COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Travel Guidance & Advice

We, along with many other travel firms and suppliers have been extremely busy changing and amending travel plans, answering questions and assisting our groups and travelers in all manners  so wanted to provide an update on the latest that we have learned from this fluid situation.   

Coronavirus airport

-Travel to Asia has been Impacted – Nonessential travel to mainland China is not recommended and travel to many destinations in Asia has been impacted.  Contact your airline carrier for the latest updates and to see what options may be available.   We suggest reconsidering cruise ship travel to all parts of Asia at this time and many cruise lines have already changed and adjusted their future itineraries or are allowing guests to reschedule.  Iran and Italy now have some severe outbreaks with quarantines in place so practice precaution and check updates on the virus if traveling to these destinations and keep updated for any other international travel. 

---

Travel Insurance

​-Purchase Travel Insurance – For all current and future trips.  Purchasing travel insurance is a must to protect yourself and travel investment in this fast moving epidemic.   Make sure you to include the “Cancel for any reason Waiver” to provide maximum protection and options. FYI, in order to add this waiver to your travel protection the insurance usually needs to be purchased within 7-21 days of initial trip deposit.  A good travel insurance policy should cover all non-refundable costs related to travel including; conference registration fees, airfare, accommodations, tours, transfers, etc... Not all insurance coverage is the same so carefully read the coverages to know what your protection and limits are or contact a professional travel advisor or the insurance company directly with your questions.  

• Pack 14 days of extra medication — In the event of unexpected travel delays and emergencies,  bring additional prescription medication for at least two weeks beyond the length of your trip.  Also, include in your packing list all prescriptions showing the names, strengths and dosages of all medications in case refills are required.

• Provide Emergency Contact — It is critical to provide your travel advisor or travel supplier with a current and validated emergency contact & phone number that is not traveling with you.

• Mobile phone instructions — For international travel you should have an international  travel plan inclusive of voice and data. Cell phones will not work the same in all countries without an international plan and Wi-Fi is not as available in many countries. An international plan will enable you to stay connected at a reasonable rate and ensure they can be contacted. Also update your phone and mobile communication apps with all available updates before traveling.  

• Practice healthy travel habits — According to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the simplest and most effective way to prevent illness, is to take extra care to practice basic health habits, including:

• Washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
• Taking advantage of hand sanitizer wherever it's available
• Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing using a tissue or your bent elbow. And always dispose of the used tissue and wash your hands afterwards
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands
• Avoiding close contact with sick people

We hope this information is helpful so please share with others. Reach out with any questions on your specific travel plans.  Otherwise for updated health and virus information check out:
​
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

World Health Organization (WHO) Website:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

---