Major Re-Openings Next Week, Air Canada and WestJet Sales + MGM Mask Rules

Several major destinations will fling open their doors for international visitors next week, including the Bahamas, Cuba and Bermuda. I also have news on Canada Day sales from WestJet and Air Canada, plus a new requirement for guests to wear masks in public at MGM Resorts in the U.S. There’s also a new set of great trips in Canada offered by Transat and Fresh Tracks Canada, and a note on further suspensions of tours by G Adventures. My Future of Travel blog for June 26, 2020

A Big Week For Re-Openings

The U.S. is a mess right now, and most European countries still aren’t inviting Canadians for a visit. But next week is a big one for several popular destinations in terms of re-opening. Here are a few.

Bermuda

This beautiful Atlantic Ocean destination will resume international commercial air service for visitors starting July 1, the island territory’s government announced recently. At last check, the government was finalizing a policy enabling travellers who test negative 72 hours in advance of their trip and who also test negative upon arrival in Bermuda to have freedom of movement during their visit as long as they adhere to local health guidelines.

Bahamas

The Bahamas’ Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan’s second phase begins July 1, at which point the country will welcome back international visitors, with the exception of travelers from China, Iran, Italy and France. While visitors won’t be required to quarantine upon arrival, they will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test that’s no more than ten days old and complete an electronic Health Visa form, among other non-invasive procedures such as temperature screenings.

Cuba

Cuba will re-open for international flights on July 1, officials say, with the first flights arriving at Los Cayos from Canada. “Cuba would like all Canadians as well as travel agents and tour operators that the time you have been waiting for is here!” said Lessner Gomez, Director for the Cuba Tourist Board, “Cuba with all its natural charm, vibrant culture and kind people await you all with open arms. We are ready to welcome you back!”

Transat And Fresh Tracks Offering Great Canada Tours

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC), Canada’s largest full-service travel agency network, is pleased to announce the signature of a preferred agreement with Fresh Tracks Canada, a leader in domestic travel. For more than 25 years, nearly 25,000 travellers have benefited from the true insider experience provided by Fresh Tracks Canada. The Vancouver based company offers undisputed expertise to build dream itineraries, for people travelling alone or in groups, to discover Canada’s many hidden treasures, from coast to coast.

“Never before has domestic travel been so popular than now during this unprecedented time, and many Canadians are choosing their own country to explore.”, says Louise Fecteau, TDC General Manager. “TDC is happy to partner with this proud Canadian company, which will allow agencies in our network to offer an even greater range of Canadian experiences to their clients. Canada is the second largest country in the world and there is so much to see and do right here. We know that Fresh Tracks Canada has the insights and experience to help travellers create great travel memories right here at home.” concludes Fecteau.

When it comes to providing Canadians a diverse selection of vacation experiences Fresh Tracks Canada has true insider experience. Here is a sample of what travellers can expect:

• Memorable, personalized journeys for FIT & Group clients
• Rail journeys featuring VIA Rail and/or Rocky Mountaineer trains
• High Arctic experiences – wilderness lodges, aurora borealis and Indigenous experiences
• Self Drive itineraries throughout Canada
• Wildlife experiences – grizzly bear viewing in oceanfront lodges, Arctic wilderness safaris by ATV and zodiac, salmon fishing, private wilderness tours with interpretive guides, etc. 
• Adventure – helicopter tours, heli-hiking, heli-skiing, horseback expeditions, iceberg exploration and more!

G Adventures Extends Tour Suspensions Through August

Due to the continuing global pandemic, G Adventures has taken the unfortunate but necessary decision to further suspend all tours departing up to and including August 31, 2020. The health and safety of our travellers and staff is our main priority and this is an essential measure to protect our travellers and our people at this time. 

All travellers booked and fully paid on a tour departing up to August 31, 2020 will receive a 110% travel credit on all booked tour services, including pre- and post-night accommodation and transfers, to be used on any tour departing up to two years from the end of the month of their tour’s suspension. Travellers who haven’t yet made their final payment will have their Lifetime Deposit kept on file to put towards a future tour. 

We are not suspending tours beyond August 31 as we wish to keep the door open in the event the current situation evolves in a way that enables us to travel again. However, we do understand people may feel uncertain about travelling in the upcoming months, so we are offering travellers booked on tours departing up to December 31, 2020 the option to transfer their booking to a future departure date for the same price. Alternatively, they can pay in full and receive a 110% travel credit for a future tour. 

To help travellers feel confident to rebook using their travel credit, Lifetime Deposit or to make a new booking, G Adventures is offering a Book with Confidence* policy, which lets them cancel and rebook their tour closer to the time of departure, giving them flexibility and peace of mind.

We are more committed than ever to making our travellers’ safety a priority. Our new Travel with Confidence policy features enhanced health and safety procedures on all of our tours from the moment travellers arrive to the moment they leave to provide them with even more confidence while travelling. And for those travellers looking for even more confidence, we’ve this week launched our Travel with Confidence Plus Collection of 37 small group tours which include all the benefits of our Travel with Confidence policy, plus additional physical distancing measures. 

G Adventures is notifying all travellers regarding tour suspensions and advising travellers with flight bookings to contact their insurance / air providers for details on compensation. 

Travellers and agents with questions are asked to refer to the online FAQ page or to contact our sales team by telephone or email at the following numbers / email: 

• Toll-free, North America only: 1 877 277 9854
• Email: experience@gadventures.com 

 MGM Resorts Requiring Masks As Of Today

They may be a little late to the game, but the folks at MGM Resorts are now requiring guests to wear masks in public places.

“As part of our work to continually update and evolve our health and safety policies, we are now requiring masks for all guests and visitors inside public spaces,” an MGM Resorts spokesperson said in a statement. “This will apply to all MGM Resorts properties across the United States and will become effective by Friday.”

Guests will be given masks if they don’t have one. Anyone who refuses to wear a masked will be asked to leave, the spokesperson said.

Canadian Airline Seat Sales

Flight prices are expected to rise in the long term due to social distancing requirements, but for now there are some pretty sweet deals.

Air Canada has a Canada Day seat sale going, with prices set until July 2 for trips around the world taking place between now and June 15, 2021 (Which is NEXT YEAR if you’re not too good with numbers).

The deals are good for flights within Canada and to the U.S., Europe and sun destinations.

Within Canada, return flights between Toronto and Vancouver are going for as little as $440.

I don’t feel comfortable mentioning flights to U.S. cities with COVID-19 problems, but Chicago moved to Stage Four today and seems to be in very good shape. You can fly from Toronto to Chicago and back with AC next April for $153 one-way.

Need some beach time? AC is offering one-way flights next April between Toronto and Barbados for $271 and to Aruba next April for $222.

There are sale prices to Europe but Canadians for the most part aren’t welcome right now, so I’m not going to mention those sales at this point.

Here’s a link to the sale page: https://www.aircanada.com/en-ca/seat-sale?acid=em%7c24461189%7c267981334

WestJet also has a sale going for Canada Day. There are blackout dates for Canada from Dec. 17, 2020 to Jan. 6, 2021 but no blackout dates for flights to the US, Mexico, The Caribbean or Europe. The same dates apply as with the Air Canada sale: flights must be booked by July 2 and flights must take place by June 15, 2021.

I went onto the WJ site and found one-way flights in August from Toronto to Vancouver for $222 and flights from Toronto to Montego Bay, Jamaica next February for $322 one-way.

Here’s a link: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/book-trip/flights?j_cid=email%3ATeal%3ACanadaDay%3ACanada%20Day%20Email%3A20200625&deliveryName=DELMSG_20200625_10560