Travel Insurance Review

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Will the latest EU travel ban wreck your fall travel plans?

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American flag and passport animation

The big travel news this week is the removal of six nations, including the United States, from the European Union’s safe travel list. This impacts non-essential travel to the Schengen Agreement member-nations including Italy, France, and Spain.

It’s important to note that the restrictions recommended on Monday are not yet mandatory. Further, the European Council is leaving it up to individual member countries to impose or ignore their recommendations.

The delta variant that is currently sweeping through the US, causing dangerous surges in infection rates, hospitalizations, and deaths, is what prompted the EU to rethink welcoming American tourists.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new EU travel ban.

US-EU Summer Travel Timeline

Between the dates below, many US travelers took the opportunity to cash in on long-held rewards, mileage awards, and credit card points to snap up travel deals to Europe.

  1. June 18, 2021 – the EU lifted the travel ban against American tourists (the US does not reciprocate)
  2. August 30, 2021 – the EU recommended restrictions on US travelers as the delta variant spreads

EU Summer Travel Rules

Travelers had to be fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved in the EU. Alternatively, they could avoid mandatory quarantine by showing a recent negative COVID-19 test.

One extra wrinkle was the fact that individual EU countries could mandate their own restrictions on unvaccinated travelers (restrictions didn’t apply to fully vaccinated travelers).

While the list of requirements to get into Europe over the summer was daunting and confusing, not everyone had a hard time getting into Europe this summer.

Can you plan a trip to Europe now?

Pandemic travel planning is tricky and the EU’s latest announcement is still a recommendation, not a full-out travel ban. Essentially, travel to the EU would only technically be banned for vacations and other leisure trips IF they decide to ban all non-essential travel, even with a quarantine.

It is still possible for Americans to fly to Europe despite the US no longer being on the EU safe travel list. Where it could get complicated is this: each EU bloc nation has the freedom to set its own entry requirements for non-citizens.

If you haven’t already booked a trip, the best advice (at least for now) is to wait and see how your desired European destination reacts to this new travel recommendation. It may also be wise to plan to visit only one or two countries at most to make navigating the possibility of changing requirements easier to follow and avoid a potential quarantine.

What if you already have a trip booked?

If you have fall or winter travel planned for Europe, it’s important to remember that the new recommendations are not likely to affect fully vaccinated Americans.

Here’s what to do if you’re concerned about your upcoming trip:

  1. Start with consulting the official tourism or government website for the country or countries you want to visit. Then, watch that site closely for changes to entry requirements. Hint: the US State Department maintains a country page with the most relevant information for Americans.
  2. Check your airlines’s website for information on cancellation or changes. Fortunately, most domestic airlines have waived change fees for non-basic tickets (those are the premium economy, business, and first class tickets). If your ticket is one of the non-basic classes, you should be able to cancel and receive a credit.
  3. Don’t panic yet. Countries are constantly modifying their reopening guidelines based on COVID-19 data, which changes all the time. The EU remains open for now, and this week’s news has not yet been translated into all-out bans that could ruin a vacation.
  4. Plan on getting a vaccine booster. Croatia was the first to set a maximum validity period on international travelers’ inoculation statuses, and Austria followed suit this week. Both countries have set a nine-month limit on the acceptability of a visitor’s vaccination certificate.

Other interesting news

Travel wallet upgrade – Here’s a combination passport and vaccination card holder, perfect for fall travel.

Good news – Iceland is the only country with zero covid deaths since May.

In hotel news – some hotels are now requiring vaccine proof for staff AND all guests at check-in.

Need to cancel a trip? Here’s how to do it like a pro.

Riding the Ups and Downs of Travel in a Pandemic

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Since May, the numbers of travelers have been steadily rising, but then came the delta variant. The recent news about travel in a pandemic is starting to feel like déjà vu all over again. Now, instead of focusing on the numbers of Covid-19 cases, experts are talking about the rates of hospitalizations and deaths. 

There are more than 100,000 people across the US that are currently hospitalized for the coronavirus, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. That’s the highest number of hospitalizations since January 2021. New hospital admissions for kids have reached the highest levels since the US started tracking pediatric cases, and doctors are warning it could get worse as schools reopen and the delta variant continues to spread.

Early fall months like September and October are considered the shoulder season, a time when bookings become available and prices go down. Here’s what you need to know about the up-and-down ride that is trip planning in a pandemic.

FDA approves two vaccines

This week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines full approval, which health experts hope will persuade people who were hesitant to get vaccinated to book the next appointment. FDA approval will make it easier for businesses, the military, schools, and hospitals to mandate vaccination.

European travel is risky

Many Americans have waited and hoped for a fall or winter European trip, but travel restrictions and cautions remain in place across the continent. The delta variant’s rampant progress means more changes are inevitable.

Keep in mind that given the continued high rate of COVID-19 cases in the US, European countries could at any time ban inbound travelers. 

What can you do? Book only when there is built-in flexibility. Think plane tickets with no change fees, generous cancellation policies at hotels and homestays, and itineraries where you can spend most of your time outdoors in case indoor spaces are restricted.

Canada travel is difficult

The excitement around Canada’s recent news about borders re-opening for fully vaccinated US travelers turned sour as people learned what’s really required to cross the border. The requirements to enter the country are so restrictive as to effectively end any chances of casual travel. 

TSA numbers are falling

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the lowest number of travelers passed through security this week. The highest traffic numbers of the year were at the beginning of August. Rising concerns about the delta variant and vaccination rates are pushing people to cancel their flights.

Other interesting news

Fined for fake vax cards? One couple from Florida was recently fined $8,000 for attempting to travel with their kids to Hawaii with fake vaccination cards.

2021 is the year of the travel company IPO – quite possibly caused, in part, by the global pandemic.

Traveling with the kids this Labor day? Here is a list of 10 products that make it easier to travel with the small ones.

Hurricane season is upon us. What does that do to your travel plans?

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We’re about halfway through the 2021 hurricane season and the next couple of months could be a wild ride. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and covers the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. The peak months are August through October.

On August 4, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) nearly doubled its early season forecast, which comes out in May. Their latest projections call for between 15 and 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater) and added two major hurricanes (winds of 111 mph or greater) to their original projection.

So, what does all this mean for your travel plans? Lots actually. Here’s what you need to know.

Hurricanes cause tornadoes too

As if the hurricane itself wasn’t bad enough; in addition to flooding, high wind, and power outages, hurricanes can also spark tornadoes into existence and cause even more damage. The remnants of hurricane Fred caused as many as 14 tornadoes across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina as it passed.

Definitely something to think about when you’re considering travel insurance.

Hurricanes travel north

Hurricane Grace is currently making problems for tourists to Mexico’s Mayan Riviera, but not all hurricanes stay in the south. 

The National Hurricane Center issued a rare hurricane watch for parts of New England this week, something that hasn’t happened in years. If Henri makes landfall on the northeastern coast, it could affect places like Long Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, for example.

Drones are used to track hurricanes

Hurricanes are the costliest natural disasters in the US and researchers would like to be able to learn what causes these storms to rapidly intensify.

New drone technology is now being used to improve hurricane tracking and data collection. Hurricane-tracking drones called Saildrones (they look very much like small sailboats) are sailing into the storms to gather data and better predict the intensity and path of storms.

Hurricane-safe tropical spots

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Some tropical islands have historically been able to avoid hurricanes. If you choose your destination strategically, the odds of a storm destroying your vacation are very low.

Consider traveling to these islands if you’re hankering for a piña colada by the beach:

  • Aruba
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • Curacao
  • Panama
  • Trinidad and Tobago

Of course, low risk doesn’t mean no risk. These islands may not be hurricane magnets but heavy rain and wind could still cause problems for your trip.

Other interesting news

New apps for travel discovery – When you’re ready to travel, these new travel apps can help match your budget, interests, and saved-up miles to a destination.

Who knew? Flight attendants pack duct tape as a last resort for unruly passengers. Let’s avoid getting taped to the airline seat, shall we?

Getting COVID travel ready – United Airlines has added thousands of COVID-19 testing sites at Walmarts and Albertsons. You can even book testing appointments through the airline’s website and app.

Where in the world can US travelers go right now?

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We are halfway into Year 2 of Covid-19 and with just 15.4% of the world’s population fully vaccinated, travel restrictions aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Lockdowns, testing, health passports, and quarantine will likely to be in our travel vernacular for many years to come.

Some travelers have resorted to having Plan A vacations and Plan B, just in case they can’t have their first choice. Cases in point: Canada reopened its borders to fully vaccinated Americans just as the organizers of the world-famous New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival postponed due to rising Covid-19 cases in the region. Thailand’s reopening allows fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine, but the strict guidelines might push this destination off your bucket list at least for now. In the same week, reports out of Britain say the PCR tests required for most travelers are so expensive they’re keeping travelers away.

Individuals have different risk tolerances; and uncertainty seems to be the travel theme right now because the decision to travel goes beyond the ‘where can I go’ and ‘is it safe there’ all the way to ‘will it be worth it’?

Here’s what we know about where US travelers can go right now.

How to know where you can go

Deciding where to travel right now is half the battle, and Bloomberg’s Travel Reopening Tracker is a good place to start. Select where you’re traveling from and you’ll get a quick list of the places that are more or less accessible to you.

With Los Angeles selected as the embarkation point, the data currently looks like this:

Bloomberg’s methodology is based on travel restrictions, local vaccination levels, and business and leisure openness. The data is updated weekly – usually on Friday – and more often when major developments happen. 

How to know who you can travel with

The most important factor to consider is the medical risk of those you will be traveling with or seeing when you arrive.

  • Is everyone fully vaccinated?
  • Is anyone unvaccinated or immunocompromised?
  • Can you quarantine for at least three days when you return and get tested before gathering indoors with vulnerable members of the household?

If the trip will involve spending time indoors with unmasked, unvaccinated people then the current recommendations are to avoid going.

Items you should have on your next trip

What gets packed in your carry-on and in your emergency travel health kit has changed since Covid-19. In addition to masks, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer, some of the recommended items for flight travel include: 

  • disposable seat covers
  • face mask loops to keep your mask easily accessible
  • travel pillows to prevent your head from slumping against the wall or window
  • card holders for your proof of vaccination
  • thermometer to test your temperature
  • smartphone sanitizers

Other interesting news

Short on staff – worker shortages continue to complicate air travel as travel bounces back to normal.

Emerging from hibernation – as we begin to emerge from pandemic-imposed hibernation, here’s how we can all be a little more patient with each other, including ourselves.

Why is this vacation so pricey? Blame the relationship between business travel and higher or lower vacation prices.

How can you travel safely with the Delta variant?

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Animated gif with suitcase and delta variant virus circling.

Not that long ago, we all optimistically thought we’d turned the corner. Many travelers reserved beach houses, booked flights, and got in line to renew their passports. Then came the very different Delta variant—a version of the COVID-19 virus that is extremely contagious and more serious than the first. 

Recent news about breakthrough infections in vaccinated people and widespread cases among the unvaccinated are changing the way we think. The current recommendations beyond ‘get vaccinated’ is that people who are older, immunocompromised, or in the presence of children under 12 (who can’t get vaccinated yet) must revert to social distancing, wearing a mask, and staying away from anyone who isn’t vaccinated.

Here is the current information on how to (still) travel safely with the Delta variant on the loose.

Choose the right mask or double up

When we first donned masks, they ranged from a t-shirt pulled over your nose all the way to medical grade varieties. With more time comes more data and with a more aggressive virus, you may want to upgrade your mask. 

  • FFP1 masks are commonly used by builders to deflect coarse dust particles. They do not offer the desired protection against viruses.
  • FFP2/N95/KN95 masks provide a greater level of protection for the wearer but should not be worn around highly infectious or at-risk people (i.e., unvaccinated).
  • FFP3/N99/EN149/P3 masks effectively protect the wearer from droplets, protein molecules, bacteria, and viruses.

The air on planes is generally well-circulated and filtered, so your risk comes from the people who are sitting near you. Wearing a close-fitting cloth mask over an FFP2 mask will further reduce the risk of infection or accidentally spreading the virus if combined with strict hygiene protocols.

Make reservations for everything

With limited capacities to allow for social distancing, many places are requiring reservations and lots of those are filled weeks or months in advance. National parks, amusement parks, and tours may not be available if you don’t make reservations. As travel restrictions are reimposed to accommodate the Delta variant risks, even restaurant reservations may become necessary.

Plan for surprises and challenges

Thousands of travelers were left stranded on Monday after some of the largest airlines canceled hundreds of flights due to bad weather and staff shortages. Once your luggage is checked with the airline, you lose control of it and weather delays are not cause for the airline to accommodate you with food or hotel vouchers. If you’re traveling with children or there are staff shortages at the airport restaurants, you could be very happy you packed snacks and toothbrushes.

Have the right COVID test

Depending on where you go, and the rules change on a daily basis, you may have to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test. If you need a test for travel–either before you arrive or on your way home–you could end up scrambling for an appointment. Not all airports have testing available and not all tests are accepted. What is usually accepted (at least right now) is a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test. 

PCR tests generally take around 72 hours to get results and some urgent care facilities have introduced rapid PCR tests, which give results in around 30 minutes. Rapid PCR tests may not be accepted by some countries, so you’ll need to check before you try, and they can be expensive. If you’re in a location without a lot of testing sites, try the local drugstore.

Travelers coming to the US can use a self test but it must have a telehealth service that provides real-time supervision. The right test is a NAAT or antigen test with Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Other interesting news

Hungry? Why airport food is so expensive and how to eat, if not like a king at least well, for free at airports.

Public Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and identity theft: Tips for keeping your personal information safe while traveling.

Road tripping with the pooch? Here are the safest, crash-tested harnesses, crates, and carriers for your furry friend.

What’s changed in the world of travel since COVID?

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Animated gif of a woman traveler with a mask, plane, syringe, and covid virus

In May, those who are fully vaccinated were told they could leave their masks behind in most settings – even indoor settings. This week, however, that recommendation did an about face for two reasons: the first is to protect vaccinated people from breakthrough infections, and the second is to protect the unvaccinated (including children). It will take time before we know whether masks are a permanent part of our world. 

This week is a review of the broader, possibly longer lasting, changes in the world of travel since COVID.

Travel restrictions are sticking

Despite requests from travel industry executives and the recent announcement that Canadian borders are open to US travelers in August, the White House says restrictions limiting who can travel to the US will stay in place. Italy also extended its quarantine requirement for British travelers until the end of August.

Travel agents are back

Thanks to the internet boom and the rise of quality in travel websites, most travelers feel confident in scheduling and booking their own trips. In a new world of fast-changing testing protocols, shifting border restrictions, and scarcity for rental cars and hotel rooms, some of the most confident travelers have started calling in a travel advisor for help.

A June poll conducted by the American Society of Travel Advisors showed 76% of advisors are seeing an increase in customers, and 81% are getting calls from travelers who have never used an advisor before.

The reason most travelers cite for contacting an agent is time—they don’t have time to constantly watch the changing restrictions and want to count on someone else to do that for them.

Travel insurance may be required

When COVID shut down travel worldwide in 2020, many would-be travelers scrambled to get refunds or to file travel insurance for cancellations. Many others started looking at travel insurance for the first time, including whole countries that want to avoid health costs for inbound travelers who get sick.

Pre-COVID only a handful of countries made proof of travel medical insurance a requirement. Today, there are 26 countries that require visitors to have specific medical coverage for COVID and the list is growing. It seems that COVID has made everyone a lot more aware of travel insurance. 

Other interesting news

Travel myths we can forget about: it’s too expensive, dangerous for women, and dirty.

Forget the pump, it’s jet fuel we have to worry about now. Shortages prompt American Airlines to ask pilots to conserve.

Sharks, volcanoes, and ice caves – Thrill seekers bring back the travel adventure thrills to make up for lost time.

All those devices need regular charging. Here’s the latest recommendations in best travel adapters from Wired magazine.

How the COVID-19 Variants are Affecting Travel

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Animated gif of COVID-19 variants circling a traveler

The summer travel season can’t get much weirder. Along with the classic headaches like long security lines, weather delays, and gas prices, travelers have to fight for rental cars and navigate constant changes in airline schedules and rising prices. 

The headaches and chaos are not stopping people from traveling though. After a year and a half of no travel, over 2 million people worked their way through airport security last Sunday—more than any day since the pandemic started.

The travel news this week is all about how the variants are affecting summer travel. Here’s what you need to know.

Rising cases don’t halt reopening

While the number of positive cases of coronavirus has been rising, the ratio of hospitalizations remains low. Florida now leads the US in new coronavirus cases, the majority of which are occurring among the unvaccinated. 

Some among the fully vaccinated are also testing positive, but the so-called breakthrough infections thanks to the highly contagious Delta variant, are not resulting in serious illness. In fact, most breakthrough cases are identified through routine testing for work or travel, so individuals aren’t even aware they contracted COVID.

Good news: the vaccines are effective against the variants currently circulating in the US, including the Delta variant.

COVID travel chaos continues

As the Delta variant takes hold as the dominant strain, accounting for as high as 58% of all US infections and spreading across 100 countries, COVID continues to be a travel stumbling block. In addition to rising infection rates, the following travel chaos was reported this week:

Bad news: summer travel has become more chaotic.

Your rights when a flight is oversold

Airlines know that typically some percentage of customers will miss a flight. To maximize profits, they sell more seats on a given flight than they have available. Very occasionally every passenger shows up at the gate and the airline may need to bump some passengers. When this happens, they will solicit volunteers and sometimes this works in your favor. Earlier in July, one Delta traveler was paid $4,500 (10 times what they paid for the flight) to take a later flight.

If you’re curious, here is the full list of rules and rights under federal law in an oversell situation.

Here’s how to make the most of volunteering to be bumped:

  1. Politely request that your compensation be the same as the final volunteer’s (you don’t want to accept an offer of $300 when the final person gets $1,000).
  2. Don’t be afraid to ask for other perks like hotel vouchers, access to the airline lounge, or even a better class of seat on the later flight.

Other interesting news

For the data nerds – the airline with the highest rate of involuntary bumps (according to airline data) in the first quarter of 2021 was Frontier. 

Exclusive travel hacks – 33 valuable tips from frequent jet setters.

Flight-shaming to flight free travel – here is the latest in the evolution of sustainable travel trends.

Ben Van Leewarden from Planet Chopper with Route 66 rides, staying in formation, and the “guardian angel” on the road | (Safe Travels #51)

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This show is not for everyone.

But if you’re a biker, have a motorcycle, know a biker, or have seen Easy Rider…it’s for you.

Ben Van Leewarden runs Planet Chopper, a business that plans and operates guided USA motorcycle tours with small groups of up to 15 bikes.

They handle route planning, lodging, dining options, know all the cool places to see, and even have a support vehicle that follows with a mechanic and extra bike parts.

In short, it’s pretty worry-free.

But, he does have some tips and advice for getting ready for a trip like this, what to do, and what not to do.

Enjoy!

Selected Links from the Episode

Show Notes & Timestamps

  • Who is the typical rider on these tours? 00:02:00
  • What is the main appeal of a guided tour? 00:02:40
  • What experience level is typical? 00:04:07
  • How to prepare for a group tour like this 00:05:11
  • The gear you need to bring 00:06:01
  • The “guardian angel” on the road 00:07:23
  • Common mistakes to avoid 00:12:14
  • What is a “sweep rider”? 00:13:34
  • Common myths about a motorcycle tour to dispel 00:14:15
  • Are bikers really big and bad? 00:15:07
  • Custom tours like Route 66 00:16:56

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