Travel Insurance Review

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Tips for Booking Holiday Travel in these Uncertain Times

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Animated gif of mobile phone and travel booking

The list of countries reopening to fully vaccinated international visitors in November grew longer this week, including:

As borders open and restrictions ease, the EU digital COVID certificate program has expanded. The digital certificate can be used to enter venues where it’s required like restaurants, museums, and bars. It is now open to all EU member states as well as 16 non-EU countries, including Israel, Morocco, and Panama.

Tip: Presenting the white CDC vaccination card is an acceptable alternative for American tourists.

With the holiday season approaching and restrictions easing up, demand for holiday travel is expected to be high. Regardless of whether you’re planning to travel internationally or simply across the country, here’s what you need to know about trip planning right now.

1 Don’t be afraid to book travel now

There are loads of reasons to book your holiday trips right now, and here’s why:

  1. Most flights can be changed – not refunded but changed – to a new ticket without paying fees. Basic economy tickets are the exception.
  2. Great deals are everywhere right now. The airlines are eager to get people traveling again, and tours with flights, cars, and lodging are on sale too.
  3. Demand for travel to the US is picking up and domestic locations could fill up quickly. 

Plus, it’s fun to have something to look forward to on the calendar.

2 Travel reward cards and loyalty programs help you save

Even the not-so-frequent and budget-minded travelers can reap the rewards of booking holiday travel right now. Here’s how:

  1. Airline credit cards with airport lounge access help you avoid overpriced airport food (especially helpful on a long layover).
  2. Travel cards that cover the cost of TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Clear memberships save you money and time waiting in security lines.
  3. Airline credit cards often include the benefit of free checked bags when you use the card to pay for flights (really helpful for families with lots of luggage).
  4. Hotel loyalty programs don’t charge resort fees for rooms booked using points. Many programs also offer additional discounts like the fifth night free when booking with points.

Pro tip: If you buy your airline tickets with points, and have to cancel the trip, you don’t have to go through the process of re-booking a new trip and paying the difference. The points are returned to your account instead.

3 Check the cancellation terms

As demand for travel picks up and inventory gets low, you’ll want to play investigative reporter with the terms and conditions for hotels and tours. 

Many hotels pose stricter-than-usual cancellation requirements over the holidays. You may be able to reschedule your stay instead of getting a refund, but that only works if you can schedule a later trip.

4 Consider ‘stacking’ your trips for extra reassurance

Trip stacking is a new trend that can give you some peace of mind. Stacking your trips means booking more than one trip within the same timeframe in the hope that one will actually happen. It’s a way to have a backup trip ready to go if your first preference doesn’t work out. Usually the first preference trip is more aggressive – like traveling internationally or taking a cruise – while the backup is often domestic and less likely to be canceled.

If you’re still on the fence and uncertain about booking your holiday trips now, you’re in good company. Prince Harry and Meghan haven’t figured out their holiday travel plans yet either.

Other interesting news

Volcano erupts – the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma disrupted flights this week and prompted evacuations.

Stop already – a list of 17 things flight attendants wish passengers would stop doing.

Tourist magnet – Canada rolls out a lure for frequent flyers by matching perks on Air Canada.

Group trip organizing – this new travel app designed for group trips just launched and they’re hosting a contest. If you’ve got a frustrating group trip planning story, you could win a paid vacation for you and, you guessed it, three of your friends.

Tired of the same four walls? Malta has opened applications for year-long digital nomad visas. 

The US Updates Travel Rules to Let Europeans In

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US air travel rules updated to let Europeans in

Back in March 2020, the US closed its borders to most travelers in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the spring of 2021, many countries loosened their own entry restrictions while the US kept their travel rules in place. 

After Europe opened its borders to Americans in June, some governments complained about the unfairness. That’s all about to change soon, however.

The travel news this week is all about the lifting of US travel bans. Here’s what you need to know about what travel will look like come November.

1 America’s new air travel rules look like most of the world’s

The American international travel rules will look very similar to those other countries have put in place:

  • All adults must be fully vaccinated before boarding a flight to America, and
  • Show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Fully vaccinated means the traveler has received one of the vaccines approved in the US, including the AstraZeneca vaccine, and waited at least two weeks before traveling. 

2 With one important difference

Airlines will be required to collect and retain passenger information (phone number and email address) for 30 days. The data may be submitted to the CDC if the health agency needs to conduct contact tracing.

The goal is to enable the CDC and state and local public health officials to follow up with inbound travelers and those around them when someone has potentially been exposed to COVID and other pathogens. This new requirement may be applied broadly going forward to protect the US population from future public health threats, including new COVID variants.

3 Travel rules for the unvaccinated differ by citizenship

Just like other countries, the US is barring unvaccinated visitors from entering its borders unless they are a citizen. US citizens and permanent residents who are not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated are permitted to enter. They will need to test within 24 hours of their flight and be tested upon arrival.

4 Children are exempt

The new travel rules, at least for now, apply only to adult travelers. There are exceptions in place for children who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.

5 Health passes may be required

Depending on where travelers go in the US, they will have to navigate a myriad of rules mandated by the state and local officials. There is no standardized system in the US and the states are passing their own regulations. Here are a few examples:

  • In California, proof of vax is required for many indoor venues like bars and nightclubs. The vax card will also be required to enter theme parks.
  • In New York City, proof of vaccination is required to dine or drink indoors and to visit gyms, fitness classes, and theaters.
  • In New Orleans, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test will be needed to gain entry to restaurants, bars, and music venues.

Other states have lifted the requirement to wear a mask and do not require a vaccination card.

6 America’s land borders remain closed

The restrictions on crossing land borders from Mexico and Canada remain unchanged. This means that fully vaccinated travelers from the two neighboring countries can fly to enter the US, but they cannot drive into the US.

Trip planning appears to be in the works already, as newly released data from travel platform Hopper shows. Search data for US-bound flights rose by 27% after the announcement. Flight searches from Europe to the US spiked by 68%.

Other interesting news

Mistakes in Paris – Common travel mistakes to avoid in Paris according to a local.

New in the world of travel – 7 Exciting new hotels, companies, and tours are coming this fall.

Is the future of air travel windowless? See the new windowless cabin designs. Hint: prepare to be amazed.

Want to travel to Canada? You might need this province-by-province travel guide.

Traveling abroad? What happens if you test positive?

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If you’re watching your inbox or any of the flight search engines lately, you know that Europe is on sale for American travelers. We’re talking really cheap flights that would cause any travel-lover to whip out their miles card fast.

Wait just a minute though! International travel is more of a gamble than you might realize. 

Why?

The risk isn’t in getting there–it’s whether you can get home. Here’s what you need to know to sort out whether your personal risk tolerance is up to the challenge of international travel right now.

Unvaccinated? Forget about going

Earlier in the summer, you may have been able to squeak through with a negative test or proof of recovery, but not anymore. Now, you have to show a negative test and proof of vaccination or recovery.

Everywhere around the globe, borders are slamming shut for the unvaccinated. Unvaccinated US travelers may be allowed to enter for essential reasons, but the list of reasons is quite narrow. Plus, you’ll have to convince the person at the point of entry that your reason for entering their country unvaxxed is valid.

Pre-flight testing works

A study by the Mayo Clinic of nearly 10,000 trans-atlantic passengers during the third COVID-19 surge shows that the risk of contracting the virus on an airplane is extremely unlikely when:

  1. All passengers tested negative for the virus prior to departure
  2. Everyone is masked
  3. The airplane has hospital-grade air filtration

The data can be used as a blueprint for requiring vaccinations and testing instead of using quarantines to re-open borders for international travel. 

What this data cannot show is the level of risk for travelers being exposed to or catching the virus while they are eating in restaurants, touring museums, and wandering the streets of an international city. This brings us to the next point.

What if you can’t get home?

While the question of ‘where can I go?’ is usually top of mind, you have to ask yourself this question instead: ‘what if I can’t get home?’. 

Let’s assume you’re fully vaccinated, have your pre- and return flight testing figured out, and you want to go. The chances of getting a surprise positive test while abroad, even while you’re feeling just fine, is not zero. The US requires possession of a negative test (or declaration of recovery) no more than 3 days prior to your flight home.

If you test positive, you won’t be able to board that plane and come home. You’ll have to wait between 10 and 14 days and get a fresh negative test to be able to return.

Will you have enough money and flexibility in your work or school schedule to stay an extra couple of weeks? Will you even be able to get a place to stay while you wait?

What if you already have a trip booked?

If you already have a trip booked, decide if you want to keep it on the calendar or move it to a later date. 

If you want to cancel or change your trip, here’s what you need to know:

  1. Change fees are basically gone as long as you purchased your flight through the airline and the ticket is in main economy (not basic) or higher.
  2. There is some temporary flexibility for basic economy tickets on United and Delta currently, but not all airlines offer this.
  3. Free change fees does not equal refunds even if your reason for canceling is justified, like an increase in infections at your destination.
  4. Trip insurance will rarely cover a cancellation unless you bought Cancel for Any Reason coverage.

The bottom line: if you’re concerned about the virus derailing or canceling your trip, you’ll want travel insurance that covers all possibilities. Otherwise, you’re better off traveling domestically for now.

Other interesting news

Busiest holiday travel day predictions are out–and it looks a little different this year.

New travel subscription–in the world of travel subscriptions, Travel + Leisure has one that’s different.

Cool new tech: this handy little docking station lets you charge all the devices anywhere you go in the world.

Fools’ rules–coming from the Motley Fool are some new rules for making travel less expensive.

Getting in a little work time while traveling? Here’s the latest VPN for digitally scary places.

Want to save on that holiday trip? There’s a method to finding the best holiday airfare for up to 40% off!

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.

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.