A team dedicated to your well-being

Road Scholar is a global not-for-profit educational organization that has, over our 45 years, served well over 6 million participants. Our team of experts is on watch 24/7 monitoring world events that have the potential to affect our programs and the health and welfare of our participants. We continually consult the U.S. Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) for advice and guidance regarding our programs, and remain in close contact with our worldwide network of staff and local partners. Road Scholar is always focused on the health, safety and well-being of our participants, and we are always well prepared to make immediate changes either prior to departure or during a program as circumstances warrant.

Is emergency assistance and evacuation insurance included with Road Scholar programs?

Yes. Our commitment to your well-being is exemplified in our Road Scholar Assurance Plan. Whether you are on a program in the United States or abroad, every Road Scholar participant automatically receives this plan.
Designed specifically for Road Scholar participants, the plan provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program and insurance for emergency medical evacuation. Click HERE to learn more about this terrific benefit you get when you travel with Road Scholar, or visit www.roadscholar.org/about/included-insurance

How can I stay healthy while traveling?

In addition to maintaining their necessary vaccinations, including seasonal influenza vaccination, Road Scholar recommends that all participants consult with their physician, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of State regarding their health condition and recommendations specific to the destinations they will visit well before departure. While Road Scholar does its best to provide pertinent information regarding health requirements and travel health precautions for travel, please remember that we are not health experts and can only share with you the recommendations made by the CDC and the U.S. Department of State. It is therefore your responsibility to consult with your physician and contact the CDC for health information specific to your travel destination. Your physician will be able to assess your overall health and fitness, provide information and guidance on health risks you may encounter while traveling, medication you may need to take and other precautions for the prevention of injury, illness and general health issues during your program.

• U.S. Department of State: www.travel.state.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/travel
• World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/

Preventive Measures to Avoid Illness

Staying healthy is critical to enjoying your program experience. Here is some guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on how to lower the risk of contracting and spreading illness, and reduce your risk of getting sick.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• A week before you depart on your program, consider isolating or being extra careful. If you must be in public in the week prior to departure, consider wearing a mask. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Do not travel if you are sick, have any symptoms of respiratory illness, or if you have had close contact with someone who is sick. Do not risk traveling if you are not feeling well.
• Wearing a well-fitted mask is an effective means of protection against airborne viruses. Wear a mask whenever around others, including when flying and transiting airports. Once on your program, wear a mask whenever you are in public setting.

For those looking for additional resources on this topic, we recommend trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

Are there risks when traveling?

Millions of people travel each year. If you attend a program, the odds are in your favor that you will have an enjoyable and incident-free program. However, certain risks — from natural disasters to accidents, outbreaks of illness, crime, insect-borne and other infectious diseases, and environmental risks to health, terrorism and other unforeseen events— are inherent in travel. While such occurrences are beyond our control, we make substantial efforts to be prepared for such possibilities. Participants are encouraged to review the safety and travel information provided by the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to learn about current security issues, travel advisories and warnings, recent embassy notices, country-specific health information, health risks you may encounter while traveling, precautions for the prevention of illness, disease and general health issues during your program and other helpful destination-specific information. By enrolling in a program, you agree to assume responsibility for your own health, safety, and welfare and acknowledge that Road Scholar cannot guarantee your safety or health at any time.

Where can I see terms and conditions?

View our Program Terms & Conditions here