Dear valued guests:
We at Aikens are committed to giving each one of our guests a wonderful Aikens Experience. The safety of our guests and staff remains our highest priority. As the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, so will our policies and procedures as new information and guidelines are made available from public health officials.
We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further details along with any updates to our booked guests ahead of their planned trips if applicable.
That being said, we are optimistic in saying that although we’ve all been living under the thumb of a pandemic for a year now, there are some positive signs starting to emerge, and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Will we be able to start off the season on time? Will the border delay our US groups in May and June? We don’t know those answers yet….but we do know that the fishing and travel itch is setting in big time! We have plans in place and are looking forward to having you all wet a line at Aikens soon!
In an effort to be proactive and keep you up to date with what we are hearing, we have put together a list of FAQ’s that we’ve been receiving in the office recently. Hopefully, your question is answered below. If not, please do reach out… we welcome all questions and chatter directly as well!
Will Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge be open in 2021?
Yes! The current Manitoba provincial guidelines allow for lodges and outfitters to operate. We are planning to be open for business this upcoming summer, much like we did last summer. Our ability to host guests will depend on travel and group size restrictions. We will adapt to be in accordance to these regulations as they materialize this upcoming spring and throughout our 2021 season.
Is the border currently open?
Currently (June 9th, 2021), the border is closed for “non-essential” travel. Travelers crossing the border (land and air) into Canada also must quarantine for 14 days in a gov-approved facility and show proof of negative test taken within 72hrs. These rules expire and renew monthly; their next re-evaluation is set for June 21st.
Follow these links for more information:
Travel restrictions into Canada
What are you hearing about the USA/Canada border reopening?
Communication from Government toward the border closure has been minimal. We are hopeful that we will start to hear news about reopening plans in the coming month(s). Our hope is that with vaccines being distributed on both sides of the border that we see an eventual loosening of these strict measures, but there have been no indications yet on possible timelines.
Why have flights into Winnipeg been canceled through United or Delta?
Canada recently implemented stricter entry rules for any international flights (February 21). As part of this new policy, only four airports in Canada are now able to accept incoming international flights, and unfortunately, Winnipeg is not one of them. Non-essential travel is still not permitted, so this appears to be a temporary measure to better regulate the return of snowbird Canadians and will be reviewed accordingly.
As a result, and for the time being, people can only arrive in Canada through Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. Flights to Winnipeg were taken off the schedule by both United (via Chicago & Denver) and Delta (via Minneapolis). We expect these flights to reappear once the current policy is reversed.
I have a deposit for a trip in 2021, if the border does not reopen, what happens to the money I have already paid?
While deposits for trips booked are non-refundable, we will honor and carry-over monies to future trips, either in-season or future year(s). We will also honor the original trip’s pricing for the eventual visit if booked in 2022.
I am an American worried about traveling over the border this year, even if it becomes possible. I prefer to stay home or only travel domestically. I would prefer to reschedule my booking at Aikens to 2022. Can I do this without penalty?
Yes, absolutely. We understand that people will have different comfort levels when it comes to traveling during a pandemic. We have already spoken to a few guests who prefer to wait until 2022, so we have rebooked their dates into next year and transferred the deposits and payments accordingly. We have also honored the 2021 pricing. This is an option for those of you that want to delay travel to Aikens for another year.
If my trip needs to be rescheduled because of restrictions, or because of some other issue that has come up, what are my options?
If you do not feel like you can come to Aikens during your booked dates because of COVID restrictions, or for any other reason, we are going to be very flexible in rescheduling without any penalties. Some groups have chosen to target dates later in 2021 (August and September), and as mentioned, others have already deferred to 2022. In all cases, the deposits and payments transfer 100% to the new booking so nothing is lost by officially making these changes with us.
I am a booked guest, but when I booked, I chose a time later in the year because most of your spots in May and June were already sold out. If the border does not open, would I be able to switch my dates to earlier in the season if some of those spots become available?
Our 2021 calendar is quite busy. With the combination of annual interest and deferred trips from 2020, late May and June are showing almost no vacancies (July is getting quite full as well). We will not be releasing any dates unless a government-mandated border closure is announced for the dates in question. If the border closure results in us having to reschedule your existing booking, you will have the first opportunity to book similar dates in a season moving forward.
If a guest chooses to voluntarily move their dates, or a border closure renders it impossible for them to travel early in the season, we would at that point offer the spot to parties on our waiting list to migrate/book their trip into said openings. If you would like to discuss adding yourself to the waiting list, please call or email us.
I am a Canadian from outside MB. Am I currently able to travel to Winnipeg/Aikens?
Travelling to Manitoba from other provinces is currently only permitted to individuals who are fully vaccinnated, which means two weeks after your second dose. Canadian travellers who are not fully vaccinated must observe a 14-day self isolation when entering Manitoba.
I would like to book a trip for 2021, are you taking new bookings and deposits?
Yes, we have been taking new bookings for 2021 with the understanding that deposits for these trips are non-refundable. That said, the same flexibility in rescheduling exists as detailed in other answers.
Our bookings calendar is about 85% full. There are only a few openings in the first half of our summer, while August and September still have some decent availability to book new trips. While much of May, June, and July are already sold out, there is a chance that availabilities will be created as we move along this spring. For this reason, we have started a waiting list for specific dates. Contact us to discuss.
I would like to book a trip for 2022, are you taking bookings (new and repeat) and deposits?
This is a bit of a tricky one. Guests will typically rebook the same week year after year and we start off each new booking season by getting all of those on the calendar first. We usually have a 70+% repeat rate, and some weeks are perennially sold out, so we know that in advance.
This year, the pandemic has created a whole new level of possible scenarios because we may not just be dealing with repeat bookings, but with rescheduled bookings as well. Because of this, we cannot say with certainty which weeks in 2022 will become available until we have gone through this spring and early summer. Booked guests from 2021 that cannot make it will be given first opportunity on available dates in 2022. Then we will work off a waiting list of new groups that we have started to build. Given the current situation, and with a bit of flexibility, we are certain we will be able to create a lifetime of memories for as many people as possible next summer.
What kind of regulations and precautions will be in place for the float plane flights and on-site at Aikens for my trip this summer?
Blue Water Aviation has implemented the following procedures:
- All guests must bring and wear a mask while entering the building, within 2 meters from staff and while in the plane.
- All guests must complete a health check questionnaire when arriving at the float base.
- Planes will be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned
Here are some restrictions that directly affect us at Aikens Lake:
- Mask use is mandatory in all indoor public places, such as the B&T, the Office and the Main Lodge.
- Indoor public or private gatherings are currently not permitted. This includes in your cabin as well as in the Main Lodge and Bar.
- Outdoor gatherings of up to five people are allowed.
- Our restaurant/dining room is currently closed to in-person dining. We will be delivering breakfast and dinner to your cabin.
- Big Molly’s Bar is currently closed. For those on the Platinum/Platinum Lite Plan, we will stock your cabin with the beverages of your choice. For those not on the Platinum Plan, beverages can still be delivered to your cabin and we will simply add them to your tab.
Restrictions and health orders are changing almost weekly. We are keeping up-to-date with the rules, and we will be adjusting as the season goes on, as directed by Manitoba officials.
Feel free to email julie@aikenslake.com or call 204-237-5253 to discuss restrictions and protocols.
We look forward to seeing you soon,
Your friends at Aikens