unsure when I will be able to fly across country to see my sister’s baby, due this fall. So the thought of taking a weekend getaway to somewhere close by sounds nice – and I bet I’m not the only person thinking that way.

Right now everybody is looking at their calendars, wondering if they can fulfill their future plans, or if they will have to cancel. And how are they going to stay safe in this new atmosphere?

We believe that small, family-owned properties may be the ideal destinations for quarantine-weary travelers. The greatest gifts come in small packages. Our inn is small; we have 13 rooms. Our location is downtown Rehoboth Beach. We are the only accommodation along the canal. Our waterfront property is charming, with a small trail to our main street. Canalside Inn is historic, originally having been located on the beach in the early 1900s. In the ‘60s, after a big storm, our building was moved to its current location at 34 Sixth St.

Most big hotels don’t offer keyless entry. Our inn has encouraged our guests to follow the easy-breezy check-in. No cards or keys are required. Prior to check-in, guests receive a text with instructions on keyless keypad use, and all guests sign an electronic signature room agreement. Now that COVID-19 is in the front of everyone’s mind, the easy check-in process is very important to ensure no hassle for guests to enter their rooms. And by the way, we have been doing this for a long time already.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association has a new initiative called #SafeStay. It calls for enhanced cleaning practices, social interactions and workplace protocols to meet the new health and safety challenges and expectations presented by COVID-19. Our inn was able to adjust in early March at the beginning of COVID-19. We already did enhanced cleaning way before COVID-19, and we used superior cleaning products way before this initiative. Our normal office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. are still in place. If something is needed by our customers, we offer a leave-at-your-door protocol. This is a flexible option for guests to receive items such as linens, toilet paper and tissues, while limiting exposure of others during the COVID-19 restrictions.

We’ve asked our future guests to help us help them during these unsure times. Before leaving their home, we appreciate them taking the time to assess their health. All travelers should check their temperature and the COVID symptoms checklist from the CDC. If they have COVID-19 symptoms, they shouldn’t travel.

Canalside Inn is proud to introduce our stress-free#SafeStay COVID-19 Flex Rate as a convenient way to book dates. A $100 deposit, nonrefundable and reusable, is required to book. Full payment is due 24 hours prior to check-in. FlexRate offers the flexibility to change your reservation dates if you are unable to travel for any reason related to COVID. Changes to a confirmed reservation must be submitted seven days prior to check-in. Cancellations are subject to forfeiture of deposit. There are no refunds for early check-out.

It’s a unique experience to stay at a small inn. Guests get a real local experience, and we offer a sense of home away from home. Being so small, we have a unique opportunity to have a house cleaning company on contract to clean the rooms just like my home is cleaned. We pride ourselves on paying another small business to clean our inn and spend extra attention on details.

Our innkeepers are excited for the return of our visitors and the chance to offer insights on Rehoboth Beach, so we have created an electronic travel guide to view on your phone. It lists town rules and regulations, things to do and see, locations of grocery and liquor stores, and transportation options. The guide includes information about the inn, Canalside Art Gallery, specials and packages, and our policies.

As of May 21, short-term rentals including AirBnb, VRBO, Hotels and Inns are still banned to everyone except essential workers. We hope that we will be able to host guests this summer. As we wait for the government to enter phases of reopening, we hope you and your families will stay safe and healthy. For more information, email kristen@bkdleaders.com or go to www.thecanalsideinn.com.

Kristen Deptula is owner of Canalside Inn in Rehoboth Beach. 

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