We just returned from an amazing 3 weeks, 27 August through 18 September feeling so grateful to have taken this trip.
- Masks are worn everywhere, by everyone. Hand sanitizer is readily available at all places of business and we rarely used our own.
- France: we felt the safest, with all establishments (Eiffel, Louvre), trains, gondolas, etc. requiring or CDC vaccination cards. Traveling via local railways from France to Switzerland, there was ZERO inquiries for travel forms (even though we had them). Very easy to travel from EU country to EU country during Covid, once you get into the first EU country (for us it was Iceland).
- Switzerland: feeling less safe, as we were there before the mandatory vax requirements (until our last day). All gondolas, lifts, and trains required our CDC card. The only train that balked at our CDC card was the Glacier Express, and only because there is dining on that train, and it was the first day the government was requiring the special QR code (which we didn't have and the train staff looked the other way). Traveling the next day on the Bernina Express was a breeze with just the CDC card.
- Italy: it was super easy to travel via the Bernina Express (CDC card required) into Italy. No forms were requested or shown, even though we had them. Traveling on the regional trains was a little more interesting, as no CDC card was ever asked for (or train tickets, for that matter). We used the Abbott home test kit in our hotel in Varenna, 3 days before flying out of Milan. Excellent recommendation on this site from another traveler. Super easy, and successful. The Duomo in Milan required a vaccination and our CDC card sufficed.
- Transiting via Heathrow: no problems with any of the forms, or the QR code generated by the home Covid test.
We are grateful for an amazing 3 weeks and the anxiety about each country's Covid-protocols was MOSTLY unwarranted.