Travel with Confidence
We understand many of you are keen to resume normal life and look forward to your much-valued breaks. While most Asian countries fared a little better in terms of containing infection numbers than Europe, they opted to keep their borders closed for the past ten months. With the release of several new vaccines and some ambitious inoculation programmes, many countries are inching towards domestic normalcy, some have opened their borders, and others are likely to in the coming weeks and months.
TransIndus will continue to review progress in our Asian destinations regularly and monitor FCDO (Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office); WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines and local safety protocols and bring you news of further openings as soon as we have it.
Travel Safety Measures
In anticipation of these openings and to ensure your safety in these challenging times, TransIndus have been working with our ground partners to ensure your holiday is operated with much greater levels of safety, security, hygiene and cleanliness than ever in line with the guidelines proposed by WTTC (The World Travel and Tourism Council).
Group Tour Size Reduced
Many years ago, TransIndus was among the first companies in the UK to introduce the concept of ‘small group tours’, with a maximum number of just 16 travellers. This smaller number guaranteed improved access to more interesting off–the–beaten–track sites and provided greater interaction with guides and local hosts. In this new post-COVID world, we are committed to reducing our group size further to just 8 to 10 people to facilitate social distancing while allowing travellers to enjoy the camaraderie of travelling in a group.
Our Hotels
With our ongoing preference for small, traditional, owner-managed and boutique properties, we have been able to work closely with management teams to introduce new standards of cleaning & hygiene routines, together with daily checking of health parameters of staff and guests.
- Temperature checks are being implemented for guests and staff on arrival at the hotel.
- Public areas with higher foot fall such as lobbies, restaurants, lifts, rest rooms etc are being cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day.
- Social distancing, limited numbers and hand sanitation is encouraged in common areas including lifts.
- Bedrooms are being cleaned thoroughly between guests with particular attention paid to touch points like door handles, light switches, faucets, remotes, bathrooms etc.
- Where possible, properties are attempting to implement breaks of 72hrs between room allocation, to minimise any potential likelihood of cross-contamination.
- Needless to say, hotel staff support PPE.
Local Travel & Transport
Stringent deep cleaning routines have been agreed upon for all vehicles and boats, including the wearing of face masks and regular use of hand sanitisers by drivers. Door handles and seating will be cleaned and disinfected at each entry and exit point. Where possible chauffeur driven vehicles will have a transparent partition between the driver and guests
- While we encourage guests to carry their preferred supply of face masks and hand sanitiser, all our vehicles will be equipped with both.
- Vehicles will be deep cleaned daily or between use, if used by different passengers.
- We have reduced our group size to ensure social distancing inside coaches and buses.
- Where possible, smaller chauffeur-driven cars may also have divider screens between passengers and chauffeurs.
- Chauffeurs/drivers will support PPE practise social distancing and sanitise hands throughout the day
Excursions and Sightseeing Visits
Our local guides and tour leaders are both knowledgeable and already experienced in navigating guests through busy sights and monuments to ensure our guest's personal preferences and needs are met.
- During these uncertain times, they will discuss the potential scheduling of visits to quieter times when crowds are minimal, and lines for entry are shortest to ensure your safety.
- Guides and tour escorts will have temperature checks daily before heading out to meet you.
- They will support PPE practise social distancing and sanitise hands throughout the day.
- They will also have knowledge of and access to the nearest local clinics, testing procedures and health policies in each destination.
Food & Drink
With the help of our ground teams, we have worked on reviewing in-house dining as well as eating out when on excursions and, as far as possible, removed the option of self-service buffets and shared platters to prevent cross-contamination.
- In-house meals in hotels will use smaller tables and be socially distanced from other diners wherever possible.
- Many restaurants have replaced paper-based menus with digital menus or scan QR codes to access all you need to know.
- Cutlery may arrive pre-packaged in sanitised packs or wrapped in a napkin.
- Lunch stops at roadside motels will be avoided; we will instead encourage pre-packed picnic lunches on days when long-distance travel is scheduled.
- Staff will minimise visits to tables to dispense wine/drinks.
Finally, Our Joint Responsibility
We will all need to work together to ensure the Health and Safety of everyone concerned. As such we request that anyone who exhibits symptoms of Coronavirus kindly inform our local managers at the earliest opportunity and self-isolate. We will assist in organise PCR testing and in the unfortunate instance of a positive result we will provide all and any assistance we can to reschedule arrangements and ensure that everyone who may have come into contact with the affected member.
While we will absorb any costs within our control but any charges payable to external parties for rescheduling of arrangements will be passed onto you for potential reclaim from your travel insurance.
To read our full Booking Conditions >> Click Here
Where can I find the most up to date official information about the Coronavirus and travelling to Asia?
Our general advice to all clients before travelling is to always remain informed about the entry requirements and health advice for your destination of travel, as well as being aware of what your travel insurance will cover.
- The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) - https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/ - The UK-based source of health-related information to help you prepare for foreign travel trusted by GP's and Travel Clinics
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public - Provides the information on how to protect yourself from Coronavirus
- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus - The UK Government's advice on how the Coronavirus may impact travel overseas. Travelling against this advice - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice - can have travel insurance implications (see below for more on this)
- The Association of British Insurers (ABI) - https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-qa/ - Has produced a useful Q&A guide on the travel insurance implications. It is recommended that you speak with your travel insurance provider if you have any questions about your policy cover
- The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) - https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak - Provides free guidance to travellers on their rights when booking a holiday with a tour operator and how the Coronavirus may impact international travel
If you have any questions about your travel plans to Asia, please contact the TransIndus Team on 0208 566 3739 or email [email protected]. We are here to help.
TransIndus Brochures 2024-25
