When are you going to throw in the towel...again?

I have bookings for next year. I have some non-negotiables.

I will basically cancel at the point I have to put some serious money down if:
1) my countries still advises against travel - I won't be able to get insurance
2) its likely that I'll have to social distance and/or wear a mask for significant periods of time
3) museums, attractions, restaurants etc are still closed or seriously restricted
4 ) we haven't been vaccinated (unlikely)
5) the country we're going to hasn't had a significant percentage of their population vaqccinated

We had plans for January and February this year that were cancelled about 10 days before we were due to go, as the U.K. went into lockdown and foreign travel was banned. We had been considering cancelling the trip before Christmas, as we were concerned that we wouldn’t be able to get PCR tests back in time to meet the 72 hour before entry into Spain requirement.

We moved the flight, accommodation and car hire back to October, but we reckon the chances of this happening are 50/50.

We won’t go if there are any local lockdowns or if case numbers are rising and there’s a chance that lockdowns will happen whilst there. Our insurance will be invalidated if the U.K. government bans foreign travel again, so we wouldn’t travel. We would be prepared to travel if we had to self isolate for 14 days upon returning, but not if we had to enter into a formal lockdown hotel, as is currently the case, at a cost of £1,750 pp (about 5,000 USD per couple).

Social distancing and mask wearing are going to be with us for some time to come and therefore timed entry into museums etc will mean limited numbers - this wouldn’t put me off travelling. We always hire a car - I wouldn’t use public transport until infection rates drop significantly. In the U.K., I have seen people not wearing masks when travelling on trains and buses, despite this being a legal requirement or their mask not covering their noses.

My second vaccination is next week, but we are likely to need boosters by the autumn apparently according to a leading scientist on the BBC news this morning. We need to understand the impact of the vaccine on the variants - there is concern here about the Indian and South African variants at present. Most here have had the Oxford AstraZeneca jab, although I have had the Pfizer vaccine. More research will happen with time.

The country I would travel to would have to have a robust vaccination programme and be seen to have Covid under control - it’s not going to go away anytime soon. Just because travel would technically be allowed, I wouldn’t want to risk catching Covid and putting local health services under more pressure. Vaccinating doesn’t give 100% protection and as I suffer asthma, I would be an at risk patient.

I have more confidence in travel for 2022 than this year, as many parts of the EU have been slow to vaccinate.

I wrote 2021 off when most of Europe’s numbers were going through the roof and there were issues with the vaccine’s rollout. I’m slightly optimistic that England might open by November or December, but not so optimistic that I’m willing to make reservations. When the U.S. allows British Airways to once again operate out of Baltimore, I’ll make reservations. Until then, we’ll stay with domestic trips.

I've had two trips scheduled during the pandemic that I've had to cancel. In both cases, their infeasibility became evident well before no-cost cancelation deadlines.

I didn't see it as "throwing the towel in", rather than accepting a fate I fully understood as a possibility. I mindfully accepted that same risk for the trip to Spain I have planned for this September. No-penalty cancelations begin in mid-August, so that those become my decision dates. (And I have 2 "Plan B" choices in the back of my head, both easily put together on shorter notice.)

We had to cancel our 2020 Best of England Tour. We will not attempt to travel to Europe until 2022 regardless of what happens during the remainder of 2021.

We lost Australia last April. All our vouchers for inter continental flights and hotels and travel insurance have now expired, we won’t be going anytime soon. We have no international travel planned, if we can go this fall it will be a last minute thing. I have no exact list of when I would go, more like a gut feeling, not going anytime soon.

We were scheduled to go on the RS Best of England tour in September 2020, with time in Liverpool before the tour and London after. The tour was cancelled in April 2020, and we were able to get full refunds on all trip costs. At that time, we guessed that it would take at least two years until we could return to Europe. We hope that by the end of 2021 the picture will be more clear, and it will be possible to make plans for 2022.

No one can predict what will happen in October.

Only you can decide if you can wait it out. Patience is what it needed. But if you are getting very anxious because of it, and it is affecting your daily living, then cancel and make other plans.

Vaccination rates in Europe are increasing and there has been official talk of allowing Americans in. While travel will not be the same as before--we will have masks, social distancing, limited capacities at sights,etc--that's alright with me. (We're five months from October so talking about a surge today as a reason not to go in October is absurd.)

My fall trip will include the UK, Italy (Emilia Romagna, Sardinia, Western Sicily), and Greece. All my reservations are 100% cancelable and I'm waiting on flights. I have no problem making last minute reservations.

We lost 2 trips last year, Scotland/Scandinavia in the summer, and Italy in the fall. We booked fall 2021 flights, and one lodging reservation for Italy four months ago, and are waiting until August to see whether we need to cancel. African safari is booked for April 2022, and fully paid. So we haven’t thrown in any towel at this point. The towel’s in the washing machine, getting clean. The rinse cycle will start in June or July, and it’ll be ready for the dryer in August. Should be fresh and ready to use by late September.

Due to a cruise credit I have had 2 cruises pending. A Baltic originally booked for early June, moved by me to September and last week cancelled by cruise line. Another is trying to salvage my cruise route from April 2020. Venice to UAE. I am not holding my breath that this one will go either, but will wait until either they cancel it or near final payment time. The cruise line currently isn't accepting North American cruisers and requiring all port visits to be cruise tours where you are maintained in a bubble. If I can go but need to stay in a tour bubble,chances are I'll cancel. I am not a port tour kind of cruiser..even in the Middle East.
Alternatively I have half heartedly researched about 30 places to just get up and go to last minute once the stars align for Fall travel.
I am steadily working outside the home and am internally willing to let it all be cancelled in 2021 but if I can't do my long anticipated post retirement plans for 3 months away Winter 2022, then I am really going to be disappointed. I would make do with 'anywhere' warm in February, but I do wait want to give that any serious consideration.

My 2021 towel has already been thrown in and is on its way to the laundry. I'm using this year to catch up on domestic travel that was cancelled last year. Planning for European travel in 2021 is just too risky. A country might open, then get a spike and abruptly shut down again. I would only do it this year as a spur of the moment with no advanced reservations.

Hoping for Fall in Paris and London (Rome/Florence as backups). Will not book a thing until either (hopefully both) city is OPEN. I can live with masks but I want Museums open. When open appears to be stable I will book the flight/Eurostar and hotel. I have no issue with booking on Tuesday and flying on Thursday.

When do I throw in the towel? Right now the towel is hanging over the shower curtain. When things look appropriate, I grab it wrap it around my waist and head out the door.

We have a month booked in September to Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. We won’t throw in the towel until August 1. Most of our trip is outdoors oriented but we are totally fine with wearing masks, showing our vaccine cards, pre testing, seeing any indoor sites on a limited/reservation system, etc. All hotels were reservation only and can be cancelled up until 24 hours before, flights all done on mileage so if a no go the miles just revert to our account. We have already blocked out May 2022 schedule wise so if September doesn’t happen we will just move all of it to May. You may want to wait until Biden’s trip to the UK and Brussels in June, tourism is tied to economic recoveries in all three areas so I expect we may see something more definite around that time. Merkel said Germany going to be locked through end of May and I actually take that as a positive sign for Fall.

Delayed gratification. So much easier said than done.

"Do you ever get the feeling that the story's too damn real
and in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage and you're the only person
sitting in the audience?"

(I. Anderson--Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day)

I am done. The thin ice.

We canceled 2 trips in 2020, Sweden/Norway in May and Spain in October. We thought we could go to Italy this June but we had to cancel with the way things are going in Italy right now so at this point we’ve decided no trips till 2022! I am so missing travel in Europe, I can’t imagine how they (Europe) are surviving with almost zero tourism.

Cancelled 2 trips in 2020.....rescheduled both for 2021........France in May and Switzerland in September. Every time i am ready to once again call, email and cancel I get an encouraging word......like a friend’s son living in Italy saying they are opening next week and Greece opening up May 14....I really believe as EU countries start the trend that other EU countries will consider doing the same. We have both had Covid, are 69 and vaccinated.......and tired of waiting as our age-clock is not slowing down. I think we will make the September Switzerland trip.......and if we have to cancel the France May trip we might reschedule to another France trip in late July........crossing our fingers!

America is doing a good job rolling out vaccines, to the point where you don't even need to schedule a vaccination any more. Just walk on in.

But of course there will be those who refuse to take it. They can stay home. Life is about choices.

There is growing evidence that the vaccine significantly lowers transmission.

Perfect year to visit Iceland. Europe back on the schedule for 2022. There are other places you can go, domestic and in international. Easy.

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/04/yes-vaccines-block-most-transmission-of-covid-19

Good post....helpful to hear what others are thinking as well!! We lost Alaska last summer and New Zealand/Australia last month. Still hanging on for mid Oct Italy ....Adriatic, Aegean coast cruise. Hoping for maybe a week of some land-based time first in Tuscany. Will know for sure by July 15 when deposit ends and next payment is required. This cruise could be cancelled any minute anyway prior to that date. No hotels or flights are booked. Deposit refundable. We have been completely vaccinated for nearly two months.
Factors for decision....
Cruise lines are now requiring vaccine...most important!
Covid more under control and vaccine rates speed up in Europe. Hoping variants not a problem but have to be realistic. Will fall become more problematic?
Their healthcare systems are more open to treat any illness or injury.
Able to do the excursions we planned to that cruise itinerary initially offered.
Open to wearing masks and remain cautious about being in some indoor settings.
I suppose it’s all still possible... not ready to throw the towel in the laundry quite yet!
To not look so selfish or ungrateful my heart and prayer goes out to so many hurting countries and their people suffering so much!

In reply to myself. Not implying we are all selfish or ungrateful when wanting to travel! But I remind myself when I do any “whining” how fortunate I am to even consider travel!!

When things look appropriate, I grab it wrap it around my waist and head out the door.

Better choice than the head!

I have decided against even trying for a European trip in 2021. I will book refundable flights for Spring 2022 and hope for the best.

I wouldn't mind the delay so much if I wasn't so darned old. My husband and I are in great shape for our age at the moment, but we all know that continued good health is never a given.

America is doing a good job rolling out vaccines, to the point where
you don't even need to schedule a vaccination any more. Just walk on
in.

That is not true everywhere in the country, including where I live. You can't just "walk in" when demand still outstrips supply and many people who want the vaccine can't get it yet. Please - no generalizations based on where you live. The US is not monolithic.

Great point cchapin100, about the presidential visit. I also think August 1 will tell a lot. If it is a go, I’m almost nervous to see what airfare will be. If it isn’t, I’ll reschedule for May. I won’t want to wait yet another full year.

no generalizations based on where you live. The US is not monolithic.

Thank G-d

Just waiting to see whatever international destination appealing to me that becomes open and then will book it. I am grateful to god to have the ability and freedom to book things and go whenever

"I wouldn't mind the delay so much if I wasn't so darned old."

Yes! This!

I've got a trip to France scheduled for 3rd week of Sept into October. I've booked cancellable hotels and have a tour thru Road Scholar where the deposit is refundable. I will look at airfare in July depending on the situation as I need to cancel the Road Scholar tour 90 days out to get the refund. I ~could~ do this as a last minute trip excluding the tour portion and "just" go to Paris, lol. And maybe London.

I've got a mental trip planned to Christmas Markets in France but am less sure about this one even though it's later. I'm wondering if cold weather will bring a resurgence.

I'm also waiting to see what will happen with boosters. Dr Fauci has mentioned it and if the Sept trip works out I'd love to have a booster before travel. My 2nd Moderna was March 3.

Meanwhile I'm gearing up my walking as if I were going to Europe in the fall as my fitness level always drops in the winter. Yep, walked to day when it was 46F, sprinkling and windy. April + Idaho. Yea.

I'm not planning any trips anywhere in 2021 except to states that I know won't close down.

I'll probably give up when I know that the last RS Best of Ireland in 14 Days Tour, 10/3-10/16, will not happen this year. I'm signed up to be notified about that.

My major non-reimbursed expense for the canceled one I was on in May, 2020 was for Travel Guard insurance. I got a voucher that lasts through 5/13/22.

A minor non-reimbursed expense was an Alaska Airlines flight from Tucson to Seattle to catch an Aer Lingus NS RT flight to Dublin. Alaska extended the credit certificate redemption to 7/5/21 for travel completed by 5/31/22. This is minor because I paid with rewards points.

I've made no other reservations of any type, but I must admit that having turned 75 in January and now being fully Moderna vaccinated, I'm getting very antsy. Aer Lingus solo traveler options targeted to the US like these are sounding more tempting, but pale in comparison to the RS tour.

I very reluctantly threw in the towel this week. I had a trip scheduled to visit family leaving this Memorial Day weekend, but I canceled that flight back in February. It was too early summer for the UK. However, just this week, I found myself checking tickets from St. Louis to London for mid-July 2021 thinking that the May 17 UK travel announcements might Greenlight a USA/UK travel corridor. Tickets for the main cabin from the midwest with a connection were around $800.00 last week (very reasonable). But my family told me not to count on any window of travel opportunity without the possibility of numerous covid testing, potential lockdowns, and quarantines. I am now hoping for June 2022. That will be three years of not seeing my sisters and brother.

Margaret

Not throwing in the towel yet. Last December I optimistically rescheduled my Italy trip (originally June 2020, then September 2020, then cancelled) for September 2021. Still keeping my fingers crossed. Vaccination rates in The EU have improved, and Von der Leyen today in an interview indicated vaccinated Americans could be allowed in this summer; talks are on-going with the US.

This issue for me is safety: Is the infection rate under control? and the value of the trip: are restaurants and sites, etc. open?

There's no way to tell what will happen between now and then. If vaccinations don't keep up, or if variants blow through the vaccine coverage, the trip may be off. But if the latter, we have bigger issues.

Bear in mind, too, that the Europeans are desperate to restart tourism. I will help them if I can.

Well, the next glimmer of hope yesterday from EU about travel. Lots to work out yet and wait and watch...nothing clear or bright yet...still only a glimmer!! So much more has to happen in the positive direction for them!! Hopefully vaccines up and covid down and begin to live again more openly and “want” us back. More patience yet for all! Still holding on to my towel!

I’ve been saying all along September would be the soonest we’d be allowed in. We just need the EU to get most of their citizens vaccinated by then. I’m going to be in NYC for Labor Day they have $200 one way tickets to Europe.

That is encouraging news. It’s only 5 months until our hopeful vacation. I agree with the above poster about August 1. I think I we will need to make a hard decision. Even if Italy is open, I need to make sure all the museums and tours are also open. 3 months will go fast.

Booked for September 30 departure to Amsterdam to attend a family event in Belgium, so I am just crossing my fingers. As long as they will let me in, I will go. I have been so good for over a year now...always wearing a mask, social distancing, no indoor dining, working from home, vaccinated, etc. I am not a risk taker. But at some point, we have to start to live again and just accept that Covid isn't going to magically disappear. We will have to learn to coexist with it, do the best we can to protect ourselves, and still do the things that make life meaningful.

For an early September 2021 trip to Italy....probably mid-June. We'll just kick it out a full year.

We only booked lodging, so it shouldn't be too difficult. We'll either cancel or re-book, but I was pretty excited about most of the places we're staying because they are more "experiences" than just typical hotels, so hopefully we can re-book. Even if Italy opened up for travel this fall, I don't know that it would be the experience we want to have there now and I'm willing to wait since we'll be spending a lot of time and money on the trip.

In saying that, my husband has a golf trip to Scotland with his buddies scheduled for August. If Britain will let us in (we're fully vaccinated), then I will join him after his golf outings for a few days of fun in Edinburgh and accept that I will need to mask up if it's crowded.

Postponed Sept UK trip last weekend. We were able to move our reservations from 2020 forward once again to Sept 2022.

That is not true everywhere in the country, including where I live.
You can't just "walk in" when demand still outstrips supply and many
people who want the vaccine can't get it yet. Please - no
generalizations based on where you live. The US is not monolithic.

Then do a quick Google search. In WV, VA, NC, SC, and PA there are myriad walk-in vaccine locations. Cuomo just announced walk-ins for NY. So, yes, it's getting easy to generalize. We're rounding the corner.

If WV can do it, anyone can figure it out.

If you can tell me which town, city, or general region you are near I will help you locate a vaccine location nearby.

https://www.vaccines.gov/get-vaccinated/where

Then do a quick Google search. In WV, VA, NC, SC, and PA there are myriad walk-in vaccine locations. Cuomo just announced >walk-ins for NY. So, yes, it's getting easy to generalize. We're rounding the corner.

If WV can do it, anyone can figure it out.

If you can tell me which town, city, or general region you are near I will help you locate a vaccine location nearby.

Mike, every time Agnes posts her location is listed. Washington DC area. That's what it says.

Throwing in comments about how wonderful it is in WV, or New York, or NC, SC, PA is probably less than helpful... The smirk in your post doesn't help either

Here, Agnes, maybe this will help you and your neighbors: https://states.aarp.org/washington-dc/covid-19-vaccine-distribution

And, excellent news, if true, that the US infection rate is now lower than the 2016 Flu infection rate; and COVID is less deadly than the 2016 Flu to the population as a whole. I said if true.

This is getting funny, so I should clarify. All I said was that my immediate area is still taking reservations, we're not at the over-saturation stage where people have to be begged or incentivized to take the vaccine. We're in Phase 2 now. Neither I nor 95% of my condo neighbors are in the AARP age cohort. The AARP people are likely fully vaccinated by now. I don't live in DC (District of Columbia) proper. I also know how to use the internet pretty well. I have gotten my first vaccine dose (only) through my insurer/ health provider (Kaiser Permanente) recently - they reached out to me directly via an automated email. Otherwise, I would be trolling a bunch of grocery and pharmacy reservations systems right now, many of which say vaccine X is "not in stock" at location A, B, C, etc. There are some discrete places where they are desperate for people to show (only those have walk ups); most others are by reservation only. I look at the vaccination stats for my city every few days, so I'm fairly well aware what's going on.

“If things go according to plan, France will begin re-opening mid-May” ........this is a sentence from a blog I read daily from a writer that lives in Paris.......now even more confusing for us as we try to decide what to do about our late May trip to France and the Dordogne!

Agnes, as frustrating as that is for you, it may mean that more people in your area are willing to be vaccinated. For those of us who have been vaccinated, the current easy availability of vaccines in many areas of AL is not a good thing.

Cala, I totally agree with you. I think it's an unfortunate sign that in many areas of the country, the south included, that people are hesitant or simply don't care or don't want or feel like they need to be vaccinated. Meanwhile, people all over the world are dying and clamoring for supplies they don't have. In West Virginia, Governor Justice wants to give largely young(er) people $100 savings bonds to convince them (I think that's a decent idea, much better than doing nothing). I'm not frustrated since I was saved by my healthcare provider and my experience with the first dose couldn't have been better (I had to drive 40 miles round trip for it, but who cares). I didn't have to troll any websites to get a vaccine like others for days and nights and experience real frustrations.

I just hope people realize that their Lake Wobegon community is not replicated everywhere in the US. In dense parts of the country, demand was larger than supply (not the other way around). That doesn't mean that anyone is wrong or incompetent, etc....it's just that there is a limited product that everyone wants. Like when iPhones come out with a new version or some blockbuster movie goes on screen. It takes a while to whittle through the high demand.

Anyway, I don't want to keep sidetracking this thread and would be happy to delete all my posts ...

Can we please keep this thread going and any current thoughts/plans always welcome on travel to Europe for 2021!? I find it so helpful as some of us still hold onto our towels!? I have not yet heard that my cruise...Italy, Adriatic and Ionian on Oceania has been cancelled for mid Oct! Always find what others think valuable and interesting.....until “the wheels come off the bus” on the thread!?

Again, if anyone would like guidance on where to get the vaccine near their locality, I'm here to help.

If backwater areas and metropolitan areas of West Virginia can figure it out, anyone can. Lake Wobegon? Right.

Their are plenty of walk-in vaccination locations in D.C. and the surrounding environs. I'm just trying to be helpful. Send me a pm.

We had plans to travel to France and Italy May 2020.... I threw in the towel on 2021 probably mid 2020 . Still holding the towel on 2022 :(

Back to the topic....

Age is indeed a factor. After our wonderful 2019 tours, Stan and I figured that, with luck, we had another 5 to 10 years of being able to do RS style tours. Well, two of those years have passed, and we've lost enough friends and family members this past year to bring the realities of age and mortality home. Hard.

If the RS Best of South Italy tours go this October, and we're lucky enough to get on one of them, we're going. If the tours don't go, or if they go but we're not among the lucky winners, then we have a decision to make. If museums are open, if restaurants are open for sit-down meals, if food and wine tours are running, then we will probably go anyway. Our original 2020 plan, booted forward to 2021, was to take the South Italy tour, but bracket it with travel in Italy on our own, spending in all about a month there. That's still what I would like to do. But if the museums etc. are not available, we'll stay home.

Should we decide not to go this fall, then as soon as the 2022 tours are announced, we'll sign up for both the South Italy and the Loire Valley to the South of France tours, and add as much free time as we can before, after, and in-between.

I'm still hopeful, and seeing European countries test the waters makes me even more optimistic.

I’ve thrown the towel away for this year.

I'm still holding onto hope for Italy in October. I doubt though that mask wearing will be gone. I really don't want to wear a mask for that long of a flight and in museums etc. There's a lot that needs to happen before I'm ready to say it's a go.

Yes I wear a mask here but I'm rarely in situations where it's for more than 1 hour. I always wear it but I do not enjoy it.

So for me it isn't just about when we can travel but the quality of that travel. I have my doubts for this year.

Deborah, I agree about the quality of the trip and tours. If it were just my husband and me, I’d say let’s postpone until we can do it without masks. But we want to take our two 20-something sons while the oldest is still not married. I see a a wedding looming at some point. I’d like one more big family vacation just us. I’m concerned about the constant postponing. I’m also concerned with the lengthy mask wearing on the plane, too, and touring.

I think we have some tough decisions to make if we are allowed. If we do postpone yet again, it would be to May 2022, but masks could still be required. I just hate the thought of spending that kind of $$ and not having a mask free vacation.

So for me it isn't just about when we can travel but the quality of
that travel.

That's my feeling as well. The thought of long lines, limited access and constant masking has me willing to be patient. I'm content to stay within my province this year and live vicariously through others that are travelling further. Hopefully plenty of trip reports are coming in the next few months. To bad photos can't be posted, I'm curious how those mask tan lines are going to look.

Deborah, I agree about the quality of the trip and tours. If it were
just my husband and me, I’d say let’s postpone until we can do it
without masks.

I wear a mask in the U.S. when I am in buildings, so, from my point of view, no different than being home + I get a vacation out of it.

The thought of long lines, limited access and constant masking has me
willing to be patient.

As for long lines? Not sure why one would suspect long lines during a tourist season where so many are unwilling to travel? Maybe i guess. Limited access? Maybe. But time will tell.

Uncertainty drives me bonkers, and since I can only travel at certain times I decided that even if Europe opened later this year I was still going to just stick to my domestic plans--Mendocino area in May and 5 days in NYC in October. NYC is using a flight credit and hotel is reserved but not paid for, so who knows, if it seems possible to do London or Budapest instead I may change my mind. Realistically Europe is next spring for me.

@ Allan. Pleased to see you have maintained that cheeky humour.

Tan lines on 20 somethings are in most cases a delight to the eyes. On a cruise or 2 that I have been on the pools are normally surrounded by some sights I would have preferred to have avoided. Sent me straight to the bar for a bottle of cask strength Laphroaig (maybe a topic for the correct Scots pronunciation) to settle my stomach. I muse that age would also dictate how the mask tan lines develop. Depending on where one wears the mask(s). Gravity plays havoc with one’s body. Mine has been no exception. My wife, of course is still in fine physical shape, or so I tell her.

Always throw the beach towel in as an essential item. A few mates and I have spent the last 30 odd years trying to develop and patent a collapsible/expandable 2 metre surfboard. Abject failure so far. We reckon success would have us making the likes of Gates, Bezos, Musk at al. look like paupers.

Allan please do not let anyone take away your rascally humour.

Regards Ron

One thought I have keep having is, if it’s a go for us in Oct. and we can experience the places we long to see...then thinking maybe less lines and less tourist crowds to deal with!? (Previously mentioned). Concerned the following years will be jam packed! My husband and I are late 60’s healthy, active and vaccinated. We are ok wearing masks...on plane and where needed. Important to know though if there is decent healthcare available if needed in these destinations? We surely can wait!!! But...If life improves in next months in Europe and travel opens up for us...we will patiently still wait. We will know in nxt couple months!

We're 99% sure we're going to cancel our Road Scholar Switzerland Tour which begins in September. We need to cancel by early June for a full refund. Our trip included a week before and a week after the tour on our own. Selfishly I am sad to cancel because we don't have that many travel years left....being in our 70s.

However, logically, I know cancelling is the right thing to do for a number of reasons.
1. My "barometer" is Rick Steves. I had decided if he cancelled his tours, we would not go. I think interacting with people is an important aspect of traveling, and that would be hard to do while masked. Besides, I would not want to wear a mask while traveling in Europe.
2. I realized that IF we went ahead with our trip, I would obsess about making decisions with the primary goal of staying healthy and virus-free. I'm used to just having to worry about "where should we eat dinner."
3. I remember reading in another post by someone in Switzerland saying that the "country is opening up," but mainly for locals, and not tourists. I wouldn't want to be in a country where the people might resent the intrusion of tourists.
So, even though we are fully vaccinated, our "trip" this summer will be camping with the family on the Oregon coast, in Washington, and at Crater Lake. Thankful for that.

As for long lines? Not sure why one would suspect long lines during a
tourist season where so many are unwilling to travel? Maybe i guess.
Limited access? Maybe. But time will tell.

Yes, my thought with that statement is that the lines could potentially still be long due to less people inside at a time.

Allan please do not let anyone take away your rascally humour.

I'm pretty sure I'm still only a legend in my own mind.

Carol, I understand you cancelling Switzerland for Sept. I might also if I had to decide by early June in order to get fully refunded. That’s one month. I have nothing to lose by waiting till mid July.
I guess it’s true maybe longer lines if limited attendance thru museums etc. But much for us is outdoors...so maybe less people milling about on narrow streets and out sight-seeing?
Rick Steves truly is a good barometer. I trust his judgement! Has he now cancelled tours for fall thru 2021? Had not seen that yet. I also would not enjoy going if they don’t want us there. That is on my list above on previous post of things that impact our decision.

Planning a 6-7 week trip for Sept/Oct of this year. Paris-London-Amsterdam-Berlin/Munich-Swiss Alps- Venice/Cinque Terre/Rome-Madrid/Barcelona. Just copying/pasting and extending my 3 week trip planned from May 2020.

Maybe add in Greece? Istanbul? Prague?

We plan to stay in the US and spend a week at the beach this year. We rescheduled a European cruise for 2022 and will book a RS tour when 2022 itineraries are announced. We’re fully vaccinated but just don’t want to deal with the hassles and uncertainty this year.

May and 5 days in NYC in October. NYC is using a flight credit and
hotel is reserved but not paid for, so who knows, if it seems possible
to do London or Budapest instead I may change my mind. Realistically
Europe is next spring for me.

The EU wall shows definite signs of cracking, and maybe crumbling by August. If one or two countries open, most of the EU I think will follow. It is a good sign for those countries when they think they have crossed the tipping point and the economy begins to take preference. Good news for the world. But, as much as I want to be in Budapest right now, Hungary is sort of the exception to every EU rule. What ever happens in Hungary, I will believe when I see it. The entire EU could open and Hungary is the type that would not. Or, the other way around. But they have started easing their lockdowns. You can now go out for dinner. It will be interesting to see what happens.

James is likely correct. I see Europe opening up perhaps in late Summer to fully vaccinated people.

There should be a thread with vaccination projections of European countries. It doesn’t do me any good to be in a city where I can’t do anything due to not enough of the local population being vaccinated. Last I heard the UK should have a shot in every adult by September and the rest of Europe to follow.

There should be a thread with vaccination projections of European
countries. It doesn’t do me any good to be in a city where I can’t do
anything due to not enough of the local population being vaccinated.
Last I heard the UK should have a shot in every adult by September and
the rest of Europe to follow.

That's a big assumption and it might be correct in part. But there are European countries open now for tourism, with miserable vaccination rates. Croatia for example. Some have in-country restrictions that are such that I don't see how you could enjoy a trip (Ukraine comes to mind, but that changes in two days), others are wide open or nearly wide open. Now if you mean you don't want to be around people who are not vaccinated, that's different.

All in for Iceland and Paris this summer.

We finished up a zoom meeting with our Scotland guide and another couple we know. Decided to move our trip another year - 2022.

We will be combining three different tours. Will be gone over 30 days. Hope for a better year!!

Well, we threw in the towel! I know it’s opening up, but we decided to postpone yet again. I don’t want to wait another whole year this time, so we have our eyes set on May 2022. We decided we just don’t want to tour with masks. I want to be able to see everyone’s lovely smiling faces, and I think in 4 months it will still be masks and social distancing. Although we are disappointed, for my family and the expense, I believe it will be worth the extra wait.

I have read this whole thread as, I too, am impatient to travel. I can identify with many responses, including those expressing a wish of not wanting to travel if the locals do not welcome tourists, or if their presence could make things worse in the host country. I was struck by those travelers that are combining two or more trips previously canceled due to Covid, and extending their travel time. For those who can do so, this is also environmentally sound in terms of impact on carbon emissions. I had already considered (pre-Covid) reducing my carbon footprint by minimizing flights for personal travel. It saves money, and more importantly, it reduces global warming. Use of mass transit at the destination also helps. I have booked nothing as of today. When I do, I will do my best to combine tours and independent travel. I hope to see some of you on a Rick Steves tour or two in 2022!

Anne - its seems to be an American trait to only go on holiday for a few weeks - even those who are retired and presumably have far more flexibiltiy. Living in NZ we generally travel for 6-8 weeks at a time. There is no alternative to flying for us - but we probably do fewer air miles than many who live far closer to Europe!

Have a good trip, Lulu348, when it happens. Not everybody around a year ago is still around, to be able to travel now or in the future. Being alive and able to make your decision is a win.

Let the celebration begin.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-countries-agree-ease-travel-restictions-non-eu-visitors-2021-05-19/

I wonder if the EU cares what the CDC said wrt those vaccinated are very unlikely to catch and/or spread COVID. That is the only way I see the EU letting us vaccinated folks in without fear of infecting the non vaccinated Europeans.

I originally planned on going in Sept/Oct but if July/Aug opens up I may want to, as Rick says, hit up areas North of the Alps.