TravelAge West
Search Sponsored by

Explore TravelAge West

Destinations

Back
  • Africa & Middle East
  • Asia & South Pacific
  • Caribbean
  • Central & South America
  • Europe
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • USA & Canada

Travel Types

Back
  • Family
  • Adventure
  • Cruise
  • River Cruise
  • Tour Operators
  • Luxury
  • Hotels
  • Culinary
  • Romance
  • Wellness
  • Sustainability

Directories

Back
  • Hotels
  • Cruise
  • Job Seeker Center

Interactive

Back
  • Click & Win
  • Geo Quiz
  • Slideshows & Video

Professional Development

Back

Industry Insight

  • Business Features
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
  • Coronavirus and Travel
  • Need to Know Research

Education

  • Certifications
  • Digital Guides
  • Fams
  • Thought Leadership
  • Advertiser Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Immersive Family Experiences

Events

  • Global Travel Marketplace
  • GTM West
  • WAVE Awards
  • Future Leaders in Travel Retreat

Sign Up for Our Monthly Europe Newsletter

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Search TravelAge West

Clear Field
Shane Nelson
Shane NelsonContributing Writer

Share

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Europe

How Travel Pros Are Helping U.S. Travelers Navigate EU Travel Changes

Sep 02, 2021
Eastern Europe  Northern Europe  Travel News  Western Europe  
europeanvacations2021
Following news out of the European Union, many U.S. travelers are confused about where they can go.
Credit: 2021 Evgenia Smirnova/stock.adobe.com

The European Union is now encouraging its 27 member nations to reinstate travel restrictions for American vacationers, a recommendation that’s flooded U.S. travel sellers with questions and spurred some trip cancellations.

On Monday, EU officials formally ratified a recommendation that the U.S. be removed from a list of countries for which member nations should lift restrictions on nonessential travel. Motivated by surging COVID-19 case counts in the U.S., the EU’s decision is non-binding, and each national government still holds authority over its own border safety protocols and testing requirements.

Italy Changes Entrance Policies for U.S. Travelers

Italy has, however, since changed its entrance policies, mandating that unvaccinated American visitors quarantine for five days. Vaccinated U.S. vacationers, meanwhile, are not required to quarantine, but they do now need to show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before their departure. 

"With the exception of Italy, there hasn’t been much change in requirements to enter Europe,” Peter Vlitas, senior vice president of airline relations for Internova Travel Group, said Wednesday. 

Where Can U.S. Citizens Travel Now? 

Sign Up for Our Monthly Europe Newsletter

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Internova has been fielding many questions from customers about travel to Europe since Monday, according to Vlitas, who said the company has seen a limited number of trip cancellations. 

"What this has really done has just created further confusion for the American traveler on where they can go,” Vlitas said. “We’re kind of in a holding pattern now as the dust settles. Will other countries add restrictions? Usually, we see them pretty quickly after something like this. We haven’t seen them yet.” 

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) president and CEO Julia Simpson said in a statement Thursday that her organization supports safety protocols aimed at protecting public health and limiting the spread of COVID-19, but she criticized Europe’s decision to remove the U.S. from its safe travel list. 

What this has really done has just created further confusion for the American traveler on where they can go.

“The EU’s recommendation to reimpose restrictions on U.S. travelers is a step backwards and will only slow down the recovery of the sector,” Simpson said. “With high vaccination levels in both the U.S. and the EU, we should be looking at opening up travel between these two major economies. We need a common set of rules that recognize global vaccines and remove the need to quarantine for people with a negative COVID-19 result.” 

Travelers Are Confused, But Europe Travel Sellers Are Proactive  

Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of Embark Beyond, said his agency heard rumors last week the EU was considering a change in its stance on U.S. visitors, so he directed his advisors to call or email every client booked to the destination and do their best to explain the situation in a proactive effort to get out in front of the developing news. 

Ezon said his agency has since fielded many questions from clients, and they’ve shifted some upcoming trips from Europe to U.S. destinations or places in Mexico. Ezon said he and his advisors have also handled a limited number of cancellations, but many of Embark Beyond’s Europe clients chose to move up their vacations. 

"Last week, between Thursday and Sunday before anything was finalized, we had about 20% of our clients with Europe trips push them forward so they could leave earlier,” Ezon said. “We had a bunch of people move things up to leave over the weekend.” 

Ezon said his agency is working on plan Bs for about 40% of the travelers it currently has booked on European vacations, but like Internova’s Vlitas, Ezon said he and his advisors are encouraging a wait-and-see approach for now. 

“Italy is the only country that came out with a new policy” said Ezon, who has traveled four times to Europe this summer. “The EU directive about putting America on the red list only creates havoc in my opinion. It only creates confusion. … There isn’t much that’s actually changing.” 

Although the EU’s recent recommendation was certainly disheartening for Sandra Weinacht, president and co‐founder of tour operator Inside Europe, she said it wasn’t a move that surprised her much. 

“It doesn’t come as a shock,” Weinacht said. “It was something we assumed was going to happen, and frankly, it makes sense.”

Weinacht said her company has been sending some business to Europe this summer and still has a few vacations to Greece and Italy on the books for couples later this fall. But the tour operator has been very cautious about the type of travelers it’s been working with, according to Weinacht, who said right now Europe just isn’t the destination it usually is. 

The few travelers we’ve actually provided services for over the summer are returning travelers, affluent travelers — not first timers — and people who clearly understand what it is like to travel in 2021 during a pandemic.

“We’ve been really hesitant to offer any kind of services to first-time travelers or to family travelers seeking to experience the once-in-a-lifetime European trip,” Weinacht said. “The few travelers we’ve actually provided services for over the summer are returning travelers, affluent travelers — not first timers — and people who clearly understand what it is like to travel in 2021 during a pandemic.”

Weinacht said the EU’s recent recommendation to increase restrictions for U.S. travelers is just another reason for her to suggest that American families and first-time visitors not consider booking their dream Europe vacation before next spring at the earliest. 

“An informed traveler is a happy traveler and now more so than ever,” Weinacht explained, saying she’s still encouraging clients to save up their money and plan dream itineraries for 2022. “If you really, really want to do this wonderful trip, wait a little bit longer. … I just don’t want people to spend their hard-earned money and not get the return on their investment they’re hoping for.” 

Tell Us What You Think! forum

Related Content

Europe Travel 2021: Top Trends to Watch

Europe Travel 2021: Top Trends to Watch

  • Most Read
  • Most Shared
  1. Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccinations?
  2. Dominica Is Not the Dominican Republic: Here's How the Caribbean Destination Plans to Attract Wellness Travelers
  3. 6 Delicious Hawaiian Desserts and Where on the Islands to Find Them
  4. 5 of the Best Swimmable Los Cabos Beaches
  5. I Tested Positive for COVID-19 and Got Stuck Traveling Abroad — Here’s the Problem with Testing for Re-Entry
  1. Dominica Is Not the Dominican Republic: Here's How the Caribbean Destination Plans to Attract Wellness Travelers
  2. Is Insurance Coverage From Travel Credit Cards Enough?
  3. The U.S. Has Lifted its COVID-19 Testing Requirement for Air Travelers
  4. Why Are So Many Flights Being Canceled?
  5. A Guide to the Programs That Help Expedite Travel

From Our Partners

More Stories Like This

dourovalleytravel

Why the Douro Valley Should Be on Every Portugal Itinerary

5 Innovative Berlin Restaurants for Foodies

5 Innovative Berlin Restaurants for Foodies

sixsensesibizahotel

Hotel Review: Six Senses Ibiza in Spain

OberammergauGermany2022

Sampling the Passion Play in Oberammergau for Germany Travel Mart

Istanbul Travel Guide 2022_HERO

Istanbul Travel Guide: What’s New for 2022

A Guide to Luxury Travel in Budapest

A Guide to Luxury Travel in Budapest

How American Travelers Can Receive Compensation for Flight Delays, Cancellations and Other Air Transport Issues

How American Travelers Can Receive Compensation for Flight Delays, Cancellations and Other Air Transport Issues

savoyresortandspa

Hotel Review: Savoy Saccharum Resort & Spa in Madeira, Portugal

ukfilminglocationsbridgertondowntonbond

These Bridgerton and Downton Abbey Tours Let You See the U.K. Like a Royal

Two New Hotels in Athens: Villa Brown Ermou Vs. Brown Acropol

Two New Hotels in Athens: Villa Brown Ermou Vs. Brown Acropol

TravelAge West

About TravelAge West

  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Sales Team
  • Contact Us
  • My Profile

Advertise

  • Advertise With Us
  • Media Kit
  • Upload Ad Material
  • Digital Ad Specifications
  • Reprints
  • Subscribe to Print

Stay Connected to TravelAge West

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.


Northstar Travel Group

Northstar Travel Group

  • Travel Weekly
  • Travel Weekly Asia
  • Travel Weekly China
  • TravelPulse
  • TravelPulse Canada
  • TravelPulse Quebec
  • Meetings & Incentives
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • AGENTatHOME
Copyright © 2022 by Northstar Travel Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. 100 Lighting Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094-3626 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000
Load Carousel Here
Load Video Here