Travel Update: Coronavirus

August 12, 2021

Expectations for travel –  2021 and Beyond    

At Mile Zero Tours we are excited to offer life enriching travel opportunities once again. Of course, the safety of our guests, staff, travel partners and local residents remains of the utmost importance and we will not hesitate to cancel further tours if it is deemed unsafe or unfeasible to travel.

As operations restart Mile Zero Tours will continue to adhere to the latest guidance of public health authorities in all tour operations. As we have seen throughout the pandemic directives and expectations change very quickly and as they do these policies will updated.   

The following outlines some of the measures and expectations that maybe in place at the time of travel over the coming months.

Vaccinations:

All tour participants are now required to be fully vaccinated prior to the departure of their tour.  Guests will need to carry proof of vaccination while travelling and be willing to show such when requested.  Vaccination requirements will be in effect for all tours departing through January 31, 2022.  Requirements will be reevaluated at that time but anyone contemplating travel for 2022 should presume similar policies will be in effect.           

What we are doing to keep you safe:  

• Currently we are limiting all groups to no more then 20 participants. Seating arrangements will be assigned by the Tour Directors to ensure adequate spacing between participants while travelling.
• Enhanced sanitization on coaches. Including regular cleaning of high-touch areas with disinfecting wipes. Hand sanitizer is available at all times. 
• Working with our local suppliers and partners we will ensure adequate physical distancing during meals, experiences, and sightseeing as necessary. Guests may be divided into smaller groups when necessary and some adjustments may be made to planned activities.
• Face coverings are provided and will be required for participation at sometimes until such time as public health authorities advise otherwise. 

What you may need to do to participate safely: 

• Wash hands frequently, use hand-sanitizer
• Cover your mouth with upper sleeve or elbow if needing to sneeze or cough
• Respect the safety policies of suppliers and any other businesses frequented while travelling   
• Maintain physical distancing from others wherever possible 
• Avoid all unnecessary physical contact – such as handshakes, hugs, high-fives etc
• Wear face-covering where it is required   
• Monitor your own health. If experiencing any sickness or having been exposed to anyone who is, in the days preceding the tour’s departure you will need to withdraw from the trip for your own safety and those travelling with you. Should you develop any symptoms once on tour, notify your Tour Director immediately and avoid all contact with others.  

November 1, 2020  

At Mile Zero Tours our top priority remains the health and wellbeing of our guests, employees, suppliers and the community at large. Earlier this year we suspended all travels. This suspension lasted from mid-March until September. In the fall we were able to operate several tours safely and successfully to destinations within BC. However, by late October it was decided to reinstate the suspension. All tours have now been suspended until March 2021, with all tours outside of BC held until May 2021 and all international travel until at least July. 

We have now updated our website with all planned travel opportunities through August 2021 and we will continue to add trips for next fall over the coming months. While we are optimistic for the future, we will not hesitate to cancel further trips if it is deemed unsafe or unfeasible to travel.

All guests considering future travel can be assured that in the event it becomes prudent for Mile Zero Tours to cancel a trip, all deposits received for active bookings will be fully and promptly refunded to the original form of payment.  

Based on the guidance of public health authorities we have instituted new on tour safety procedures. Please be aware these policies are current as of fall 2020 and will be updated and amended as guidance changes. Furthermore, we will now be limiting all group sizes to between 18-25 guests (depending on the tour). Limited small group sizes will remain in affect for all future tours. 

We thank you for your continued support and look forward to travelling with you again in the future. 

July 17, 2020

On the Road Again …. Safely!    Covid-19 Tour Procedures 

With Covid-19 still very much a reality but seemingly under control in BC we are excited to offer life enriching travel opportunities once again. Of course, the safety of our guests, staff, travel partners and local residents is of utmost importance and we will not hesitate to cancel further tours if it is deemed unsafe or unfeasible to travel. 

We are currently accepting reservation for trips this fall and so long as it is remains safe to proceed, these are some of the procedures we will have in place to ensure we can enjoy travel again while keeping it safe for everyone involved.  Our polices are based on guidance from public health agencies and we will update them as directives change. 

What we will be doing to keep you safe:  

• Group size will be limited to 20 or 25 guests per tour (not more than 50% of the capacity of vehicles used). Tour directors will provide seating arrangements to ensure adequate spacing between participants while travelling.
• Vehicles on tour will be sanitized often, including regular cleaning of high-touch areas with disinfecting wipes. Hand sanitizer will be available at all times. 
• We are working with our local suppliers and partners to ensure adequate physical distancing during meals, experiences, and sightseeing. Guests may be divided into smaller groups when necessary and some adjustments may be made to planned activities.
• We are reaching out to all hotel properties for their specific protocols. These do vary by property but overall, rooms and areas like restaurants, lobbies and elevators will be disinfected frequently throughout the day while guest rooms are deep-cleaned and disinfected thoroughly between guests. 
• Cloth reusable face coverings will be provided. They may be required at times when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

What you need to do to participate safely: 

• Complete a short pre-tour screening questionnaire 
• Wash hands frequently, use hand-sanitizer 
• Maintain physical distancing of 2 meters from others wherever possible 
• Avoid all unnecessary physical contact – such as handshakes, hugs, high-fives etc
•  Wear face-covering where physical distancing can not be maintained or it is required by supplier 
• Cover your mouth with upper sleeve or elbow if needing to sneeze or cough  
• Not be outside of Canada for any reason in the 14 days prior to the tour’s departure 
• Monitor your own health. If experiencing any sickness or having been exposed to anyone who is, in the days preceding the tour’s departure you will need to withdraw from the trip for your own safety and those travelling with you. Should you develop any symptoms once on tour, notify your tour director immediately and avoid all contact with others. 

As we move through this challenging time, we look forward to travelling with you again in the future! 

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June 29, 2020

In response to Covid-19 Mile Zero Tours suspended travel in mid-March and we have subsequently cancelled all tours scheduled through August and all travels outside of BC until at least December.

As the crisis appears to be easing in BC we are very much looking forward to getting back on the road this fall with a number of BC based Short Escapes. In preparation for a return to travel we will continue to ensure the health and safety of our guests and employees is our top priority and we will be enacting various policies to ensure this going forward.

While we are very excited and optimistic about these upcoming tours we do want everyone to be aware that we will not hesitate to cancel any tours if it is deemed unsafe to continue. In such cases all deposit will be fully and promptly refunded.

We have now reopened our office in Victoria.  However we are asking that all in-person visits be by appointment only at this time.  If you do wish to come in please call 250-590-0811 to set up an appointment.  Our office hours will be shortened for the next few months.  Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.  We will be closed Fridays, weekends and statuary holidays.