We are excited to travel with you soon! And we are thankful you’ve chosen us for your adventure on the Camino. The well-being of our community of travelers, guides, locals, hosts, and partners remains our priority. In light of COVID-19, we want you to clearly understand our COVID-related policies, as well as your responsibilities and commitment to our collective well-being.
Importantly, in choosing to participate, each of you must carefully review and sign a Supplemental COVID Addendum to the Terms and Conditions.
As you’re aware, COVID-19 is a serious virus with potentially life-threatening consequences, and we cannot guarantee a COVID-19 free environment. The risk of contracting COVID-19 or any other communicable or contagious disease is an inherent risk of social exposure and travel, even for those who have been fully vaccinated. As we endeavor to manage risks, including those associated with COVID-19, we recognize that our participants are critical partners in this effort.
It is important that you respect and abide by these policies and procedures. Some of these policies we will plan and prepare for. In other cases, we will stay current with changing information and may amend these policies, as appropriate, or as required by authorities.
Here’s what we’re asking from you:
- We ask everyone to be vaccinated for Covid or have a medical reason they can’t. We’ll collect this information from you when you register.
- Take extra precautions in the week leading up to the retreat. Mask in public settings, avoid large gatherings, commit to using a N95 or KN95 mask the entire time you’re utilizing any form of shared transportation (shuttles, airports, security lines, flights, trains, buses) enroute to the retreat.
- We ask you to disclose to us before the retreat starts, whether, within the prior week, you have exhibited any Covid or flu-like symptoms or been directly exposed to anyone known to have Covid-19.
- Bring a couple of home Covid tests with you.
- Take and turn in a negative COVID test the morning we first meet as a group. If you test positive, you will not be allowed to participate in the retreat.
- Masks will be optional, but we ask everyone to bring a several N95 or KN95 masks should they become necessary.
- Familiarize yourself with Spain’s safety protocols and requirements before traveling. Since these are in a state of flux, the most up-to-date information can be found here. Be sure to check periodically to be aware of changes to these policies and requirements.
- If you’re traveling to and from the U.S., stay up to date on protocols and requirements for travelers entering and leaving the US. You can find those here: https://es.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/.
- If you are traveling from another country, stay abreast of changing protocols and requirements for your country.
- We strongly recommend booking your flights through a reputable travel agent so that you can be sure that your plans meet the shifting requirements for travel during this time. This includes being aware of the rules and requirements of any country you may be transiting through. Booking flights online through discount websites where there are few or no recourse for customers is definitely not recommended in this time of uncertainty.
- Requirements for additional testing or other changes to this policy will be determined closer to the retreat or as needed on site.
Key to our success will be our partnership with our participants. We appreciate your cooperation. The risks of COVID-19 transmission to anyone, including you, can occur both in the trip community and in your home community as you move into, and then out of trip, even if you are fully vaccinated – with your actions potentially impacting both communities. As a result, participants share in the responsibility for their own and others’ well-being. In that regard, we ask that you make a commitment to honor the COVID-19 precautions not only when you are on our trip, but also before you arrive and after you depart. You are then partnering as an active risk manager in an effort to assist both communities.
We also ask you to disclose to us before the trip starts, whether, within the prior fourteen days, you have exhibited any COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms or been exposed to anyone known to have COVID-19. We appreciate your cooperation here.
We will work to maintain open lines of communication with you and will be updating you as to any modifications in our COVID trip policies before your arrival and upon arrival. Please contact Jen Petras if you have questions.
We look forward to enjoying our Camino adventure together!
Travel Insurance & Covid
Travel Insurance is required for this trip. At a minimum, you need insurance to cover the standard $1,000,000 medical evacuation coverage, trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay coverage, $100,000 in medical coverage including hospitalization due to COVID-19, and if available in your state, coverage that will cover you should you need to quarantine.
You should not buy the add-on travel insurance offered when you buy your airline tickets. Also, do not assume that the travel policy that may be included as part of your credit card benefits will be adequate or provide everything you need.
It’s essential that you do your own due diligence because policy provisions vary by company, state, and depend on your age, and sometimes pre-existing conditions. You can have a travel agent arrange for your insurance or you can do your own research—but do your research.
These are some of the questions you’ll want ask:
- Under what circumstances can I cancel my trip and have it be fully refunded?
- Will the insurer refund the full cost of my trip and all travel costs if I have a positive COVID test before I embark? What documentation and evidence are necessary to claim this benefit?
- What if I have to quarantine in the country I’m visiting, am returning to, or are transiting through? What will and won’t I be covered for?
- What if a country I am traveling to, through, or from changes their policies immediately before or during my trip?
- If 70 or older, do you cover travelers 70 and older?
- What about my pre-existing conditions? What do I need to know?
Also, important to note:
- In most instances, insurance MUST be purchased within 14 days of your first booking date if you want the pre-existing exclusion to be waived.
- Some companies may treat COVID-19 like any other illness, but not all insurance companies do. Some companies exclude coverage for COVID-19—which will not provide adequate coverage for this trip. Please be sure to ask.
- If your country requires a mandatory test on return or departure, these are not covered by insurance, but will need to be paid out of pocket.
- Cancel-for-any-reason or interrupt-for-any-reason insurance is also available.
- Be sure to remain flexible with other travel arrangements. You should have the ability to change or cancel your hotel and airline reservations, if needed. Special internet deals, promotional airfares, or reservations from discounted online travel engines will not be appropriate.
- Your initial deposit for this trip is not refundable. After June 1, 2023, the only refunds offered for this trip will be through travel insurance. Trip protection insurance is the best way to protect your investment. Be sure you understand what your insurance will and won’t cover.