Important Tips and Support following the Paris Attacks

For Immediate Release: Redding, California

As part of our commitment to ensuring the traveling public has access to relevant information affecting travel, True Vacation Travel has collected the following information for our clients and local news media.

In partnership with our travel suppliers we are offering complementary assistance to ANY travelers or family members who have loved ones in Paris on vacation or business travel, regardless if they have worked with our office or have purchased travel insurance. They can reach our office by calling 530-244-7447 or emailing [email protected] – since we are assisting multiple clients, please be sure to leave a detailed message when calling. Additionally our travel insurance partner, AIG, is offering services through their local Paris number 0805.540641 to provide emergency services to American tourists and business travelers.

Here is some additional information that you might find helpful:

• Flights from Charles de Gaulle airport have not been suspended, but security has been heightened significantly.
  • A message on its website states: Strengthening controls in Parisian airports. Further delays expected. Thank you for your understanding.”
  • According to Air France’s website, “We confirm that all of our flights from/to France are maintained following the events that occurred in Paris area this November 13. A reinforcement of controls at the borders is established by the authorities, however Air France flights operate normally.”
  • British Airway posted the following on its website: “We continue to monitor the situation in Paris after the tragic events of Friday November 13, but we are currently operating a normal schedule of flights. The French government has asked for extra security checks at all airports in the country, and this may lead to delays to flights from France. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority.”
  • Several airlines have instituted exception policies (enabling passengers to adjust their flight schedules on non-refundable tickets) due to the situation in France including: Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
• Major tourist attractions had been impacted as a result of the terror attacks.
  • Many public attractions and museums have reopened today, Monday, following many being closed over the weekend.
  • Disneyland Paris posted a statement on its website which read, in part: “As part of France’s three-day national mourning period, Disneyland Paris will remain closed through Tuesday, November 17, 2015 (included).”
• France is routinely rated as one of the world’s safest countries – generally outranking the safety of the US.
  • France was the most visited country in the entire world in 2014, according to the World Tourism rankings (compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organization). With 83.7 million tourist arrivals in 2014, France leads the 2nd place country (the United States) by nearly 9 million annual visitors.
  • France ranks as the 45th “most peaceful” country on earth (out of 162), according to the Global Peace Index (developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace). By contrast, the United States ranks 94th on the list.
  • France ranks 20th on the 2014 United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report, considered “very high.” The Human Development Index “can be viewed as an index of ‘potential’ human development.”
• At this time, there are no Travel Warnings or Travel Alerts in place for France from the U.S. State Department.
• While no one can say with certainty that any destination is 100% safe, we strongly encourage our clients to use care and common sense – no matter where they travel – to maximize their safety and security. For example:
  • Leave your itinerary, and passport data page, with a friend or family member back home so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
  • Know and respect the laws in the country you are visiting.
  • Follow your instincts and avoid any areas or situations that seem as though they could become dangerous.
  • Remain alert to their surroundings at all times.
  • Avoid all demonstrations, as even peaceful ones can quickly become unruly and a foreigner could become a target of harassment. If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, obey instructions from police and leave the area as quickly as possible.
  • Do not display expensive looking jewelry, large amounts of money or other valuable items. Also, do not leave luggage unattended in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
  • Check with your cell phone provider prior to departure to see if your phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G/4G international networks.
• Check your medical insurance coverage to make sure it applies overseas. If it doesn’t, consider buying travel insurance that covers overseas medical attention and medical evacuation.
  We closely monitor the U.S. Department of State website, as well as other governmental sources, for travel alerts as well as the more severe travel warnings for all destinations, including those that are most popular with our clients.
  • Should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination, we alert clients who may be planning to travel there so they can determine for themselves if they still wish to travel.
  • Also, should we become aware of an issue for a specific destination where a client is currently located; we try to immediately contact the client to check on their well-being and work to assist them if they require alternate travel arrangements.

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As an advocate for our clients, True Vacation Travel is committed to ensuring our clients and the traveling public have access to relevant, timely information which may impact their travel plans. For more information about True Vacation Travel see www.truevacay.info or call 530-244-7447