Yes, cue the question mark clip art and stock photos for our most FAQ: Will we be able to travel in Europe this summer?
At the moment, UnTours destinations are not open to leisure travelers without quarantining, and they are not easily visited. Of course the situation is changing by the day, but at the moment, none of our UnTours are possible to visit.
As international travel opens, it will be largely dependent on vaccination for travelers but also vaccination rates at the destination. Quarantine and testing rules are changing as well. Here is what we know right now.
Where in Europe Can We Go?
Earlier this month, Iceland opened its borders to leisure travelers from the US who have been vaccinated and can show proof of their inoculation. While we do not offer UnTours in Iceland, we are quite fond of the destination, and we offer a land package tour there on our Venture site. We also partner with Viking, who has introduced a cruise in Iceland. Their enhanced ship safety is downright impressive. We can help you plan either trip, and both are bookable now!
Croatia is also open to vaccinated Americans. We partner with Variety to offer a Dalmatian Coast small-boat sea cruise that has always been hugely popular and well reviewed. Sailings are open for booking now, and we are happy to help you plan!
To inquire about Iceland or Croatia, contact us.
Can We Take Our Untour in Europe This Summer?
We simply do not know. With new variants circulating in Europe and a slower vaccination rollout there, it is impossible for us to guess. In places like Italy we have seen new lockdowns put into place while at the same time we read about countries like Greece planning to reopen earlier than the full EU.
We have closed summer for new bookings on our site and are currently in touch with June and July bookings. In some cases, guests have already moved plans to summer 2021 when rebooking planned 2020 UnTours. We are accommodating a new round of rescheduling as trips approach.
We are following reports that Greece is planning to reopen for tourism ahead of others. Likewise, Spain and Portugal are moving toward a reopen ahead of a broader EU lifting of restrictions. The UK is on track for a possible earlier open based on their efficient vaccine rollout. The situation in each of these destinations is evolving.
Travel Weekly is reporting experts expect the opening of leisure travel in July at the earliest, and more likely not until August and September. They report, “While the success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the U.S. has fueled optimism about a strong summer travel rebound, tourism officials in Europe say that slower progress on vaccines there coupled with new surges likely means any widespread return of Americans won’t happen until late summer.” Read more.
You can follow global vaccination rates here, and read more speculation about summer travel in the New York Times.
Based on what we are hearing from others in the industry, there is hope for fall of 2021. UnTours are open for fall bookings, and we are taking bookings for 2022. Polling shows strong pent-up demand, so we recommend booking early for 2022, as we expect European travel to come roaring back on the other side of COVID.
What Next?
Keep up to date by visiting our COVID Travel Updates page, which we will update weekly. It is full of helpful resources and links to data.
You may also wish to read more about post-vaccination travel recommendations from the CDC, for both domestic travel and possible travel abroad. It is important to know that certain restrictions and safety measures like masking will continue to need to be observed for the safety of those in our destinations and on planes, trains, and public transit. Travelers should expect a new normal.
We hope to host you on an Untour soon. In the meantime, we hope you can join us for an UnTours at Home event. We welcome your feedback as well, so if you have any resources or information to share, please comment below.