I’ve registered myself thru the Stste Department Smart Traveler program for my trip to Egypt, but does anyone know if Tauck registers the tours as well? I was thinking with their emergency response teams and all that they might.
In looking at the STEP registration, I see that you can register family and non-family members traveling with you in the program so I expect that a company like Tauck could register their guests into the program. It would be some effort - someone would have to be assigned to enter all the data by hand - unless there's an electronic method available for tour companies.
Only way to know for sure is to ask Tauck next time you talk with them. I kind of doubt if Tauck (and other travel companies) do that because some of the guests might object (for whatever reason). Additionally, if Tauck made an error in entering the data and someone didn't get notified during an emergency Tauck might be liable. Finally, it’s more work, and costs, for Tauck.
Tauck don’t know when and where people are leaving home, many people go other places first or stay longer. There are times when Tauck doesn’t hold your hand and this is one of those times.
Mike, do you not use STEP for all your travels?
As I understand it, if something happens, then the government will know you are in the country. We get STEP notifications of things like protests or imminent danger when they know we are in a country that is affected, say like the recent Japan earthquake.
Yes - I noted that I registered myself thru the Smart Traveler program - this is the one that then sends STEP notices to you. I just wondered if Tauck did. For Egypt, at least, they are the ones that apply and procure the VISAs and provide them to us when we land there so they would have all the information - they meet you at the airport so they know when you are arriving in Egypt at least...
I think that would be a lot of work for Tauck and I don't see them taking that on. At some point especially as the world is today as well as international travelers we do have to learn to handle some things ourselves. Or be sure to use a TA that will do this stuff. I also think that the State Dept notification systems overlaps with something else Tauck does. I am quite sure Tauck enlists the services of SOS International for help with all kinds of crises. I think SOS gets a data feed of guest info from Tauck with all the particulars. In an emergency they may serve as a conduit to US authorities and local authorities and possibly to guests as well.
Perhaps - it doesn’t seem like it would be that much extra work to me - Tauck has all the information that’s requested. I cannot believe they don’t have an excel spreadsheet of its travelers for every trip. The after hours special tours of high security sites like the Vatican surely request much of this type of information. Seems like it would be extra safety protocol for a tour company when traveling to certain areas. But that’s just me. And, before another one of you has to say “you need to learn to look after yourself” I noted in my very first post that I already enroll in the STEP program - I was asking a different question.
Comments
No they don’t . Register for the government STEP program, we do that for all our foreign tours.
In looking at the STEP registration, I see that you can register family and non-family members traveling with you in the program so I expect that a company like Tauck could register their guests into the program. It would be some effort - someone would have to be assigned to enter all the data by hand - unless there's an electronic method available for tour companies.
Only way to know for sure is to ask Tauck next time you talk with them. I kind of doubt if Tauck (and other travel companies) do that because some of the guests might object (for whatever reason). Additionally, if Tauck made an error in entering the data and someone didn't get notified during an emergency Tauck might be liable. Finally, it’s more work, and costs, for Tauck.
Tauck don’t know when and where people are leaving home, many people go other places first or stay longer. There are times when Tauck doesn’t hold your hand and this is one of those times.
Mike, do you not use STEP for all your travels?
As I understand it, if something happens, then the government will know you are in the country. We get STEP notifications of things like protests or imminent danger when they know we are in a country that is affected, say like the recent Japan earthquake.
I do when I remember to go to their site before a trip.
I use it too when I remember and where we are going. I also take note and write down the phone number of the U.S. Embassy.
Yes - I noted that I registered myself thru the Smart Traveler program - this is the one that then sends STEP notices to you. I just wondered if Tauck did. For Egypt, at least, they are the ones that apply and procure the VISAs and provide them to us when we land there so they would have all the information - they meet you at the airport so they know when you are arriving in Egypt at least...
I think that would be a lot of work for Tauck and I don't see them taking that on. At some point especially as the world is today as well as international travelers we do have to learn to handle some things ourselves. Or be sure to use a TA that will do this stuff. I also think that the State Dept notification systems overlaps with something else Tauck does. I am quite sure Tauck enlists the services of SOS International for help with all kinds of crises. I think SOS gets a data feed of guest info from Tauck with all the particulars. In an emergency they may serve as a conduit to US authorities and local authorities and possibly to guests as well.
Perhaps - it doesn’t seem like it would be that much extra work to me - Tauck has all the information that’s requested. I cannot believe they don’t have an excel spreadsheet of its travelers for every trip. The after hours special tours of high security sites like the Vatican surely request much of this type of information. Seems like it would be extra safety protocol for a tour company when traveling to certain areas. But that’s just me. And, before another one of you has to say “you need to learn to look after yourself” I noted in my very first post that I already enroll in the STEP program - I was asking a different question.