Because participants and Group Leaders will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have all recommended boosters if eligible, it is unlikely you will be have to isolate or quarantine during your travels. However, should you test positive for COVID during your program, because of your vaccination status you will likely experience only mild symptoms and not require medical attention. If that is the case, you will however be required to isolate for at least 5 days, or longer if required by local regulations. be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends individuals who test positive isolate and delay travel for 10 days, regardless of symptoms or a negative test taken within the isolation period. The country where you are staying may have its own rules for quarantine and isolation.
If you test positive and are required to isolate, an individual from Road Scholar Headquarters will contact you with detailed information you will need regarding your isolation and eventual departure home. If your isolation period will extend beyond the end of the program, we will help you make accommodation arrangements and provide information and guidance regarding your eventual travel home.
However, please be aware that our ability to provide personal assistance to someone under mandatory isolation is limited, so while we and our in-country program partners will do our best to provide whatever information and assistance we can prior to your return home, you should be prepared to manage certain aspects of your isolation and return home yourself. , such as extending or making new hotel reservations, arranging new flights home, obtaining meals, arranging testing in order to fly home, etc. However, Road Scholar will make sure that you have lodging, access to meals, and arrange your return airfare if you booked your flights through Road Scholar. If you become sick and need medical attention, your Group Leader or the hotel front desk can arrange for you to see a medical professional. LiveTravel Assist, Road Scholar's emergency assistance provider, is on call to provide 24-hour assistance for medical emergencies and arrange emergency evacuation should the need arise.
In addition, you should also be aware that additional expenses incurred due to isolation or quarantine are your responsibility. We therefore strongly recommend Road Scholar’s optional Trip Protection Plan, which provides financial protection in case of program cancellation, interruption or travel delay, as well limited quarantine coverage. Specifically, should COVID-19 cause you to isolate or quarantine, the plan helps reimburse you for additional accommodations, meal and transportation expenses you may incur, as well as reimbursement for missed program days. Please click here to learn more about this and all the other benefits included in Road Scholar’s optional Trip Protection Plan.