CURRENT TOTO TOURS COVID-19 POLICIES

Traveling Safely with Us

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. Your safety is our number one priority. We recognize that the decision to travel is a personal one, and what matters most is that you feel comfortable doing so. One of the advantages of traveling with us is our small group size. It is easy to physically distance on Toto Tours. Nevertheless, it is impossible to ensure that you never encounter someone while traveling who is infected and contagious. As always, the surest way to protect yourself is to be fully vaccinated (with boosters), masked in public settings, and practicing social distancing. We hope that the following policies will help you feel safe while traveling with us.

Toto Tours COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Because we care about your safety and the safety of the people in the destinations we explore, Toto Tours requires full COVID-19 vaccination for all guests traveling with us. We also ask guests to receive booster shots in addition to the original vaccination series, as more and more destinations are requiring boosters in order to enter the country. A new booster for the B.5 variant is currently under development, and we highly recommend getting it if available before departure. Recent news reports indicate availability in late September 2022. We request that our guests provide us with proof of their vaccination status four weeks before departure. This is not a burdensome process – simply snap a photo of your CDC card with your cell phone and text it to +1-773-274-8686. This will enable us to verify that you are protected and not likely to encounter difficulties arriving at your destination. It is also good for us to have it on file in case you misplace the physical card during the tour. We’ll send you a reminder when it is time to send us your snapshot.

Keeping You Informed

We are diligently monitoring what’s happening in the world and how it impacts your trip. The current pandemic is no exception. We will communicate any pertinent information related to your departure as soon as we have it, so you’re always in the know. Closer to departure (about one month prior to your trip), we will write to you with updates and outline the entry and testing requirements as we best understand them at that time. Certain countries have instituted new measures such as COVID testing requirements or specific restrictions on travel. We’re keeping a close eye on regulations that will affect our departures, but it is your responsibility to stay abreast of and adhere to the regulations for your destination(s) – including any countries you plan to visit before arrival at your tour’s starting point. Learn more by visiting the CDC website, the embassy websites of countries you’ll be entering, and airline websites for more destination-specific details. No refunds will be given if you are unable to undertake some or all of your tour due to your failure to comply with destination-specific requirements. You will be responsible for any resulting additional costs, including travel and accommodations.

24/7 Support on Tours

A Toto Tours trip leader joins every trip and is prepared to support your expert guide in managing logistics around any necessary adjustments that might be required on the spot due to unexpected governmental regulation changes.

What To Consider Before You Go

Arriving Healthy

Many countries require a negative COVID test prior to entry. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms or obtain a positive COVID test result within 2 weeks prior to your trip, we ask that you contact us to discuss your options.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Toto Tours values you as a guest, and we want your trip to be enjoyable and stress-free. We encourage you to shop around to find the insurance company and policy that best suits your needs. In the age of COVID, we especially recommend purchasing a “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) policy.

Face Coverings & Hand Sanitizer

We recommend that all guests bring their preferred face covering and suggest one fresh mask for each day of your trip. You should also bring a supply of hand sanitizer with you for use whenever you contact a public surface or shake hands.

Rapid At-Home Test

We encourage every tour participant bring at least one rapid COVID test with them to have at the ready should anyone in the group develop symptoms. This precaution will save the group a lot of time instead of needing to halt the itinerary to find a testing facility on the road (which might not be readily available in your destination).

On The Trip

Accommodations

We’ve carefully selected accommodations on our trips because of their high standards of quality. All our partners abide by enhanced safety protocols for cleaning and physical distancing.

Bus / Transportation Vehicles

We strongly recommend – even when not required at the destination – that all guests wear masks while inside fully enclosed vehicles on the trip.

Daily Check-Ins

Your tour leader and expert guide will check in with you on a regular basis to ensure everyone is feeling safe and healthy. If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms, we ask that you let your guide know immediately.

Testing Positive While Traveling

If a group member tests positive for COVID-19 during a tour, the destination-specific regulations of the host country take immediate effect. In all cases, for the safety of the group, the infected individual(s) will discontinue their travel and follow the quarantine requirements of the host country. Toto Tours and its local partners will work with you to find appropriate accommodations and connect you with English-speaking medical facilities and professionals who can monitor your status and provide any necessary treatment as you quarantine. All expenses relating to quarantine (accommodations, transportation and treatments) are the responsibility of the affected traveler. Upon receiving a negative COVID test, the individual may re-join the group. While this policy may seem extreme, it is absolutely necessary for the safety of the group. Your participation in Toto Tours is conditioned upon your understanding and acceptance of this policy, and your willing compliance should this situation arise.

Stay Tuned . . .

As you are aware, this is a very fluid situation and global policies and requirements are changing all the time and often without notice. Please be assured that we will update you if any of our guidelines change. Your health and safety are paramount to us here at Toto Tours.

Updated: August 4, 2022