As a result of the current pandemic the Skills Group have been working hard to ensure the safest possible way to travel by adhering to government cleanliness standards and ensuring strict social distancing guidelines are met.

 

As we begin to return to normal operation, it is very important that we all follow some simple guidelines to protect our staff, our passengers and anyone else that we may come into contact with as we carry out our holidays and excursions. As such please ensure you follow guidelines whilst on board to help maintain the hygiene levels that we currently have in place to reduce the spread of any disease.

 

‘Comfort Stop’ and Coach Cleaning:

 

Our current enhanced cleaning procedures include cleaning of all floors and seats, cleaning of all glass surfaces, mopping with disinfectant of all floor surfaces, disinfectant wiping of dash areas, driver controls and handles, all handrails, hand grabs, seat belt buckles, armrests and floors. It also includes vehicle anti-viral fogging on a regular basis.

 

 

Passenger Safety Briefing

 

 

We strongly advise you check the status of your holiday before you travel with us

 

Please DO NOT travel if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 or have had contact with anyone confirmed to have the virus in the last 14 days (e.g a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, loss or change to your sense of smell or taste).

 

The below information is current to the latest Coronavirus guideance, however, we will endeavor to notify you should we receive any further changes. The best way for us to do this is by email, you can sign up to our newsletter on our website: www.skills.co.uk (please check your junk inbox or spam folder for our emails.)

 

All our coaches will be deep cleaned prior to the tour departure and will be thoroughly sanitised at regular intervals throughout your holiday, with particular attention being applied to key touch points. All of our drivers have been fully trained and issued with PPE equipment including face masks, shields and gloves.

 

We have made a number of changes to how we operate our coaches to ensure we comply with government guidelines, whilst providing you with a safe and enjoyable holiday experience. The following information provides details on our procedures so that you know what to expect prior to travelling with Skills Holidays. The number of passengers we are able to carry has reduced to comply with social distancing guidelines.

 

On arrival at your pickup point please maintain a social distance from fellow travellers whilst waiting. When the coach arrives please stand back and wait for your driver to disembark and provide information for boarding. The driver will call your name and will ask you to step forward with your luggage so they can place this in the hold. You may be asked to allow a check of your temperature using a non-contact thermometer prior to you boarding the vehicle and if so, your compliance is conditional upon allowance of carriage (If you are found to have a high temperature, you will be denied travel). We will also kindly ask you must bring a face mask to board the coach, which is to be worn throughout all journeys during your holiday. You may also wish to bring water, gloves, hand sanitiser, essential medications, tissues, pen and an umbrella in case of unexpected bad weather.

 

On boarding the coach there will be a hand sanitizer provided at the front of the vehicle for you to use. The double seat immediately behind the driver will not be in use. When you initially board the coach the driver will kindly ask you to proceed towards the rear of the vehicle to the furthest seat available. Those that live together, or who are part of ‘a social bubble’, may occupy adjacent seats. Please note you will likely not be sat in your seat allocated at the time of booking at this stage of the journey. We will ask you kindly to maintain socially distance from other passengers on board. Once everyone has boarded, the driver will carry out the safety briefing process before commencing the journey and they will issue you a contact number you can get hold of them on, should you need to.The toilet on board will be unavailable except for absolute emergency only. Additional comfort stops will be made during your journey to compensate for this. Your driver will keep you all updated. We will ask you to please dispose of all items of personal rubbish in the bags provided.

 

From your first comfort stop the driver will allow you to sit in your new seat as detailed on your new booking confirmation enclosed, which you will occupy for the remainder of the journey – this will require you to reboard the coach in the order advised at the time by your driver. Please note, this may not be your original seat you were allocated at the time of booking so as to ensure we are able to adhere to social distancing measures on the coach. We ask you kindly to be considerate and respect other passengers travelling during this process.

Upon arrival at your hotel, please remain seated and wait for further instructions regarding specific procedures for check-in. This will also include important information regarding meal times etc. Passengers will disembark in row order starting from the front. Your hotel has completed a risk assessment in order to provide the safest and cleanest environment during your stay, meeting the current government guidelines. Our driver will be on hand if you have any questions or queries throughout your holiday. Please ensure you raise any concerns with the hotel at the time during your stay so they can put it right for you.

 

If you feel unwell during the tour, please remain in your hotel room and alert our driver or reception by telephone. We would love to gather your valuable feedback so we can continually improve our service, please visit: www.skills.co.uk and log into your account. We are confident the correct measures have been put in place to ensure you have a safe, environmentally clean and enjoyable holiday.

 

Finally, could we please ask that should you develop symptoms of COVID 19 with 14 days of returning from you holiday please notify us so we can inform other passengers who have travelled with you.

 

We would like to thank you for travelling with Skills Holidays. Should you have any urgent questions prior to departure please call
08456 66 55 44*, visit www.skills.co.uk or email enquiries@skills.co.uk and quote your booking reference and date of departure.