Guides and drivers as well!
Way to go!! :)
I’ve tried to paste part of the email below for anyone not signed up for a tour who wants to read the specifics. I tried to put it in italics but it’s not working so here:
*However, we have already made one very important policy decision: Proof of a COVID-19 vaccination will be required to participate in any 2022 Rick Steves tour.
Traveling in Europe, it's clear that Europeans expect everyone (especially visitors) to be vaccinated in order to fully participate in society — including many of the experiences that we promise on our tours. In many places, you simply can't eat inside a restaurant or enter a museum without a vaccination card. More than that, we believe that vaccines are key to keeping everyone — both our fellow travelers and our European friends — safe and healthy. While there are no guarantees, sharing a bus or a restaurant table with people who are vaccinated brings peace of mind in stressful times.
In addition to tour members, we'll require that our guides and bus drivers be fully vaccinated. And, of course, we'll expect our groups to follow the health and safety directives set by Rick Steves' Europe and local officials. To ensure everyone on the bus is on the same page, we'll be asking you to sign our updated Health and Safety Pledge prior to joining your tour. (In a few days, you'll receive an email with a link for signing the updated pledge.)
We understand that returning to international travel may feel like a big leap of faith. But there are many months between now and when our first tours depart next spring. And the one thing we know for sure — beyond the assurance that your tour buddies will be fully vaccinated — is that things will change, then change again, before we start up those buses. However, it's clear to me that Europeans are on the right track. And as vaccination rates rise on both sides of the Atlantic, and we all get a little more comfortable with the "new normal," I believe we can look forward to a fun and travel-filled 2022.
I also want to remind you that we remain committed to having straightforward refund policies. Remember: Should your plans change, for any reason, we'll return 100 percent of your tour deposit until December 31, 2021.
In summary: COVID vaccines will be required of guides, drivers, and tour members on our 2022 tours. We're committed to putting health and safety first while providing tour members with the full Rick Steves travel experience. It's our hope and reasonable expectation that the COVID-19 situation will continue to improve between now and next spring, and that our tour groups will be back in Europe — safely and happily — in 2022.
We look forward to traveling with you next year!*