Safety on tour: Awesome attractions and student safety

Sep 24, 2020

Travel Notes

prepare for a student trip

In this series, we’ve been sharing our updated safety practices designed to keep all of our travelers safe in the incredible destinations we explore together. Every year, we evaluate and update our safety best practices. During this travel season, we’re taking special care to create even more specific guidelines to put all of our customers, travelers and families at ease.

While this current travel season has some limitations, many of our favorite attractions in cities across the country are opening back up and sharing their own safety guidelines. It’s encouraging for us to see each attraction taking the steps necessary to safeguard their visitors. But it’s also necessary; as we require every vendor we work with, from transportation to lodging to activities, to meet our own health and safety standards. Before we share updates from a few of our favorite attractions, here’s a quick reminder of our latest safety guidelines:

  • Travel clean – We ensure that all of our vendors, from transportation to lodging, restaurants to attractions, have cleaning and sanitization procedures in line with the CDC and local Department of Health guidelines.
  • Travel confidently – We have established a health and safety task force who reviews all itineraries, making recommendations that prioritize student health and safety above all else. All of our Tour Directors have received additional safety training and will be conducting daily safety briefings, as well as diligently working with the Group Leaders to ensure appropriate safety protocols are followed.
  • Travel memorably – While this season is a bit different, the memories your students will make will be just as incredible. Our itineraries will be crafted to ensure the safest, most memorable experience with the least disruption.
  • Travel with assurance – Our Trip Assurance Program provides another layer of confidence for our clients, ensuring that if your group must cancel its trip, we’ll go the extra mile to ensure that your travelers receive the highest possible refund.

As attractions open back up to the public, we’re seeing a lot of “safety consistency” that aligns with our updated guidelines. A few examples:

 

  • Temperature checks upon arrival and cool down areas provided for those with a high temperature reading.
  • Required use of face coverings and masks by employees and guests.
  • Reduced venue/theme park capacity in accordance with local and state laws, to accommodate physical distancing throughout the location.
  • Signs or markings on the ground outlining physical distancing in general areas as well as lines and queues. Virtual queue systems where possible to manage capacity and facilitate social distancing.
  • Frequent sanitization and cleaning of high touch areas.
  • Hand sanitizer readily available throughout.

Now, onto the attractions!

Chicago

The Field Museum

 Of course we’re partial to The Field – it’s in our own backyard after all. The museum is back in business, operating at 25% capacity, which is pretty fantastic when you consider the half a million square feet of space you can enjoy with your students, crowd-free. We’d give you all the fine print details of The Field’s health and safety plan, but it’s more fun to let Sue explain. 

Nashville

The Country Music Hall of Fame

Music City is ready to welcome back visitors and what better way to enjoy your time in Nashville than a trip to The Country Music Hall of Fame. With newly launched timed ticketing and health procedures, visitors can explore the museum safely, with fewer crowds.

Washington, D.C.

The National Gallery

Our nation’s capitol is one of our favorite places to share with students. The West Building of The National Gallery is now open, with free, timed entry passes to limit capacity – this includes an incredible exhibition of work by Degas. The Sculpture Garden is open as well, with no pass required. Face coverings, social distancing and enhanced cleaning measures are all in place to keep guests happy and healthy.

So many more attractions are open and eager to host visitors, but we’re doing our due diligence to ensure that any place we consider exploring is abiding by CDC and local health department guidelines. If you’re considering a trip with your students and have questions about open attractions, safety procedures or ways to stay safe on tour, we’d love to answer your questions.

Don’t miss our next post where we’ll be sharing our safety guidelines for hotels and restaurants!

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