Travel Week in Review – October 8th, 2021

Starting Monday, vaccinated travelers heading to the UK from most destinations — including the United States — won’t have to get tested before departure or quarantine upon arrival. Additionally, the UK has streamlined its traffic light entry system on the same day, moving to a single list of either “red” countries and countries whose citizens are allowed to enter. The country will also look to replace the day 2 PCR test. Read More…

If you’re fully vaccinated and ready to take your first vacation in over a year, you might be wondering: “what countries can Americans visit right now?” With vaccine rates on the rise, some countries are slowly beginning to reopen to tourism. Certain nations have tentatively begun to re-accept U.S. passport holders, providing they agree to specific regulations such as showing proof of being fully vaccinated, PCR testing for COVID-19 or mandatory quarantines. Read More…

Israel is requiring visitors to have a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine to obtain a “green pass” and access public spaces like restaurants. The country, which requires the pass for everything from restaurants and bars to tourist attractions, will now issue one only if someone has received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or two doses within six months, according to the Ministry of Health. Alternatively, people can request a pass if they have contracted COVID-19 and recovered within six months. Read More…

We’ve all heard the horror stories swirling amid the current rental car shortage: Tourists leasing U-hauls in Hawaii as a last resort, or travelers being charged hundreds of dollars per day for a subcompact car. Now, approaching the busy holiday travel season, many travelers are wondering if they should even attempt to secure a rental car during November and December. It’s no doubt a complicated issue. At the start of the pandemic, demand for rental cars at airports dropped by 80 percent. Read More…

Hawaii’s Gov. David Ige has extended the state’s emergency order, continuing capacity restrictions on restaurants, bars, and gatherings, and continuing to require people to wear masks indoors. The order, in effect through at least Nov. 30, does not change the state’s Safe Travels program, which allows domestic tourists to skip quarantine by showing proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test from a “trusted partner” site. Read More…