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At Matt Travel, the health and safety of our clients is always top of mind. As the corona virus situation evolves, we want you to know that we are working hard to stay up-to-date on all the facts so that we can help address any of your travel concerns. We’re here to help you travel smarter. We are also in constant contact with our suppliers (i.e. airlines, hotels, tour operators and cruise lines) to understand their latest policies and terms to benefit all of our clients whose travel has been impacted.
Here is some information that may be helpful. |
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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resources:
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The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are monitoring the situation in real-time. Both organizations have issued guidance for preventing exposure to respiratory illnesses. Older adults or those with chronic medical conditions may want to seek the advice of a medical professional.
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Travel warnings and advisories:
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Both the U.S. State Department and governments and official tourism bureaus of destinations are great resources. They will give you up-to-date travel advisories as well as any information about the spread of coronavirus in their countries.
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Making the decision to travel:
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Many of our clients are continuing with their current travel plans or adopting a “wait and see” approach for future trips. We are happy to talk through any concerns you may have so you can make the best decision for you and your family.
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Practical advice when traveling:
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As you prepare to travel, please follow the CDC recommendations for health precautions. Practice good hygiene, good hand hygiene, cover your cough, avoid contact with symptomatic people, stay home if you are ill, and use a disinfecting wipe to clean hard surfaces while traveling.
When traveling internationally, we encourage you to enroll in the STEP program. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. As an enrolled traveler, you can receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in a destination country, help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, and help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. |
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What if I have to change my immediate plans?
Talk to us about ideas for booking a summer or fall vacation. Many travel providers have great value-added offers and have introduced flexible policies in the event your plans change. We can assist you in finding an alternate vacation destination or moving your trip to a later time.
Whether traveling domestically or internationally, we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance at the time of booking for an additional layer of protection . Only certain “cancel for any reason” policies will allow you to cancel your trip without a specific incident.
No matter when or where you are traveling, having a trusted travel advisor can give you peace of mind. As always, we appreciate your business and are here to serve you. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Whether traveling domestically or internationally, we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance at the time of booking for an additional layer of protection . Only certain “cancel for any reason” policies will allow you to cancel your trip without a specific incident.
No matter when or where you are traveling, having a trusted travel advisor can give you peace of mind. As always, we appreciate your business and are here to serve you. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Additional Resources
TSA Response to COVID-19
TSA Customer Service
TSA PreCheck
Mobile Passport Control
- Video (2 minutes) explains new measures and what to expect with TSA when traveling.
- Throughput numbers on travel volumes are found from this page.
- Concerned that you were exposed to COVID while at the airport? We feature confirmed cases on this above page as well.
TSA Customer Service
- Tweet or direct message on Facebook @AskTSA for any host of questions – What can I bring? TSA PreCheck troubleshooting, traveling with kids, and more?
- 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET weekdays and 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. on weekends
TSA PreCheck
- Enrollment centers are still open, with extra precautions in place. It’s a great time to enroll or renew.
- Enroll or renew through partner credit cards + loyalty programs and enjoy five years of TSA PreCheck™ membership for free.
- Click here for a comparison chart of all four DHS Trusted Traveler Programs to help you find the program that’s right for you.
- Here you can find the closest TSA PreCheck enrollment center, manage appointments, look up your TSA PreCheck Known Traveler Number (KTN) and expiration date, and more.
Mobile Passport Control
- Not a Global Entry member but traveling abroad? This is a great, free mobile app that speeds up the customs experience when returning to the U.S.
