To minimize your risk of getting sick and to maximize your enjoyment of Spain, we are implementing the following policies. These guidelines also include practical precautions to guard your own health:
Before the trip:
- Ten days before you depart for Spain, consider limiting your exposure to others. If you must be out in public in the days leading up to your departure, wear a mask. Avoid sick people.
- Don’t travel if you are sick. If you have any respiratory symptoms, take a Covid test. If you test positive, you will not be able to join our tour.
- Pack a generous supply of whatever you like to use to boost your immune system.
- Talk to your doctor about preparing a kit of medicines that would be useful to have on hand were you to get sick with COVID or any virus while traveling in Spain. Don’t assume that these medicines will be available in Spain.
- Pack a thermometer, fever reducing medication, your immune boosting kit, four home Covid tests, and a dozen N95 or KN95 masks with you in case there's illness in the group. It is essential that you pack these supplies. Covid tests may not be available for purchase on every leg of the hike in Spain. And after hours of hiking, should masks becomes necessary, you will not want to wear the same mask for multiple days.
While in transit to Spain:
- Wearing a well-fitted mask is an effective means of protection against airborne viruses. We recommend masking in public bathrooms and whenever you’re using shared transportation such as shuttles, trains, buses, airplanes and while transiting airports.
- Wash your hands with hot, soapy water as often as possible while traveling. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent illness.
Upon arrival:
- Take a Covid test before you get to our first hotel and before you start interacting with other group members. Report your test results to Laura by text, WhatsApp, or email.
While in Spain:
- Washing your hands often with hot soapy water is the best thing you can do to keep from getting sick. However, once you’re in Spain, you will frequently be in situations where there are no sinks, hot water, or soap. Pack a small bottle of hand sanitizer and always carry it with you.
- If you begin to feel ill or have symptoms consistent with a respiratory illness, immediately isolate and notify one of your group leaders. We will evaluate your condition, assess each situation as it arises, and assist you in accessing medical care if needed. You will also be asked to take a Covid test.
- If you test positive, we’ll assist you in making arrangements to leave the tour.
- If an outbreak involves multiple participants, our goal will be to keep our tour going whenever possible.
- If one of the leaders get sick, we will interact as much as is necessary to keep the core trip itinerary on track and will take precautions to keep from spreading illness.
If you get sick and have to leave the tour early:
- The Writer’s Journey will not provide refunds or expense reimbursement to those unable to take part in activities due to illness or contagion. Additional expenses accrued for medical care, additional hotel rooms, taxis, or other costs associated with your illness will be your responsibility.
- If you plan on making a travel insurance claim to cover illness-related expenses, it is essential that you see a medical doctor and get written documentation to support your claim while you’re still in Spain. This paperwork will be required by your travel insurance company. Likewise, if you incur additional out-of-pocket costs for housing, meals, or transportation, be sure to keep a running log and get receipts.
Anyone who does not adhere to these guidelines will be asked to leave the trip and will not receive a refund.
Travel Insurance:
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.
The add-on travel insurance offered when you buy your airline tickets will not be sufficient. Nor will the travel policies that may be included in your credit card benefits—these may not 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.
If you want pre-existing conditions covered, most insurance companies require that you purchase insurance within ten days or two weeks of paying your initial deposit.
If you can’t join our trip or need to leave early due to illness or injury, trip cancellation insurance will be your only recourse to recoup your travel investment. The Writer’s Journey will not provide refunds should you need to cancel, regardless of the reason, beyond the refund policy outlined in our graduated cancellation policy.
Given the constantly changing global health environment, our plans may be modified depending on evolving circumstances. We'll update trip participants via email should this become necessary.
Dated: January 17, 2025