Unique Opportunity to See Europe This Fall

We know you are eager to travel, but where to? Europe, you say? Then you are in luck!

American travelers who have been waiting for the right time to go to Europe should act now. As most European countries are opening up to travelers who are fully vaccinated, those from the U.S. who have been looking to our friends across the Atlantic for an epic holiday have a potential once-in-a-lifetime window opening up this fall.

This summer has already seen overbooked flights, as pent-up demand from being cooped up from the pandemic spills over into a mostly vaccinated post-pandemic climate. However, most of this demand is still in domestic travel. Many Americans continue to be cautious and the pandemic has sent a stampede of travelers flying domestically. 

A Unique Opportunity for European Travel

So what does this mean for Americans who want to travel internationally to Europe? It means that while tourism is opening back up overseas, it will see far fewer visitors this year as people will be touring their own home turf before venturing further away. This creates a huge window of opportunity from Labor Day through before Christmas of 2021. Also during this time, kids will be back in school, keeping family travel to a minimum. 

The American focus on domestic travel this year is a reflection of an overall cautious approach to spread their wings again, albeit slowly. What’s more, the avid Asian international traveler to Europe is also being curtailed from bringing large tour groups to Europe in an effort to keep any further spread of the virus at bay.

The airlines are noticing this hesitancy. Major carriers like American and Delta are adding a lot of capacity from America to European countries that have opened up, but they just aren’t seeing the demand yet. There is still a lagging hesitancy among a lot of U.S. citizens, even those who have been vaccinated, to travel internationally. 

The result? Lots of cheap deals to Europe right now, even last-minute bookings to some countries, such as Iceland and Greece. Before the pandemic, it was often tough to find last-minute deals, as airlines often jacked up prices in the hopes that business travelers (who are consistent last-minute bookers and don’t care about price) would snatch up seats. Now, because business travel is still at an all-time low, airlines are slashing last-minute prices once again.

There is an amazing opportunity here to enjoy places in Europe later this year without the hassle of large crowds, long lines, overpriced hotels, and tightly crowded restaurants. Visiting Europe this fall will feel as though you’re stepping back 50 years to a time when touring the continent was a luxury. Visitation will be cut in half – leaving you to explore more freely, with less hassle. How refreshing!

Take Advantage of Travel Rewards

Along with this hesitation for international travel comes credit card companies’ desire for their customers to finally use those rewards perks. As such, award space availability will be at pre-pandemic standards. So while the cost of travel in the U.S. has skyrocketed with rising gas prices, car rental, and RV bookings selling out at record rates, as Americans set out on their domestic trips this year, plenty of bargains can be had in Europe, including very low-cost premium class redemptions for many travel credit card rewards programs.

Do U.S. Citizens Need the EU Green Certificate?

Not yet. Several countries are in the process of rolling out a vaccine passport where visitors can upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination right from their smartphone. As of July 15th, 2021, this pass is only available to EU residents, but will soon become available to all international travelers, hopefully by the end of summer.

While the EU is still working on a consensus for uniform entry standards, strict guidelines for each country still apply and may differ, so check the entry requirements for each European country you plan to visit so that you’re prepared.  More nations will require that American travelers be fully vaccinated or take a pre-arrival test to waive the mandatory quarantine of 10-14 days. 

This is another reason why many Americans aren’t looking to book their dream trip to Europe just yet. They simply don’t want to do the tiny bit of extra research required to find out the travel requirements for their chosen destination(s). But they are missing out – with a little effort, traveling to Europe this year has never been better.

The Bottom Line

The overall good news is that Americans can indeed travel to many countries in Europe, and the list continues to grow every as 2021 soldiers on. The travel industry in Europe has been hurting just like every other tourist destination in the world, and travel suppliers are eager to get visitors back into the fold. As long as you have the proper documentation, much of Europe is welcoming Americans back with open arms.

And don’t forget: As of January 26, 2021, upon your return to the U.S. you will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of boarding your flight back to America. To ensure a stress-free trip back home, while you are taking your dream vacation through Europe, remember to follow CDC guidelines by wearing a mask when required, practice good hand hygiene, and keep a good distance away from others when possible. 

So book that European trip for fall 2021!