Travel Aware
Tropical Sky Group
Useful Information and Updated Terms & Conditions for International Travel with COVID-19
International Travel is likely to have restrictions and a variety of Covid-19 protocols and checks for many months to come. It is therefore important that you read and understand how this might affect you if you intend to travel in the months to come and confirm and accept the advice and terms contained herein.
This document contains information and advice on what to expect before, during and after your travel which we hope will be helpful. It also contains clarification of how some of our terms would apply to this specific situation of travelling in a Covid pandemic as well as updated terms specifically related to the new guidance and legislation the UK Government has introduced around travel and the Traffic Light system for assessing travel to worldwide destinations.
Despite the advice we are giving you on restrictions and interruptions that may occur, we do hope that you will enjoy your holiday as we are likely to have to holiday this way for some while.
These protocols form part of our Booking Conditions. Please see condition 40.
Before you Travel
It is possible that the destination you have chosen to travel to, may change its requirements for entry between booking and travelling.
It is also possible that the UK Government assessment of travel risks to your chosen destination may change on multiple occasions between booking and travelling. This is explained further in this document under the Traffic Light Guidance.
It is your responsibility to make sure that you are compliant with any rules regarding leaving the country, entering your destination and arriving back into the UK. This is, and will continue to be, a dynamically changing landscape as the worldwide vaccine programmes roll out, surges occur in certain countries and variants of concern are discovered or are categorised as non-concerning.
The best source of information on these requirements comes directly from the UK Governments main travel advice site:
https//www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
It is also possible that the different countries within the UK may have slightly differing rules.
We will try to assist as much as we can, but this is ultimately your responsibility to make sure you are compliant with all travel requirements.
Whilst not an exclusive list, you should ensure you comply with any requirements for:
- Visa / declarations pre travel for your destination
- Covid Test requirements – paying particular attention to timescales pre travel
- Airline declarations and information on travel
- Airline meal pre-ordering
- Vaccine proof if required
At the Airport
It is highly likely that your airport experience will differ from historical experiences. You should ensure you leave sufficient time for any airport additional checks. Your airline will publish ideal guides on how long to give yourself for check in.
Some changes may include, but will not be limited to:
- Social Distancing measures
- Facemask wearing
- Longer queues
- Restricted facilities
- Restricted restaurant menus and goods for sale in some outlets
- Proof of documentation completion
- Proof of vaccines/Covid test results
Your airport experience on arrival at both your destination and re-entering the UK may also see further disruptions with additional Covid protocols and checks which may cause delays.
On Board Your Aircraft
Your experience on board may differ to past experiences. Airlines are trying to keep the experience as good as it was pre Covid, but there may well be restrictions that affect you such as:
- Cabin service restrictions due to social distancing
- Face mask wearing
- Restricted menus for food and beverages
In Your Hotel
Hotels may not be able to deliver their full experience as advertised due to Covid restrictions either directly or indirectly (e.g., caused by decline in occupancy or social distancing measures):
Changes in your experience may include, but not restricted to:
- Non availability of some facilities
- Reduced availability of some facilities
- Reduced restaurant capacity
- Reduced choice of restaurants
- Reduced Menu choices for food and beverage
- Face mask wearing
At Your Destination
It is possible that there will be Covid based restrictions at your destination with rules set locally by the relevant country or region. This may include:
- Restricting movement around the area
- Closure or restriction of some entertainment facilities
- Reduction in capacity of entertainment facilities
- Local Covid restrictions, protocols and testing
- Face mask wearing
Operation of Holidays
We are intending to operate all holidays as soon as legally permitted from the UK.
Holidays will be subject to the UK Government “Traffic Light” system explained extensively below.
It is important that you note:
- We will plan to operate all holidays no matter what the current traffic light
- We may have to cancel your holiday at any stage for any reason if we cannot deliver it as planned. If this occurs you will be entitled to a refund but not compensation for cancellation
- Cancellation decisions may occur at a very late stage pre departure as we are in a dynamically changing situation
You will need to pay in full for your holiday by the due date unless you defer your arrangements before this date.
If you are disinclined to travel, you will need to let us know as soon as possible. We will then be able to look at alternative destinations or dates for you and re-price a replacement trip for you. The later you leave the decision, the more likely we will have to also comply with partners terms and not just our own which may restrict our flexibility.
Our promise is that we will be as flexible as possible over this recovery period. However, if you require changes very close to your planned departure, partners, in particular airlines may not be in the position to offer refunds or alterations to plans as we would wish. An example of this would be if an airline continues to operate their flights on dates you were originally booked for and the tickets were issued and fully paid for. You may not be entitled to a refund from the airline or at best only be given a credit against a future flight to be utilised in a specific time frame.
Our advice is be certain as far in advance as you can that you are happy to travel with some of these potential restrictions. If you are hesitant in any way, then you should discuss with us any deferral of travel plans or change in destination you wish. The sooner we do this the more flexible we can be. It is easier to change your plans and bring them forward if you change your mind again rather than to unpick a holiday at the last minute once all hotels and airlines are fully paid for.
Important Note: Any Covid tests required by the UK or your travel destination will be at your own expense as will any formal quarantine costs. It is also vital you ensure you have extensive valid travel insurance that covers you to travel to your chosen destination and includes cover for Covid related incidents.
Updated 08.10.21
