International Travel

[Dan_Callahan]

With the recent announcement from the head of the European Commission saying it will recommend that EU countries open up to vaccinated american tourists this summer, is anyone going ahead with booking travel plans? I am itching to pull the trigger on a trip to Ireland ...

[David_Tepper]

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/25/world/europe/american-travel-to-europe.html?referringSource=articleShare

I think I am going to buy tickets today for a SFO-LHR-INV trip in mid-August.

[Marty Bonnar]

Just bear in mind that the UK is no longer an EU Country. Ireland still is, though.
Cheers,
F.

[Richard Fisher]

Have to say that all of my American friends who were coming to play in Wales early this summer have postponed to 2022, in part at my prompting. NB always that England/Scotland/Wales/N Ireland/Ireland all have different COVID protocols.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Regardless of what the EU recommend, Ireland will make its own call.


At the moment, it sounds likely that the restriction of being unable to travel outside our own county might be extended from June to July.


I’d be careful, Dan. When are you thinking?

[Michael Whitaker]

England will announce their list of “Green” countries soon and the US is predicted to be on that list. This means that as of 17 May you will be able to travel into England without having to self-quarantine. A pre-flight & post-flight COVID test will be required, but other than that, there will be no major hoops to jump through. If everything goes well and there and no setbacks due to the virus, the plan is to relax restrictions even further come mid-June.


I’ve booked my flight for 24 May. Fingers crossed.


PS - Scotland, Wales & N Ireland have their own timelines... similar, but a bit more restrictive. They are expected to follow suit with similar dates.


The big unknown is whether or not the UK will accept some sort of vaccine passport to allow fully vaccinated travelers to skip the forced testing. I think they will come June. Too much visitor income at risk to not use every tool in the box.

[Dan_Callahan]

Regardless of what the EU recommend, Ireland will make its own call.

At the moment, it sounds likely that the restriction of being unable to travel outside our own county might be extended from June to July.

I’d be careful, Dan. When are you thinking?

I was hoping for mid to late July. But I'm holding off until there is some indication that Ireland is going to open up.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have gone to GB&I every year for decades. I didn't go last year and will not go this year. Protocols keep changing and I can wait. I will be going to Israel in October, however.

[jeffwarne]

I bought a ticket to London for mid July last week.(good till 2023)
Tickets are flexible at the moment-might not be once restrictions are relaxed, to say nothing of a possible surge from pent up demand.

[Jeff Schley]

My international travel consists of making it back to the states. The problem is getting back to KSA, where right now the US is on a list of 20 other countries (UK, Germany, India, France, etc.) where you have to go to a 3rd country for 14 days not on the list before entry back. But I can't miss another year to 18 months again without seeing my family. Those who think not being able to travel internationally is an imposition think of that restriction keeping you from your family. All depends on one's perspective and Tommy's thought of I can wait is a valued one right now.


As my dad used to say when we were kids, and crying over seemingly something not significant, "I'll give you something to cry about."

[Buck Wolter]

Maybe some hope

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/british-airways-ceo-uk-us-travel-corridor

[Dan_Callahan]

Well that sounds promising ...

[JDutton]

"Papiere, bitte."

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have been looking at flights. I compared flights in this April to flights next March. Be prepared for a significant price increase. Some fares are twice as expensive.

[David_Tepper]

Also be prepared for car rental rates that look to be 50% to 100% higher than what they were in recent years.

[Daryl David]

"Papiere, bitte."

For those without Google translate


Papers, please

[AChao]

I'd guess you'll be able to travel a fair number of places if you are vaccinated, but the bigger question may be is everything or most things open where you want to go?

[Dan_Callahan]

I'd guess you'll be able to travel a fair number of places if you are vaccinated, but the bigger question may be is everything or most things open where you want to go?

As long as golf courses and hotels are open, I don't really care about much else. I can live off corn flakes and coffee for at least a month.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Hi Dan,


Latest from Ireland seems quite positive if you are intending to come here for a long trip. Not worth it otherwise.


Sounds like they are accelerating inter-county travel so that will be open for you. So will outdoor dining and drinking.


What you will have to do is have a negative PCR 3 days before traveling and then quarantine in your hotel for 5 days upon arrival if you then take another PCR test (and it is negative), 14 days if you choose not to.

[Dan_Callahan]

Thanks, Ally.


Do you think there's any chance they will shorten/eliminate the quarantine for people with proof of vaccination?


Dan

[Ally Mcintosh]

Thanks, Ally.


Do you think there's any chance they will shorten/eliminate the quarantine for people with proof of vaccination?


Dan

To be honest, I don’t think so. But I am guessing somewhat as things seem to be changing by the week... If they have more evidence in a couple of months that vaccinations are stopping / slowing onward transmission, then it would make sense.

[John Handley]

I have a trip to Scotland with 12 guys from Sep 8-18.  I have also booked a group of 8 to Ireland in mid-August and a group of 12 to Ireland early Sept.  All groups are going.

[Dan_Callahan]

I'm tempted to just go ahead and book an August trip and keep my fingers crossed it all works out.

[Bill Gayne]

Just looking at airfares around the BUDA dates from the DC airports and the premium for a refundable ticket is $200-$300 (non-refundable $845, refundable $1,045) or close to a 25% premium.

[David_Tepper]

From barrons.com this morning:

• Fully vaccinated travelers would be able to start visiting the European Union’s 27 nations this summer, under a proposal the European Commission released Monday. People who have received vaccines approved by the EU at least 14 days before arrival would be eligible, the proposal says. Travelers who have received one of the currently authorized vaccines— BioNTech / Pfizer, Oxford University/ AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, or Moderna —would have to show proof of inoculation to the country they want to travel to. The EU is developing a “Digital Green Certificate” to help member countries more easily verify vaccinations, as well as an “emergency brake” to let the EU quickly limit travel to prevent the spread of variants of concern. Children traveling with vaccinated parents would have to show negative Covid-19 test results within 72 hours of arrival. The European Commission wants the guidelines in place by the end of June, although each country would make its own rules about whom to admit.

No further news from the UK yet.