There are 28 of us (maximum group size!) on the Best of Ireland tour that started on June 12. We have not left Dublin yet, so we have had no bus time. We have had a group meeting, a group dinner, and an interesting walking tour. Our tour guide is dead serious about masking. Everyone is wearing the required kind of mask, wearing their mask correctly, and in many cases, erring on the side of caution. At our group dinner, many of us wore masks before and after eating. On the walking tour, while walking together and or bunched up, we wore masks. Inside Trinity College Library, we wore masks. Our chances of avoiding Covid on this tour are good, at least for all of us who are careful during our free time. It is up to you to wear a good mask at airports, and on planes and other forms of mass transit. If you are on the fence about your upcoming tour because you are worried about Covid risks while with your RS Tour Group, I advise you to go. We are so glad that we did!
Posted by
NH
42 posts
Good to know. Thanks for sharing this info. A lot, I think depends on the tour guide and the other members of the tour. We did that tour in 2016. Have a great time!
Posted by
Kansas, United States
1078 posts
Great news! We will start a RS tour on July 7th and we are going to do our best to comply with the mask requirements. It will be so good to be traveling again!!
Posted by
Washington State
321 posts
Anne, thank you for posting. We’ll be on this tour in early September and so happy to see your message!
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2427 posts
Great to hear this! We plan on wearing our mask to dinner and wearing it until we eat and putting it back on immediately thereafter as well.
Posted by
Calgary
1650 posts
That's great to hear.
Posted by
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
740 posts
Good. I'm getting on an Alaska cruise ship on Wednesday and, I can assure you, mask wearing will be minimal. A very different kind of traveler on the ships.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7279 posts
That great news, Anne, since it affects your whole group’s vacations.
Posted by
near San Francisco
4603 posts
Our tour guide is dead serious about masking
Based on my just-back-from-2-tours experience, I would say that this statement may be key.
Posted by
14 posts
Who is your guide if you feel like saying? Glad you feel safe! Have fun!
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
Anne- Thanks for sharing this positive report. A very proactive approach for all the tour members. Enjoy your tour!
Posted by
Wisconsin
135 posts
Thanks for the report. I’m on that tour in September. Earlier this year we went to Greece and just like on your tour, our guide made sure we knew about the importance of masking. Fortunately she didn’t have to remind people. Have a wonderful time!
Posted by
CA
2073 posts
Let us know if any contract Covid. My fingers are crossed that this is the same for our two tours in September. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7357 posts
That’s encouraging news. If everybody’s doing the masking … correctly … that’s one less thing for the group to be concerned about, and can enjoy the tour, without focusing on non-compliance distractions. Have a great tour!
Posted by
OP
Fair Oaks, CA
39 posts
mtsuzanne
Our guide is Rozanne Stringer. She is wonderful.
Posted by
OP
Fair Oaks, CA
39 posts
Update: Today is Wednesday, June 15. My tour started Sunday evening, June 12.
Ironically, I tested POSITIVE for Covid this morning. Last night, I still tested negative. I have attended indoor group meals twice, and otherwise, have a mask on all of the time. No one else on the tour, so far, has any symptoms or has tested positive. I self-tested becasue I had a slight dry cough. This mornng, that also became a slight headache and a slight sore throat. My grandosn has no symptoms and tested negative on the antigen test. To my knowledge, no one else on tour has tested positive. My grandosn and I will be off this tour, of course, but hope that no one else has been exposed. Would I still recommend that you travel? Absolutely, unless you are at high risk for complications. Getting a hold of Pavloxid here in Kinsale is my next challenge.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8374 posts
@Anne. Hoping for a mild case and quick recovery for you! Take care. If there is any way we can help via the forum, let us know.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2427 posts
I am so sorry that you got sick and hope you feel better soon. If you are able, keep us posted to let us know how things are going for you.
Posted by
OP
Fair Oaks, CA
39 posts
I have not talked to the RS Office yet, but my tour guide says they will call me. We are at Friars Lodge in Kinsdale, and the women that own this place are looking for a room for us for the next few days. We cannot stay here, as they have a giant wedding party coming in. I am trying to get Paxlovid, a challenge here in Ireland, but I think I will be okay. I will keep you all posted, I am crossing my fingers that I will have been recovered long enough to allow us to go on our July 3 Best of Europe Tour. My grandson, young and freshly boosted, is being a good sport about all of this, but I would hate to disappoint him. We will travel no matter what, as soon as I am Covid-free and healthy enough to travel.
Posted by
14 posts
I'm so sorry to hear of your Covid diagnosis! Feel better soon! I hope you get to go on your next tour... We loved the Best Of Europe tour!