Who is Going this Year?

I will go first.

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Ukraine ........... June
Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany .......... September

Not Europe, but Mexico later this month. Yucatan archaeological trip.
Hopeful for England in July.
France on September 30th.

July - Aug: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Kosovo, Albania, Greence
Nov - Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines
Dec - Dom. Republic

If I can see there's a good chance a trip to London or Budapest would be worth my time & money, I would consider a week in either one in October. Both are familiar and much loved, so with all the uncertainty still likely to linger I would feel best about re-visiting these 2 old friends first...I miss them terribly.

Hoping for Switzerland in September 2021!

August - Croatia
Hoping to add either Florence or Paris at the beginning of October

Iceland in August as well as February.

Hoping for Italy in October. Don't know yet what the chances are, but things are looking up!

Egypt in October 2021. I wanted a sure thing and don’t have much interest in Iceland.

Paris in October with my sister!

Sept/Oct 2021 - Paris London Amsterdam Berlin Munich Gimmelwald Venice Cinque Terre Rome Madrid Barcelona. Maybe Greece Prague and or Istanbul.

Next month Mexico

Greece in June!

Iceland--July

Fingers crossed for Slovenia in September! (and perhaps an extension into Northern Italy)

Late October for me and my son. Hoping that letting tourists back in doesn't cause a spike in cases that cancels our trip. We hope to spend 8 days in France.

Canary Islands (Spain) in October/November rearranged from January 2021. I reckon a 50/50 chance.

Hope to go to Greece and Croatia in June (but nothing booked yet -- too uncertain). If UK reopens in June/July, I might go to London instead.

Late September: A week on the Camino de Santiago and a week in Madrid.
Late November: Two weeks in Andalucia.

(And all of January in the Canary Islands.)

September 2021 Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia with possible Croatia.

I don't think there is a better than a 60% Yes / 40% No chance -- I think it is 40% yes/ 60% chance no

Aug-early Oct: Weather's a big issue for me; where I go will depend on how early I am comfortable traveling. Will choose from Mallorca/Catalunya, Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania/Finland (only in August or early September), Italy/Malta, Paris, Vienna/Prague/Bratislava. Heaven help me; it's impossible to plan for so many options at one time.

As an EU Citizen, I hope to utilize the ‘Digital Green Certificate’, when I travel back to Spain probably around June 2021. Hoping to actually travel to some of my favourite spots in southern Poland later in September 2021 too, utilizing the Digital Green Certificate. A week or two in the Polish Carpathians would really hit the spot...

Umm, yes? Just don't ask me 'where'.

Italy in late September and most of October,

London at the end of the trip. Bought plane tickets earlier this year, and so far, sticking with the schedule.

France, Spain and Portugal - September or October (wishing hard).

June-July: wherever is open and has the lowest Covid numbers. This will be a play-it-by-ear trip, only planning 1-2 weeks at a time and then seeing what is possible.

Germany (Bavaria, Moselle River area) in September....🤞

Italy, October. If not Italy, Greece or Croatia.

Am more hopeful than I was, say, last month, but realize that things can change quickly for better or worse.

Not this year for us, going to stay in the lower 48. Next year looks better, and according to RS email yesterday he hopes to announce tours for ‘22 soon.

I was about to throw in the towel last week! but I think I have at least a 60% chance of getting into the UK to visit family in mid-July. I booked main cabin tickets with Delta, not refundable but transferable and right now at a great price from the midwest. It's a gamble, but I was thinking the prices of flights will go up for London if the USA gets on the green list.

Margaret

Summer--UK, Finland, Scandinavia, France

Fall--Greece, Sicily, Italy, Spain

Italy: either all over Umbria or just Rome or just Florence for 5 weeks in November-December

Fingers crossed for Thanksgiving week in Tuscany! Looks promising. Flights booked.

Margaret, I agree on pricing. Hope you make it!

acraven, you made me laugh. Indeed hard to plan!

June - Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier. The only 100%. :)

July - Greece
All of September - Croatia
early Dec short trip rescheduled from 2020 - Paris

Fingers crossed for October or November in France, and hoping that my chances are as good as 50/50.

Hoping for London in October.

And I am sure we will make the regular pilgrimage at some point to my mother-in-law’s. No idea when.

Travelmom, Maybe we’ll run into each other in Croatia. I’ll be there the month of September too.

Probably less than 50% chance for me, but if London theatres reopen in the fall, that would be a clear signal to me to plan a last minute trip to London.

Germany, Czech Republic, and Spain in December.

If Germany and Czech Republic are a no-go, backup plan is 2 weeks in just Spain.

If Spain is a no-go, backup backup plan is Florida Keys.

We are going SOMEWHERE in December!

Tickets purchased, round trip London end of August. Will jump off to Switzerland, Italy, and France from there as well as a couple of weeks in the UK at the end. 2 month trip almost all hiking locations. Have to update our guidebooks!

I'll add that we saw on a good deal on Delta today for late September into Paris and we bought them. If we can't go, well, it's a Delta credit and we fly them often.

Italy 2nd half September for me alone; bike tour deposit, flights booked, pre/post hotels reserved w/ free cancellation.

Fantasizing about Christmas markets w/ wife, but nothing definite.

Wife has no plant tours planned.

I planed a trip to Madrid-Andalucia in Spain for October of 2020. I have rescheduled for October of this year. I predict Spain will allow American tourists to enter, starting sometime between June and just before October. If so, if conditions are good enough, I will continue with my trip.

Booked into Amsterdam leaving Sept. 30., with side trips to Belgium and France. Maybe I am too optimistic, but I estimate at least an 80% chance that it will work.

With 100% certainty, Southern Europe in June. Not afraid of Covid.

I have stayed quiet to try and keep the thread clean

For the day

34 yes without reservation, "hope" or "finger crossing" And nearly as many countries.

I hate to be a party pooper, but anybody showing certainty either has a very good crystal ball, or doesn't understand the situation.

I have vacation time booked for mid September, if all goes well, and trends continue as is my preference will be Italy, but Greece or Portugal would be equally welcome. That said, nobody has any idea what the situation will be by then. Summer last year in Europe went from "Yay, we've almost got normality" to "Whoops look at these numbers" in a matter of a couple of weeks.

Iceland in July and Paris in August. I've said since December Europe would open up by summer and it will.

I love this optimistic thread grounded in pragmatism and science.

Evidence suggests the U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program has the potential to substantially reduce the burden of disease in the United States by preventing illness in fully vaccinated people and interrupting chains of transmission.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/fully-vaccinated-people.html#:~:text=Evidence%20suggests%20the%20U.S.%20COVID,and%20interrupting%20chains%20of%20transmission.

The wife and I plan to spend September in Italy; Rome, Naples, and Sicily.

In the latter part of November, a guys trip with my Son and Brother, plans to hit a number of beer spots in Belgium, Netherlands, and Northwest Germany

I think that for September, the chances are probably as high as 80%. November should be almost certain, but highly dependent on vaccination rates. If they peak below 70%, November would be ideal timing for another spike.

On the + side. Plan is to travel Portugal and then a bit of Spain. 6 weeks October & Nov. Will be thrilled to get there.

Possibly--- November to Greece for Athens Marathon again---and to get my fresh pressed olive oil.

You guys can do what ever you want, not my forum. Of course there are rules, but apparently if you have a noble mission, the rules don't apply to you. But why don't we try and assume that those responding have read all the posts, positive and negative, over the past year and are pretty well informed of everyone's opinion and then let those that have made somewhat educated (even if you disagree) opinions announce if they have plans for this year.

So: Who feels there is a better than a 60% Yes / 40% No chance they will be in Europe before the end of the year.

Anything more and this will turn into another deleted thread. Of course, if that serves your noble cause.......

Tom_MN "Unsupported statement".

With respect, Virology/Microbiology is what I do for a living.

Editted to conform with guidelines - because apparently, if you make no reference to something (which directly effects the oritginal question) it will "just go away", or you won't have to worry about it.

Yes, Russia, Crimea in August.

James, I don't count all these responses as "yes without reservation, 'hope' or 'finger crossing' And nearly as many countries." You asked in your original post whether we felt there is a "better than a 60% Yes" chance we'd be in Europe before the end of the year. Some posters may well be absolutely certain, but I don't think I'm the only one sitting at around 60% and thus in the "hoping" category. I am indeed "without reservation", but only in the sense that I have made no reservations and have no airline ticket.

Them its closer to 40. This is just for fun. Beats arguing COVID.

Didn't Russia annex Crimea? A power play? I'd like to visit that region.

Tim and Tom, please don’t ruin this thread and get it deleted.

Planning on a week in France in late August. Fingers crossed.

Rachael, I'll keep them in line.

Gentlemen, behave yourselves or no pudding after you eat your meat.

I'd like to visit that region.

If you would, there should not be much out there stopping you, once the borders open.

Or, brother do you think they'll drop the bomb?

Ireland fully booked for September. All hotels can be cancelled and Delta flight, although not refundable, can be changed.

Hmmmm good question. Maybe 40% . Our trip was to go to Scotland Hebrides islands with another couple. Our tour guide we know who lives there or Iceland was a thought, in mid June.

Both of us retired early so we could travel any month of the year but now we watch our grands (only during school year). So summer is our only option right now. Scotland maybe getting closer to open but it maybe cutting it close for plane tickets, etc. I have search and nothing is great for what meets our needs. Right now, I am in no mood to jump through red tape, Covid testing etc upon return to US.

I do have a Christmas market cruise scheduled for December with my pt job. Maybe that will be a go.

Fingers crossed

Kim

Just thought of something: if EU only allows Americans who are vaccinated that means everyone on our flights over will be vaccinated. That’s a comfort.

cchapin, good point!

OK, with the Pink Floyd references by BigMike and PerilsofP to Roger Waters’ lyrics, let’s just say that every Covid-19 vaccination is another brick removed from the Wall. Travel wall, that is.

Here’s something else, with apologies to the old Richard Boone TV Western show: Have vaccination, will travel.

Just thought of something: if EU only allows Americans who are
vaccinated that means everyone on our flights over will be vaccinated.
That’s a comfort.

You're assuming that everyone on the flight will be American, or the EU will have this rule for all travelers. One question a Dutch friend asked me yesterday, "With all the talk of US travelers coming to Europe, why haven't we heard more about the USA allowing in EU citizens? He has family & friends in NYC he has not seen in 18+ months. Perhaps the G7 conference in June will answer some of these questions.

Yes, I think it’s reasonable to assume that if the EU / the country in Europe where the plane will land requires Americans to be vaccinated, then non-Americans on the same plane from the US will also be required to be vaccinated.

Yes, I think it’s reasonable to assume that if the EU / the country in
Europe where the plane will land requires Americans to be vaccinated,
then non-Americans on the same plane from the US will also be required
to be vaccinated.

If true, then currently - with the exception of the USA and UK - perhaps 80% of the world's population could not fly into, or around, the EU. That's a tough position to put the airlines in. They've already assumed the role of being the enforcers of different country's/government negative COVID test requirements. (Hefty fines if they make a mistake). Cruise lines are already dealing with this "vaccination-required" policy in different manners. Traveling in 2021 and 2022 will certainly be different and continue to evolve.

I don’t see how that has anything to do with what I wrote.

"With all the talk of US travelers coming to Europe, why haven't we heard more about the USA allowing in EU citizens?

Actually, most of the more complete reports on these announcements have stated that EU Countries are in talks with US officials on reciprocity, allowing EU countries in, while allowing US Citizens in the EU/Schengen area. The other point of discussion is what constitutes proof of vaccination. This has the possibility to upset plans and change any announcement

That said, the EU can be more like a herd of cats than a cohesive administrative body, Greece has gone it's own way, so it would not be unexpected for other heavily tourism dependent countries to break from the pack, independent of any EU actions.

As for proof of vaccination, so far, it appears that the paper CDC card is being accepted, so you will be travelling with people who at least have a little handwritten piece of paper that says they have been vaccinated. However, note that in most cases, proof of vaccination, and a negative test, only gets you out of a quarantine period. So other un-vaccinated people can fly on the plane and enter, they just would be subject to quarantine.

Also do not forget that once "in-country" any control measures still apply, so if mask mandates, curfews, restricted travel between regions, business closures, etc. are in effect...they apply to you too, no one is saying that a vaccine gets you out of those.

Planning on a trip to Switzerland in September 2021......and i believe we will make it! We are both vaccinated and have had Covid.....wishing our trip to France in May 2021 would materialize but they will not be opening soon enough for it to happen😕

This thread inspired me! I did a little research yesterday and learned that Belize is accepting vaccinated Americans AND that I can fly direct from Denver to Belize City in under 5 hours, using frequent flyer miles no less. So we’ll be on Caye Caulker next Saturday. Woo hoo!

Looks like we are well on the way to 50 RS Forum members on their way to Europe, or at least out on the continental US this year.

@Charlene - similar research here led us to purchase tickets to the Yucatan for two weeks out:)

It depends... on whether or not my dr. gives me the "ok" to get the vaccine. At this stage, he has said "absolutely NOT!" So, my guess is that I will either (a) not get it at all and hope there is a workaround for those who cannot get the vaccine (which I highly doubt - won't get into that one) or (b) I decide traveling to Europe is worth possibly dying for (much more probable) or (c) more research comes out that would persuade my dr. that the risk for me is manageable - which hopefully will happen (although I don't have much faith in that one either). So, it looks like if I want to travel to Europe this year, go to museums, festivals, concerts, etc., etc. I am going to have to gamble with my life.
Wish me luck!!!

https://www.thelocal.fr/20210429/latest-france-set-to-reopen-borders-to-american-tourists-from-june-9th/

Yes chance!

Reservations for July to London to visit family. In September, return to London followed by Switzerland and France.

Yes, fully vaccinated and ready to GO! Greece for 3 weeks in June, then Mexico in September.

I'm editing this post because I see some commenters have questions that maybe some can answer. In response to the poster who quoted this, "With all the talk of US travelers coming to Europe, why haven't we heard more about the USA allowing in EU citizens?"
The misconception is that people from other countries aren't being allowed in-but they are. In fact, the border is open both ways. Not sure how, but I know it is. In fact, I know of one student who traveled to Kabul to spend Ramadan with family. If people want to leave/enter the US, they will find a way.

The misconception is that people from other countries aren't being
allowed in-but they are. In fact, the border is open both ways.

I'm sorry, but that's not accurate. There are limited groups of people who are exempt (e.g. US citizens), but it's narrow. There are Presidential Proclamations that specifically limit non-US citizens from traveling to the US from a broad set of countries.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/

Yesterday I booked a really cheap flight to Lisbon for June 21. I’m optimistic and hoping to travel extensively through Europe for a month. But ticket can be changed at anytime so if things don’t work out I can change. Seemed low risk to me and allows me to plan and hope for the best.

On a side note, if anyone in America needs guidance on where to get a COVID vaccine, please let me know.

Sometimes the internet is hard to figure out.

RE: Vaccine Availability: Vaccine.gov has now added a search tool that allows you to quickly find vaccine providers in your area, and link to their sign-up pages.

Agnes; you are almost correct and JS is almost correct, but both are off topic. I have relatives arriving in a a few weeks. https://www.nafsa.org/regulatory-information/covid-19-restrictions-us-visas-and-entry#nieniv

It's less off-topic than vaccine advice. It relates to travel. And it's a pretty big misstatement to overlook. Thank for posting that additional link by the way, interesting and helpful!

I was hoping that this thread didn't turn into a should you, may you sort of post. For that they can do their own thread, but I bet those that have decided to travel have done their homework, know the risks, and are watching for things to change. It will degrade soon enough and get deleted as do most similar threads.

If I read that link correctly, banned is the EU and a handful of other countries. But, only if I read it correctly. No guarantee on that. But I do have relatives coming from Central America. Looks like when war breaks out I can invite some friends from Ukraine as well; or, but again if I understand it correctly, most every citizen of a European country that is currently open to the US can come as well (a couple of EU exceptions)

I'm hoping everyone who does go this year will report back. it would be helpful to know what things look like on the ground wherever you go.

I can say for a fact that the land border between the US and Mexico is open. Going to Mazatlan this month.

If the EU is ok with proof of vaccination to enter I wonder if the US will still require a negative Covid test to re enter. That’s my biggest fear. I don’t want to be tested I don’t want that thing stuck up my nose.

Italy in September, with friends.

mexitokyo, yes, wide open.

Stan, in a few weeks we will have to start the "I just returned thread

I'm getting more and more hopeful about Italy in October.

And mexitokyo, my brother and his wife just returned from a week in Cancún. I haven't had a trip report from them yet, though.

London in December (with, if all goes to plan, 2 days in Paris as well).

Hopeful cruise in mid Oct roundtrip Venice. Both sides Adriatic. Refundable deposit only...until mid July. Feeling 50/50? Will cruise still sail? Prepared to wear masks throughout travel and have some restrictions. Mostly outdoor sightseeing. Visit churches in villages..maybe museums. Prefer to dine outdoors. We have had vacc. Waiting and hoping for vaccines moving through EU and watching for variants popping up again for fall. Also that US travel is welcomed back by then.

I just rebooked our flights (for the 3rd time, hope it's a charm!). Flying in/out if Barcelona in early August this Summer. Hoping to explore Spain and Portugal, but no set itinerary just yet.

60% chance we make it!

Budapest for 8 days in October, rebooked from March 13, 2020 original reservation

Nov/Dec: Netherlands, Germany & France. Visit family and holiday markets :)

We're booked for Budapest and Vienna for Christmas markets for the first and second weeks of December. If the markets aren't happening, we'll rebook for 2022.

If things continue to look promising, I plan to do Aglaia Kremezi's food/cooking week on Kea the last week in September, after spending a few days in Athens the week before.

Italy and Austria in July

We are heading to France for 3 weeks in August. We will probably stay in Paris most of the time, but no firm plans yet.

Y'know where I'm -NOT- going this year?

Carson City.

Y'know WHY I'm not going to Carson City this year?

Because aaaaaaparently AM and PM are two entirely different things.

So let's say you pay $65 to an Uber driver to haul you from Seattle to SeaTac for your first flight since September of 2019. Let's say you're really, REALLY super-excited about flying again, even if it's only to Reno. And let's that you're bursting with joy, unbounded JOY, to be checking in your bag at the Alaska Airlines bag check -- oh happy day! Flight! Freedom! RENO!!

"Uh, sir, your flight leaves at 10:30 -PM-"

Wife: daggers.

Baggage lady: sensible chuckling.

Me: 16 repetitions of a certain unprintable word that starts with "F" and ends with "How the Hell did I manage to screw this up that badly?!!?"

One more Uber ride from SeaTac back to Seattle -- at an oh-so-economical $65 -- and I'm back home and looking for dogs to kick.

Wife: daggers.

Ok kids, repeat after me: "Checking your departure times CAREFULLY, you utter CHUCKLEHEAD!!"

Here endth the lesson.

-- Mike Beebe

Germany in August and September. We have all reservations made and are finally getting excited to be going.

Mike Beebe-not the worst I know of. Some friends of ours meant to book a flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. Instead, they booked to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Oops! They discovered too late to change without losing money, so guess where they went?😳

It is never too late to have a happy juvenile delinquency . My usual Autumnal sojourn to Paris. All of September, October, into November. .... twopffenig

My sister lives in the Castelli Romani outside of Rome. She indicated that Italy is full throttle on vaccinations. She’s not hearing or seeing any hesitation to receive the vaccination in her country.
With that said, I’m going with better than 60% chance we go to Europe this year.
In fact, we purchased our open jaws flights using American miles. We started to see seats booking up and took the leap of faith. We are flying into Barcelona on August 12 and home from Rome on October 10.
Where we travel is dependent on countries and regions prepared tourism. I suspect the coastal towns of Spain, Portugal, France, Croatia, etc will be more receptive and experienced by the end of August and into September. By then they will have hosted the Northern European summer crowds. Just a theory?
I just hope limited advanced hotel bookings won’t be an issue. The end of July should give us eager travelers a clearer picture.

July - August
Various parts of France, Switzerland if they lift their rules, Italy
Return early December Germany, France

I'm doing the reverse, going to the US for 7 weeks (family, friends, shopping) this Friday.

I'm 100% for a Kadarka meet-up in Budapest in the Sept-Oct or maybe for the Xmas markets. It all depends on what's open. Again, depending on the situation on the ground, there's a high probability (definitely better than 60%) that I'll go in Sept-Oct, somewhere south - near the Mediterranean. . . .

Hoping Italy and France. End of Sept to middle of October!

Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, Pompeii, Positano and Capri. Than Normandy and Paris.

France the last week of July. Italy the first two weeks of August. It’s a big family trip with many moving pieces. Started booking everything just before Covid hit. Then assumed the trip wouldn’t happen, then thought maybe it might (around December), then hopes dashed again (February/March), now starting to think it might go. Fingers are definitely crossed! All are vaccinated (with the last two teenagers receiving their second doses next week). We have no problems wearing masks, etc... Hoping for borders open enough to travel between France and Italy. But, also quite aware that IF we go, there will likely be hiccups!

Actual itinerary: My family of 4 in Normandy and Paris with my husband’s parents (who have never been) for one week. Then we all fly to Venice to meet up with my brother’s family, my mom, and my brother’s in-laws (you read that right, TWO set of in-laws!) for a week on a barge. Then the in-laws all leave, and my family, my brother’s family, and our mom head down for a week in Sorrento/Pompeii/Rome. Phew! As crazy as it sounds, this is a group of very laid back folks who all get along. If it happens, it will be incredible!

Yes!
Italy on May 30 on a Delta "Covid Tested Flight" (100%)
Iceland in September (50%/50%)

Originally I had planned to but it - appears that won't happen. Since I can't get the vaccine and there are no medical exemptions I won't be allowed to travel internationally.

Planning on travel to Europe in September or October. I doubt things will truly be organized or fully open before then, despite pronouncements by various countries that they are welcoming vaccinated Americans.

First country to develop clear rules for vaccinated travellers including well defined PCR testing protocols for my return flight, gets my business. My summer 2020 trip would have taken us by car through France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Northern Italy. While I still very much want to do this, I believe it would be wise to focus on one country and their set of rules for 2021.

I have a feeling we will be going to Greece or Sicily this year, as I expect them to be serious about welcoming travellers and opening up than, say France or Germany or Switzerland. We'll see...

Nancy, if the countries that open in the future follow the trend of many of the ones that have already opened, then a PCR will suffice. I have a post with a list elsewhere.

I have a trip booked to Iceland in the middle of June, a trip to Montenegro and Croatia the end of September, and I’m hoping to spend 3 months in Europe starting in November but that trip is the most iffy. Hard to know what new challenges the colder weather of fall and winter will bring, but I’m pretty confident about the ones in the summer since it’s clear COVID has a seasonality to it so with the combination of warmer weather and vaccinations, cases are most likely going to stay low in Europe for the next few months.

Hoping to get to the good old USA by October assuming the US Canadian border opens by then and we don’t have to quarantine for two weeks upon our return. Switzerland in May 2022 if we move up from the tour wait list.

There's a rumor that some EU member states are demanding reciprocity from the US before American tourists are allowed to visit the EU.

So despite the statements or tweets of Macron and Von der Leyen, at least some states may not lift travel restrictions from the US unless the US does the same for flights from the EU to the US.

Moreover Spain which had been talking about opening up to Americans have extended their travel restrictions from May 31 to June 30:

https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2021/05/29/pdfs/BOE-A-2021-8972.pdf

They may make another announcement soon like they did last week to open up to UK tourists but for now, maybe bookings to Spain are not advisable.

EU certainly has the right to demand reciprocity but they're not being consistent. Last summer they put countries with low infection rates on their green list, such as Australia, China, Canada, South Korea, etc. They didn't demand reciprocity from these countries to allow EU tourists to visit them.

Nor did they demand reciprocity from Israel to allow Israeli tourists to enter the EU from this spring.

Maybe the US and the EU could come to an agreement at the G7 in Cornwall and make a grand announcement. G7 is 11 to 13 June and from there, Biden is going to Geneva to have a summit with Putin.