The EU Is Beckoning You

                                            Correr Museum, Venice Italy:  Closed  for Covid

The EU recently invited fully vaccinated US travelers back this summer.  That is an exciting proposition, but as this NY Times article lays out, this invitation is wishful thinking because of all the existing complexities. By all means read this article for its very clear exposition of the vast gulf between the  burgeoning desire to travel and need for tourism and the "boots on the ground" reality. Here is the link-

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/05/travel/covid-vaccinated-travel-reality.html?referringSource=articleShare

The last thing you want to do is pack your bag only to find your overseas destination essentially locked down.   Imagine heading to Paris and finding the Louvre  closed, as it  still is. Many European cities are under new lockdowns as covid infections rise once again.

It is impossible to know what will happen by the time summer rolls around, but there are online resources laying out  the covid status of many European cities- what's open, restrictions and so forth.  Here is one for Paris-  https://en.parisinfo.com/practical-paris/info/guides/info-disruption-paris.  Sites for many other EU cities are also available. Situations are fluid, so keep checking before making any plans.  Also check airlines' flight refund policies so if there is an outbreak in your destination you'll be able to make changes to your plans.

Then, there is the issue of getting back into the US.  Unfortunately, right now it is not as simple as being on time for your return flight: 

"All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.'

A covid test before flying back might not seem like a big deal, but you may find yourself with an unanticipated ten day extension to your trip in the form of an enforced quarantine if you test positive.  Take the case of the Israeli tourists who were forced to quarantine in the Seychelles before returning home:

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israelis-stuck-in-seychelles-quarantine-over-false-covid-tests-1.9776376

These tourists claimed the tests were false positives, and a false positive tests do occur.   But, it is  also possible for fully vaccinated persons to test positive for the virus.  A lot is hinging on these test results when your return home is at stake. Plus, quarantining abroad can be expensive and complicated.  For instance when traveling with others and one person comes up with a positive test?  Does everyone stay or do you leave that person behind and wish them a good quarantine?

I recently traveled to Mexico to take care of some issues with a property and found  the covid test hanging over my head put a damper on my activities, (and I have been fully-vaccinated for months.)   All meals were take-out, despite the plethora of fabulous restaurants in the area.  Strict covid precautions were enforced in all shopping venues, so that was reassuring.  Still, I wore a KN95 mask and face-shield indoors in public places.  Overkill, maybe, but I was serious about getting back to the US.  After my negative test result two days before my flight, I did have breakfast out, which was a nice finale.

Requirements for vaccinated travelers could change in the future, but that remains to be seen.