I'm Vaccinated! Can I Go to Europe?

Caption: This past week I got dressed up, complete with jewelry and makeup for an inspirational travel industry conference. Yes, it was virtual, but it felt good to be wearing dressy clothing!

I received my first shot this past week - I met the eligibility guidelines and was able to schedule an appointment within a couple of days. It was a very emotional experience - I was flooded with relief, hope, a sense of freedom, and anticipation of being able to resume doing things I love. As more people are eligible and the vaccine supply increases, my expectation is that many of you will feel or have already felt emotions similar to mine.

This past week also saw the travel world start to open just a bit - American Cruise Line has resumed sailing on the Mississippi, airlines are adding flights, and a few international destinations have announced that American visitors are welcome to visit without quarantine requirements, as long as the traveler has documentation of a negative PCR test or proof of vaccination.

Are you starting to think about planning a trip? If so, I invite you to create a "Wanderlist" using the link below - this is a free and fun tool created by Virtuoso, highlighting tons of activities, hotels, and cruise itineraries in destinations around the globe. After you've done that, please read on - I've summarized key points about travel to Europe from a series of articles published this week by the New York Times - please drop a comment if you find this info helpful, and let me know your dream destination.

VACCINES AND TRAVEL

If you've been vaccinated and are considering travel, here are a few things to consider:

• The CDC recently released an updated set of guidelines for those who've been vaccinated - but - their guidance regarding travel has not changed. For now, the CDC advises against travel even if you are fully vaccinated, due to the risk of spreading the virus, especially the new variants which are both more contagious and more deadly. And we don't yet have solid data regarding whether fully vaccinated people can transmit the virus to people who have not been vaccinated.
• Masks are required on planes and in airports, even airports located in states no longer requiring masks. There's a national mandate for masks to be worn in airports and during interstate travel, which includes travel by air, by rail and by coach. And airlines may elect to require masks during flight, should the federal mask mandate be relaxed.
• If you DO travel, take precautions, including wearing a mask that fits snugly, consider wearing a face shield, avoiding crowds and lines as possible, and regular hand washing / sanitizing. The CDC advises not to travel until at least 2 weeks after complete course of vaccination, and obtaining a PCR COVID test within 72 hours of departure and return.
• Consider your planned destination. Summer vacation overseas is possible for a limited number of countries - and you definitely want to avoid travel to a country with a high rate of infection. Similarly for domestic travel, you may want to monitor infection rates in the places being considered, and choose destinations with lots of outdoor activities.
• Plan to carry your vaccination card with you during travel. While you don't currently need it to board a plane, having the vaccination card does open certain destinations to foreign visitors. And as cruising resumes, several cruise lines have announced that proof of vaccination will be required for all guests aged 16 and above. I'd like to point out that proof of vaccinations is not new - certain countries require proof of yellow fever vaccine in order to enter. It's likely that an electronic "Vaccination Passport" will be available soon.
• Hotels and rental properties are operating differently - for one, many hotels have implemented capacity limits which may make finding a room more challenging than in the past. Additionally, some amenities may be scaled back - in-room minibars, for example. Expect enhanced cleaning protocols - with the possible exception that your room may be cleaned only on request rather than daily. Restaurants may have reduced capacity and hours, and pool and spa services may be limited as well.
• Many of the cities and states that were requiring visitors to quarantine after arrival have relaxed these requirements, especially for fully vaccinated guests.
• The volume of air travelers is picking up, and airlines are adding flights to their schedule. Several airlines have announced recalls of thousands of furloughed employees as the demand for travel increases. Statistics for recent flights show that flights are averaging about 65% full, with the expectation that more seats will be filled during the summer months.
• Airfares are starting to increase but analysts predict that fares will generally be lower than pre-pandemic rates.
• Airlines have implemented greater flexibility in booking tickets, with most discontinuing penalties for canceling a flight or changing a ticket, but it's anticipated that the rules will soon be more restrictive as demand for air travel increases.
• In-flight food service was reduced or discontinued altogether during the pandemic, but airlines are bringing back food, drinks, and snacks. However, passengers are currently required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
• Airlines with international routes have added more domestic routes, many to destinations with lots of opportunities for outdoor activities - such as Montana, South Dakota, Idaho, Oregon, Hawaii, Florida, California, and Texas.
• With travelers looking for more rural (e.g., socially-distanced) destinations, summer 2021 flights to cities is expected to be less expensive than during the summer of 2019.

Summer Travel to Europe

European destinations have been essentially closed to Americans since March of 2019, and many countries in Europe continue to struggle with COVID surges. And the rollout of vaccines in Europe is slower-paced than here in the US. That said, a handful of countries are welcoming fully vaccinated guests, and others are working to relax entry restrictions in anticipation of summer visitors. And keep in mind that the US currently requires a negative COVID test taken within three days of travel to the US from international destinations.

What's Open in Europe?

• Turkey, Croatia, Albania, and Armenia are welcoming US Citizens if proof of a negative COVID PCR test prior to travel.
• Iceland is permitting fully vaccinated travelers to enter without quarantine or proof of negative tests.
• Greece will open in mid-May to travelers with documentation of vaccination, virus antibodies, or negative tests; however, there will be random testing of arriving passengers.
• Spain is anticipating permitting entry of foreign guests after 30-40 percent of Spain's residents have been vaccinated, expected sometime during Spring.
• Portugal hopes to open in May but has not announced whether Americans will be permitted.
• England currently requires a quarantine of 10 days, but this can be reduced if the visitor tests negative on the 5th day of their visit. Visit Britain is predicting that quarantine restrictions will start relaxing in late Summer 2021.
• Scotland is phasing in relaxation of its restrictions.
• The EU has proposed a digital "Travel Passport" which would document either full vaccination, negative test, or antibodies. It's anticipated that non-EU residents would be able to request the "Digital Green Certificate" from EU countries they plan to visit.