Travel Safety Message
As America's oldest educational tour operator in business for 53 years, CHA has a great deal of experience in operating international tours and has established an excellent reputation for reliability in our field. Each year, thousands of American teachers and students journey safely throughout Europe and around the world on CHA tours, over one million passengers in total since the company began in 1969.
Our Position on Safety
Throughout CHA's extensive 53-year history in the educational travel field, we have experienced several serious international crises. Through these times, the welfare of our passengers has remained our primary concern. We share in the concerns of all Americans and want to reassure you of our commitment to the safety of our passengers.
Quite simply, CHA will not operate a tour if it is not safe to do so. CHA remains in close contact with the U.S. State Department and will abide by any Official Travel Advisories it issues prohibiting Americans from traveling to particular foreign countries considered unsafe to political instability, terrorism or health concerns. We also consult the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) on a regular basis and will adhere to any regulations and recommendations that they institute to protect the safety of U.S. citizens.
Our Global Network
CHA’s world headquarters in located in Philadelphia, PA. As an international company, CHA also is in daily contact with our staff around the world (including those at work in our offices in major cities in Europe as well as our tour directors and local guides) who keep us informed on any local events and activities which may impact the normal operation of our tours. Being close to our groups while they travel allows for more timely responsiveness to handle any problems or emergencies which may arise.
Our Travel Arrangements & Suppliers
CHA only works with companies who share our safety and quality standards. CHA contracts with major international airline carriers and books its travelers on regularly scheduled flights only. CHA selects only safe, comfortable, and quality hotels. Routine visits and tour evaluation surveys completed by our teachers each year become the basis for reviewing our hotels, restaurants, motorcoaches, etc. in an effort to improve quality and safety on every level.
On-Tour Assistance
Once a CHA tour begins, travelers receive the full-time service of their professional, multi-lingual Tour Director. CHA Tour Directors meet our groups upon arrival overseas and remain with them until the time they board their return flights back to the United States. Along with the teacher who is responsible for chaperoning students according to CHA's Student Code of Behavior, Tour Directors will stress the importance of personal safety, caution and common sense at all times while traveling and are there to assist in handling emergencies on tour should they arise. In addition, national landmarks and major tourist attractions frequently visited on CHA tours have increased security measures to further protect our groups as they travel.
COVID-Related Travel Requirements
At CHA, we are committed to providing the safest and most rewarding tours possible for our groups. Therefore, all CHA travelers will be required to follow the most current COVID-related travel requirements based on both U.S. regulations and those of the countries you will visit on your tour. These requirements may include documented proof of a negative COVID-19 test and/or proof of COVID-19 vaccinations. In addition, facial masks, hand sanitizer and social distancing may be required or recommended while traveling on a CHA tour, especially while in airports, on board airplanes, on buses and other forms of transportation on the tour as well as when visiting museums and other attractions.
As COVID-related travel requirements are subject to change, CHA will provide more specific information on the requirements that apply to your tour before you are scheduled to travel, and your CHA Tour Director will reinforce these requirements when you arrive overseas.
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At CHA, we are committed to providing the safest and most rewarding educational tours possible for our young travelers. We thank all of you for your continued support of educational travel and look forward to serving your travel needs in the future.