MAI JOURNEYS & COVID-19
COVID-19 does continue to linger in Australia and overseas. We do recommend wearing masks in certain instances while travelling internationally. You should practice good cough and hand hygiene.
Some countries, airlines and vessel operators may still have COVID-19 travel requirements. These can include requiring a pre-departure test result at check-in before you can board your flight or ship. Check the entry requirements for both the:
country you are travelling to, or transiting through
airline or vessel operator’s requirements.
The safety and wellbeing of our guests, Tour Hosts and local partners is our top priority.
This page gives you information on how to book with Mai Journeys with confidence, and Health & Wellbeing.
As we look ahead to safe travel in 2024, we continue to be guided by the Australian and New Zealand Governments and other Travel Advisories. Most destinations are now open to all travellers,
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE:
We want to provide flexibility and peace of mind when you book with Mai Journeys. If we need to postpone a Tour due to a new outbreak of Covid-19, we will contact you as soon as we can.
Any guest booked on a Mai Journeys tour that may be re-scheduled or Cancelled due to Covid will have the opportunity to select one of the following options:
CONVERT YOUR BOOKING TO ACCOUNT CREDIT & TRAVEL ON THE RESCHEDULED TOUR DATES:
We will reschedule all postponed tours and Guest spots will be reserved on the rescheduled dates. (Please note that any rescheduled trips will need to be re-costed for the new dates, which may result in a higher or lower cost. This will be clearly
communicated at the time of rescheduling).TRANSFER TO A NEW / DIFFERENT TOUR: *if only a deposit has been paid:
If you can’t make the new tour dates of a postponed trip and you have only paid a deposit which has not been passed on, you can transfer your booking to another Mai Journeys trip to another destination if that suits your timing better.- YOU MAY REQUEST A REFUND OF MONIES PAID:
We will be happy to provide you with a refund for any recoverable costs by us. However, refunds cannot be provided for any unrecoverable costs (including our Trip Planning Fees, Merchant Fees, Operator costs, any transport paid upfront etc. For this reason we strongly advise you to have adequate Comprehensive Travel Insurance in place)
*Please note, if you cancel due to a ‘change of mind’ due to fear of travelling in the presence of
Covid is deemed a cancellation by you, and our usual cancellation conditions apply.
With regards to payments, if, due to Covid, we need to postpone a tour and we have received your deposit but not passed on payment to our suppliers, you can choose to postpone with the tour date change, receive a credit note or receive a refund of your deposit paid.
If we have paid deposits/final payments to suppliers that cannot be returned, and we have to postpone due to Covid lockdowns, we have agreements to ensure we can move to alternative dates. Please check our booking terms by tour, and standard terms and conditions, when you are filling out your booking form for full details.
HEALTH, WELLBEING & TESTING:
The safety and well-being of our Guests, Tour Hosts and local partners will always remain our top priority.
From arrival to departure, we want you to know we have done everything we can to keep you safe.
Going forward, Mai Journeys reserves the right to restrict symptomatic or exposed guests from joining a tour.
Depending on the airline you travel with, you may still be required to show proof of COVID testing, and similarly, the destination you are travelling to will more than likely have specific requirements with regard to testing, Vaccine status & entry.
We encourage all travellers to check the travel restrictions + requirements in place for their destination.
Any testing that is required pre-travel will be the responsibility of you, the Guest t,o organise and will be at your own expense. Any testing required post-travel will again be the responsibility of the Guest to organize.
Mai Journeys will not be responsible for refunding any lost trip funds if you miss your tour as you cannot meet the health + entry requirements determined by Mai Journeys and the country you are visiting.
SMALL GROUPS.
Our Tours, Retreats and Escapes have always been small group. The minimum being 6 guests and the maximum group size is 10/12 guests. Everyone has plenty of personal space, and being in a smaller group also allows you to connect with your chosen destination in a way you won’t get with larger tours. Mai Journeys will continue fostering connections in-country, but now with newly created health measures to keep you and everyone in your travel group safe. Also, as we travel in small groups, we stay at smaller hotels — which means fewer guests and, as a result, contact with fewer people.
YOUR TRAVEL COMPANIONS:
Anyone who travels with Mai Journeys has a duty of care to themselves and the people around them. Guests must comply with local regulations & laws along with our own health & safety guidelines. This will ensure that everyone can enjoy their trip while remaining well. While nothing can completely eradicate every risk, all guests have certain responsibilities to diligently follow health guidelines.
We also ask every guest to be absolutely sure they are fit to travel. If there is any doubt – you need to contact us as soon as possible so we can try to make alternate arrangements.
MONITORING YOUR HEALTH:
Dependent on your destination, you may be required to complete a health survey before departure.
If you or someone else on your trip has symptoms of Covid-19 while travelling with us we will assist you to access appropriate medical care as quickly as possible. This may include but is not limited to, rearranging the itinerary to facilitate changed departure arrangements, assisting you should you need medical help, or facilitating tests or quarantine arrangements.
We will follow the advice of local health authorities on whether there is a need to self-isolate or quarantine or whether there is a risk to other travellers in the group.
Please note that while we will assist to ensure that you get all the help and support you need, any expenses for testing, treatment or self-isolation will need to be covered by you and your travel insurer.
Whilst we will do all possible to assist you, you are responsible for any additional costs incurred, and/or for making arrangements other than those we originally stated we would provide.
Hotels and service providers are obligated to meet new operating standards of their local government authorities as a response to the coronavirus. Specific standards vary from location to location, but be assured we will ensure our local partners pay careful attention to detail.
COVID OUTBREAK WHILE ON TOUR:
If an outbreak occurs whilst we are on tour, we have fully committed to all payments (hotels, local guides, restaurants, transfers etc.) and therefore are unable to refund travellers should the trip be cut short or altered due to COVID-19.
However, wherever possible, we will find alternative solutions to ensure the journey is still remarkable in every way we can.
*This page was last updated 01 June 2024
*Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the above guidance.