Browsing Tag

Travel Tips

Tips for Better Summer Travel Abroad

This summer is shaping up to be a record breaker with more Americans than ever heading to Europe and other foreign locales. We can’t help with the heat, weather, and crowds vying to take a toll on your summer fun, but these practical tips will help you get organized, take some of the stress out of overseas travel, and hopefully make your summer adventures better!

Check Your Documents

Make sure your passport is valid six months from your return date or renew it now!

You already have a passport if you’re planning on leaving the U.S. this summer, (please say yes) but is it up to date? Will it still be valid six months from your scheduled return date? If not, renew it today and be prepared to pay to expedite this.  If you’ve waited until the busy summer season, it is going to take longer to process.  Visit the US State Department to get all the information you’ll need.

Are You a Trusted Traveler?

Save time and stress at the airport. If you haven’t already, sign up for TSA Precheck, Global Entry and/or CLEAR to expedite travel. Some credit cards, like American Express Platinum, will cover the fees for these programs which range from $77.95 for Precheck to $100 for Global Entry (includes Precheck) for five years and $189 for CLEAR. You need to have an in-person interview to complete the application process for Global Entry and an in-person appointment for Precheck. Enroll in CLEAR on the spot at certain US airports and check to see if your airport is one of the few with free “security reservations” which allows you to book a time to pass through security lines.

Save time and stress at the airport– enroll in Trusted Traveler programs!

Be sure your “known traveler” number is included in all your flight reservations and on your airline loyalty program(s) profile.  You are enrolled in those, right?

Back Up Plan

Many people keep digital boarding passes on their phones, but there are instances when WIFI isn’t available, or some glitch causes those boarding passes to disappear.  Print your boarding passes, too. If you don’t have a printer at home, use the kiosks in the airport before you go through security.

Keep photos of all your important documents on your phone.

Take a photo of your passport and other important documents and keep them on your phone.  Make color copies of these documents, too. Keep one set with you and leave one at home or with a trusted friend or neighbor. This will come in handy if your passport is lost or stolen.  Having a copy with us made replacing my husband’s passport much simpler when it was stolen in London.

London is a fascinating city but getting a passport stolen there wasn’t fun. If this happens to you, file a police report before you go to the US Embassy.

If you have replacement photos taken for your new passport abroad, be sure to get them correctly sized to meet US passport requirements. Most European countries use a different size than we do. We had to go back for photos a second time, which was costly and time consuming.

Sometimes GPS doesn’t work. Bring paper maps, just in case!

We use Google Maps everywhere.  GPS is usually reliable, but there have been instances when it is not, or we cannot access the maps we thought we downloaded.  The time we were looking for our friend’s winery outside Lisbon and wound up facing down a tractor barreling towards us down a dirt tract GPS sent us on is one of many examples. Bring paper maps as a backup.

Amazon and American Automobile Association (AAA) are good sources. We like the detailed Michelin maps which show even the smallest backroads. Be sure to pack a car charger and a phone holder along with those maps!

Get the App

Download the apps for all the airlines you’ll fly on your trip before you leave home.

Driving?

If you really want to explore a country and have the most flexibility in your travels, you’ll need a car. You won’t have to adhere to train schedules and can go where ever you like, no matter how far off-the-beaten path your wanderlust takes you.

To really enjoy the Tuscan countryside, you’ll need a car.

Driving in the EU is not that different from driving in the US. Roads are well-signed and in good shape in most places. If you’ll be driving in Europe, and many other places overseas, you’ll need an International Driver’s License, also called an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).

Most overseas locations require an IDP. Get one before you leave home.

You can get one at your local American Automobile Association (AAA).  Download and complete the form at home and bring it, your state- issued driving license and the $20.00 fee with you.  You can have your photos taken at AAA. They’re the same size as passport photos.  The IDP must be issued in the US before travel and cannot be obtained more than six months before departure.

Book Your Rental Car Early

For best pricing and options, if you want an automatic for example, book your car early.

Book your rental car when you book your air tickets and hotels.  Chances are good that you will get a much better deal, the earlier you book.  I also double check prices several times including right before we leave town just to be sure there aren’t any last-minute deals.  I do the same with hotels.  We have had good luck with Auto Slash —a consolidator for all the major car rental companies, and you can still accrue your loyalty points when you book through them. Sign up for price drop notifications.

Check for damage and photograph your rental car before you drive off.

Be sure to examine your rental car carefully and report any and all damage no matter how minor. Take photos on your phone before you drive off. We recently had a situation in Naples where they blamed us for damage to the rim of one wheel and forced us to pay for it before we could catch our plane to Sicily. We had taken photos beforehand and are currently trying to resolve the situation.

Car Services

Another option is a point-to-point car service, like Daytrip, which we used to get from Vienna to Budapest. We had already turned in our rental car since we knew we wouldn’t need it in Vienna or our next and final stop, Budapest. We learned Budapest’s main train station was closed for construction and our plan to take the train would require a train, a bus and a taxi and a lot more time than we had anticipated. Instead, we opted for Daytrip, and enjoyed a very comfortable, door-to-door ride in a Mercedes van. We booked online and found the trip cost about a third of what our hotel quoted for the car service they used.

Take the Train

Train travel in Europe is efficient, often faster than driving, and extremely convenient if you plan to spend your time in cities. I wished we had turned in our car after our drive from Evora in Portugal to Seville since we only used the car to get from one city to another in Andalusia. We would have saved time and money taking the train from Seville to Granada then on to Cordoba and Madrid. If you’re going to be exploring the countryside or small towns, like Panzano in Tuscany, you’ll need a car but in this case, we didn’t.

If you’re mostly traveling in cities, take the train.

Download the apps for any rail lines you plan to use on your trip. I keep TrenItalia and Italo Treno on my phone because I frequently travel in Italy. It’s easy to check schedules, compare prices, book your tickets and select your seats on the app.

Easy to use self-service kiosks are available for rail lines in the station.

Most European countries have their own rail line– SNCF in France, Deutschbahn in Germany, Renfe in Spain, for example. Use their apps. You can also buy your tickets at the station at self-serve kiosks or at the ticket office, but be aware that popular routes during busy times, like summer holidays, sell out. If your timing is not flexible, get your tickets in advance. AAA also sells some rail tickets, like EuroRail passes, if you aren’t comfortable using your phone or handling the transactions in person overseas.

Pay attention to both the platform and the train’s number.

Remember to always validate your ticket in the station before you board the train or risk a significant fine. (This is also true for subways.) Keep an eye on the electronic board for both your train’s number and the platform you’ll need. I shared the story of how I wound up in Genoa because I didn’t look at the train’s number and hopped on an express train instead of the local I should have taken for one stop. That adventure took a few extra hours!

Join Hotel Loyalty Programs

Even if you haven’t stayed at a particular hotel brand before and you’re thinking this could be the time to try it, join their loyalty programs ASAP—before you reserve your room if possible. You can start accruing points and perks right away and may even find program members get a discount or a free breakfast beginning with your first stay. Adler Friends is one example where you’ll get an instant discount.

Being a longtime Marriott Bonvoy member got me an upgrade at Vienna’s Hotel Imperial. There was also birthday cake and champagne waiting for me!

If you’re a traveler of a certain age, investigate senior discounts. Book into one of Portugal’s Pousadas or Spain’s Paradores –lovely hotels often housed in historic buildings like a former castle, convent or fortress– and if you’re 55 years or older, you’ll save 30 percent on your stay with the Golden Age rate.

It never hurts to ask if you’re eligible for a discount!

Create an Itinerary

Your itinerary should include your flights, hotels, car rental information, train tickets, main points of interest/events (especially those for which you have purchased advance tickets like museums and theater performances), and dinner reservations. Be as complete as possible and include confirmation numbers, addresses, phone numbers and contact information for each.

First time visitors to Europe will want to see the highlights, like the Trevi Fountain and the Vatican in Rome. Include ticket information for the Vatican Museums, which you’ll buy in advance, in your itinerary.

This simple step will help you get organized and be sure there are no gaps or mistakes in your reservations. In the past, I’ve found overlapping dates and a night with no hotel booked once I’ve put all my reservations together in an itinerary. It is a handy way to share details of your travels with with family, friends, and those nice neighbors keeping an eye on things at home. I like TripIt and use their free product for my travels.

Take a “nature break” from your touring and visit green spaces like Madrid’s El Retiro Park.

A detailed itinerary is really helpful to stay organized, but be sure to leave plenty of time for wandering around your chosen destination(s) and making discoveries of your own. Every city has hidden treasures, beautiful parks to explore, and small museums where you won’t fight the crowds. Rome and Paris both have city-run museums that are free to visit and are rarely crowded! Don’t try to see everything– take your time and focus on a few highlights.

Bring the Right Credit Cards

Not all credit card companies and banks need to know your whereabouts abroad but some do and it’s a lot easier to notify them before you leave rather than risk having your cards or ATM card frozen due to fraud concerns. Make a note of all of the cards and contact numbers and keep it in a secure location in the event they are lost or stolen. Get a four or six-digit PIN for each card before you leave home and only bring cards with no foreign transaction fee. These fees can add 3-4% to every purchase you make.

Consider opening a separate travel checking account linked to an ATM card that you can access while you’re away. If the worst happens, your primary accounts won’t be accessible to thieves.

Leave any credit cards with a foreign transaction fee at home and use your cards for most purchases.

We were surprised to learn that American Express doesn’t cover your rental car issues in certain countries like Italy, Australia and New Zealand but does pretty much everywhere else. Keep that in mind when you choose which card to use!

Cash is Not King– But You’ll Need Some

There are certain things you have to pay cash for.
A bus ticket from Amalfi to Ravello is one of them.

You don’t need a lot of cash; in fact, you shouldn’t carry much at all.  There’s no need with no foreign transaction fee credit cards and ATMs nearly everywhere.  We always have a small amount of Euros left at the end of each overseas trip that we stash away for the next one.  You can get foreign currency from your local bank but the rate won’t be terrific.  Get just enough cash to pay for your taxi or transportation from the airport to your lodging, tip money, and get some coins in case you must pay to use the toilet—not that unusual in Europe. 

The Hungarian Parliament is a “must see” in Budapest. You’ll need Forints to pay to visit.

On a recent trip from Vienna to Budapest, our Daytrip driver handed us each four Forints when we crossed the Hungarian border explaining we would need it at the rest stop. We had been traveling in Europe for a month and had Euros and dollars with us, but no Hungarian currency.  You may also find some restaurants and museums in Europe that only accept cash, but you can stop at an ATM. 

Speaking of ATMs, some will try to charge ludicrously high fees.  When the prompt comes up asking you to accept the conversion rate, decline. You can complete your transaction paying the bank rate, which is the best choice.  When using ATMs be aware of your surroundings, cover the keypad when you insert your PIN, and pocket your cash immediately—just like at home.  Try to visit ATMs during busy, daylight hours and watch for pickpockets.

There will be times, particularly at hotels, when you’ll be asked if you want to pay in Euro, for example, or dollars. Always choose the local currency. It will save you money in the form of conversion/transaction fees.

Buy Travel Insurance

Give yourself peace of mind and get travel insurance.

No one likes to think that anything unpleasant will happen while they’re off enjoying the world, but things can and do happen –from a cracked windshield in your rental car to a cracked rib and worse.  Flights can be delayed for hours or cancelled outright leaving you stranded or missing your cruise. A family emergency may find you scrambling to return home in a hurry.  Be prepared for these contingencies with travel insurance. 

Accidents can happen while you’re far from home. Protect yourself!

We use Allianz and buy an annual policy with extensive coverage as well as providing emergency medical evacuation.  Read the terms of the policies you’re considering before signing the contract and find out exactly what your credit cards will cover so you don’t duplicate coverage.

Weather!

You already know summer pretty much everywhere is going to be steamy and there may be some rainy days, too. Bring an umbrella and a light jacket. You can also use the umbrella as a sun parasol, which I often do when hiking through sunbaked ruins in Italy and Greece. Always bring a swimsuit and sturdy, comfortable shoes for the long days of touring, and think light layers when you choose your wardrobe.

As the saying goes, “There is no bad weather, just poor wardrobe decisions.” Be prepared!

Bring clothes you’re comfortable in and that can accommodate an extra pound or two. Don’t even think about bringing flashy jewelry, five pairs of shoes, or a different outfit for every day. Read my packing hacks here.  

Dress conservatively if you are visiting a house of worship or risk being turned away.

If you’ll be visiting cathedrals and other places of worship, be sure to have a light wrap to cover yourself —bare arms and legs can get you barred from entering. Ladies, please don’t turn up in a skinny mini or shorts and a bra top or guys in a muscle tank and old shorts– you don’t want to miss out. 

An umbrella is also handy for sunny places, like the ancient ruins at Mycenae.

Think about the activities you have planned and bring what you’ll need to be comfortable doing them. Pack only for a week, no matter how long you’re traveling– you can get the laundry done! Leave all those cosmetic products home in your bathroom and pick up what you need overseas. Remember the liquids rule and only bring containers 3.4 ounces or less of your essentials in a quart- sized clear plastic bag. Questions about what’s allowed? Check with TSA.

Don’t Check Luggage

Airlines are notorious for losing bags especially during the busy summer travel season. If you don’t check a bag, they can’t lose it.  Plus, you’ll save valuable time not waiting around the baggage carousel, and money by not paying those hefty, checked baggage fees. Unless you’re traveling with very small children who need lots of extras, you CAN go carry on and when you’re dragging your bag through train stations, over cobbled streets, and up and down stairs in charming little European hotels, you’ll thank me!

Save time and money– go carry-on!
You don’t want to drag big bags around.

The Dreaded Gate Check

Sometimes you will be faced with a gate agent who insists on taking your bag.  Maybe the flight is full, and the luggage racks have no space, or they don’t think your bag is small enough to carry on–European rules are different—you’ll have to hand it over. Be prepared for this contingency by always keeping cash, credit cards, travel documents (including any vouchers and tickets), medications, keys, electronics, cameras, jewelry (if you must bring it), eyeglasses, and anything valuable and/or irreplaceable in a tote bag or backpack which are considered “personal items” and can fit under the seat in front of you. Add a change of clothing with fresh socks and underwear and basic toiletries and you’re good to go.  

Some airlines may make you pay to carry even small bags onboard.

Heavily discounted airlines may not let you bring anything other than a small purse aboard without paying for it. If this is the case, pay for the privilege of carrying- on, as far in advance as possible.  Prices go up as departure time nears.

Cancel Deliveries

You won’t want to worry about deliveries at home..
…while you’re enjoying the world!

If you regularly get a newspaper delivered to your home, get a vacation hold. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times are among the dailies who will allow you to donate your papers to local schools if you’d prefer that option to having your account credited for days you are away.  Be sure to put a hold on your mail delivery, too.  The USPS will bring you a big bin with all your held mail when you return. 

Try not to order packages that will be delivered in your absence but if you do, let your neighbor know, so nothing is sitting by your front door possibly alerting criminals to your absence. In fact, it’s a great idea to let your neighbors know that you are traveling anyway—they can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

Some Final Advice

You’re all set–your carry-on and tote are packed, documents, electronics and chargers/converters easy to access, and you’re leaving for the airport with plenty of time to get through security.

Eat the gelato, linger in that cafe, take a nap– it’s summer vacation. Enjoy!

Here’s some final advice before you go:  To really enjoy your summer travel adventures abroad, bring your patience, be flexible, and keep your sense of humor sharp.  Leave unrealistic expectations behind and be open to new cultural experiences, different cuisines and meeting new people.  Don’t try to see and do everything on one trip. Take a nap if you’re tired—its summer vacation! Now go see the world and have some fun!

How to Pack Light: Five Weeks with a Carry-On!

Packing for any trip–a weekend in wine country, a month in Europe, or something in between used to be second nature for me, but my skills got rusty during the pandemic. What I did and did not bring on my first post-Covid lockdown trips were proof of that! Thankfully, I’ve had lots of trips and plenty of practice packing light since then.

Here’s how NOT to pack! What do they have in those big bags? And why?

I just got back from five weeks in Europe with only a carry-on roller bag and one personal item. If I can do it, so can you. Here’s how to to get organized and travel lightly on your next adventure.

These are my bags– for a five-week trip to Europe.

Get Organized

Waiting until the last minute to pack means throwing stuff I don’t need into my bag and not bringing the things I do. Make a list or download one from one of the many online sites that offer them free. Do a “preliminary pack” about a week before you’re leaving and finalize right before you go. This goes for your suitcase (you won’t be checking it) and your one allowable “personal item” — mine is a tote that carries a small purse, laptop and essentials like travel documents and medications.

Light layers took me comfortably from hiking in the Dolomites…

Check the weather.  Unless you’re traveling in mid-winter cold, you’ll want to pack light layers.  We stayed in a castle in Tuscany, went hiking in the Dolomites, wine tasting in Friuli, explored small cities in the Marche, spent time at the seaside in Abruzzo, and revisited the eternal city.

…to the Adriatic seaside, and lots of places in between.

The weather was very different in each of these places, but by taking layers, my five-week wardrobe fit nicely in my carry- on (thanks to packing cubes) and I had the appropriate clothes for all the weather we encountered.

Take Half the Clothes and Twice the Money

That’s travel advice someone shared with me years ago and I still take it to heart. Chances are you’re going to be moving from one destination to another and seeing different people in all of those places. No one will know you’ve worn that outfit five times already.  People everywhere dress much more casually than they used to– keep that in mind as you select your travel wardrobe.

Choose clothes you’re comfortable in– a trip abroad is not the time to discover your pants are too tight. If you’re like me, you may even add a few pounds on your travels so clothes that fit a little more loosely at the start of the trip is a good thing. I often bring a few things that are nearly ready for the donation bin, wear them a few last times and leave them behind– more room for new purchases in my bag!

Neutrals are always appropriate. Use accessories to change your look.

Choose neutrals. Pick black, white, camel, gray or navy as your base to create a “capsule wardrobe,” which means everything goes with everything else. Use accessories for a pop of color (I love scarves) and to change up your look. Remember the 3:1 rule– three tops for every bottom. Lay out whatever you think you need and then put at least one third of it back in the closet.  You don’t need it—trust me.

Consider the activities you have planned. Your wardrobe for hiking in the Italian Alps is going to look a lot different than a theater-going marathon in London. Obviously, you’ll want performance fabrics for athletic endeavors. Choose natural fabrics, think cotton and silk, that will keep you comfortable for everything else. Merino wool works for most of the year and linen can’t be beat for hot summer days. Separates will provide much more flexibility than dresses or jumpsuits, but I always bring a dress, just in case I am going to the theater after a hike in the mountains.

Some trips include all kinds of activities and events. We went from mountain hikes in the Dolomites to concerts in Salzburg and Vienna!

Nice trousers, a button down shirt and a sweater will be fine for a night at the theater for men, though many we saw at classical concerts last fall in Vienna and Salzburg were in suits.

People dress much more casually than they used to, even on a Saturday night in Rome.

You do not need five pairs of shoes. Bring comfortable flats that can also go out to dinner, walking shoes or sneakers for daytime, and sandals or flip flops (good as slippers, too) if you’re headed to a sunny locale. Three pairs is plenty and be sure they’re comfortable. Blisters will ruin that romantic Parisian stroll you planned. If you’re hiking, or going into wet/snowy weather, that’s a different story. Wear your heaviest shoes/boots on the plane. Never bring new shoes and leave those cute heels at home! Streets are cobbled or uneven in many destinations. Men can get by with sandals (in warm weather), walking shoes that are comfortable but dressy enough for evening out, and a good pair of sneakers.

Check out their footwear– flats and sneakers. Cobbled streets like these in Seville are more the rule than the exception.

If the weather is changeable, I pack a puffer jacket and a vest (Patagonia’s nanopuff is my go-to) and a lightweight, waterproof shell with a pair of gloves and a scarf tucked in the pocket. That combination sees me through all but the coldest conditions.

Laundry

Pack for no more than a week, no matter how long you’ll be traveling. Wash lighter things in the bathroom sink in your hotel. Bring inflatable hangers and a few plastic clothes pins (also good for keeping drapes closed) — and use hotel shampoo as laundry soap. For heavier things like pants and shirts we use Google Maps to find a fluff- and -fold cleaner with drop- off service near our lodgings. We dropped our laundry off in Kalamata and learned it was the same cleaner the hotel used, but we paid the local’s price. They even delivered our clothes back to our hotel for us.

If we can’t find a drop-off fluff and fold, we head to a laundromat.

If you’re staying in an apartment with a washer, lucky you. Don’t expect to have a clothes drier in Europe—you’ll likely have a clothesline or drying rack. That works, too.

Medication, Documents, Jewelry

Bring extra prescription medications in case your return is delayed—and these days, it easily could be. We woke up to a text announcing our flight home later that day from Madrid was cancelled. Keep medication in its original container, or to save room, get pill pouches (tiny plastic bags available at pharmacies), peel off and apply the label from your Rx bottles and you’re set. Never pack medications in your luggage.  Ask your doctor for paper copies of any prescriptions you take regularly in case you need to get more abroad. 

Keep passports and other documents, medications and any valuables with you at all times, not in your luggage.

Leave jewelry at home.  Unless you wear it every day, don’t bring it.  You don’t want your bling bringing unwanted attention.

They Sell Toothpaste Overseas

Hotels usually provide shampoo, bath gel, body lotion, soap, etc.– the basics will be waiting for you. No need to pack them.

Don’t bring every toiletry and beauty product you use at home. Stick to travel sizes of the few you must have and buy what you need when you arrive. Toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and other necessities are readily available in most places you’ll be going. Remember–those 3.4 ounce liquids must fit into a quart- sized bag. If you transit through London Heathrow you will have to go through security again, even if you are departing from the same terminal you flew into. British Airways’ “quart” bag seems a tad smaller to me and you must be able to zip the bag completely closed or risk having your products confiscated. Not sure if you can carry it on? Check TSA.

Sunny skies can change in a heartbeat. Pack light layers and an umbrella and you’ll be prepared for almost anything!

Take an umbrella and a swimsuit no matter where you’re going.  If you unexpectedly find yourself at the seaside or it turns out your hotel has a pool, you don’t want to frantically shop for a swimsuit— a daunting proposition at the best of times. A small, foldable umbrella is great for sun protection when you’re trekking through sunbaked ruins, as well as for the rain that’s bound to fall.

We wouldn’t have wanted to miss a sunset swim at the Castello Delle Serre in Rapolano.

Go Carry On

Don’t check your bag.  In the old days I used to drag along a suitcase that was nearly as big as I am.  I’m not a tall person, but you get the idea. After a certain British airline lost my luggage on the way to a Mediterranean cruise, I now check a bag only under duress. I like knowing my belongings are right above me in the overhead compartment, especially if I’m making connections.

Don’t give airlines a chance to lose your bag or waste time waiting at the baggage carousel.

I’ve heard so many horror stories about lost luggage but this is one of the worst: A friend’s luggage was recovered at London Heathrow four months after she returned from what should have been a romantic anniversary trip– everything was wet and ruined. Don’t let lost luggage ruin your trip before it even starts.

Imagine dragging these bags around Rome?

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, your chances of rebooking or going standby are much better if you haven’t checked luggage.  When our flight home from Brussels was cancelled at the end of a busy Easter Week, we got the last seats on the next flight out because we had our bags with us.

While these aren’t huge bags, she’s got two of them, and a duffel, and a purse. Take at least a third of what you think you’ll need out of your bag– you don’t need it. I promise.

Use your coat as an extra carry on. Fill the pockets with small items (not liquids). Put a second jacket inside the first and put a vest or sweater in the sleeves.  Make every pocket count!

If you travel with a portable medical device it does NOT count as your one allowable personal item. You can bring it aboard along with your roller bag plus your purse or backpack/tote bag. My husband has one and he takes advantage of any extra space in the device’s carry bag.

Stay Connected

Electronics need chargers and converters so be sure to pack enough for all your devices. You may also want to add an international calling/data plan to your mobile phone before you go. Use WhatsApp to stay in touch for free and use free WIFI when you can, though obviously not for sensitive information. You can also get a new SIM card at your destination(s) but be sure to let friends and family know your new phone number.

Someone recently asked me if they needed converters for their hair dryer and other styling tools. The answer is NO– because you’re going to leave those things at home. Every hotel and apartment rental I’ve ever stayed in anywhere in the world has a hair dryer.

He’s heading to the gate with just the right amount of carry-on luggage, no matter how long the journey.

The take-aways–Pack light. Leave valuables at home.  Keep passports, medications and other hard -to -replace items with you—not in your luggage.  Don’t check your bag unless you absolutely have to, and remember, if you forget something, 99 percent of the time there will be stores where you’re going. Ready, set, pack!

Navigating Travel as Covid Continues– Updated!

Note: I’ve chosen to leave this post up as a reminder of what travel was like not that long ago. Let’s hope this experience remains in the rear view mirror!

Remember when we could book an airline ticket, grab our bags and go? Covid has changed how, and even if we travel, for what feels like a long time now. As I prepared for my first international trip in nearly two years last fall, I learned just how different things had become. When I returned to Europe last month, the rules had changed again.

Covid has changed so much about how and even if we can travel.

Vaccination and documentation requirements, for leaving the country and returning, seem to change almost daily both in the USA and abroad. Check government websites for any and all countries you will visit or transit through for updated Covid information.  Some countries still require testing, proof of vaccination, and forms that must be completed online before you can board the plane.

We traveled to Italy last fall, transiting through London’s Heathrow airport. We needed proof of a negative Covid test within 72 hours of travel (we scheduled free tests cvs.com), a completed EU locator form euplf.eu, a UK locator form gov.uk, an Italian Declaration Statement esteri.it, our vaccine card showing at least two doses, and of course, USA passport, before we could obtain our boarding passes.  The UK has no restrictions right now, and masks are no longer required there or on planes or airports in the EU. When we went to Portugal and Spain last month we still needed to test to enter Portugal and locator forms were also required. Had we flown into Spain, none of that would have been necessary.

We didn’t realize we needed a UK Locator Form just to pass through Heathrow Airport last fall. All restrictions have been lifted in the UK– for now.

We flew on American Airlines which uses VeriFLY, an app you upload your documents and test results to for easier airport check-in.  See if your airline uses one of these services. I wish we had downloaded it before we started our trip– we would’ve known we needed the UK Locator form before we got to the airport, saving time and undue stress as we scrambled to complete the form on our phones before we could check in.

If your airline uses an app like VeriFLY download it– it makes check-in much easier and lets you know exactly which forms you’ll need before you head to the airport.

I strongly suggest you carry paper copies of all of your documentation in case you can’t access digital copies.  Not only did we need these to obtain our boarding passes, but also on arrival in the UK, before we boarded our flight to Rome and again when we landed in Rome.  We also had to show negative Covid test results, vaccine card and EU locator forms when we checked in to our first hotel in Italy. This spring, we used Verifly again and it made life a lot easier!

Check specific requirements for every country you plan to visit.

Carry your Covid-19 vaccination card at all times. You will be showing it a lot if you’re traveling in an EU country.  In Italy we needed our vaccine cards to enter all buildings including museums, shops, restaurants, hotels—nearly everywhere we went. In Spain and Portugal we rarely needed to show it, though we kept it handy just in case.

A clear plastic sleeve will help protect your card. I got ours on amazon.com.  At the moment EU citizens and people from 16 other countries can get a digital “green pass” but most Americans cannot ec.europa.eu.

You’ll show your vaccination card at the Green Pass check everywhere you go. Keep it handy!

Bring disposable masks. Mask mandates are changing all the time. They are still required in many places where social distancing is not possible in the EU and other parts of the world.  No discussion. No exceptions. Wear your mask if you’re asked to.

Masks may be required in EU countries and many other parts of the world.

Check your documents!  Is your passport up to date?  And by that, I mean will it be valid six months from your scheduled departure?  If not, renew it now and be prepared to pay extra to expedite this if necessary. Everything takes longer in the time of Covid. I just renewed mine. It took six weeks with expedited processing, though the website said it could take up to 11 weeks. For more visit travel.state.gov.

Make copies of your passport and leave at least one copy at home with a friend or family member. Keep one with you in a secure location and keep a copy on your phone. This will come in handy if your passport goes missing.  Having a color copy helped my husband get a replacement passport in a hurry when his was stolen in London. It also was helpful for the police report he had to file before the new one could be issued.  Never pack your passport in a checked bag.  When you’ve reached your destination lock it in your hotel safe and carry a color copy. Do not leave it in your room unsecured.

Be sure your passport is valid for six months from your departure date.

Notify your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling abroad.  Nothing will ruin your trip faster than having your credit card frozen because of fraud concerns. Make a note of contact numbers for your cards and keep it in a secure location in case they’re lost or stolen. If you don’t already have a four- digit pin, create one as soon as possible.

We haven’t always been notified when a flight has been delayed or cancelled. Check your travel plans with your airline regularly.

Check in with your airline regularly.  Flights are cancelled and changed with shocking frequency these days.  Both our outbound and return flights were cancelled, rescheduled, and changed again before we left for Italy. Our return trip from Madrid last month was cancelled the same day we were scheduled to fly and we got a “bonus” day there. Your airline will also have updated Covid information for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Book your rental car ASAP. Rental cars are harder to come by and much more expensive than they used to be.  This is true everywhere.  The sooner you book the more likely you’ll get what you want and at a better price. Try autoslash.com for price comparisons for the major rental companies.

Coming home can be fraught with anxiety these days as everyone must be tested for Covid before returning to the USA.  We are one of the few remaining countries to require this and it is not as easy to organize as it was even last fall. At the moment rapid tests taken within 24-hours of departure are needed. Your hotel can usually book you an appointment.  Ours had a nurse come to our room in Madrid to administer the test. If you’re going elsewhere, bring your passport to the testing appointment–you will need it to receive your documentation.  We paid 50 Euro each in cash in Madrid for our tests in April.  Last year in Rome it was 22 Euro each at a pharmacy. Be aware that some pharmacies do not test on the weekend, appointments are required, and because few countries require tests, not all will provide necessary documentation.

You still need proof of a negative Covid test to return to the USA. Check for current requirements.

Summing it up—Check current requirements for all countries you’ll visit or transit through, as well as testing needs for returning, and make appointments in advance. Keep your vaccination card handy. Be flexible– and very patient. Now go out in the world, be safe, and have fun!

Note– This article was originally written in January 2022 and updated in May 2022.