How to travel well and safely during COVID-19
Watch our agency video above and learn more about Bus Safety during Covid
As we monitor state and federal guidelines when it comes to travel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, please review the following information which will help you make informed decisions when it comes to your future travel plans. This page may be updated at any time, without notice.
TRAVELING IN OUR GROUP TOURS DURING COVID-19
4/1/21 - As a result of Louisiana's move to Phase 3 and the allowance for bus tours to be at 75% capacity, we have expanded the number of passengers on our tours from 28 to 34 for our April and May tours, and up to 40 for our tours departing in June and beyond.
The health and safety of our clients is our top priority. As the United States deals with a new surge of the COVID-19 virus, we want you to know of the extra precautions and policies we are implementing for our upcoming Fall 2021 group tours, beginning September 1, 2021 and until further notice.
Final payment deadlines and cancellations:
If you change your mind about a trip, you must cancel before the final payment deadline in order to receive a refund. If you cancel after the final payment deadline, you must have travel insurance to receive a refund - and the cancellation reason must be a covered reason by the insurance company. We recommend that you read over your insurance policy when you receive it.
Insurance and cancellations:
Should we as an agency decide to cancel the trip and you have not already cancelled with us, you will receive a full refund and we will request that the insurance company return your insurance premium. This may be in the form of cash or credit and is at the sole discretion of the insurance company.
If you purchased travel insurance and cancel before the final payment deadline - and our agency has not cancelled a tour - your policy purchase will not be eligible for refund. Instead, you will have a credit that you may apply to other travel 770 days from the time of purchase.
PLEASE NOTE: if you cancel your reservation after the final payment deadline but before our agency cancels a tour, you will have to file an insurance claim in order to receive a refund, and you will not be eligible to get your insurance premium back.
If you do not purchase insurance and cancel after the final payment deadline, you will not receive a refund. You are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance.
We hope these additional steps will help alleviate concerns you may have for traveling as we look forward to our future tours. Of course, all of our tours are contingent upon state and federal government guidelines. We will be in touch with any updates or changes as we get closer to our tours departing.
4/1/21 - As a result of Louisiana's move to Phase 3 and the allowance for bus tours to be at 75% capacity, we have expanded the number of passengers on our tours from 28 to 34 for our April and May tours, and up to 40 for our tours departing in June and beyond.
The health and safety of our clients is our top priority. As the United States deals with a new surge of the COVID-19 virus, we want you to know of the extra precautions and policies we are implementing for our upcoming Fall 2021 group tours, beginning September 1, 2021 and until further notice.
- All clients must submit a Health and Wellness Declaration to their tour guide upon arrival for a tour.
- On the day of departure, clients will need to provide proof of vaccination OR proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test completed within 72 hours of a tour’s departure.
- Clients may remove their masks while in their seats on the motor coach but will be required to wear masks when moving on or off the motor coach and where it is required for public transportation, hotels and/or venues.
- Each passenger’s temperature will be taken with no-touch thermometers by our guides each morning before boarding the bus. For the health and safety of our group, our guides and our bus drivers, anyone with a temperature of 100.4 will be considered to have a fever.
- Any passenger who feels ill or sick will be asked to isolate and we will connect you to medical attention. If needed, our office will assist with travel arrangements to get a passenger home but the expense of returning home early is the passenger’s responsibility. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
- Our motor coach is wiped down and cleaned multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes and spray. Passengers are strongly encouraged to bring personal face masks, Kleenex and hand sanitizer and to practice good sanitary habits and frequent hand washing. Hand sanitizer is available in the restroom on board the motor coach as well as at the front of the coach when boarding.
- All hotels we stay at are taking the utmost precautions in terms of cleanliness and wellness for their staff and their guests. Housekeeping staff are utilizing masks and gloves for room cleaning and intentionally delaying room cleaning and maintenance anywhere from 24 to 72 hours or longer after a guest has departed and before the next guest takes the room.
- Our groups follow the guidelines and requirements set by our travel and tourism partners, airlines, states, cities and venues. This includes wearing face coverings when required or requested, or following social distancing guidelines or dividing into sub-groups for tours.
- Everyone who travels with us until further notice will be required to sign a travel liability waiver and submit it to our office before the day of departure. Anyone without a signed waiver on file will not be allowed to travel with us.
- Everyone who travels with us is strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance. Anyone declining travel insurance will need to sign a travel insurance waiver. Anyone without a signed waiver on file will not be allowed to travel with us.
- Passengers finding themselves exhibiting symptoms of illness, or who have contracted the COVID-19 virus or who have been exposed to the virus and must quarantine, will not be allowed to travel. In order to receive a refund, you must have travel insurance and you will need to file a claim.
- Should a venue, restaurant or other tour activity require proof of vaccination, unvaccinated clients may not be able to enter or participate and no refund will be given.
Final payment deadlines and cancellations:
If you change your mind about a trip, you must cancel before the final payment deadline in order to receive a refund. If you cancel after the final payment deadline, you must have travel insurance to receive a refund - and the cancellation reason must be a covered reason by the insurance company. We recommend that you read over your insurance policy when you receive it.
Insurance and cancellations:
Should we as an agency decide to cancel the trip and you have not already cancelled with us, you will receive a full refund and we will request that the insurance company return your insurance premium. This may be in the form of cash or credit and is at the sole discretion of the insurance company.
If you purchased travel insurance and cancel before the final payment deadline - and our agency has not cancelled a tour - your policy purchase will not be eligible for refund. Instead, you will have a credit that you may apply to other travel 770 days from the time of purchase.
PLEASE NOTE: if you cancel your reservation after the final payment deadline but before our agency cancels a tour, you will have to file an insurance claim in order to receive a refund, and you will not be eligible to get your insurance premium back.
If you do not purchase insurance and cancel after the final payment deadline, you will not receive a refund. You are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance.
We hope these additional steps will help alleviate concerns you may have for traveling as we look forward to our future tours. Of course, all of our tours are contingent upon state and federal government guidelines. We will be in touch with any updates or changes as we get closer to our tours departing.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:
Wash hands regularly - If soap and water are not available to clean your hands, use a hand sanitizer which is at least 60% alcohol. Experts agree that good old-fashioned hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (which is the time it takes to sing ’Happy Birthday’ to yourself twice) is the best defense and caution that constant use of hand sanitizer can irritate your skin.
Practice good hygiene - Respiratory diseases like COVID-19 spread through droplets of saliva or mucus, usually when people cough or sneeze, then others come in contact with the droplets. So avoid touching your own eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, as viruses most frequently enter the body through these routes.
If you’re unwell, don’t travel - COVID-19 appears to have an incubation period of at least 14 days, unlike regular flu which is 2 days. So protect yourself, and other travelers, by not traveling when you’re sick.
Cover up - Cover your mouth and nose when you cough, sneeze into your elbow and wear a face mask or covering to protect your fellow travelers.
Clean up - While airlines and motor coach companies have announced extra cleanings, there is no guarantee that every surface will get the full treatment. So carry antibacterial wipes to clean your personal seat and the area around you. The same advice is sensible for other items frequently used by travelers, including hotel television remote controls and washing or cleaning your hands after travelling on shuttles, taxis, holding handrails and using elevators.
Stay up-to-date with travel advice - If traveling internationally, make sure to check the US State Department website for the latest information and advice.
Travel insurance - Travelers who bought travel insurance before COVID-19 became a ‘known event’ may be covered for medical expenses and cancellations. Most travel insurance companies tend to exclude cover for pandemics and epidemics, if you read the fine print. Insurance policies vary greatly, so it’s best to contact the insurance company directly or contact us to help assist. The main travel insurance company we work with has currently made exceptions to this policy though it's not clear how long that will last.
Updated: 8/26/21