How to travel well and safely during COVID-19
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
The health and safety of our clients is our top priority. As people are now traveling again, we want you to know of the extra precautions and policies we are implementing for our group tours 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.
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.
The health and safety of our clients is our top priority. As people are now traveling again, we want you to know of the extra precautions and policies we are implementing for our group tours until further notice.
- Each passenger’s temperature is 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. Our guides and staff will assess each situation and determine the best course of action on a case by case basis, considering all factors and the well-being of everyone involved including the client and the rest of the group. If needed, our office will assist with travel arrangements to get the passenger home but the expense of returning home early will be 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.
- 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 other travel and tourism operators including airlines and other touring venues including wearing face coverings when required or requested, or following social distancing guidelines.
- 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.
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.
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.
Have vaccinations up-to-date - While there is no vaccine for COVID-19, having all other essential vaccinations up-to-date will help you stay healthy and prevent your immune system from being compromised.
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: 11/18/20