It’s been a pretty quiet week for Covid-19 travel restriction changes. We haven’t seen much that would change the climate we reported on to you last week. About the only development of note is that Vermont is now waiving its testing and quarantine requirements for visitors that are fully vaccinated.
There is continued discussion and movement toward a vaccine passport, with multiple competing digital approaches, including this one from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association of airlines around the world. The concept of a vaccine passport has also spurred debate, most notably in the EU, whose member nations have diverse and sometimes opposing viewpoints.
Although the US has the highest number of people vaccinated, only 6.5% of our population has been fully vaccinated and 13.9% have received the first dose. The UK leads Europe in total vaccinations administered, but only about 1% of their population has been fully vaccinated and 28% have received the first jab. Israel appears to be the worldwide leader at this point, with 32% of its population fully vaccinated and nearly 50% having received at least the first shot. We think that the countries that have the highest percentage of fully vaccinated people will be the among the leaders in relaxing their standards for visitors, although it is highly likely that those visitors will need to furnish proof that they have also been fully vaccinated.
And now, the rest of the stories. . .
Armchair trip of the weekend: For $8, you can take a virtual tour of the Great Wall of China. Who says the Chinese haven’t embraced capitalism? Or, you might want to make a free visit to the Glass Bridge of Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province, China, where you can look straight down about a thousand feet to the river below. That is the closest Mrs. E will ever get to that bridge.
In order to better protect and preserve the fragile ecosystem of beautiful Venice, some are advocating the creation of a Venice clone, as well as carbon copies of famous museums like The Louvre. We already have an ersatz version in Las Vegas, and that just doesn’t cut it for us.
Procida, Italy, photo courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler
Back in the real world, the tiny island of Procida, just off the coast of Italy near Naples, has been named that country’s Capital of Culture for 2022. Postcard-perfect and blessed with a wonderful climate, this might just be the antidote for the crowds in Capri and Ischia. Although this new title will certainly attract increased interest in tourism, hotels are scarce and you might want to grab one now to beat the rush.
Travel site find of the week: We’ve been following https://www.theartofvacationing.com/ for several years. Travel advisor Pam Keystone founded the site in 2008 after spending five years with Marriott Vacation Club, and her team specializes in building custom travel itineraries for clients using their reward points and miles. She’s well versed in how to turn your travel awards into free nights and airfare, something we advocate for as well. And she’s also been doing some informative and entertaining webinars, like today’s Travel North America program, which was recorded and will be available soon on the website.
We haven’t been to Grenada, the southernmost of the Windward Islands, but it’s on our list. It looks spectacular and has been relatively safe during the Covid-19 outbreak. Here are the basics, including their restrictions. . .more importantly, here’s a candid first-hand account of the realities of a five day quarantine, followed by freedom to explore and enjoy.
Click here for some great advice on how to be a good hotel guest in as we navigate today’s travel world, including a direct approach to making reservations that will lead to a better stay for you and a more profitable one for your host.
We’ve cautioned you to make sure you’re aware of the cancellation policies that impact any travel you’re planning this year. Sometimes those policies aren’t very flexible, so travel insurance makes a lot of sense, and purchasing the right policy is essential. Here’s a good primer on what to look for and which providers make sense; be aware that you’ll be paying more for coverage that is broad enough to provide you a refund if you need to cancel your trip due to Covid-19. But it may be worth it.
It’s the end of the month, and that’s when most lucrative credit card sign-up bonuses can end. If we piqued your interest in one of those big bonuses, you might want to consider making your application this weekend, before we turn the calendar page to March. And if your targeted next card hasn’t had an enticing sign-up bonus, keep an eye out next week when a lot of card issuers announce their newest promotions.
Check out this well-researched article from Forbes detailing ten of the safest destinations in the US from a Covid-19 perspective. Included are Carson City, NV, the home of the silver rush and capital of Nevada, Santa Fe, NM and Hot Springs, VA, home of the historic Omni Homestead Resort.
Travel video recommendation of the week: Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham is an irreverent careen around Scotland with an old guy and a young stud (something for everyone). It’s on the Starz network, which you can get for free for a week or $5 a month for six months. It’s worth it to watch these misadventures.
Finally, a creative way for American Express Platinum or Gold card holders to use their monthly Uber credit: Free vodka!
Photo courtesy of Starz
Do you have a travel video or travel show that you love? Please share it in the comments section below with the rest of us. Have a great weekend, everyone, and thanks for being a part of The Exceptional Traveler community!
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