• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Europe  >  European Summer Travel? It’s Way Too Early To Tell…
Europe

European Summer Travel? It’s Way Too Early To Tell…

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 26, 2021April 25, 2021 10 Comments

European Summer Travel

Earlier today I wrote about plans to re-open the European Union to American tourists this summer. While that sounds amazing in theory, much of Western Europe is under lockdown again as a third wave has brought a tidal wave of cases and deaths.

Caution: It’s Too Early To Know If European Summer Travel Will Take Place

In India, the pandemic is so bad that some media outlets are pausing coverage of cricket, deeming it wholly inappropriate as patients are dying waiting to get into hospitals or sharing scarce bottles of oxygen. While Europe is not at that level, Germany just shut down again and plans to remains closed until June. Parts of France and Italy are in lockdown as well.

Cases are also on the rise again in the Netherlands, Poland, and Croatia (but on the downturn in warmer Portugal and Spain).

With that backdrop, is it even reasonable to think about traveling to Europe as an American tourist this summer? Even if European borders are open, will restaurants, bars, and museums be open?

The answer is simple: it is too early to tell. Yet it is prudent to consider this carefully if you are considering booking travel in light of the latest news.

European leaders hope that the current shutdowns will allow for full summer re-openings, less so for American tourists than to allow European citizens to enjoy summer holidays after over a year of shutdown.

But even as progress on vaccinations is being made, there are still so many unknowns. Although European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicted optimism that Europe would re-open to tourism this summer, she warned that actual re-opening will depend upon the “epidemiological situation.”

Currently, nonessential travel is banned in most EU countries (Greece and Iceland are the exceptions). Travel restrictions and lockdown measures will continue until numbers drop (and they are moving in the wrong direction in Germany and France) and questions over vaccine certificates or vaccine passports (digital green certificates) remain unresolved.

My Advice: Wait Or Book With Miles

While I tend to think Italy and France will re-open this summer, I’d still be cautious before tying up thousands of dollars in revenue tickets to travel there.

Should you buy a restricted ticket and travel restrictions not be lifted, the best you can hope for is travel credit (unless the flight is cancelled). Visa restrictions are generally not sufficient grounds to trigger a refund.

Thus, I recommend you use miles (which tend to be much more flexible) or simply hold off on booking for now. Until case numbers and deaths start to drop in Europe, I just would not book if you plan to enter on the basis of your United States passport and vaccination card.

CONCLUSION

I certainly hope Europe will be open to American travelers this summer. At this point, however, I would not bet on it…the numbers in key nations remain a concern.

image: Jernej Furman

Previous Article European Union Hopes To Welcome Vaccinated Americans This Summer
Next Article New Carry-On Restrictions At American Airlines Unlikely To Be Enforced

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • eu 261 2004

    European Flight Cancellations – Here’s What You’re Owed

    July 3, 2022
  • British Airways upgrade

    Will A Fourth Wave Sink Transatlantic Travel Rebound?

    October 28, 2021
  • US Relaxes European British Travel Restrictions

    Details: U.S. Relaxes European, UK Travel Restrictions

    September 20, 2021

10 Comments

  1. Mitch Cumstein Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 10:18 am

    My wife and I decided we will take our kids to Sweden in July (our first international trip since December) and booked our flights. Our biggest issue is all the required testing. Even though we’re both vaccinated, we’re still planning on dealing with multiple tests traveling in each direction. Currently that means a PCR test for my wife and me in order to transit in AMS on the way there, and a rapid test on the way back. Plus our kids would both need rapid tests to enter the US under the current rules. I hope the testing requirements are relaxed by summertime, but I’m not holding my breath.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 26, 2021 at 10:29 am

      I hope it works out! I’m going to Germany and also expecting some annoyances concerning testing.

  2. Grzegorz Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    Cases are not on the rise, on the contrary. We dropped from about 30k to about 8-10k.

  3. Grzegorz Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    I meant in Poland, sorry for not specifying.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 26, 2021 at 1:02 pm

      Good to hear! BBC mentioned rising cases there a few days back.

  4. hp12c Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 2:08 pm

    FYI, BA has a new fare class called Business Select Pro. It’s fully refundable, only a couple hundred dollars more expensive than nonrefundable J class, and is available only via travel agents. It seems like a no-brainer for summer travel to Europe.

  5. Jan Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    I am tempted to do some speculative booking. Most economy award Skymiles deals to Europe are looking pretty good right now for late summer/faill.

  6. Arthur Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    I’m ready and vaccinated (and already had Covid), but things have to become more definite before I plan a TATL trip. There have been so many of these “you can fly to Europe – soon” articles, but I am still waiting for official pronouncements I can do so without a quarantine and information that things will be open when I get there. I don’t mind getting tests before I go. But even then I will book with miles, since I have so many sitting around.

  7. Grzegorz Reply
    April 26, 2021 at 7:20 pm

    Yeah it’s been pretty bad but stabilised in past two weeks or so. They’re even reopening restaurants and such for outdoors dining next week – which is hardly surprising given the fact that we’re just shy of 10 milion doses administered. You should come visit KRK sometime 😉

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      April 26, 2021 at 7:42 pm

      I’ve been to Warsaw twice. Loved it! Need to get to Krakow!

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • United Airlines Steakhouse Cheeseburger
    Steakhouse Cheeseburger On United Airlines February 4, 2023
  • Woman Pants Miami Airport
    “Why Would I Need Pants On?” (Woman Strides Through Miami Airport) February 4, 2023
  • Catfight Over Window Seat Leads To Massive Brawl, With 15 People Thrown Off Flight February 4, 2023
  • United Airlines Newark Collision
    United Airlines 787-9 Collides With 757-200 At Newark Airport February 3, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • British Airways 787-10 Business Class Review
    Review: British Airways 787-10 Business Class (Club Suite) January 10, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.