INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DURING COVID
What to Know
Time to Travel Again?
We had postponed two European trips in 2020 and finally thought it was time to get back out there. As we toured the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, what we learned might be helpful to you as you consider your travel plans. The US was considered “red” shortly before our trip, which caused a lot of problems. If the border stays open, expect that we will return to this status, because no one appears to care to test illegals. And, the rules keep changing, so check frequently with the country’s website and the airline. One traveler per group MUST have a smartphone or other smart device.
1. Covid testing – Make sure to check both the type of test and the interval allowed. Keep in mind that some airlines count your connection date/time as a factor in the interval, so in getting to Europe, you have to carefully time your test so as to be within the window for all legs of travel. (We had to get a second, over-priced test at the airport for this reason).
2. Vaccines – Most countries require you be vaccinated, but you do NOT need some international documentation to prove this. The little CDC card is good enough. You will need to show it to fly, to get into certain attractions and as an example, to go into a bistro or café in Paris (all Parisians have to show proof as well).
3. Health Information – Check with your airline and the country sites. Many ask you to complete paperwork prior to flying, and it’s a lot easier to do this at home. One example is the Passenger Locator Form, demanded by the UK, even if you are only transiting the country. You can do it for both directions at home and print it, or do it on your device. It’s sort of long, so if you hate to type a lot on your phone, your PC might be easier. Many operators are using the Verifly app, which allows you to upload information for multiple people. Again, it’s easier to do at home. While you should have this available, don’t present it unless asked. You’ll see why in a bit.
4. Attractions – Everywhere you want to go requires advance booking online. You won’t find any ticket offices anywhere. The good news is—you can almost always book something at the last minute, if you can find a WiFi signal. I got tickets to the Rijksmuseum five minutes after I arrived. If you’ve traveled before, you may find your favorite options aren’t open. We love the hop-on/hop-off boats in Amsterdam, but they aren’t running at all. It can be hard to find this out in advance. And don’t try to book a lot too far in advance. Most won’t refund if your travel plans change.
5. Masks – The rules change all the time. We flew to Amsterdam on British Airways, toured the city and sailed with Viking with just neck gaiters, which we prefer. We had to wear a special type of mask to go into the church in Cologne, but otherwise, didn’t need to wear a special mask. Viking provided a bunch of regular paper masks in your room. However, on the return flight, we were told we had to wear the paper masks. Some airlines require you change them every four hours, so be prepared.
6. Airports – if you thought things got worse after 9/11, wait and see how awful the airports are now. There’s a reason people are in a worse mood when they fly. By the time you get to your seat, you will probably be in a bad mood. There is so much harassment. Heathrow puts transferring passengers back through security and even for seniors and others with knee/hip replacements, we were required to remove our shoes with nowhere to sit. Best to get there three hours in advance to deal with all the changing rules and paperwork. Staff shortages add to the “fun.”
Now, for some good news. People in Europe are so glad to welcome back visitors and if you stay friendly, expect to find a welcoming climate. On our first day in Paris, we were trying to figure out where we wanted to walk and a Parisian approached us, offering to help us find what we were looking for. We didn’t need the help, but appreciated the generosity of the offer. Neither of us really speak French, but using a few friendly phrases, such as sil vous plait and merci go a long way.
Lighter crowds mean a more enjoyable experience in generally overbooked attractions. We enjoyed a peaceful picnic lunch at Versailles and saw almost no one where we decided to roost.
The “rules” may be official, but in some cases, are ignored. The Netherlands decided to force quarantines on Americans (see above) and we were required to bring with us both a health and a quarantine declaration. I kept them in my bag, expecting a boring three days in our hotel, but immigration never asked and our hotel said they weren’t the police. We had a wonderful time exploring the city and found no issues. However, if you are with an arranged tour, the rules are different. In that case, you probably will be encouraged to cancel or forced to quarantine.
Covid testing in Paris was a big concern for us, as many had said it was difficult to find. We scheduled a test, but the only place we could find was a fair distance from our hotel. Instead, on arrival, we found that it wasn’t that hard to do a walk-in and cancelled our original test. Make sure you check what type of test is required, but you’ll find it easy and very cheap to get it in Europe. We paid only $25 Euro each. (It’s many multiples of this in the US). Tip from another traveler. There are home tests you can buy with an option to do a Zoom call with some agency to watch you take the test. The price has come down a lot and may be the easiest way to go, if you can run Zoom on your devices.
Bottom Line
If you’re ready to travel, Europe is ready for you. But be prepared for challenges and just roll with them. I’ve found a glass of wine in the afternoon at an outdoor bistro is just the ticket to improving your mood.
