Travel Safety
Safety & Security
There is nothing more important than the welfare of our travelers. Just as we work tirelessly to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences to group leaders and students, we are equally committed to ensuring that all of our groups return home safely. Our safety and support infrastructure has been a cornerstone of our business for more than 45 years.
Safety Monitoring
ACIS constantly monitors global conditions and trains our staff on emergency protocol response, which immediately activates should an incident arise that could potentially affect our travelers. We receive daily updates and rely on the US State Department travel guidelines to help us make decisions concerning the safety of our travelers. In addition, we review statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding any issues affecting public health.
Peace of Mind Plan
ACIS’ Peace of Mind policy allows group leaders, at any point up to 45 days before departure, to change the travel dates of a tour or change the itinerary of a tour if they are uncomfortable traveling to their destination at that time. Travel modifications must be submitted in writing and finalized by 45 days before departure, and the group will be responsible for any cost differential.
24/7 Emergency Response
Any “what if” scenario you can think of, we’ve dealt with in our 45+ years of experience—from flight cancellations to illness to lost passports to volcanic ash clouds (!). And we believe that when life gives you lemons, its our responsibility to turn them into lemonade.
Example of Duty Officer in ActionUpgrade your protection plan
At ACIS, we consider the safety of participants to be our top priority. That’s why all travelers are automatically enrolled, at no extra charge, in our Basic Protection Plan. But for complete peace of mind, we recommend upgrading to one of our paid plans, like more than half of our travelers do each year. Our Ultimate plans provide increased on-tour coverage plus the ability to cancel for any reason and receive a full refund. Compare the plans for yourself!
View Plans| INSURANCE COVERAGE | CANCELLATION REFUND POLICY |
|
|---|---|---|
| ULTIMATE-PLUS Best! | MOST ENHANCED health coverage, Health coverage up to $50,000. No deductible. | MOST ENHANCED cancellation refund policy. Cancel for any reason and receive a 100% cash refund (less the cost of the protection plan itself). |
| ULTIMATE Better | ENHANCED health coverage, program interruption, baggage delay/loss and travel delay/quarantine protection while on tour. Health coverage up to $50,000. No deductible. | ENHANCED cancellation policy. Cancel for any reason and receive a full refund (less the cost of the protection plan itself). Note: Some of your refund will come as a future travel voucher. |
| BASIC Good | STANDARD health coverage, program interruption, and travel delay/quarantine protection while on tour. No baggage delay coverage. Health coverage up to $15,000. $200 deductible. | STANDARD cancellation policies apply in all cases. No special exceptions for medical or job loss-related cancellations. |
Worldwide Network
Overseas Offices
ACIS has offices in London, Paris, Madrid and Rome, and affiliate partner offices in other major destination cities worldwide to ensure that we have on-the-ground support when it is needed.
Dedicated Staff
Every member of ACIS’ staff is dedicated and empowered to ensure the safety, enjoyment and comfort of our travelers. Your Tour Manager is with you from the moment you clear customs all the way through departure. Tour managers are destination experts and meticulously trained in safety procedures, from emergency protocols through simple group best practices. They discuss security measures during the group’s arrival briefing. And, when necessary, are backed up by a robust infrastructure staffed by US and overseas ACIS staff.
Division of AIFS
ACIS is proud to be a division of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) whose mission is to bring the world together. AIFS is an industry leader that has organized quality international educational experiences for over 1 million students in its 50+ year history. ACIS/AIFS is financially secure. We carry $50 million in general liability insurance that covers school districts and teachers on our tours, as well as a $1 million indemnity bond with the United States Tour Operators Association. Learn more about ACIS Financial Security and Affiliations.
Student Behavior Guidelines
As you travel abroad, you are representing your family, your school, your community and your country. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our travelers, we require students to follow our behavior guidelines. Group leaders may add additional rules for their groups at their discretion.