COVID-19 FAQs

All participants must meet the entry requirements of the destination. If a vaccination or other entry requirement is put in place after participant enrols in a program, it is the participant’s responsibility to meet the requirement, or otherwise cancel under the standard cancellation policy.

Standard cancellation fees found here.

Groups that move their travel date will have additional flexibility to transfer the spots of participants who choose not to join the tour. If a participant is not able to or does not wish to try to transfer their spot, or if the group cannot go, we will extend cancellation options.

We apologize we aren’t able to offer prompt customer service. As you might expect, our phone lines and inboxes are experiencing an unprecedented level of inquiries regarding the coronavirus situation. We are currently working to expand our customer service team, while also working to support the other parts of our business that are essential during this challenging time. Please know that we are doing everything we can to provide the best service possible. Here are some suggestions that will help us help you:

• Reach out regarding urgent needs. If your situation is not urgent, we recommend contacting our customer support team at a later time when we can better assist you. 
• Group or individual question? Because our work is highly customized to each group, we work through the teacher or school associated with each program on high-level decisions like a new date for travel. If your questions are related to a group decision, we recommend waiting to hear from your Program Leader, who will work with our team to confirm and share with you.
• Communicate via one channel. If possible, we recommend using one channel of communication to reach us, so that we can make sure to address your needs most effectively. If we cannot respond with full answers promptly, we will communicate a time frame within which we plan to respond.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we have developed additional guidance and protocols in consultation with Dr. Neal Sikka*, who leads our Doctors on Call program. We will isolate any participant showing known symptoms and work with Dr. Sikka and his team to evaluate next steps, which may include testing the individual, isolation while the travel recovers, and contact tracing and additional quarantine of others in the group. Where appropriate, we will immediately engage local health authorities. Click here for more information.

*Dr. Neal Sikka, The George Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine, and The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates are independent medical providers. WorldStrides is not a medical service provider and its employees do not render medical care or treatment, nor does WorldStrides control the selection, training, or supervision of any medical provider.

Important Note: Dr. Sikka advises that if a person is feeling ill, it is essential not to wait until an individual is very sick to seek advice and help. COVID-19 is an influenza-like illness. Like the flu, most people who get COVID-19 will only need rest and over the counter medications to recover fully. However, immediate care helps to avoid the unlikely situation that a person might become very sick and need to go to a clinic or hospital to get better.

To keep yourself and others safe and healthy:

• Comply with special instructions issued by local officials, including social distancing and wearing a mask when in public.
• Adhere to known, effective best practices to minimize your chance of catching respiratory infections:
  • Do not touch any part of your face without first washing your hands.
  • Avoid contact with persons who are already ill.
  • Avoid unnecessary touching of other persons (e.g. shaking hands in greeting) and limit touching publicly-shared surfaces, where possible.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Carry hand sanitizer (60-95% alcohol) and use it for situations where hand washing might not be possible.
  • When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue or in your elbow.