What are your expectations once you get to Europe?

We have tickets for Italy for basically the month of September, planning on time in Rome, Naples, but mostly Sicily.

We will make few to no reservations for a while, and then, only a few hotels, and maybe some cheap airfare to and from Sicily, our plan is to keep it very flexible, much like the "seat of the pants" travel that we favored when we were younger.

We will be happy just to be there, do hope restaurants are fully open, and while we expect the crowds will resurge, hopefully not to the crazy pre-pandemic levels yet.

We are not as concerned about sights being closed or restricted, in Rome and Naples, we have seen much already, and even Sicily, just the food, wine, and outdoors is enough to satisfy us.

We do expect to have to use masks, we are vaccinated, expect to have to test either before, after, on arrival, or whenever.

Wearing masks has become so routine in the limited amount of public interaction this past year that it’s not going to be a big deal, if needed for our Italy trip this September/October. Nice if not needed, but if it makes the time safer, more reassuring, or actually possible, then it’s not an excessive encumbrance.

But at this point, fall is expected to be very different than spring, or even summer will likely be. Fall appears to be more like a Pre-Covid-19 situation, first time in a year and a half. Glad we weren’t hoping for a vacation to India - hopefully they get a huge improvement, soon.

We have tickets to Iceland in both August and February. We will be renting a vehicle and doing the Ring Road, staying mostly in self catering places. We plan on wearing masks any time we are outside of our vehicle or outside of our cottages/rooms and will bring plenty of sanitizer. We plan on making lunch on the road vs finding restaurants. Any place that has cooking facilities, we will cook ourselves.

I appreciate that Iceland is allowing vaccinated visitors, so this is the least we can do to help.

I have a week in Estepona, Spain booked for early June. The accommodation has already been paid for and is non refundable and considering it cost just under £1k I decided to make use of it if I could. The kids will be at school and my wife has work commitments so it will just be me. I've been to the area many times and have explored it extensively so for me this trip is purely about relaxation in the sun. The thought of lying round the pool, reading my collection of books and enjoying the Spanish heat after the coldest April here in the UK since 1922 is quite appealing. The requirement for mask wearing such as visiting shops and public spaces is no big deal and is no different to what we've been used to for many months. I have no intention on sightseeing or visiting museums etc as I've done it all already. I'll be fully vaccinated by then and current guidance from the government is that those who are fully vaccinated and returning from 'Amber Countries' (of which Spain is likely to be classed as) will not be required to undertake the ten day self quarantine.

There is talk of some of Europe opening up to the U.K. later this month, but we will be holidaying within the U.K. until our October/November trip to the Canary Islands, which has been postponed from January.

We went there last October, when mask wearing outside was mandatory, so we are prepared for that again. U.K. scientists are suggesting that mask wearing maybe around for a few years indoors, so we aren’t prepared to put our travel plans on hold for that long if infection rates are low at home and at our destination. By definition, if we still need to wear masks, then presumably there will still be an element of social distancing indoors, including restaurant seating. Luckily, many parts of Europe are warmer than the U.K., making eating outside more feasible. We rent a villa and mostly self cater, which gives us more flexibility to avoid people if required.

We won’t go if infection rates are high and increasing, thereby risking a lockdown or if we have to quarantine on arrival there. Friends got stuck there last March and said it wasn’t a pleasant experience. We won’t go if the U.K. government warns against travel, as this would invalidate our travel insurance.

We thought when we went to the Canaries last October that we would have to isolate at home for 14 days upon our return, but whilst we were there, the U.K. government relaxed the restrictions, although we voluntarily isolated to ensure we didn’t pass anything on (we were clear). We wouldn’t go if there was a risk of the Canaries hitting the U.K. red list, meaning we would have to pay £1,750 pp (3,000 Canadian) to stay in a quarantine hotel for 10 nights on our return.

We are anticipating that we will have to pay for a PCR test in each direction. The costs here are around £120 (205 CAAD) each per test, so if we had to have more tests or the price increased, we may think again. The issue last year was trying to get tests result back in enough time to meet the 72 hours before arrival in Spain criteria. The results weren’t guaranteed to be back in 48 hours, which was a bit tight, allowing for a door to door travel time of 8 hours plus a night’s sleep. Last year, tests in the Canaries were €190 each.

I'm keeping a close eye on the developments and restrictions in Russia, so I think I have a pretty decent idea what to expect (at this point, anyway), and can manage expectations accordingly. I have no problem with masks/gloves or PCR tests, neither do my kids. PCR test on arrival should cost somewhere around $36 (for a 2-hr test at the airport), cheaper if done in the city.

As to occupancy restrictions - we'll miss the theater season anyway, so no problem there. Will probably either rent a car or try to figure out car sharing apps to minimize unnecessary exposure while in Moscow and SPB - will likely be a bit more of a problem in Crimea, though.

Don't have anything booked - just waiting for border restrictions to lift. Look forward to finally visiting the Hermitage and especially Catherine's palace without the need to compete with organized cruise tours:-).

We’re headed to Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia in September. We’re vaccinated but are also totally fine wearing masks (in fact probably will always wear one now on planes and public transport), and will gladly wear them at museums, walking around, etc. That being said, we purposefully arranged this trip to be outdoors oriented. Obviously outdoor activities such as hiking, boating, etc. in Switzerland and Slovenia. In those instances we’ll likely be able to not wear masks but have available if needed. Austria is the only locale where we will be in big cities and doing museums, etc. Totally fine with masks and even appointments in those instances. We actually hope this Fall might be a good way of threading the needle between reopening and not having oppressive crowds in places like Vienna. But overall 80% of the trip is all outdoors oriented which is our way of stepping back in. As far as dining, again with many outdoor activities planned a lot of picnics will be involved in our trip. Seems as if many locales are also opening for outdoor dining right now which we like anyway. We’ll take it as it goes!

Does a cruise from Europe count? It's booked, but if I can't be sure by final payment date (sometime in July) that I can do my own DIY port visits, I won't go. Also, if some key museums or sites are restricted, I won't go. It's an itinerary I will only do once, so it needs to meet more expectations that some land trips I would consider.

According to the BBC last week, Brits are deferring foreign holiday bookings to September - November - bookings for this period are up 50% on the average year, so don’t expect places to be quiet in the autumn.

just please keep in mind, this reopening was quite sudden out of nowhere. And it can be undone just as quickly. We are now in the phase where science and politics are wrestling with each other and currently, politics seems to have the upper hand.

I haven't booked anything yet, though anything I book could be changed with no financial penalty or eligible for refunds (mainly hotels).

Still wary about the cases taking a sudden turn, which seems to be essentially what happened in India -- they thought it was over and then cases took off on a very steep curve.

If I go there, I'd have no problems with any restrictions -- masks, mostly takeaway food, museums closed. My focus tends more to be things like hikes and photographing landscapes.

Because of continuing uncertainty, many people seem to be resigned to waiting until spring of 2022 or later. That makes sense in that Europe should have most of its population vaccinated by then.

But there has been so many surprised in the past 12-14 months that it wouldn't be surprising if there's another huge surge in the winter, despite vaccinations.

Then spring of 2022 may not have any more certainty than summer and fall of 2021.

We're going, to a second home, so we can take off to explore locally or travel a bit further if the opportunity comes up in a safe way. Because we listen and read French news daily, here are snippets we've caught in the past few days from FR2 news and franceinfo. This jives with the comment of politicians vs science:

--France had a first-quarter economic recession (compared to growth in the US).
--People have an abundance of savings at this time, so everyone should get out there and spend 20% of what you have saved up. (Spending is a large part of the GDP, so without tourists, cafes, restaurant, shops closed...).
--Our COVID case numbers are going down, so we will open gradually (if 25,000 cases instead of 30,000 per day is reassuring.)
-And finally one person said on the news that...there could be a fourth wave later this summer!

Looks like politicians have the upper hand for the moment. Yes, borders will open, but it is far from over. Be careful out there folks.

I expect to wait in all-new plague-related queues once deplaning.

We’re not planning to go until summer 2022 but I am expecting that masks will still be required indoors at that time and likely still reduced capacity at museums and large attractions.

I’ve been hoping to do Amsterdam and Paris next summer but am wondering if it would be prudent to do slightly smaller cities - considering it might be easier to book reservations at museums, etc.

I think if you’re not willing to wear a mask i in museums etc. you may need to plan I’m not travel for for f years. This is your new reality. Pretending it’s not going to happen and new reality will go away is only limiting yourself.

Personally I do have a ticket booked, it’s a frequent flyer ticket, it can be canceled with no penalty and that’s about all I’ve done so far

We can handle wearing masks when we need to, even though we dislike wearing them.

Since we are fully vaccinated, we hope the EU and Italy will be open for us by October. We plan a week in Umbria and a week in Rome prior to taking a transatlantic cruise back home.

if some key museums or sites are restricted, I won't go. It's an
itinerary I will only do once, so it needs to meet more expectations
that some land trips I would consider.

That's definitely my expectation, that some key sites may still be closed or restricted access making it difficult to visit. Patience is the key word in my vocabulary until I can do it closer to my way. In the meantime, bring on those Trip reports this summer so I can live vicariously through the rest of you.

In my case, and in reading the responses of others, those who have traveled to an area before and are more interested in just "being there", as opposed to having to hit the bucket list things, probably will travel with few issues.

I would be reluctant though to advise someone going for the first time, and wanting to hit the big sights on a tight timetable, to go this year. I can live with the Vatican Museum being closed, or near impossible to get into, when I go to Rome (Been there a couple times), but for a first timer, it really is a can't miss.

This is from a day ago, restrictions loosened in some places in Italy for the first time so tourists are walking around in Florence, all masked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLB44lPIsow

Expectations?
First, that things can change at any time. Although I do have trips booked, I can cancel with no problem up til 1-4 weeks out (depending).
Second, I have a long list of places I want to visit, so I just switched this year’s destinations to places where I will spend most of the time outside, with the exception of hotels.
Third, masks. Yes. Forms, yes. Maybe even apps for tracking.
Fourth, restaurants may not be as available, but that’s fine for me. I am fairly sure take out will be available and I can handle that.
Fifth, my trips will mostly not include public transportation or museums this year. I have a couple of museums on my list, but if they aren’t available, I can live with that and still have a worthwhile trip.
And last, I expect that I may need to be able to pivot quickly. I hope not, but it could happen.

Not Europe, but Egypt is open and while it was not at the top of the list, flights using miles and being open have made it very attractive indeed. We look forward to 5,000 years of history in 13 days. A mask required does not bother us, as long as things are open.
Pyramids, Tombs and Pharaohs here we come!

Not quite Europe (Òzbekiston Respublikasi), and I don't quite know what to expect: there isn't much information out there. In the meantime, I'll keep reading up on the history of the region.

I love how laid back you are with your expectations Travelmom, I can be quite hyper and in need of a plan so I'm not sure how well I'd deal with having to live in a constant state of anticipation that plans may change.

I thought this article was interesting that Monaco is going to allow limited attendance for the Grand Prix later this month. https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/56985584, but this kind of inconvenience makes me feel better about my decision to wait it out until next year.

Spectators will have to take a PCR test for Covid-19 no more than 72
hours before attending the event and take proof of a negative result
with them to the track.

If I'm going to go somewhere I'll enjoy it more if I'm not in a constant state of anticipation of what will happen next.

RPerez, I have been reviewing Uzbekistan as well as the other Stans...just in case it makes sense to go there after I get work and retirement out of the way in July. Bradt Travel Guides cover each country quite well, and Uzbekistan looks the easiest solo or at least DIY. They have an extensive train system. Of course there is also YouTube and vloggers.

Reading the replies, it is interesting to me to see the range of accommodations that people are willing to make (or not). Travel is definitely not a one-size-fits-all, and it is good to keep that in mind as we see the trickle of tourism returning.

We and another family (10 people total) have plans to travel to Germany, Prague, and Spain over Christmas and New Year's this year. No money on the table yet, everything fully cancelable. In a couple of weeks, we will have a group conversation to confirm what we are all willing to "put up with" to enjoy the trip and then make some decisions about how long we want to wait to go to backup plan #1 (a trip entirely to Spain, since I think Germany is likely to be more restrictive for a longer time) or #2 (a US destination).

Even before having our group conversation, I have some general ideas about what's important to us. We are fine with wearing masks; we do it all day long anyway -- healthcare workers in the family, kids wear masks at school, masks on in all indoor public spaces in Vermont. We are fine with testing -- just something to work into the planning, if needed. We are all vaccinated except for my 15-year-old, who will be signed up for a shot seconds after the FDA comes through with the Pfizer approval for his age group in a few days.

But, as this is a first-time trip for several family members, we wouldn't go if major sights are inaccessible. While we expect to do lots of just "hanging around" time (we are very slow travelers), we do want be tourists and visit museums, castles and cathedrals, go to indoor concerts, etc. If we can't do that, we will likely seek out a destination that's just about down time (hello, Florida Keys....) and try again next year for Europe.

And although I would not call us "foodies," food is a large part of the enjoyment factor of our trips; we spend enormous amounts of vacation time happily sitting in restaurants. Eating different foods, sampling local fare, chatting over meals, are really important parts of our travel time. So, if inside dining were restricted, we would re-work or postpone the trip.

And finally, I have to say that a large part of enjoying our travels to Europe has been about interacting with a ton of people -- taxi drivers, apartment owners, waitstaff, ticket takers, tour guides, it goes on and on. Those conversations seem to be where we learn the most about what life is actually like in the places we visit. So, if for some reason it seems as though those interactions might be limited by social distancing and other COVID protocols, I would want to postpone our trip.

I hope everyone can get back to traveling with all of their expectations met soon.

just please keep in mind, this reopening was quite sudden out of nowhere.

More important to keep in mind is that the prospective re-openings haven’t happened yet and thus far are only (somewhat vague) plans (in most places, not counting Greece etc).