It’s been another eventful week in the world of travel, with a steady supply of positive and negative news. Here we go again. . .fasten your seat belts!
Europe continues to open up, both internally and to international visitors. But it’s a patchwork quilt, with some countries open, others remaining closed, some with heavy restrictions, others without. And it’s likely to stay that way through at least this year. Here’s what to expect if you visit. Greece has dropped many restrictions and reopened its restaurants, museums and retail stores. Italy and Spain will reopen in June, but you’ll only be able to fly to Italy on Delta, at least through July 31.
If you do visit La Bella Italia (and we’re hoping to), here are the places to visit in Ischia, Capri’s lesser known cousin. It’s also a good time to visit (or revisit) Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, which has just opened thirteen new rooms of art that haven’t been seen in many years, and focusing on female artists. And if you don’t make the trip this year, here’s how you can take a virtual journey to see Rome, Pompeii and other ancient cities as they appeared centuries ago.
Arouca, Portugal. Photo by Reuters
Portugal promises to be a popular destination this summer, since it’s one of the only European countries that British and Dutch travelers can visit. Even so, its Azore islands are still largely undiscovered, and spectacular. If you have an adventurous spirit, and you like heights, the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge recently opened in northern Portugal. Here’s a video preview. Mrs. E and I will not be joining you for that particular bridge walk.
Closer to home, the first new mainline US airline in 15 years debuted last week on the west coast. Avelo Airlines is a budget carrier that will serve, well, underserved markets, initially to west coast destinations from its home base in Hollywood/Burbank, California. They plan to expand to the east coast this fall, basing operations in New Haven, Connecticut. Here’s a review of their inaugural flight.
Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Photo by Raph Howald on Unsplash
Southwest Airlines announced three new direct gateways to Hawaii this week: now flying from Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix directly to Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. This major expansion will also enable travelers from all over the US to reach the Hawaiian islands with just one stop, and return home without having to endure a red-eye flight. The 50th state launched its own vaccine passport program this week that allows inter-island travel without quarantine. It’s initially only available to Hawaii residents, but the plan is to open up to all visitors this summer. Until then, if you’re going to Hawaii, you should only visit one island so that you’re not impacted by multiple quarantine or testing requirements.
And, speaking of impacts, the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island erupted this past week. Scientists are concerned that this latest eruption may nudge it’s big brother, Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano in the world, from its nearly 40 year hibernation. They’re urging nearby residents and visitors to have an “eruption plan” in place. Make sure to put that on your to-do list.
A few of our fellow ET’s hit the road to the East Coast over the last several days and reported back that they weren’t affected by any gasoline shortages. If you’re thinking of following suit, here are seven great road trips that you might want to consider. You might want to take a detour along the way to stay at one of these pop culture-themed Airbnb’s.
If you haven’t already done so, take a look at our last post, where we recommend you have an Amex Gold or Platinum card and a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card in your wallet. There are best-ever sign-up bonuses available right now for the first three, but they’re rumored to be going away in about a week. Now may be the best time ever to apply for the Amex Platinum card and stash away as many as 200,000 valuable Membership Rewards points.
Lastly, a cautionary note for the ET’s that have been asking us about travel to Mexico’s Caribbean coast. They’re experiencing a Covid outbreak, fueled by Easter travelers and very few restrictions. A lockdown is a real possibility, and you don’t want to get stuck there if that were to happen. Apparently, that’s not a problem for higher education philanthropists Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli, who are asking a judge to permit them to travel south of the border for some family time. Just wondering if any college tours might be on their itinerary.
That’s a wrap for this week’s news. For fully vaccinated US citizens, we can now celebrate that we are finally able to move about the country once again. Have a great weekend, and please let your friends and family know about TheExceptionalTraveler.com.