Trip in October?

For what it’s worth, we booked roundtrip Italy airline tickets (using frequent flyer Avios points) in February for this coming September/October. Vaccinations are now accelerating in Italy, and we’ re anticipating that the trip will go off without hitches. In not quite so confident that there won’t be any mask mandate anywhere, but we’re still planning to be on that September 21 flight, departing Denver, arriving Bologna the next day.

We haven’t made a lot of trip itinerary detail plans, but will be doing that in earnest by July. The only lodging we’ve booked so far lets us cancel without repercussions until early August.

Joyce,

Yes, prices last week for Saint Louis to London return were great. Now they are $500.00 more this weekend. I anticipate flight costs going up more if data from Europe trends in a positive direction. If you are buying with airline points then there is typically limited risk. I have not had a problem getting points re-deposited in my account for either American or Delta. But, having said that, I noticed last week, airlines are becoming quite creative with pricing and cabin classes. I know sometimes American has "web specials" using points that are not generally refundable so check the fine print. As we get closer to summer, we will all get more clarity on travel to Europe and I think prices will go up. But if the EU and the UK leave it too late to decide, American's will go somewhere else. I know some people can put a European vacation together on short notice, but most of us need time to plan ahead. My thoughts are the flight, insurance, are OK to buy now, but be very cautious about booking accommodation, tours, etc. (They want your money, but you may not get it back so easy).

Margaret

Mask restrictions aren’t going to be lifted this year in Italy.

We have had a long awaited cruise booked roundtrip Venice for mid Oct. Several Italian ports and Adriatic coast. We have only refundable deposit down. Waiting till mid July to decide when we have payment due. I am about 50/50 that this will happen and our cruise will even sail.
I am prepared to still wear a mask 5 months from now. Likely will still be required on flights and while traveling in public places. Not sure if mandated on board ship as crew and passengers alike are required vaccinated. But we still would. Many European countries will still likely have their vaccine programs running for months and not all yet vaccinated by fall? I just think masks will be with us for some time. Not thrilled but maybe still part of the “new normal”?

However, if there is still a mask mandate in place I have no interest in going until all restrictions are lifted.

It would be surprising for masking to be eliminated this year.

If mask mandates bother you that much; you might want to think about waiting at least another year or two to travel. Considering there is still a large percentage of the population that will never get the vaccine, even when available, and vaccines are not approved for children under 16, masks are going to be a part of daily life for some time now. Especially in Europe, where they took the pandemic far more seriously. Also the fall is the worst time to go considering viruses love the cold and it’s possible cases might spike again come that time of year.

I have to agree about the masks. I have a strong feeling they will still be required. There is NO talk about changing that at this point. All restrictions lifted... current DPCM is through 7/31 and still lots of restrictions in place.

FYI
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/eu-vaccine-travel-passports/2021/05/03/4fc0281c-a8f2-11eb-a8a7-5f45ddcdf364_story.html