Travel Week in Review – September 10th, 2021

While the news of Europe’s reopening to American travelers is causing excitement among travel advisors and their clients, each country is able to set slightly different entry requirements, causing complications for would-be travelers. To add to the complications, the EU signaled a move to reinstate travel restrictions barring nonessential travel from the U.S. and imposing quarantine and testing on U.S. travelers arriving into the region. Read More…

In the near future, you’ll be able to get through airport security with just your iPhone or Apple Watch―no physical driver’s license required. Apple just announced that it is working with eight states to enable adding driver’s licenses or state IDs to the Apple Wallet on the iPhone and Apple Watch. The new technology will be enacted by Arizona and Georgia first, followed by Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah. Read More…

Israel says it will soon reopen its gates to foreign tour groups — even as it battles one of the world’s highest rates of coronavirus infections. The country’s Tourism Ministry on Sunday said it will begin allowing organized tour groups into the country beginning Sept. 19. Tourists will have to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, present a negative PCR test before their flight and undergo both PCR and serological testing upon arrival. Visitors would have to quarantine in their hotels until the test results come back. Read More…

After the EU removed the U.S. from its pandemic-era list of safe countries, European countries started to shift their policies – including banning travelers – concerning American tourists. Starting Monday, U.S. travelers heading to Spain will need to be fully vaccinated in order to visit, as the U.S. has been removed from its “safe” list. Previously, those who were not vaccinated were able to enter Spain with a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Read More…

Traveling through an airport during the holiday season is always stressful, but this year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, travelers may be dealing with an additional set of nerves and uncertainties. Thankfully, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has some tips and necessary information to help travelers navigate their trip home for the holidays in 2021. As always, there are the typical Thanksgiving hurdles: Can I bring home my famous apple pie? The general rule of thumb is that solid food is fine for a carry-on. Read More…