Planning Your Alta Lodge Stay During the Coronavirus Pandemic

With the spread of the new Covid variant and the sudden uptick in cases across the country, negotiating the inherent risks and variables while traveling during these uncertain times seems to parallel skiing in many ways. As you assess the terrain ahead and plan your best line to the Lodge, learn more about protocols in place to help keep our guests and employees healthy, along with key planning tools for the “what ifs” this winter.

In this article we will talk about the basics of our Health & Safety policies, offer advice on how to plan for your upcoming trip, and answer the following “what if” questions: 

• What if I want to reconsider my travel plans due to a recent uptick in cases or general uneasiness about traveling due to the ever-evolving nature and uncertainty of the pandemic? 

• What if I test positive in the day(s) leading up to my vacation? 

• What if I am exposed to Covid during my stay? Or learn of a recent exposure shortly after arriving?

• What if I start to feel sick/symptoms while I’m at the Lodge?

• What if I test positive for Covid during my stay? 

• What if I need to test for Covid before traveling back home? 

First, we prioritize the safety of our guests, employees, and the public when developing our policies related to Covid-19.

Planning for your Ski Vacation

You have been planning a winter visit to Alta for months. The dates are marked on your calendar, and you are ready to book your flights and your lodging at Alta Lodge. Before you make it official, however, you have questions about planning travel with the continuing uncertainty revolving around Covid-19.

Travel Insurance 

Regardless of what any final outcome might be, we always, always, always recommend purchasing Travel Insurance for any Alta Lodge stay. Travel Insurance is peace-of-mind that you can get your money back if you need to cancel your trip last minute.  

At Alta Lodge, our reservation policy is that we take a non-refundable pre-payment of your entire stay 30 days ahead of your arrival. This policy remains in place, so now, more than ever, it is a great idea to insure your trip.  

We recommend Travelex. They even offer Covid-19 specific coverage options and a Cancel for Any Reason upgrade. Please review the specific terms and conditions, talk with a representative, and purchase the right insurance policy for you. 

Whether you are exposed to Covid and need to quarantine, or sprain your ankle before your trip and can’t ski, having travel insurance lets you rest easy knowing you can recoup financial commitments you have made ahead of your vacation.

A couple of special key points about Travelex coverage during the pandemic:

• Travel insurance for Covid must be purchased 21 days prior to your trip departure. 
• Cancel for Any Reason policies must be purchased at the time of booking. 

Vaccination or Testing Before Arrival

As of the 2021-2022 winter season, it is our policy at Alta Lodge that all guests (5 and older) and staff are either fully vaccinated (including booster if eligible) or have a negative Covid test within 72 hours before arrival.

Daily Lodge Operations

By and large, upon arrival, you can expect a “back-to-normal” Alta Lodge experience: a welcoming atmosphere, comfortable guest rooms with stunning mountain views, delicious meals to start and end your day, and all your favorite additional services like afternoon teatime, Kids’ Club, and the Sitzmark. This year, the Sitzmark remains open exclusively to our lodging guests, our employees, and invited members only.

Masks are to be worn in indoor public areas unless actively eating or drinking. This includes the lobby, deck room, dining room, Sitzmark, or any other public lodge space where other guests or employees are present.

Find our complete Health and Safety protocols here.

What If

What if I want to reconsider my travel plans due to the recent uptick in cases or general uneasiness about traveling due to the ever-evolving nature and uncertainty of the pandemic?

Purchase travel insurance. 

If you would like to reschedule or cancel your plans 30 days or more before your scheduled arrival date, we will cancel your reservation and refund your deposit, less $50 per room.

If you choose to cancel within 30 days of your scheduled arrival date, contact your travel insurance provider to recover amounts covered under your policy.

Alta Lodge policy does not provide for refund of prepayments made within 30 days of scheduled arrival.

What if I test positive for Covid in the day(s) leading up to my vacation? 

If you receive a positive Covid test within 5 days of your scheduled arrival date, please stay home and quarantine for at least 5 days, and in accordance with public health guidelines in effect at that time. If you are flexible in re-scheduling your vacation, please call us and we will hold over your deposit to a future stay (this season or next!). Should you need to cancel your trip completely, contact your travel insurance provider to recover the amounts covered under your policy. Please note that the Alta Lodge deposit and cancellation policy does not provide for refund of deposit or prepayment in the event of cancellation within 30 days of scheduled arrival.

What if I am exposed to Covid during my stay? Or learn of a recent exposure shortly after arriving?

If you have a known or likely exposure to Covid, please stay in your room and contact the Front Desk. We will bring you a KN95 mask and gather information about your exposure. If it is determined that you were in fact exposed via a close contact, we will determine the best course of action based on your vaccination and sickness history. We will provide a test kit of 2 self-administered rapid tests for you (at cost) to use 5 and 10 days after your exposure.

If you have been exposed and are fully vaccinated (with booster) you can resume your stay, as usual, and have you test 5 and 10 days after exposure. If a test comes back positive, we will go through the protocols outlined below.

If you have not been fully vaccinated (with booster), you will be asked to quarantine outside of Alta Lodge and test both 5 and 10 days after your exposure. We can assist you in arranging off-site quarantine lodging, transportation, and food, upon request. At this time, you may also choose to return home to quarantine.

In this event, we will hold over or refund prepayment for the remainder of your stay.

What if I start to feel sick/symptoms while at the Lodge?

Stay in your room and contact the Front Desk. Let us know if there is anything you need, such as food, water, Ibuprofen, thermometer, pulse oximeter, etc. Contact your healthcare provider or the Alta Clinic and speak with a doctor. If it is recommended by a doctor that you test for Covid-19, we will provide a test kit of 2 self-administered rapid tests for you (at cost).

What if I test positive for Covid during my stay?

If you test positive, you should quarantine for 5 days, and in accordance with public health guidelines in effect at that time. For your safety, as well as that of other guests and employees, we will recommend that you check out and help you find off-site isolation lodging, transportation, and food. It is specifically recommended in the event of a respiratory illness, such as Covid, to descend to a lower elevation such as the Salt Lake Valley.

In this event, we will hold over or refund prepayment for the remainder of your stay.

What if I need to test for Covid before traveling back home?

Alta Lodge offers both rapid antigen and remotely supervised PCR tests to our guests, at our purchase cost.