International Travel is back on the table. But in the post Covid-19 era and after 2.5 years of challenges, is it really safe to travel? Is Covid-19 testing mandatory? Should you expect delays?
In this article, Linda comes back on her trip around the world and tell us what to expect if you decide to pack your bag for your next adventure!
Linda, can you very briefly tell us about yourself, what is your International Travel story, and when did you return?
“I am a lady at a retired age who really enjoys travelling. I just returned this week after 2.5 months travelling. I was in Canada, Alaska, America, Ireland, England and Singapore.
So it was an extensive and very diverse holiday that I would qualify of amazing.”
How did you find International Travel post the “border closure era”?
“It was very interesting because different countries have different approaches For some of the airports, you have to wear complete masks. For some airports, there are no mask requirements (for instance from Dublin to Heathrow). In some countries, you have to wear masks all the time, for instance, Singapore rules are very rigid. In some instance, you can only be without a mask when you are eating, outside or within your own accommodation environment. Surprisingly, 85-90% of the people still wear masks outside. Some countries require proof of Covid vaccination to be able to go through immigration. Immigration between Dublin and Heathrow was very relax with very little passport screening. Canada was quite rigid while the USA was somehow more relaxed.”
How easy was it to re arrange your original trip with World Travel Connections?
“When we finally got the opportunity to travel after the International Travel ban, I would use the word seamless. Just the way, how World Travel Connections has organised it all it was really efficient. World Travel Connections put together a private Itinerary. That meant that we had an itinerary designed to do exactly what we wanted, could see all the major attractions stayed in iconic hotel locations such as the famous Fairmont hotels without the constraint of being in a big group. We enjoyed a more peaceful day to day itinerary with leisurely departure times, rather than getting up early to meeting heavy touring timetables. Obviously, the work Nicolas did seemed very complicated on the paperwork, but the process overall was working very smoothly. It was very well thought and planned, laid out and efficient. I had absolutely no problem with any details at any time.” In any case, Nicolas checked up on us regularly to make sure all was working to plan, that was really reassuring.
Was the assistance of an International Travel expert necessary?
“In this holiday: without a doubt. I am an experienced traveller who was used to book my own holiday, I am quite adaptive. I chose to use World Travel Connections through personal recommendation, and also because I was organising a complex holiday. I had to meet friends along the way from different countries and I knew it would be quite tricky to plan this International Travel. Fortunately, I am very glad I had engaged World Travel Connections to start this process in 2019, because through all the cancellations which occurred over the past 2 years, I would have been financially at a great loss, I have no doubt about that. He gained credit vouchers and refunds and special terms around it. I do not think a consumer would have been able to do this.”
Do you think you could have organized such a trip on your own. If not why so?
“Pre-covid-19, I think I could have probably planned this trip myself, and it would have taken a lot of my time to do it. I preferred taking the easy option. I have organised myself very complex International Travel in the past and I know it takes hours to do it. This trip, I have decided not to do that. I will probably never do it again unless it is a simple return flight that I can book on my own. But when it is something a little more complex, no. I will always certainly use the services of World Travel Connections in the future.”
On a scale of 1 to 10 – how would you rate the service that you received from World Travel Connections?
“I would say 10. I have no complains whatsoever.”
Would you recommend World Travel Connections to your friends? – if yes why?
“I already have. And that is because World Travel Connections offers incredibly high standards on holidays. It is not for everybody, financially, I know that, but the standards that he offers and the quality of the booking services that they offers really makes a difference, it is a holiday in itself. And there is something about getting off the airports, arriving at the hotel, seeing the queues of people and not having to stand in that queue and walking in with a priority, immediately know that the accommodation is confirmed, the room is ready. It just makes my life easier, and Nicolas does it very well.
When I say it is not for everybody, I mean it is a bit of a financial difference, that’s all. The cost incurred makes the financial difference with having a real quality holiday. That something that more high-stream consumer tend to forget when booking for a holiday.”
Did you have any issues with your International Travel arrangements?
“None whatsoever.”
Is there anything you would like to add?
“I would like to express gratitude, and reinforce the streamline aspect that was created by World Travel Connections. I just felt constantly comfortable at any time. There was nothing I was misled about or disappointed at any time. You can’t control the weather, that the only thing we could not plan. I just wish World Travel Connections to keep success growing. I really think he is in a niche market and he does a really good job with it.”
Do you believe the organization of your trip could have been better? If yes why?
“I don’t know how. This trip was very diverse we hired cars, motor vehicles, travelled on plane, boats, etc… I had to meet people along the way. I don’t know what else we could have added to the mix!
I know that I was impressed that Nicolas touch based on 3 occasions, but the amount of check-ins and different things, and making sure that I was ok. I had the certainty that if there was a crisis, I could have contacted him 24/7 which I think is something absolutely unique. I think I do not know anyone, not even another company that I think can do that. Thanks to this, there was absolutely no issues. I was always more than pleased, not surprised but delighted that there was no issues.”
Do you have any suggestions to give on the overall organization of your trip?
“There is a saying which states that if it is not broken don’t fix it!
One thing I recommend everyone to have on their holiday is a travel card. Post-Covid 99% of my dealing with money during International Travel is using debit card. People simply don’t use cash anymore. I had a travel card and it worked brilliantly. My credit card got scammed, I did not know that, and the bank stopped it. It is people individual responsibilities, but perhaps, that something that Nicolas could use as a plus in his service offering. Informing people on how vigilant you have to be, it could really be a plus. It happened to me twice in my life and fortunately I did not lose anything.”
Anything else you would like to touch on?
“I did not have any issue. Even the friend I met on the way in England say the same thing. We both said that World Travel Connections had organised an amazing trip. For the ship, I would have preferred a smaller one, the situation made that we had a bigger one. But in the end there was more staff on it that there was passengers so in the end we could not have hope for a better situation either. In that perspective it flows very nicely. I think he is doing a great job and he just needs to keep doing it.
I think if you come back from a holiday and you think, it was amazing, it was the best holiday I ever had! Well that is a great think to say. Because I am sure the next time I travel with World Travel Connections, I am sure I would say the same think. I have been asked, what was the best part of it? And my response to that is that I can’t tell you! Because each part was so good in itself! That to me is indicative that every box was ticked, and it was worth a 3-years wait”.
