Updated as of June 16th 2020.
As always, the health and safety of our clients is our top priority and we will continue to monitor the situation closely as it develops. This page will be updated to reflect the current state of the coronavirus as it pertains to travel and our clients.
COUNTRY RE-OPENINGS - Updated June 16th
Here are the updates on country plans to ease restrictions and begin re-opening their borders to international travel as of this week. It is important to note that things are continuing to evolve and change on a daily basis especially over the coming months as the world begins to re-open. That being said, we still hope to serve as a resource for our community about the current state of travel and help guide you to additional credible sites and resources that will help provide the most up-to-date information.
- Belize is one of 12 countries that is currently Covid-19 free and plans to reopen its airport and borders to tourists on July 1st dependent upon no cases being reported
white - The Caribbean is already open to travel on some islands including Antigua, St. Lucia and Jamaica. The next phase of openings will begin in July. Aruba plans to open to U.S. travelers on July 10th.
- Costa Rica will potentially re-open its borders in July dependent upon COVID cases for the remainder of June.
a - Greece will resume accepting international flights and travelers July 1st with certain health and social distancing precautions still in place
a - Iceland plans reopen to international tourists by June 15th. After this date, open arrival tourists will need to either self-quarantine for two weeks, take a Covid-19 test, or present a negative test result signed by a healthcare provider in their home country.
a - Mexico plans to begin opening this summer on a region by region basis depending upon the impact of Covid-19 and the number of cases. Certain airlines like Delta, American and Southwest plan to begin resuming flights from the U.S. to certain regions of Mexico in June.
white - Seychelles opened its borders and resumed international flights June 1st to chartered flights and private planes. Tourists are required to take a COVID-19 test 48 hours before they arrive and present proof of their results upon entry. Airports are expected to open for commercial flights in July.
a - Spain plans to re-open borders to tourists in July with safety precautions in place but no quarantine required upon arrival
- Sri Lanka will open to tourists beginning August 1st however only small groups of travelers will be permitted entrance ( no individuals ) and all travelers must present COVID-19 free certificates upon arrival.
a - Tanzania does not have any travel restrictions but travelers are subject to a medical screening upon arrival and there are currently limited international flights available
a - Domestic Travel. Many National Parks have begun re-opening in the U.S. as stay at home orders begin to ease up and cities slowly begin to re-open.
Wednesday April, 22nd:
SOME WORDS OF HOPE FROM THE FRONT LINES:
While we are still uncertain when the world will be safe to travel again, we know many life-long travelers are itching to get back out when we can. Knowing that there is still an incredible world out there waiting for us to explore when this is all over can be a motivating notion during this difficult time.
This held especially true for one of clients, Laurie Landers, an ICU RN who had planned a trip with us to Africa. In addition to her bravery and strength working as a healthcare worker right now, we found her hope in the middle of this chaos particularly moving and wanted to share:
We have no intentions of cancelling this trip unless we are physically being blocked entering countries. Otherwise, it is still a healthy 4-5 months away.
Thursday April 2nd:
As the world continues to shut its doors and hunker down during this global crisis, we hope that all of you and your families are staying safe and healthy. COVID-19 has had far-reaching and devastating impacts beyond what we think any of us could have imagined a few short months ago.
As of now we have postponed or canceled any trips set to take place in the coming months. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and reevaluate trips scheduled for later this year as things develop.
While there remains a lot of uncertainty for what the immediate future holds, we still believe that there is much positivity and good in this world to celebrate. Travel has been put on pause for the moment, but that doesn’t mean our passion for exploring the world should dissipate. We think it is important to remember that we get through this, and there will come a day when we can all safely seek out adventure again. For now, stay safe, stay healthy and stay curious.
Thursday, March 19th:
The development of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many countries closing their borders to foreigners through at least the end of the month.
During this uncertain period, we strongly recommend that anyone set to travel within the next 60 days rebook their trip to a later date. This is the best option to recoup the majority of your trips cost and we will do our best to transfer the majority of these costs to your new travel date. Outright cancellations will incur our standard cancellation fees which can be found below.
This is an unprecedented situation and we are trying to be as flexible as possible. We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this difficult time.
Friday, March 13th Update:
Coronavirus has proved to be a rapidly evolving situation with new updates occurring on a daily, if not hourly basis.
With this week’s announcement from the World Health Organization declaring coronavirus as a pandemic, we have seen a rapid response from governments worldwide imposing new travel bans and restrictions.
We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and how it may impact our travelers and destinations and working to stay in front of any potential challenges. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your future or current travel please contact your travel specialist. They are here to help and will work to find solutions to any problems or complications you may encounter.
The answers to the following FAQ’s will be reviewed and updated on a daily basis. However, for the most current information or for any pressing concerns the best resource is your travel specialist.
If you’ve already booked your trip
Are Global Basecamps tours still happening during this time?
It depends. Travel bans and restrictions for our destinations are constantly developing and we are monitoring them closely. At this point in time, we recommend that all clients traveling within the next 60 days take steps to rebook their travel to later this year.
Due to the widespread global impact of Coronavirus, the Department of State is currently advising that U.S. citizens reconsider traveling abroad at this time. If your trip departure date is more than 60 days out, we encourage you to continue to monitor the status of your destination through reputable sources such as the Department of State and the CDC.
I’m considering canceling or postponing my upcoming trip with you. What are your cancellation and re-booking policies?
In light of the coronavirus, we have introduced a more lenient rebooking policy. If you are considering canceling we urge you to consider postponing your trip instead.
If you are traveling with us in the next 60 days, we strongly advise rebooking your trip for later this year. This is the best option for recovering the majority of your costs which we will do our best to apply to your future travel date.
Every trip is handled on a case by case basis, due to the broad variety of our suppliers and custom-nature of our itineraries. However, the following policies are being extended to all of our trips.
- Clients may postpone bookings for up to 12 months from the original travel date at little to no penalty
- Any postponement ideals needs to be done at least 30 days prior to arrival ( however with the development of new travel restrictions, exceptions may be made)
- You may be responsible for any seasonal or annual rate changes to the original booking period. So far, we’ve had a lot of luck avoiding increases as everyone is trying to be as flexible and accommodating as possible.
- In the event of canceling entirely, standard cancellation terms apply
Our official cancellation policy is as follows:
- Trips canceled 90 days prior to the travel date will incur a fee of 25% of the total trip cost
- Trips canceled 89-31 days prior to the travel date will incur a fee of 50% the total trip cost
- Cancellations within 30 days of departure date are non-refundable.
We understand that this is a delicate situation and can be frustrating based on its constantly evolving nature. Rest assured, we always have our clients best interests safety in mind. We are continuing to monitor the situation and working hard to find solutions that are best for our travelers.
I’m still planning to go on my upcoming trip but I’m worried about my flight and travel restrictions?
At this time, the status of flights and airline policies are rapidly changing. Many airlines are beginning to limit their international flights until a set date. Because of this, we advise that you please continue to check the status of your upcoming flight reservation and update us of any changes or cancellations that may occur.
Not all airlines will notify travelers of changes to their policies so it is important to be proactive in reaching out to them to ask about changes to any upcoming flights.
As mentioned above, if you are traveling within the next 60 days we strongly recommend you postpone your travel plans.
Should your flight be canceled, the first step is to work with your airline to find a new route to your final destination. If you are unable to rebook, please contact your travel specialist to discuss cancellation or rebooking options.
How can I protect myself from getting sick while traveling?
In general, the best thing you can do to protect yourself while traveling is to exercise the same healthy habits and precautions used to prevent the cold and flu.
Wash your hands with hot water and soap frequently and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. Maintain social distancing when possible and avoid people who appear to be ill.
For more information about how to protect yourself and others, check out this guide from the World Health Organization.
Anything else I should be aware of during travel at this time?
It should be noted that there could be unexpected closures and/or delays of attractions or sights that we won’t be able to alert you to ahead of time. This situation is evolving on a daily basis so it is impossible to be 100% updated on all the ways the coronavirus may impact travel within each of our destinations. We are in consistent contact with our partners and doing our best to update travelers and get them home safely.
If you’re actively planning your trip or considering traveling:
Is it still safe to travel internationally?
The steps countries and companies are taking to manage coronavirus is changing at a rapid pace. Because of this, we cannot give one definitive overarching answer as to which countries you will be able to book future travel to.
However, we are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to keep our clients and potential travelers updated as to how this may impact their travel.
As the situation develops, we feel confident that countries and communities will begin to gain a better grasp on how to contain and mitigate the impact of coronavirus. While we take this very seriously, we also believe it is important to remember that nothing is permanent.
While we do not recommend any travel in at least the next 60 days, we do have faith that this situation will get better and people will be able to safely resume travel.
If you are curious about the current status of the destination you are interested in, this live map is a reliable reference.
As the global response to Coronavirus develops, we will have a better sense of how countries and companies are responding to the challenges presented by this disease and how to best proceed once it is safe to resume international travel.
Do you offer travel insurance? What type of coverage do I need to protect me against coronavirus related cancellations?
We offer all our travelers travel insurance through our partner Travel Insured. However, it is important to note that only plans that include “Cancel for Any Reason” cover cancellations due to concern or wariness around traveling because of Coronavirus.
It should be noted that at this time “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage is only available if purchased within 21 days of initial trip deposit.
Because of these restrictions, we strongly advise you purchase travel insurance at the time of booking if you are worried about coronavirus-related cancellations.
You can learn more about Travel Insured’s policies here.
Will I still be able to book flights right now? What are the airline cancellation policies?
This largely depends on where and when you are flying and what airline you are using. Many U.S. based airlines are choosing to decrease or pause international flights so it is important to stay up-to-date on their most recent policies.
Again, the CDC and WHO are both reliable sources to determine whether or not there are official travel bans or significant travel risks associated with a country.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to one of our travel specialists or email us directly at travel@globalbasecamps.com.
