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The world is slowly opening up again to travel, but you might still feel hesitant to hop on a plane and head to an international destination.
Luckily, there is no shortage of beautiful spots to visit domestically, all easily reachable by car. Indeed, according to new Airbnb data, as Americans return to travel, many are looking for destinations that are within 200 miles from home.
If you're considering a summer road trip to the East Coast, Rhode Island is well worth a visit for its stunning coastal towns, historic villages, and immersive outdoor experiences.
Rhode Island is also the smallest state in the US, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for with vibrant spirit and community, from the Newport Cliffs to quaint Pawtuxet village, and the creative capital of Providence.
While road trips might seem low risk, and experts consider rental cars to be largely safe, there is no guarantee on safety until a vaccine for COVID-19 is found. In the meantime, stay up to date with guidelines put forth by the CDC and WHO, and be sure to follow safety measures to prevent infection such as wearing masks, hand-washing, and social-distancing.
At the time of publishing, Rhode Island is in Phase II of reopening, meaning restaurants are allowed to operate at 50% capacity, malls are allowed to reopen, public gardens and historical sites are open, and people can gather in groups of 15. There is a mandatory 14-day quarantine for those visiting from high-risk locales that are still under a stay-at-home order, but not for other visitors.
Additionally, private home rentals like those found on Airbnb may be a more comfortable lodging choice for those seeking to limit interactions. In fact, the doctors we spoke to consider the private residential environment to be low risk for virus transmission given the fact that the virus is known to transmit primarily between people via respiratory droplets. And compared to hotels, the number of face-to-face encounters at a private home rental is especially low.
Airbnb has also implemented a number of new procedures to ensure a safe stay. For example, hosts are now advised to follow the Cleaning Protocol, which includes guidelines on personal protective equipment worn by hosts or cleaners, and the types of disinfectants that can be used. Although Airbnb has put these safety measures in place, experts still recommend disinfecting surfaces and running dishes through the dishwasher when arriving for your stay.
We searched through Airbnbs in Rhode Island and selected the following homes based on these criteria:
These Airbnbs are all priced under $250 nightly, but this excludes additional costs that may apply including cleaning fees, occupancy taxes, and service fees. We've also included information for each Airbnb on their specific cleaning procedures to better inform your decision.
These are the best Airbnbs in Rhode Island, sorted by price from low to high.