Travel Week in Review – September 3rd, 2021

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised its travel warning level for seven destinations, including Switzerland and Puerto Rico, to its highest risk designation. Switzerland and Puerto Rico, along with Azerbaijan, Estonia, Guam, North Macedonia, and St. Lucia, are now on the CDC’s Level 4 list, indicating “very high” Covid-19 risk and for U.S. residents to avoid travel to those destinations. About 80 destinations in total currently are rated Level 4 by the CDC. Read More…

If you have a trip planned to Hawaii in the near future, the Hawaiian government is urging you to postpone. The state’s hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed amidst a huge spike in COVID-19 cases, attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant. At a recent press conference, Hawaii Governor David Ige asked tourists to avoid visiting the islands until at least the end of October. “Our hospitals are reaching capacity and our ICUs are filling up. Now is not a good time to travel to Hawaii,” Ige pleaded. Read More…

The Italian city of Venice has implemented new policies that will go into effect next summer. Tourists who wish to visit Venice will have to book a ticket in advance for a fee and enter the city through electronic turnstiles. The entry fee will change according to the season. In high season, tourists can expect to pay as much as $12 (€10) and during less popular visiting times, the price could drop to about $3.50 (€3). Read More…

Starting Sept. 13, Oahu is requiring that patrons of bars, restaurants, museums, and gyms show proof of vaccination or a negative result from a recent Covid-19 test to enter. Oahu Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued the emergency order. The “Safe Access Oahu” program is being rolled out on Hawaii’s most populous island, which includes Honolulu and the Waikiki resort area, to combat the highest Covid-19 case rates seen in Hawaii at any time during the pandemic. Read More…

As summer comes to a close, travelers planning a fall trip to Europe might want to make other plans. Two months after the E.U. green lit vaccinated and tested Americans for travel, the Council of the European Union is once again recommending that its member nations restrict non-essential travel from the United States. The non-binding stance will allow individual nations to manage their own borders and travel restrictions. Read More…