After surveying travelers, G Adventures has launched a new travel itineraries—Travel with Confidence Plus Collection—designed for smaller groups and more ease of social distancing.
The survey conducted by G Adventures based on 3,971 responses from G Adventures’ global consumer panel conducted from May 22 – 26, 2020, showed new travel trends for post-pandemic travel. According to the survey, 69 percent of travelers said they expect to see travel companies make changes to their health and safety measures. Of those, 51 percent expect operators to implement physical distancing measures for future travel arrangements, and an overwhelming majority of 88 percent of respondents also expect increased sanitization and cleaning procedures.
These findings have led the small group adventure operator to increase its commitment to reassuring travelers with the launch of a new Travel with Confidence Plus Collection. This program of 37 trips in 27 countries incorporates additional physical distancing measures, which complement the company’s new Travel with Confidence policy outlining increased hygiene and sanitization across all its tours. The Travel with Confidence Plus Collection is now available for departures from Oct. 2, 2020 up to Dec. 31, 2021.
Simultaneously, G Adventures has partnered with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) to create a set of industry health and safety guidelines to assist with the safe return to operation of 10 adventure activities. Released this week are the guidelines for trekking, biking, and rafting, as well as one overarching industry guideline. Created in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, the new ATTA guidelines will be implemented across all G Adventures trips as they are developed, including this new collection.
The new Travel with Confidence Plus Collection includes all the new health and safety measures outlined in the Travel with Confidence policy, plus added steps for travelers looking to go the extra physically-distanced mile when traveling as part of a small group:
Smaller group sizes – All trips will have an average of 8 – 10 travelers as opposed to the average group size of 12. This means being able to stay at smaller hotels and dining at smaller restaurants with fewer people around the dinner table.
Private transport – While G Adventures is using more private transport where possible on all trips, this collection only uses private vehicles (except for planes) with daily assigned seating for added distance on the vehicles.
My Own Room – My Own Room option is available for 50 percent off across all tours in this collection for people wishing for their own space to relax and sleep.
More personal space – All rooms on the trips will be either double or single and have en-suite bathrooms. There will be no multi-share accommodation or shared bathroom facilities on any trip in this collection.
G Adventures’ founder, Bruce Poon Tip, says the new collection is designed to encourage people to start feeling comfortable and confident about traveling again, and to reassure them that their concerns regarding enhanced distancing and hygiene measures have been heard.
“We absolutely understand different people are going to have different comfort levels, and it’s our job to make sure we cater to all our travelers with trips that meet them where they’re at so we can get all our travelers out exploring the world again.
“By its very nature small group travel allows for more freedom and space, and our incredible team of chief experience officers (CEOs) around the world are dedicated to keeping our travelers safe and well. Their role is going to be more important than ever, and we hope this new collection enables us to change even more lives through travel, and that we re-emerge from this pause as more considerate travelers,” says Poon Tip in a press statement.
The new Travel with Confidence Plus Collection includes trips from G Adventures’ Active, Classic and Marine travel styles, including:
Walk the Camino de Santiago – Plus – If your clients are looking to take on their own pilgrimage — along a route filled with beautiful countryside and rustic villages of Northern Spain — start them here, at the Camino de Santiago. An 8-day physically-distanced trip is priced from $1,249 pp dbl, departing from Sarria and to Santiago de Compostela.
Costa Rica Adventure – Plus – If your clients looking for a taste of Costa Rica’s world-class highlights but want to keep things spicy with a sampling of hidden treasures, this action-packed adventure tops the menu. In spite of its small size, Costa Rica is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world with volcanoes, wildlife, rainforests, and beaches to explore. A 16-day physically-distanced trip is priced from $1,699 pp dbl traveling from San Jose return.
Sailing Thailand – Phuket to Phuket – Plus – With an experienced captain navigating the southern islands, travelers will drop anchor at highlights and secret spots perfect for a swim. Work up an appetite snorkelling, dine on Thai cuisine, and sleep moored under the stars. A 7-day physically-distanced trip is priced from $1,699 pp dbl traveling from Phuket return.
Best of Iceland – Plus – If travelers are looking for a fast but full visit around Iceland this trip fits the bill perfectly. It has tons of hidden gems that they won’t find anywhere else in the world, combined with free time to experience plenty of the highlights, like erupting geysers, visiting glacier lagoons, and exploring breathtaking waterfalls and black-sand beaches. Priced from $2,499 pp dbl for a 7-day physically-distanced trip from Reykjavík return.
G Adventures has also implemented a Book with Confidence policy enabling travelers booking tours departing before Dec. 31, 2020 to cancel and rebook up to 14 days prior to departure. Those with trips departing between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021 can cancel and rebook up to 30 days prior to departure.
For more information or to book, please visit gadventures.com. For more updates on new protocols, visit Recommend’s Safe Travels page. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.
