Travel safety & support

At EF Go Ahead Tours, the health and safety of our travelers and staff are a top priority. EF considers guidelines released by Health Canada and the World Health Organization when making departure decisions. Additionally, our global 24/7 Emergency Service and Safety & Incident Response Teams closely monitor each of our destinations to identify potential risks and local regulations.

We are reviewing each country we visit on tour to assess any border restrictions and to confirm flights are operating between the U.S., Canada, and that destination. We are continuously communicating with our suppliers to review and uphold our safety protocols and safe travel standards, and are working with our local staff to thoroughly understand the environment of our destinations before we travel there. It is important to us that we are providing our travelers with immersive, cultural experiences, so we are careful to assess whether points of interest are open to travelers and whether new policies and social distancing standards will inhibit a traveler’s experience. In the age of COVID-19, we are also specifically monitoring reports regarding infection rates and health care accessibility and will closely monitor any changes in reported rates following a destination’s reopening before commencing travel.

EF Go Ahead Tours recommends that all travelers follow the recommendations of their own medical professionals. Experts advise people to frequently wash their hands in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds and to avoid touching their face. Be aware of high-touch surfaces, such as handrails, armrests, and security bins at the airport, and be sure to wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with such surfaces, or before any meal. If possible, wipe down any personal surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes before use and bring hand sanitizer for moments when water or soap may not be available.

Hand sanitizer will be available on all our buses and we recommend travelers use it upon re-entering the bus. Buses will be cleaned and sanitized regularly, with a specific focus on high-frequency touchpoints. Tour Directors will also provide a reminder of these guidelines at the start of every tour.

As always, we recommend our travelers appoint an Emergency Contact who can be reached in case of any urgent concerns during their tour. This individual should be aware they are being listed as an Emergency Contact and their name and phone number should be reported to Go Ahead prior to departure.

Finally, we also recommend our travelers speak with their doctors about any concerns they may have about traveling during this time. We are not medical professionals and will always encourage our travelers to take the advice of their own physicians.

In addition to our standard packing list, we recommend travelers pack masks, hand sanitizer, and anti-bacterial wipes in their carry-on bags. As always, keep any prescriptions in your carry-on as well, in case of any luggage delays.

Travelers should plan to arrive earlier than usual at the airport to allow additional time for potential health screening and social distancing protocols. Airlines and airports will enforce their own health and safety measures and travelers should adhere to the guidelines in place. For additional information about your flight, visit your airline’s website.

We are working closely with each of our suppliers to adjust our dining experience in accordance to local and expert guidelines. In some cases, we will adapt our meals to accommodate social distancing and reduce the number of shared surfaces as much as possible.

We partner with restaurants and suppliers that meet superior cleanliness standards and follow the safety protocols in place in their region. We discourage travelers from sharing food and drinks with others on tour and, again, advise travelers to thoroughly wash their hands before eating.

Tour Directors and our On-Tour Support Teams are trained prior to departure on how to respond to any medical concerns that come up during a tour. For most health-related questions, travelers will be advised to seek medical attention, with the assistance of their Tour Director or another local EF staff or guide. Local medical professionals will assess the severity of the condition and will advise on appropriate treatment and protocols.

Should a traveler test positive for COVID-19 during their tour experience, Go Ahead will inform other members of tour as soon as possible and will then follow local protocols to best protect their health and safety. Travelers diagnosed with COVID-19 on tour may not continue on tour. The subsequent response will vary based on the specific conditions of the situation and the policies set in place by local authorities. Go Ahead will continue to communicate necessary information to the travelers in the group until a resolution has been reached and will assist in making arrangements should travelers be required, or if they desire, to return home due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Our extensive network of offices around the world, and integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service, Safety & Incident Response Team anticipate and address on-tour challenges—in a flexible and iterative way.

See our Terms & Conditions for additional details.

Yes, we recommend that all travelers consider purchasing travel coverage to help safeguard your investment in case of unexpected situations. The Travel Protection Plan offers coverage for circumstances that may keep you from your planned travel, including Tour Cancellation & Interruption, Travel & Baggage Delay, Accident & Sickness, and Baggage & Personal Effects.

 Read more about the Travel Protection Plan.

Should a destination be put under a stay-at-home order while travelers are on the road, we will either reroute the tour or bring all travelers home as soon as possible. For tours with itinerary adjustments, customers will not incur any additional fees. Customers with flights purchased through Go Ahead will not incur any flight change fees. Go Ahead also reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to make the decision to end a tour early due to COVID-19 concerns even if a destination does not have a stay-at-home order.

Due to enhanced screening measures at airports, it is possible that travelers showing symptoms may be denied boarding and could be held at an airport for additional testing. In these instances, travelers should call our 24/7 On-Tour Support Team. While travelers must adhere to the airport guidelines in place, Go Ahead can assist in communicating with group members and supporting travelers throughout the experience.