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Travel Assurance Policy
Book with Confidence
Dear WALLSabout Travelers,
It is my life’s mission to connect you with the wonders of our world while keeping your health and safety top priority. WALLSabout™ stands with you in these uncertain times, and as such has implemented a unique policy in response to COVID-19 that can give you the confidence to continue planning the trip of a lifetime.
WALLSabout™ always strongly recommends clients purchase travel insurance as there are so many ways a good policy could aid a traveler. However, with our unique Travel Assurance Policy, our clients can rest assured that they have the added protection from us that their trip may be delayed due to a COVID-19 reason, however it will not be lost. Please see the details below.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Walls
Founder
Travel Assurance Policy
Bookings made by December 31, 2022, are eligible to be postponed up to 30 days prior to departure in the event of a COVID-19-related reason* — whether at home or in your travel destination — and receive full credit toward future travel.
In the event that a COVID-19-related reason (defined below) prevents a WALLSabout trip from running, clients will receive a full credit to transfer their booking to the same destination with an alternative date that occurs within 18 months of the original trip date. Client/s must notify WALLSabout in writing of their wish to transfer no earlier than 45 days prior to their trip and no later than 30 days prior to their trip. A “Transfer Agreement” must be fully executed by the client within 7 days of receipt by and is subject to the terms, conditions, availability, and pricing of the new trip dates. The client shall be responsible for any price difference between the original trip’s price (including internal air packages, supplements, extensions, and optional activities) and the price of the new trip dates (published on the date of the “Transfer Agreement”). The paid trip amount will be applied to the new trip balance, and the remaining balance due will be configured into monthly payments leading up to the new departure date. All monies paid and credits applied are non-refundable and non-transferable. All trip prices are subject to change without notice.
* COVID-19-related reasons are listed below and may only be considered in the window of 45 to 30 days prior to the trip start date:
- The U.S. Department of State issues a Level 4: Do Not Travel Global Health Advisory, or the government in the guest’s country of residence restricts all but essential travel
- The U.S. Department of State issues a Level 4: Do Not Travel due to COVID-19 for the destination the guest is traveling to, or the government in the guest’s country of residence issues a comparable advisory
- The destination the guest is traveling to has entry restrictions in place that prohibit the guest from traveling, such as closed borders or extended quarantine requirements
- International flights are canceled without alternative routing available for guests to use to reach the destination(s) in the itinerary
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When preparing our travelers for their trip of a lifetime, we pride ourselves on assisting with all the “what if” questions that may arise. This past year, most “what if’s” have been related to COVID-19, so we have compiled a few FAQ’s below. Of course, we are available to further answer your questions, but this is a great place to start. Additional questions should be directed to [email protected]
How many trips has WALLSabout run post-pandemic?
WALLSabout has run 21 itineraries t0 East Africa in 2021 & 2022, and all went smoothly without complications from COVID-19.
What happens if I (or my traveling companion or direct relative) tests positive for COVID-19 prior to departure and am unable to travel?
We understand this is a real concern for many of our clients, which is why we highly recommend travel insurance and why nearly all of our clients elect to insure their trip with a good travel insurance policy that covers the hypotheticals listed below. If you’re booked on a WALLSabout trip, and you have not purchased a travel insurance policy, please contact your WALLS Consultant and/or WALLSabout Travel Concierge.
I have an active COVID-19 infection or I tested positive for COVID-19 prior to departure.
No problem, we will help you put in a claim on your travel insurance.
My son, who is not traveling with me, has COVID-19 and I need to stay and care for him.
No problem, we will help you put in a claim on your travel insurance.
My husband/wife, who is traveling with me, has tested positive for COVID-19 prior to departure.
No problem, we will help you put in a claim on your travel insurance.
COVID-19 rates are fluctuating, what should I do?
We monitor the COVID-19 situation around the world closely and if one of our “COVID-19 related reasons” (as defined above) occurs from 45 to 30 days prior to the trip, we will be in touch regarding any potential postponement, and not before. Due to the fluidity of the situation, we will not be making decisions before that time and we highly recommend our clients delay making any decisions until that time window as well. Keep in mind that we have already run over 20 trips post-pandemic and we do not anticipate postponing future trips due to COVID-19.
What happens if WALLSabout elects to postpone a trip due to COVID-19?
Our WALLSabout Travel Assurance Policy would go into effect, and we would help you transfer your trip to the time of your choosing within 18 months of your original trip dates. 100% of your deposits and payments would transfer. See full details on this page.
What if I change my mind and it is 12 months or more prior to my trip?
WALLSabout offers the option for a Client Initiated Transfer: When requested in writing 12 or more months prior to your trip departure date, you may elect to transfer the dates of your trip for any reason and receive full credit (less $500 per person) when a Transfer Agreement is fully executed within 7 days of receipt. This option may only be executed once per booking (you may not transfer a previously transferred booking) and is subject to the then published pricing of the new itinerary at the time of the transfer. Contact your WALLS Consultant and/or WALLSabout Travel Concierge for more information about this process, along with applicable terms and conditions.
What if I change my mind and it is less than 12 months prior to my trip?
As indicated in your WALLSabout Travel Agreement, we highly recommend all WALLSabout travelers to protect their trip against unforeseeable circumstances by purchasing a travel insurance policy. For most, this means a “Traditional Travel Insurance” policy that would cover you for sickness or injury and most unexpected circumstances that would prevent you from traveling. However, for those travelers prone to changing their minds, we highly recommend purchasing a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy. For more information on travel insurance and what we recommend, please contact your WALLS Consultant and they will be happy to provide you with details and/or a quote.
I have “Cancel for Any Reason” Travel Insurance and I’ve changed my mind, what now?
We are here to assist you in making that claim to cancel your trip for any reason.
I have a “Traditional Travel Insurance” and I’ve changed my mind, what now?
Changing your mind, even for understandable reasons such as fear or anxiety, are not covered under traditional travel insurance policies. Thus, if you did not purchase a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy, you have elected not to insure your trip against changing your mind, and WALLSabout is not responsible to accommodate your personal circumstances. However, we may be able to work with you on a case by case basis, and so recommend contacting our Travel Concierge directly to discuss options.
The trip I booked is running, but I still have concerns about COVID-19, what now?
The comfort and safety of our travelers are always our first and foremost priority. For example, our Travel Assurance Policy stands ready to protect your trip in the event COVID-19 greatly impacts your travel destination (full policy above). However, if WALLSabout plans to run your trip as scheduled and you still have concerns, you may be able to cancel your trip per your travel insurance policy. See the two previous FAQ’s for details. As always, if you have specific concerns relating to your trip, we would be happy to discuss those concerns directly on a call with our Travel Concierge.
You deserve more than a website! A five minute call with our travel pros will allow us to provide the most relevant itineraries, extensions, and pricing to suit your needs.
Benjamin Walls
Founder
"The goal with WALLSabout is not a great vacation, the goal is a life changing experience."
Benjamin Walls is an internationally recognized artist, founder of four successful startups, and an ardent conservationist. His dedication to connect people to the natural world has also led to the founding of WALLSabout Luxury Travel. “I believe there’s nothing more inspiring than our last great wild places — my mission is to reconnect people to those places in dynamic fashion. I do that with my artwork in my galleries, but WALLSabout™ is unique because it allows me to curate a three dimensional experience. The goal with WALLSabout is not a great vacation, the goal is a life changing experience."
Steve
Senior Program Director
Australia & New Zealand
Ground-handler
Steve, aka “Fro” resides in Barwon Heads, Australia with his beautiful wife, daughter, and son. He met Benjamin years ago while working at Copper Mountain in Colorado and they’ve been lifelong friends since. Steve has spent the last five years traversing the plains of Africa with WALLSabout™, and is an expert in all things safari. His goal on every adventure is to make you feel completely at home halfway around the world!
Lisa
Program Director
Lisa has over a decade of experience leading trips to destinations such as Australia, Cambodia, Chilie, Costa Rica, Nepal, Peru and Vietnam. In addition to her skills as a Program Director, she owns her own small business and is a CPA! One of her favorite quotes is by Howard Thurman who said “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” Lisa remarks, "I truly come alive when I am given the opportunity to delight guests with one-of-a-kind experiences.’ Lisa makes her home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Emma Harvey
Concierge
From packing lists to visas to vaccinations - not to mention additional excursions - Emma has all of the answers!
Sandy Herrera
Concierge
From packing lists to visas to vaccinations - not to mention additional excursions - Sandy has all of the answers!
Benjamin’s hand-picked guides. They aren’t just good – they are the best.
Tori
Guide
Moe
Guide
Steve
Guide
Nick
Guide
John
Guide
Manny
Guide
Newton
Guide
Kevin
Guide
Rothman
Guide
Moses
Guide
WALLSabout Journeys™ are carefully crafted luxury travel itineraries that are hosted by hand-picked local guides. Each trip is scouted and curated by our founder, Benjamin Walls to provide an ideal in-depth experience of various destinations and includes extraordinary accommodations, custom sightseeing tours, private transportation, most (if not all) meals, domestic airfare, and friendly personal service before and during the trip.
“I utilize the tenacity I have developed as an artist to curate our WALLSabout™ itineraries. I omit countless ‘good’ experiences so I can offer an itinerary that is truly special. For me, it’s about not settling for less than exceptional.” —Benjamin Walls, Founder of WALLSabout™ Travel
Destinations
Guest Services
Company Headquarters
WALLSabout, LLC
701 State St.
Bristol VA 24201
701 State St.
Bristol VA 24201
Retail Travel Desks
Inside the Benjamin Walls Galleries
701 State St.
Bristol VA 24201
38 Broadway St
Asheville NC 28801
701 State St.
Bristol VA 24201
38 Broadway St
Asheville NC 28801