Are other tour companies still traveling to level 4 countries?

[Birdie dog]

We're one week out from our Switzerland and Italy ABD. Last night, Switzerland became a level 4 "do not travel" per the CDC. To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. Our tour requires vaccination. Switzerland's weekly average of covid cases is 2500. Meanwhile, Florida remains the covid capital of the world and both DCL and Disney world are going about their business.
I'm considering looking for a different (non ABD) tour to move to. I think a lot of the joy has been suffocated out of this trip by the daily angst of "will we get the call today".

 

[CaliKris]

We're one week out from our Switzerland and Italy ABD. Last night, Switzerland became a level 4 "do not travel" per the CDC. To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. Our tour requires vaccination. Switzerland's weekly average of covid cases is 2500. Meanwhile, Florida remains the covid capital of the world and both DCL and Disney world are going about their business.
I'm considering looking for a different (non ABD) tour to move to. I think a lot of the joy has been suffocated out of this trip by the daily angst of "will we get the call today".

Tauck is currently traveling safely to Level 4 countries with many protocols in place. We have a trip to Portugal/Spain scheduled with them that is a go. Their COVID numbers are far below the United States. With the CDC and state department guidelines for Level 4, we are currently living in a Level 4 country.

 

[Birdie dog]

ABD just cancelled our trip. I am SO annoyed.

 

[CaliKris]

ABD just cancelled our trip. I am SO annoyed.

That must be SO disappointing and frustrating! I know your trip is coming up soon.

When this happened to us (although it was two months before our ABD), we were able to rebook with Tauck (for less money) with dates that work with our flights. With their insurance, we have up until 24 hours before the trip to cancel for any reason.

 

[SirDuff]

ABD just cancelled our trip. I am SO annoyed.

Our numbers are better and we have fewer restrictions (e.g. traveling around it easy). I don't get it. Sorry you cannot make it here.

 

[xiphoid76]

Kensington tours is operating everywhere but what we decided after Disney canceled our egypt one was just to go and do it yourself. Places are mostly open - sometimes you need a vaccine, others a PCR test, most countries are open for tourists and the prices are great right now. I say get out and do it on your own if you can. That is what we decided as we are not getting any younger

 

[LuckyBelle1]

We just planned an Egypt and Jordan trip with Kensington for December of this year (after sadly cancelling a planned trip to Japan) and are crossing our fingers it will happen. According to our planner, Egypt has been open for 13 months and has been consistent in their requirements for entry and exit, and private trips with guides are going without incident. Egypt is one of the few countries that has stayed at Level 2 on the CDC's list and we are all fully-vaccinated and decided it was our best bet for our first big trip since COVID. Interestingly, we were advised to fly through Dubai or Doha instead of Europe because they have been consistent with their COVID requirements whereas Frankfurt and Amsterdam are constantly changing. Emirates had the best fares and flight times for us anyway, so we are happy to connect through Dubai.

 

[CaliKris]

We are in Portugal now with Tauck. There are 10 of us on the trip. We are all vaccinated, tested for COVID, and following all the protocols. Tons of room to spread out on our huge motor coach. Their COVID numbers are 1/4 of the US.

Our Portugal ABD was cancelled which brought us to Tauck. I suspect that loyal ABD customers are now finding other companies (their competitors) to travel with. Honestly, there are a number of things we prefer with Tauck. They rotate seats on the bus so no one rushes to the bus, our guide is excellent, they don’t take our passports, all alcohol included and they run trips with low numbers rather than canceling( the tour before us has 5 guests). It will be interesting to see if ABD survives after this.

 

[SirDuff]

Backroads is doing a number of their Europe trips (possibly elsewhere, I just looked here). Considering a last minute trip in either Portugal/Spain or Greece (I'd actually love to do a Swiss one - they have one where the meeting point is about a mile from my house - but those are done for the season).

 

[CaliKris]

Backroads is doing a number of their Europe trips (possibly elsewhere, I just looked here). Considering a last minute trip in either Portugal/Spain or Greece (I'd actually love to do a Swiss one - they have one where the meeting point is about a mile from my house - but those are done for the season).

We are on a Spain/Portugal trip right now. Their vaccination rates are well above ours. Portugal is 85% and Spain at 75%. Plus, their COVID numbers are far below ours!

 

[SirDuff]

We are on a Spain/Portugal trip right now. Their vaccination rates are well above ours. Portugal is 85% and Spain at 75%. Plus, their COVID numbers are far below ours!

I think we currently have the highest COVID-19 cases in continental Europe (and I think among the lowest vaccination rates), so anywhere I go is safer than home.

 

[Rapunzellover]

@CaliKris how is everything in Spain/Portugal in terms of entry requirements?

 

[aggiedog]

I’m just about finished with a Danube river cruise with Avalon. Not quite the same as a land trip, but we’ve been to Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, and one more I can’t remember (it’s all starting to blur together!)

 

[CaliKris]

@CaliKris how is everything in Spain/Portugal in terms of entry requirements?

We needed a negative COVID PCR test to enter Portugal. I believe they accept the digital vaccine for travelers from the EU instead, but not the US paper vaccine card. Spain accepted our vaccine cards. Both countries require forms to be filled out online for entry. Our tour director filled out the form required by Spain for us (very nice of him) so I have no idea what it asked for. Portugal’s form was short for contact tracing purposes.
People are good about wearing masks here. Tauck has made sure everyone we come in contact with (servers, etc) are vaccinated. Plus we have been the only guests at restaurants where we have dined as a group. Feels very safe!

 

[BadPinkTink]

Interesting reading about Americans travelling to Europe and feeling safe. I wonder do any of you know or care that European tourists have been banned from entry to USA since March 2020. Just leaves a bad taste that you can come here but we can't go to America. Oh well, I'll just keep saving and hope the travel ban will be reversed in 2022!

 

[SirDuff]

Interesting reading about Americans travelling to Europe and feeling safe. I wonder do any of you know or care that European tourists have been banned from entry to USA since March 2020. Just leaves a bad taste that you can come here but we can't go to America. Oh well, I'll just keep saving and hope the travel ban will be reversed in 2022!

On the other hand, my friends in tourism (amittedly a small, non-scientific sample) are loving it. They get the Americans/Canadians plus the "local" tourists.

 

[ohmyminnie]

@CaliKris how is everything in Spain/Portugal in terms of entry requirements?

We just spent 2 weeks in Spain, traveling from the US. We had to fill out a form that the Spanish government required and we were able to do it online. It had two be done 2 days or less from the date of travel. It was very simple, just asked questions related to any COVID symptoms or contact, along with our flight information, etc. I don't even think it asked about vaccination status (we are vaccinated). To return to the US, the CDC required us to have a COVID test within 3 days of our return flight. Evidently that rule has been in place since January, and there is no exemption for those that are vaccinated. I was stressing about it a bit, but it was all very easy! I'm so glad we went.

 

[xiphoid76]

We just planned an Egypt and Jordan trip with Kensington for December of this year (after sadly cancelling a planned trip to Japan) and are crossing our fingers it will happen. According to our planner, Egypt has been open for 13 months and has been consistent in their requirements for entry and exit, and private trips with guides are going without incident. Egypt is one of the few countries that has stayed at Level 2 on the CDC's list and we are all fully-vaccinated and decided it was our best bet for our first big trip since COVID. Interestingly, we were advised to fly through Dubai or Doha instead of Europe because they have been consistent with their COVID requirements whereas Frankfurt and Amsterdam are constantly changing. Emirates had the best fares and flight times for us anyway, so we are happy to connect through Dubai.

We are in Kensington now in Egypt. Day 2 of 11. Private message me if you have any questions. Right now I am on our balcony of the Marriott Mena looking directly at the pyramids- it is amazing and feels so good. Kensington has been great so far. Individual attention, airport pickup/visa help. This is a trip that Disney canceled on us and we decided we were tired of waiting for ABD to come back. We flew non stop Egypt air from jfk as we didn’t want to deal with any of the ever changing Covid requirements for transfer in Europe.

 

[SirDuff]

We are in Kensington now in Egypt. Day 2 of 11. Private message me if you have any questions. Right now I am on our balcony of the Marriott Mena looking directly at the pyramids- it is amazing and feels so good. Kensington has been great so far. Individual attention, airport pickup/visa help. This is a trip that Disney canceled on us and we decided we were tired of waiting for ABD to come back. We flew non stop Egypt air from jfk as we didn’t want to deal with any of the ever changing Covid requirements for transfer in Europe.

Love the site of that hotel. I work in Cairo a few times a year (well, did) and am usually in-and-out. One of my last visits, I added an extra day with plans to finally see the pyramids. At the suggestion of colleagues, I moved to the Marriott Mena for the night (hit the pyramids before the heat and crowds).

 

[sayhello]

Interesting reading about Americans travelling to Europe and feeling safe. I wonder do any of you know or care that European tourists have been banned from entry to USA since March 2020. Just leaves a bad taste that you can come here but we can't go to America. Oh well, I'll just keep saving and hope the travel ban will be reversed in 2022!

Why would you want to come here? Most places are COVID-19 hotspots right now. If you get sick or injured, most of the hospitals here have no room or staff help you, tons of folks are crap about getting vaccinated and/or wearing masks. Personally, I'm really nervous about my trip to Utah/New Mexico right now, but it's unfortunately just as bad here in Ohio as it is there. You couldn't pay me to go to Florida or WDW right now.

Sayhello