Safety Guidelines & Protocol
SAFE TRAVELS. REST ASSURED.
SAFETY FIRST
True Nature Education knows that safety comes first, and as we start planning a return to travel, the safety and well-being of our participants, leaders, and partners is our highest priority. We understand that international travel carries heightened cautions at this time, and as such, we are working diligently with our partners to ensure proper safety guidelines, implement flexible booking policies, and offer additional insurance options. With the ever-changing landscape of travel and COVID-19, we will keep this page updated with our latest information.
Thank you for being a part of the True Nature family. We look forward to traveling with you.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
As we start to look towards the future, True Nature Education is continuing to assess the viability of programs on a destination by destination basis. If your upcoming trip plans are affected, you will be contacted no later than 30-45 days prior to your program start date to discuss your options.
We are working diligently with all of our centers to establish clear and proper protocols in response to COVID-19.
- Tracking international measures taken by health authorities in the country
- Securing detailed information from our centers on preventative measures being implemented in response to COVID-19
- Establishing guidelines for pre-retreat communication to ensure all participants feel informed and supported before travel
- Updating medical emergency plans of action to include COVID-19
- Communicating with on-the-ground partners for real-time updates regarding the realities and conditions within the local community
- Determining current entry requirements for each country, including mandatory medical insurance, COVID-19 testing, tracking, etc.
For more information on actions being taken by the center for your specific program, please visit the “Things to Know” tab on your program web page or contact us at info@truenatureeducation.com.
SIGN UP WITH NO RISK
In response to COVID-19, True Nature Education is offering a temporary exception to our cancellation policy. When you sign up for any 2021 program, your deposit is fully transferable. There is no cancellation fee if you transfer to another trip or put your deposit ($350 less the $35 non-refundable registration fee) on hold for a future trip until the final payment date.*
We want to make sure everyone feels safe to travel and we are here to help and support you throughout this journey.
*The deadline to cancel and receive a credit for your deposit is 120 days before the trip date. This offer is not valid to new registrations after this date.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
True Nature Travels is closely monitoring the situation regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global travel.
Please Note: Requirements for entry, including mandatory vaccinations and quarantine, can vary by country and may be dependent on your country of origin.
Here are two general resources you may find useful for your travels: Kayak and Sherpa.
Both web pages provide information on current entry, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements in addition to requirements to re-entry into the United States and Canada.
In addition, please be sure to check directly with your airline. Most airlines will also be providing updates on their website about changes to entry requirements and if you do not find them it is important to contact your airline directly.
Please be sure to check periodically for new entry requirements that may come up to best prepare for your travel.
Terms of entry are always subject to change and should be confirmed independently before traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current entry requirements? Are vaccinations mandatory?
Entry requirements are changing rapidly making it challenging for us to provide consistent updates or predict what will be in effect at the time of your retreat. Many countries are currently implementing vaccination mandates to either enter the country or access indoor spaces.
Here are two general resources you may find useful for your travels: Kayak and Sherpa.
Both web pages provide information on current entry, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements in addition to requirements to re-entry into the United States and Canada.
In addition, please be sure to check directly with your airline. Most airlines will also be providing updates on their website about changes to entry requirements and if you do not find them it is important to contact your airline directly.
Please be sure to check periodically for new entry requirements that may come up to best prepare for your travel. Terms of entry are always subject to change and should be confirmed independently before traveling.
When the U.S. is requiring testing for re-entry to the country, will you be helping us secure testing?
Yes, when possible, we will be coordinating on-site testing for your group. This testing will incur an additional cost (average is $75/person). If on-site testing is not available, we will provide your group with information on securing a test. Additional information will be provided in the Final Instructions email that we send out to the group a couple of weeks prior to the trip.
The CDC is also now allowing home testing kits to be used for re-entry. There are specific guidelines regarding which test is accepted. Please be sure to read the requirements carefully before choosing your home test. Learn more here.
What are CDC advisories?
Periodically the CDC will change its recommendation for traveling to certain countries. Please know that we take all information into account when monitoring all of our trips which include being advised by our medical advisory team. The CDC alerts are advisories and not government-mandated or regulatory.
Our programs are held in rural areas where there is very little risk of exposure to Covid-19. Our participants, in-country partners, and the venues follow the recommended protocols which create a safe container for the group. We feel comfortable and confident in running programs at this time and are here to support you in any way with your questions or concerns.
What happens if I test positive right before the program?
For the safety of the group, please notify us. You would also need to contact the travel insurance company with proof of your positive test to file your claim for reimbursement.
What happens if I test positive during the trip?
The retreat center has protocols in place for situations such as this in accordance with the country’s health officials. If somebody tests positive at the end of the trip, the center will work with the participant to create a plan of action for their quarantine. In some cases based on availability, they may be able to stay on-site or they may need to relocate to another location to complete the quarantine.
We highly encourage the purchase of travel insurance to help mitigate the costs of any healthcare, quarantine, and additional travel expenses that may occur during this scenario. Please check with the insurance company to confirm what is covered.
Can I receive a refund if I cancel?
Our cancellation policies signed by participants when they register still apply for all trips. In response to COVID, we have made an exception to our non-refundable and non-transferable deposit policy. There is no cancellation fee if participants transfer to another trip or put their deposit ($350) on hold for a future trip. *The deadline to cancel and receive a credit for your deposit is 120 days (the first payment date) before the program date. This offer is not valid for new registrations after this date.
Participants are encouraged to purchase travel insurance at every step of the pre-trip process to protect their trip investment.
Can I still purchase travel insurance?
Yes, participants can still purchase travel insurance to cover their trip investment.
Click here to view information about our insurance partners and the policies they have available.
The ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ optional add-on is only available for a short period of time after making the initial deposit.
PEACE OF MIND
We understand that there are a lot of unknowns with COVID-19 right now. As such, we have established a new partnership with a travel insurance provider, Trawick International. Their Safe Travels First Class and Safe Travels Single Trip plans provide the following benefits for COVID-19:
- Sickness or Death of a traveler, traveling companion or non-traveling family member
- Quarantine
- Termination/Layoff
- Available only on the Safe Travels First Class: Cancel for Any Reason add-on
- Trawick International insurance is treating COVID-19 as any other sickness for all illness-related losses. Customers are eligible to claim for medical expenses incurred during their trip, along with trip interruption benefits.
Cancel for Any Reason is the most popular and hard to find benefit in the market today! This benefit is available on their Safe Travels First Class. Cancel for any reason will reimburse up to 75% of the non-refundable trip cost and is available within 10 days of the paid deposit.
For U.S Residents - Follow this link when you are ready to purchase Trawick International insurance.
**Please note, the insurance policies mentioned above and the optional Cancel for Any Reason add-on is offered to U.S. residents only.
For Non-U.S. Residents - Follow this link when you are ready to purchase Trawick International insurance.
We encourage you to research the insurance company and policy that best meets your needs.
When initially signing up for travel insurance, you can secure a policy based on the initial payment made towards your trip registration. Upon the booking of your flight and final payment of the trip, you will be able to adjust the balance of your policy and pay the additional premium for coverage.
We are not insurance experts, so we encourage you to carefully review the terms and ask any questions directly to the insurance company.
PASSPORTS
As a general rule, passports should have at least six months of validity after your departure from your destination. That means if your passport has less than six months remaining until the expiration date, you should renew it right away!
At this time passport processing times, for both renewals and new passports, are much longer than usual. We recommend that you apply for any necessary passport arrangements as soon as possible.
WAIVER
Please note, ALL participants of True Nature trips will be asked to sign a Travel Waiver form prior to attendance.
SINGLE UPGRADES
Don’t feel comfortable rooming with someone? When availability permits, we are offering participants the option to upgrade accommodation from shared to single occupancy. Please reach out to us if you would like to explore this option.
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