There are many reasons why people seek citizenship and passports from other countries – be it political preferences, financial opportunities, to evade travel restrictions, or just to have more flexibility for tourism and work. Citizenship to an EU country is particularly valuable because it allows the freedom to travel, study, and work in any of the 27 member countries. According to a report from Forbes, up to 40% of Americans could be entitled to EU Citizenship by ancestry. Are you eligible?
American applications for EU passports have been on the rise in recent years. In Ireland alone, 3,284 Americans applied for an Irish passport during the first half of 2022, more than double the amount from the same period in the year prior. According to Bloomberg.com, citizenship consultancy firms are seeing increased demand from Americans seeking citizenship in other EU nations, including Italy and Germany.
Routes one can take to gain EU citizenship include through ancestry, naturalization, or by investment. There are no standard criteria across all of Europe, but rather each country sets its own rules on citizenship eligibility. If you think you might be eligible, we recommend checking with the respective country’s government website or contacting your local consulate to determine your suitability.
Many Americans are eligible to acquire an EU passport based on ancestry. This typically requires the completion of administrative paperwork (some countries require these to be translated), and the sourcing of relevant documents (birth, death, and marriage certificates) to prove lineage. Some of the top countries where Americans can gain citizenship through ancestry include:
Ireland: 33 million Americans claim to have Irish ancestral roots. If you have a parent or grandparent that was born in Ireland, you can submit the required paperwork and documents to have your birth entered into the Foreign Births Registry. There is no residency requirement, and applicants can expect a shiny new red passport in 6-24 months.
Italy : Americans with Italian ancestors can obtain Italian citizenship in 18 months or less via Jure Sanguinis (Latin for the right of blood) by applying through an Italian embassy or consulate and showing their link to the ancestor. There are no established generational limits meaning your last Italian ancestor could have died well over a hundred years ago, but they must have migrated away from Italy after March 17, 1861. There is no residency requirement in Italy.
Portugal: Portuguese citizenship can be obtained by anyone with a grandparent born in Portugal, but applicants must prove they have knowledge of the culture and language or be resident in Portugal for a length of time.
Spain: 75 million Americans could be eligible for Spanish citizenship. For anyone with Spanish-born parents, the process is quick and easy. Others with grandparents or of certain ethnic backgrounds are also eligible but will need to meet residency requirements. This includes Latino Americans, Brazilians, and Sephardic Jews.
Poland: Polish citizenship can be obtained by anyone with an ancestor who was born and lived in Poland after 1920.
Germany: Americans with German-born parents are eligible for citizenship, as are some Jewish Americans whose ancestors fled Germany during the Nazi regime.
Citizenship by Naturalization
For Americans who can’t trace their roots back to Europe, citizenship by naturalization is a good option. This typically comes with a residency and/or marriage requirement, which varies by country. For instance, you need to live in Liechtenstein for 10 years before applying for citizenship, but in Sweden, the requirement is only 5 years. The U.S. and the Netherlands have signed a Friendly Nation Treaty which allows Americans to apply for citizenship after 3 years of residence.
EU Citizenship By Investment
Don’t qualify for an EU passport via lineage or residency but have deep pockets? Several EU countries will grant citizenship to foreigners who make significant investments. Austria requires a hefty investment starting at $2 million, while the tiny island of Malta costs nearly $1 million. Many of the EU’s “golden visas” have strict residency and investment requirements. In Bulgaria, one would need to invest at least $1 million and be resident in the country for a minimum of 5 years.
Heavily affected by overtourism, the Italian port of Venice infamously decided to introduce a ticketing system for visitors in recent years in hopes of mitigating the impacts of the crowds. Originally due to come into effect on January 16, it has now been delayed, which means Americans will not have to buy a ticket to enter the city – at least for now.
Venice is one of a number of cities in Europe ramping up their efforts to combat mass tourism. While Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the like are looking to capitalize on the ongoing travel frenzy as much as possible and have been actively promoting themselves as tourist-friendly destinations, the Old Continent is going the opposite way entirely.
Moving on from Covid, Europe does not want a return to the hectic pre-pandemic days, and Venice’s entry fee is a strong indication of that:
Americans Will Not Need To Pay A Fee Entering Venice From January
In exciting news for bureaucracy-wary travelers, the City of Venice has again delayed plans to introduce a fee for tourists, scrapping the previous launch date of January 16, 2023. The new system, set to turn Venice into a literal open-air museum that requires reservation months in advance, has been described as ‘the first of its kind in the world’.
Implementation was never going to be easy, as it applies to an entire city – one of Italy’s most important – and not a well-enclosed archaeological site or park. Needless to say, surrounding Venice with sea walls like in Medieval times has never been a plausible alternative, even for the hardline anti-tourism Venetian.
As reported by Forbes, local authorities have been struggling to enact the changes ‘as they grapple with logistics‘, though more details were not given at this point. In a way, this reminds us of Europe’s back and forth with its future ETIAS requirement, a mandatory online Travel Authorization applying to Americans that will be enforced beginning November 2023.
The ETIAS, alongside its associated Entry and Exit System, is a multi-million euro project that has proved challenging to materialize, despite being years in the making already, and Venice’s own ticketing system is no exception. It involves more than simply setting up a web page for the collection of a visitor’s tax: this will dramatically change tourism in Venice for future generations.
How Will The Ticketing System Work?
Currently, the only thing tourists have to monitor carefully traveling to the Floating City is room availability. They are allowed to come and go as they wish, even as day-trippers, but finding reasonably affordable accommodation last-minute can be close to impossible. This is particularly true in the peak of summer, though Venice remains busy all year round.
The record year of 2019 saw a concerning 36 million foreigners arrive in Venice, a city of about 270.000 inhabitants only. To draw a comparison, that is the exact same number of tourists the country of Mexico has hosted throughout the whole of 2022. Looking at it from this angle, we can’t even be mad at Venetians for wanting to shut down their doors – if only slightly.
Once the ticketing system is formalized, visitors to the historic center of Venice, which comprises all the main medieval canals and points of interest, such as Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s Square, and Doge’s Palace, will need to book their visit, possibly months in advance to avoid getting locked out amid overwhelming demand.
If you’re a day-tripper, a single ticket will cost €3, though it can rise to €10 in ‘particularly busy periods’. On the other hand, those staying overnight in the city will be exempt from paying the fee as their ‘tourist tax’ will be collected by their accommodation provider, but not from booking a visit through the official online portal.
Tickets are valid for Venice itself and any of the islands and municipalities in the Venetian Lagoon, including the colorful towns of Murano and Burano. Those traveling to see family, or staying at a friend’s house, will obviously not be charged for the duration of their sejour, but will be subject to the reservation process, as confirmed by Forbes.
Tickets will be issued in the form of a QR code, that will be checked upon arrival at one of the city’s entry points by ‘ticket controllers’. At this time, we were not able to find information on the penalties for non-compliance, but we assume day-trippers not staying overnight without a paid reservation will be prevented from accessing the historic center.
What’s The New Launch Date?
So now that January 16 is no longer the launch date, when will the ticketing system start applying? This time around, the Venice City Council refrained from offering a final date, suggesting instead that the delay will be of ‘at least six months’. This leads us to believe the system will be fully operational by summer or fall 2023.
Funnily enough, the ‘under-touristed’ Trieste, a city close to the Slovenian border, is covering the transportation costs of Americans visiting for a minimum of two nights up to May 31, 2023, as long as they arrive from within Italy. If you’re feeling discouraged by Venice’s drastic measures, perhaps you should consider exploring the beautiful region of Friuli Venezia Giulia instead.
Deciding where to travel for your next trip is already overwhelming. With endless countries to choose from and guides listing hundreds of top destinations to check out, how do you narrow it down? Expedia delved into a chunk of its data on upcoming travel trends and was able to spot one global mindset in common… Travelers are turning to TV Shows to get their travel inspiration.
Dubbed the “set effect,” 39% of global travelers have booked a trip to places featured in a popular TV show or movie, while two-thirds have considered it. Advice from family and friends topped streaming services, but only by 2%.
Can you guess what shows are sending everyone traveling? We’ve chosen the most popular shows based on the trending TV destinations shared by Expedia but let us know any others you think in the comments.
New Zealand
It’s hard to picture any other place in the world that could mimic the fantasy world of Tolkien’s fictional Middle-Earth. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debuted on Prime Video on September 1 this year, and it’s bound to reignite the tourism curiosity that The Hobbit trilogy sparked.
Tourism New Zealand has claimed that New Zealand has been the most successful country to benefit from movie tourism in a decade. Tourism New Zealand says nearly one in five visitors still cite the Lord of the Rings trilogy as the reason they travel to New Zealand, even two decades after the first film was released.
Most of the filming took place in over 150 natural locations across sweeping landscapes near towns, rivers, national parks, and mountains in both the North and South islands. The most popular scenes include Tongariro National Park, which was the main setting for the land of Mordor.
You can climb Mount Doom, otherwise known as Mount Ngauruhoe, in a five to six-hour return hike. There is also a Hobbiton Movie set tour, which has been recreated in one of the original filming locations near the town of Matamata on New Zealand’s North Island.
There’s one TV show that has reinvigorated people’s love affair with the Royal Family, and that’s Netflix’s The Crown. For those preferring more of a Jane Austen-romantic vibe, Bridgerton also captivated audiences with its bright and cheery sets.
With 3000 English estates and many of these being turned into tourist attractions, visitors can either expand their historical knowledge of aristocratic families or hope to meet a modern-day Lord. Stately homes have become a popular attraction for Great Britain and are usually very grand, with elaborate architecture and stunning landscaped gardens.
Meanwhile, Harry Potter continues to bring fans to popular TV locations, even a decade on. Just recently, the National Trust Pembrokeshire in Wales came out with a statement to ask Potterheads to stop leaving items such as socks and other trinkets at the fictional grave site of Dobby at Freshwater West Beach. Fans still travel to this beach 12 years on, leaving behind items such as socks to pay tribute to Dobby becoming a “free elf,” but these items started to pose a risk to the wildlife since they can enter the marine environment.
Hawaii
HBO’s The White Lotus won multiple Emmys, and although you may not want to live out the same experience as the plot, you can’t help having resort envy for its filming location in Hawaii. Filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, this luxury resort isn’t for the budget-minded since rooms start at around $1,000 per night. Situated along the stunning Wailea coastline, this resort is one of five hotels within the town and features world-class oceanfront views, lavish service, and incredible amenities with three pools, a spa, and dining under the stars, minus the questionable hotel managers.
Wailea is known for its five crescent-shaped beaches, which offer excellent snorkeling and sunsets, and its luxurious resort community spans 1,500 acres of land. The town also features three pristine 18-hole golf courses, but tourism in Hawaii has come under scrutiny in recent times due to its water scarcity and imbalanced allocation of water restrictions between locals and resorts.
Paris
Paris doesn’t need a TV show or movie to inspire new visitors, but a romantic comedy television series with flawless fashion and glamorized Parisian experiences come as a free tourism campaign for the city of lights. Emily in Paris follows an upbeat Chicago marketing executive who gets transferred to a French agency, where the city plays the central character.
The show takes viewers on a tour around the city from locations with the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower to cobble-stoned streets and Beaux-arts bridges like Pont Alexandre III. Special highlights include the rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, where Emily’s apartment, her frequented bakery, and her love interest’s restaurant are all within close distance, the grounds of Jardin du Luxembourg, the legendary opera house Palais Garnier, and Paris’ oldest and most iconic restaurant, Le Grand Véfour.
New York
New York ranks second as the most popular city for filming and also boasts Central Park as the most-filmed location in the world, which has been featured in over 500 movie credits. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly one TV show or movie that drives the most crowds, but you can’t go past the highly anticipated Sex and the City reboot, which aired back in December 2021 and continues to feature the city as a main character and Carrie Bradshaw’s best friend.
From Carrie’s apartment steps in the Upper West Side to the shopping streets of SoHo, ladies’ brunches at trendy restaurants like the East Pole restaurant, and trips to the Whitney Museum, this ten-episode series takes viewers on a tour around the city featuring the most delicious eateries, quintessential streets, and night spots. If the city wasn’t magical enough, it dazzles even further ahead of Christmas time.
Despite economic setbacks, a war in Ukraine, and inflation, European tourism is back in full swing, and Southern Mediterranean destinations are making the biggest comeback. With the help of a stronger U.S. dollar, which appreciated around 20% against both the euro and pound over the last year, this made Europe a more enticing destination for Americans to visit.
The U.S. dropped its PCR mandate for returning to America in June, which allowed European travel to pick up in the summer since travelers didn’t have to worry about securing negative PCR tests ahead of crossing borders.
Which Country Is Making The Best Comeback?
The European Travel Commission identified Turkey as the destination making the strongest return, which is only -5% of what its pre-pandemic arrivals in 2019 used to be. The country had the fastest growth from American travelers, being up almost two-thirds (61%) compared to the same period in 2019. This was 3.5 times more than Portugal, which followed Turkey as the second fastest growth of arrivals, which was up 17.4% from the same period in 2019.
It wasn’t just Americans that Turkey was attracting. The data reported that UK residents were also choosing Turkey for their European vacations, which was up more than a quarter compared to the same time in 2019.
Experts suggest that 2022 will likely represent a new peak year for Turkey.
Turkey is considered a good value destination, and since it relaxed its travel restrictions quicker when compared to other European destinations, it enabled the country to recover its tourism at a faster rate. Turkey, Serbia, and Montenegro all chose to implement more lenient travel restrictions compared to other European destinations and saw more tourists return earlier on.
Why Do People Visit Turkey?
This magical country is beloved by many who set foot there, with a choose-your-own experience that will fit all types of travelers and a Mediterranean climate that makes it perfect to visit all year round. Whether it be soaking up the sun on its turquoise water-lined beaches, exploring the ancient ruins, or tasting its traditional foods and decadent desserts, it’s a hard place to find disappointment.
Your first stop will be Istanbul, where Europe and Asia meet, and the largest city in Turkey. It has food to die for, a Grand Bazaar with over 4,000 shops, and plenty of historical and cultural attractions. Turkey is a country so vast, you’ll want to get out of the big city and see what else it has to offer, from the Dalyan mud baths to the volcanic terrain in Cappadocia, soaking up the best beaches in Antalya and ancient wrecks underwater in Bodrum.
What Are the Flight Options For Turkey?
There are many airlines that offer flights to Turkey, with the majority leaving in the afternoons and evenings. Turkish Airlines is the national carrier and offers over ten non-stop routes from popular destinations in the U.S., which all land in Istanbul.
They include three direct flights on average every day from New York’s John F Kennedy airport and daily from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington; and four or more flights a week from Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston. The airline will soon be adding two new non-stop flights to Turkey from Denver, Colorado, and Detroit, Michigan, but the timing has not been confirmed yet.
Other popular airlines with stopovers include United, American Airlines, Norwegian, Swiss Air, and Air France. If you are wanting to visit other locations in Turkey, such as Antalya, there are stopover flights available with Finnair, Lufthansa, or Air France. You can find flights that are less expensive when you select one with more than a single stop.
It’s no surprise that travel won’t be slowing down anytime soon, especially when Tripadvisor reports that over two-thirds of global travelers are planning a trip between this December and next February – but where will everyone be going?
Tripadvisor can give a good indication, as it recently conducted a survey across six of its markets, which included the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, to find out some of the travel trends for the upcoming season, and the insights might surprise you.
How Do America’s Top International Destinations Compare To Others?
Each market ranked its top domestic and international destination, and overall findings backed up that 30% of all respondents plan to vacation closer to home, as shown by the selection of top international destinations by each country.
Americans chose Mexico and the Caribbean in eight out of ten of its top destinations, with Mexico representing four destinations in the top five. Mexico is a popular option for Christmas this year and has many reasons for enticing so many Americans.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom gravitated towards international destinations in Europe, such as Paris, France, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and multiple locations in Spain. Australia chose six out of ten destinations in Thailand, while both Japan and Singapore selected Bangkok, Thailand, Seoul, South Korea, and Paris, France in their top five.
The most popular global destinations across all Tripadvisor respondents represented a mix of major cities and winter sun favorites, with London coming in at number one, followed by Paris, New York City, Cancun, and Dubai.
How Do U.S. Travel Behaviors Compare To The Other Markets?
Tripadvisor reported that traveler appetite has shown no sign of slowing down despite the rising costs with global inflation. More respondents than last year favored taking international trips, which increased from 40% to 43%, showing strong demand for international travel. Other highlights included:
Americans are most likely to travel the same amount or more compared to last year; 93% of U.S. respondents will travel the same amount or more, while the U.K. sits the lowest at 86%.
America ranks lower than other markets for traveling this upcoming season: over two-thirds of global participants plan to travel for the upcoming season, while America comes in as the fourth country at 59%.
Americans will be taking more 6+ trips compared to other markets. Other markets represented higher numbers for just one to two trips.
After Japan, Americans travel the least internationally. Almost a quarter of U.S. respondents will travel internationally, compared to nine out of ten people for Singapore and half of U.K. respondents.
More Americans will be returning to destinations that they have visited before: almost three-quarters of U.S. respondents (73%) will return to the same destination, in comparison to the other markets (68%).
U.S respondents are almost on par with the globe for changing their travel behaviors based on rising living costs. This shows that almost two-thirds of the networks have been affected by rising living costs, which is the same for Americans (61% said they would change travel behaviors compared to 62% of all respondents).
What are the top 5 International destinations for Americans?
1. Cancun, Mexico: with its beautiful turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and vibrant coral reefs, it’s no surprise that Cancun is one of Mexico’s most popular destinations and a favorite for Spring Breakers. Visitors will find plenty of action, from visiting underwater sculptures to its nonstop nightlife.
2. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: nestled between the desert, sea, and mountains, this location is perfect for the nature-seekers with waterfalls in deserts, hot springs, and plenty of marine life, or for the foodies where local flavors come alive with Bajan specialties such as fresh seafood tostadas and chocolate clams. Cabo also recently beat out Puerto Vallarta and Cancun for Best Destination in a major Mexican award show.
3. Punta Cana, Caribbean: from soaking up the sun on Macao Beach to partying in a cave nightclub at dark, indulgence has become synonymous with this pure escape in the Dominican Republic with all-inclusive resorts and stunning attractions to visit, from magical lagoons to breathtaking islands. Punta Cana looks very likely to have a record-breaking winter.
4. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico: a playground for nature enthusiasts, history buffs, and party animals, this once sleepy fishing village has turned into a lively hotspot with plenty of bars and fun boutiques to explore.
5. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: this resort town will offer an abundance of shopping and tequila stops along its boardwalk or hit the cobblestone streets of Old Vallarta for something more hand-made. There is plenty of art to see, from sand sculpting creations on the beach to the fine art galleries.
Travel is fun, scary, exhilarating, freeing, and intimidating all at once. It’s no wonder Americans have a list of commonly held fears when it comes to traveling! In particular, 5 specific fears capture the imaginations of Americans, and we’ve broken them down below.
According to a recent study, the fears below plague the minds of would-be American travelers more than any others. To help alleviate your worries, Travel Off Path has come up with tips to combat each of them. Thus, ensuring your next trip goes as smoothly as possible.
Having To Stay In A Poor Hotel/Accommodation
Travelers From Study Concerned: 62%
We’ve all been there. Planning the perfect vacation requires looking at hundreds of hotels, scouring the reviews for any red flags, and ensuring it fits the trip budget. It’s high stakes when searching for accommodations because none of us want to spend a large sum of money on a sub-par stay.
However, there are ways to avoid the gloom of poor accommodation. Here are a few tips to make sure your next hotel or vacation rental is a winner:
Stick With What You Know – Do you have a hotel brand you regularly stay with that has consistently lived up to expectations? If so, it may be a good idea to stick with that brand if you are unsure about comparable accommodations. Also, check reviews on multiple sites to make sure they all match up, like booking.com, hotels.com, etc.
Ask Around – There is no better resource than the ones you already have. Asking friends and family for their recommendations is a great way to ensure you end up in a good hotel or vacation rental. Friends and family won’t lie to you; if they say it’s a good stay, it probably is.
Saving Money Isn’t Always Worth It – Don’t always opt for the cheapest hotel; it often won’t be worth it in the end. A few extra dollars in your pocket isn’t always worth the hassle of staying in a place that isn’t up to your standards.
Have you ever been in an unfamiliar place with a friend or partner and suddenly realized you don’t know where they are? It can be quite a shock and is one of travelers’ most significant worries. Often, your companion hasn’t wandered off too far, but it can still be disconcerting. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to make sure you don’t wind up in this situation.
Book Together – Even if you are traveling with a friend and want to keep the financial aspects of the trip separate, it can be helpful to book your airline tickets and tours together. This ensures that one of you won’t get bumped from a flight or have their spot in the tour canceled since you booked as a group.
Stay Away From Basic Economy – Travel Off Path recently listed many reasons why an economy ticket may not be worth it. Here is another one: there is no rule stating that an airline must seat you with others on your booking if you opt for the basic economy fare. You could wind up on opposite sides of the plane, making it easier to lose track of each other in the chaos of customs and immigration.
Buy A Local Sim Card – Depending on your phone plan, you may not have reliable service when you land. Getting a local sim card with voice and data included will ensure that you and your travel companions can keep in constant contact without relying on spotty phone service.
Travel With The Right Partner – Traveling is exhilarating, chaotic, and eye-opening. Make sure the person you choose to share the experience with is supportive and reliable and shares your values.
Getting Sick While Abroad
Travelers From Study Concerned: 61%
Every traveler’s worst nightmare is coming down with a severe illness in a foreign country. Not only are you away from the comforts of your own home and those that support you, but you are in an environment that makes it difficult to know your next steps.
Where is the urgent care? Who do you call for the care you need? Is it going to cost you a fortune? Once again, you can take a few steps to ensure that if the worst does happen, you will have a plan and be protected.
Have Top Notch Travel Insurance – The best travel insurance will come to your rescue in the event of a medical incident abroad. Travel insurance can help with so much more than just medical issues, but this is undoubtedly one of the best reasons to make sure you get a good policy before your next trip. Check here for Travel Off Path’s top 5 recommended travel insurance plans.
You Are What You Eat – When traveling abroad, you must be aware of what you eat and drink. We don’t just mean avoiding street food, either. Your body isn’t used to what the locals eat, so be careful when consuming foods you aren’t used to.
Get Enough Rest – We know you’re on vacation; you can catch up on sleep when you’re home, right? While that may be the case, your health definitely takes a hit without adequate rest.
Fun Fact: 81% of US tourists have taken the risk of going to a destination without travel insurance. Of those, 71% regret it.
Getting Scammed Or Pickpocketed
Travelers From Study Concerned: 51%
Anyone who has traveled to another country has probably found themselves absentmindedly checking their back pocket or purse to ensure their wallet is right where they left it. An unfortunate fact of being a tourist in a foreign country is that it often paints a target on your back for would-be pickpockets and thieves. Losing your cash and credit cards while abroad would be a severe inconvenience, and many travelers are worried about it, rightfully so. Here are a few tips to make sure you don’t fall victim to a scam or pickpocketing:
Don’t wear your wallet in your back pocket, as this is a common place for pickpockets to look. Similarly, don’t leave your wallet loose in your purse with a large opening for pickpockets to explore.
Split up your cards, cash, and IDs. Make sure you lock up some extra credit cards and cash in your hotel for safekeeping in case of a pickpocketing incident.
Be extra aware when walking through crowded areas,especially tourist hotspots, since they are known to be filled with pickpockets.
Exercise caution when strangers give attention. Be suspicious if someone is capturing your attention and there isn’t an apparent reason why. They are likely trying to distract you while they, or an accomplice, pickpocket you.
Losing Luggage Or Having Luggage Stolen
Travelers From Study Concerned: 59%
We’ve all wondered what we would do if we made it to our final destinations and our checked bags didn’t. Common practice is to pack a bit of what you need for a day or two in your carry-on just in case the checked bag doesn’t make it. While it is best to avoid a checked bag altogether, there are several things you can do to minimize your chances of lost luggage:
Unique Baggage – Making your luggage different from everyone else’s can help ensure your luggage isn’t confused with someone else’s.
Smart Tags – Adding things like Apple Air Tags to your baggage can help you keep tabs on your luggage. Then, if it goes missing, you can aid in tracking down your bags.
Arrive Early – Allowing plenty of time between your arrival at the airport and your plane’s departure time will help ensure there is plenty of time for your checked bag to make it from check-in to the aircraft.
Make Sure To Change Old Tags – Don’t leave old luggage tags on your bags, as it can confuse baggage handlers and disrupt your bag’s transit.
The U.S. Department of State has continued to update its travel advisories on Europe, based on safety concerns and other factors that may affect travelers. Countries can be classed anywhere between Level 1, the lowest alert level, or Level 4, when travel should be avoided at all costs. Based on this risk assessment, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the safest European destinations for U.S. travelers.
If you’re expecting some of America’s favorites, including the United Kingdom, Italy, or Germany, you might be in for a surprise.
What Makes A Country Safe?
The States’ classification of a safe destination, or otherwise, is based on simple criteria. Those that keep criminality under control, do not face a recurring threat of terrorism, and are not undergoing a moment of civil unrest, or even at war with foreign entities, are normally granted a Level 1 status.
Moving down to Level 2, nations within this category are not necessarily dangerous to visit – some of the least dangerous in Mexico are included here – but they may have moderately higher crime levels or face other local issues. For instance, during the pandemic, several countries earned a Level 2 stamp, or superior, due to their Covid risks – even traditionally ‘safe’ countries like Iceland.
All in all, Levels 1 or 2 are the best an international destination can strive to be. On the other hand, Levels 3 and 4 indicate more serious challenges. The former refers to countries where travel must be reconsidered, be it an unstable political situation, violent protests, high crime rates, or a combination of factors. Lastly, Level 4 countries should not be visited under any circumstances.
Traveling to Level 4 areas, Americans generally risk being targeted based on their own nationality, or getting caught up in difficult situations where consular assistance may not be easily provided or even be available at all. Luckily for U.S. citizens with their hearts set on Europe for the forthcoming winter holidays, only four European/Eurasian countries are currently deemed unsafe.
The 28 Level 1 Destinations In Europe
In total, 28 destinations have acquired the ‘blue’ Level 1 badge. With this in mind, the safest in Europe are:
Andorra
Austria
Armenia*
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Finland
Georgia*
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
*These countries are either not entirely located in Europe or do not participate in the European continent at all, despite bordering it and/or being historically considered part of it politically due to their European customs, Eurasian ethnicity, and close historical ties.
*Information on the Danish kingdoms of the Faroe Islands and Greenland is not available. Hence, we considered them to be part of Denmark, not listed above, seeing that it is a Level 2 destination.
Fun fact: five of the above countries are not part of the European Union or the closely associated European Economic Area or Switzerland.
More Than Half Of Europe Remains At Level 1
Traveling to any of the countries above, Americans face no particular health or security threat and should exercise ‘normal precautions’ when traveling. In other words, walking alone late at night in poorly-lit areas will not put them at a high risk of being robbed or suffering abuse for flashing jewelry and other valuable personal items.
There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. Even Level 1 Armenia has no-go zones, such as the Nagorno-Karabakh region, recently plagued by conflict. When in doubt, Americans should always refer to the U.S. Department of State’s official advisory covering any foreign country they plan on traveling through.
Effectively, 63.64% of Europe is at Level 1, making it one of the safest continents for American tourists. To an extent, a further 17 destinations are at Level 2, including the popular vacation hotspots of Britain, Italy, France, and Germany; in other words, the places U.S. tourists dream of seeing the most present moderate risks.
You should, of course, take this classification with a grain of salt: there is no denying travel warnings can, at times, be biased, overcautious, or even just partially accurate, and one could argue the same could apply to Europe’s Level 2 group. After all, we all know the U.K., France, and the like rank among some of the most developed and most visited in the world.
Europe’s 17 Level 2 Destinations
In general, their sub-optimal classification stems from the threat of terrorism and civil unrest, led by disruptive demonstrations or temporary political instability, though these are not frequent occurrences and cannot be perceived as a daily concern. The full Level 2 list can be seen below:
Albania
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Denmark
France
Germany
Italy
Kosovo*
Moldova
Monaco
Netherlands
Serbia
Spain
Turkyie (formerly Turkey)
United Kingdom
Vatican City*
*Kosovo is a partially recognized territory in Southeastern Europe that unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in 2007. While dozens of UN members do not formally recognize this move, the United States is one of many others that consider Kosovo an independent country.
What Are Europe’s 4 No-Go Zones?
Europe and Eurasia’s four ‘unsafe’ countries are Azerbaijan, at Level 3, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, the Level 4 trio. The Slav countries (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine) have been downgraded to the highest possible alert level due to the ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine, while Azerbaijan, in the Caucasus, is seen as a hotbed of terrorist attacks and ethnic wars.
In spite of its classification, Ukraine has boldly launched a ‘war tourism‘ campaign aimed a those brave enough to venture into the country’s bombarded cities and ghost towns. It is important to note the U.S. continues to discourage all travel to Ukraine and, to an extent, Russia and Belarus while the invasion is underway and the political climate in the far east of Europe continues to deteriorate.
Have you been dreaming of leaving it all behind and jetting off to the Caribbean but keep putting off that passport renewal? Luckily, Americans can experience the beauty and charm of the Caribbean without a passport!
In fact, Americans can experience the best of the Caribbean without a passport, without exchanging money, without a long-haul flight, and without dealing with the hassle of international cell service limitations.
Take It From Me, Puerto Rico Is The Most Accessible Caribbean Destination
When the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico this fall presented itself, I jumped on it immediately. Having lived elsewhere in the Caribbean since July, I was interested to see how different things were in San Juan. As an American, I knew I could travel to Puerto Rico without a passport. However, it didn’t register how truly easy it was to visit until I flew to San Juan.
The flight was a breeze! A lovely 2.5 hours from Miami with gorgeous weather, so the view from above turned the world below into a painting.
Having never been to Puerto Rico, I still felt like I was traveling to another country outside of the States. With Puerto Rico being a U.S. territory however, flying into San Juan was like any other domestic flight. When I landed and took my phone off airplane mode, I had fantastic cell service. Once deplaned, a small part of me felt like I needed to go through customs.
Instead, I was outside the airport and waiting for my ground transport in about 5 minutes! The drive to my hotel, The Sheraton, was smooth and short, which felt out of the norm for the Caribbean. If you’ve frequented much of the Caribbean, you probably know how rough the roads can get!
As we all know, the media often tends to exaggerate. As my departure date inched closer, I watched two hurricanes make landfall in Puerto Rico. First Fiona, and then Ian. Friends and family kept asking me if I planned to cancel my trip. I never had any intention of doing so, but did wonder what things would be like when I arrived.
Hurricane Fiona Approaching Puerto Rico Credit: Zoom.Earth
By no means am I discounting the impact Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian had on residents of Puerto Rico, particularly those in the south. Still, while exploring San Juan, I saw no evidence of storm damage and no areas without power, save the occasional traffic light. Everything seemed to be operating business as usual.
Speaking with my driver on the way to the hotel, he recounted his experiences throughout various hurricanes. He told me how much his life changed during Hurricane Maria, one of the worst to ever hit the island. Fiona and Ian were no comparison, at least for him.
Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, later informed us at a press conference that Hurricane Fiona barely impacted travelers’ plans to come to the island for vacation. Less than 10% canceled their trip, and in Dean’s words, Hurricane Fiona was “a setback, not a reset.” Indeed, most of Puerto Rico was and still is completely open and safe for travel.
One Of The Best Ways To Give Back
It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to help the local economy of Puerto Rico, even after a hurricane, is through travel and tourism. Even something as simple as grabbing a quick bite at a local brewery adds up and supports the locals who work there.
During my stay, I had the pleasure of talking to numerous locals working in the tourism sector. Each of them echoed this sentiment, traveling to Puerto Rico and enjoying local activities is one of the best ways you can help.
An Immense Cultural Experience
Since it was my first time in Puerto Rico, I didn’t know what to expect. My typical go-to destinations are mostly European, and I have a deep-rooted love for the old. Marveling at the beauty of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, walking among ancient Viking burial mounds in Mølen, and exploring Blarney castle in Ireland are memories solidified in my brain. Not because of their visual appeal, but because of the connection I felt to the history and culture of those experiences.
Puerto Rico now has a place among this special set of memories, and I can’t wait to go back. Walking through the historic district of Old San Juan showed me that Americans don’t have to travel far to see a unique blend of history. Old San Juan is the oldest city in the U.S. and its territories. Visitors can see gorgeous buildings displaying Baroque, Neoclassical, Gothic, and Spanish Colonial architecture — all within walking distance of each other. On the western side of Old San Juan, some buildings date back to the 1500s — the history lover in me felt right at home.
A Unique Take On History
I explored Old San Juan in a unique way that I highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. Rather than simply walking around and exploring independently, I went on the Old San Juan Walk & Taste Tour with The Spoon Experience. This tour wasn’t just a guided walk among beautiful buildings and experiencing local food and drinks. While that was certainly part of it, what made the tour unforgettable was the vast amount of history eloquently expressed by our incredible guide.
In just a few hours, I sampled the most authentic local foods available while learning each meal’s historical and cultural significance. In between our food stops, our guide talked about Old San Juan’s rich history. From the obvious details like its strategically defensible position, to the not-so-obvious fact that the endless shade offered by San Juan’s architecture only exists due to a poor compass reading during the city’s planning. There was so much incredible history shared, and I can’t wait to go back and do it again to learn more!
Top 6 Reasons I’ll Be Going Back To Puerto Rico
It’s So Easy – Visiting Puerto Rico was like taking everything great about the Caribbean and packaging it with easy domestic flying. My flight from Miami was only 2.5 hours, and getting through the airport and to my hotel was a breeze. If I lived in Miami, I’d visit Puerto Rico on every available long weekend.
For More Of Old San Juan – I fell in love with Old San Juan the moment I saw it. The architecture, the charming little shops, and the immense cultural experience have cemented this beautiful city in my mind.
For The Adventure – My trip was spent in San Juan, but next time I head to Puerto Rico, I plan to check out more off-the-beaten-path sights. Some that I have in mind include El Yunque National Forest and Laguna Grande, a bio bay where visitors can experience the beauty of bioluminescence in the water.
For More BeachTime – I didn’t spend much time at the beaches, but definitely will in the future! From the gorgeous El Escambrón in San Juan to the stunning Pelícano Beach in Ponce, I’ll be scoping out Puerto Rico’s beaches during my future trips.
For The Art – I had the pleasure of taking part in a walking art tour in Santurce, a municipality in San Juan known for its vibrant art scene and exciting nightlife. Just like the culinary tour, it was a history lesson in disguise. I learned more about Puerto Rico and its people during the tour than I ever had in school. This was entirely due to our incredible guide from theartwalkpr.
For The Food – The food, I miss it so much! Aside from the Old San Juan Walk & Taste tour, I had the pleasure of taking a cooking class with Mesa Redonda at the lovely Cocina Abierta. My group was responsible for making the Sofrito, a staple base for many Puerto Rican dishes. Everything was incredible, and I left convinced that every meal should start with Alcapurrias and end with Tembleque.
Best Times To Visit Puerto Rico
I’m of the opinion that anytime is the best time to visit. However, depending on your preferences, there are months of the year that may best suit your needs.
To avoid crowds, stick to the shoulder seasons of September to mid-December and mid-April to May.
To save money, June through September is generally more affordable, as it is hurricane season. Just keep an eye on the weather and be sure to purchase suitable travel insurance, and you’ll be all set.
To avoid rainy days, shoot for February, as it is one of the driest months of the year.
How To Get There
While you may stop and see Old San Juan for a day during a cruise, if you want to stay in Puerto Rico for a while, you’ll have to fly. This is where Puerto Rico shines when compared to many other Caribbean destinations. San Juan has over 25 direct routes from the U.S. mainland, and flying in is incredibly easy.
Americans will not need a passport, and there is no lengthy customs line waiting for you upon landing. Not only that, it’s typically quite affordable. For instance, a direct flight from New York City to San Juan can be found for around $300 with JetBlue this November, carry-on included. Puerto Rico is undoubtedly one of the most accessible destinations in the Caribbean.
The Number One Reason I’ll Be Back
I arrived in Puerto Rico not knowing what to expect. I left with a newfound love and respect for the culture and people that made this island come alive. While the experiences themselves were incredible, the people behind them were the true magic. And they, more than anything else, are the reason I’ll be coming back.
**Travel Off Path was a guest of Discover Puerto Rico who helped with the creation of this itinerary by hosting some of our accommodations and attractions. Our opinions, recommendations, and suggestions remain our own.**
Not even the gloomy travel advisories issued by the United States authorities have been able to slow down what’s been an incredible recovery journey for Mexico’s tourism sector. In spite of reports of violence and gang activity across major tourist destinations like Cancun, Americans keep flocking into the country in record numbers.
And it’s time we understood why this keeps happening.
For years on end, Mexico has incessantly battled organized crime, particularly in states like Colima and Guerrero, where clashes between the police force and gangs have been known to occur. These drug cartels have long been a concern of the Mexican Government, and the never-ending war on drugsplayed into the stereotype that Mexico was ‘unsafe’ to travel to.
Past tense. That may be no longer, as more Americans come to realize things are not nearly as bad as the media usually portrays it:
How Unsafe Is Mexico In Reality?
Throughout this year, we have been extensively covering U.S. travel advisories for Mexico and what they mean for tourists. Whether it’s your usual Riviera Maya hubs, such as the aforementioned Cancun and Tulum, or off-path locations like San Miguel de Allende, we have kept track of all safety concerns and developments on the tourism front.
If you have been following our Mexico coverage closely, you might have picked up on a noteworthy trend lately: no matter how many discouraging travel warnings the U.S. Department of State issues – and trust us, there have been quite a few – a majority of Americans are not at all fazed. In fact, they are expected to head to the Mexican Caribbean en masse this winter.
As far back as 2019, we have worked tirelessly to deconstruct the idea that Mexico is unsafe and that, perhaps, crime levels are comparable to those of the United States. Yes, there can be the occasional shooting, and absolutely, gang activity is a recurring problem, but then again, this is the case in any large metropolitan area.
It is surely not exclusive to Mexico City or Cancun: one could argue a quick glance at Chicago’s latest gun violence figures should be enough for foreign entities to class the Illinois city a no-go zone. Why, then, is Mexico the only one getting all the bad press and scrutiny, especially when incidents take place randomly and affect a negligible number of tourists?
Kidnapping Alert Based On A Single Kidnapping Case
For example, the U.S. Department of State has added ‘kidnapping’ risks to their Quintana Roo advisory, when the state has only reported a single kidnapping case since the year started. While no such occurrence should be taken lightly, and we do acknowledge tourists can sporadically be a target, this is hardly common enough to warrant an official warning.
Previously, anti-kidnapping organization Alto al Secuestro wrongfully claimed Cancun’s was 0.302 per 100,000 inhabitants – again, wrongfully, so even those figures had been exacerbated. To draw a comparison with a fellow sunny destination, the Miami-Dane county kidnapping rate is 0.36 per 1,000 residents during a standard year.
The only difference between Miami and Cancun? One of them sits on the southern side of the border.
Being aware of this issue, the Mexican Government went as far as asking the U.S. to stop featuring tourist spots in travel advisories without a strict set of criteria, though with each passing month, the States authorities’ relevance as a source of information for U.S. citizens going abroad wanes critically. The proof is in the numbers:
As the Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco confirms, the travel alerts ‘have not affected the arrival of foreigners at the moment‘. During a promotional trip to Canada, where he presented Mexico’s brand new tourist offer, the ‘magical’ colonial towns, and the upcoming Tren Maya, Mr. Torruco spoke candidly about his expectations for the sector moving forward.
Mexico Tourism Is Booming In Spite Of Gloomy Advisories
He expressly stated Mexican tourism is in ‘full recovery’, and that by year’s end, it should welcome 42.3 million visitors, only 6% fewer than the record year of 2019. ‘For now, the issue of travel alerts from the United States so far is not affecting tourism in Mexico, which is why international tourism continues to increase‘, Mr. Torruco added.
From January to August 2022, 13,757,000 million tourists landed in Mexico, 64.7% more than the same period in the previous calendar year. Out of those, the United States continues to be Mexico’s most important market by a large margin: out of nearly 14 million arrivals, 8,925,000 of those were Americans (Canadians and Colombians round up the top three).
Referring to security specifically, which continues to be a prime concern for visitors, largely due to the constant influx of negative news concerning Mexico, Torruco declares these have been ‘throwing up’ a series of problems that have already been ‘overcome’. From our understanding of this statement, the Secretary may be referring to the unjust classification of Mexico as unsafe.
‘The National Guard was created’, continued Mr. Torruco, ‘with special training, with more sophisticated equipment, and we are already beginning to see a downward trend in many of the crimes.‘ Indeed, security has been tightened across all major tourist locations, and of course Cancun, where the sight of beach patrols has become more common.
No Country Takes Tourist Safety More Seriously Than Mexico
Travel Off Path has published an entire article detailing five ways in which Mexico has improved the tourist experience for Americans visiting, and that includes deploying more police to keep cities risk-free and tackling taxi scams. Tourists really needn’t worry: Mexico is on top of things, or as the Secretary puts it himself, they are ‘on the right track’.
The U.S. Department of State is a respected branch of the American Government, and one of its aims is to inform American citizens about the risks of traveling to certain places to the best of their abilities. This does not mean their methodology regarding risk assessment is always up to date or that it always accurately reflects the situation on the ground.
After all, they did include ‘kidnapping’ as a specific risk for those traveling to the Quintana Roo state, where Cancun is located, when only one case has been documented so far in 2022. When in doubt, remember most visits to Mexico are trouble-free and that Mexico itself currently has a zero-tolerance approach to crime.
They are America’s favorite travel destination, after all, and it’s surely in their best interest to keep it that way.
Brazil just took a huge step in reinstating pre-Covid normality after spending months in the company of some of the world’s most restrictive countries. More specifically, it finally lifted its ban on unvaccinated visitors, including Americans, allowing in all foreigners once again with some restrictions.
During the early days of the pandemic, Brazil maintained an open border policy, much like Mexico and the Caribbean nations, although it still required tests of visitors. However, things changed drastically when vaccines became widely available, and the country, where vaccine uptake is incredibly high, shut its doors to those choosing not to get the shot.
Luckily, as of this week, the unvaxxed can start exploring Brazil again by fulfilling one simple requirement:
Unvaxxed Americans Are Welcome Again On One Simple Condition
A new decree published on September 12 changed guidelines for Americans traveling to Brazil. While the process has always been pretty straightforward, with no post-arrival testing or strict quarantine rules applying, South America’s number one nation did start turning away unvaxxed travelers in late 2021 at the peak of the Omicron wave.
Essentially, the group was no longer authorized to board flights to the country, as they once had been, by using a negative Covid test as proof of entry. This outright ban lasted a whole nine months, dating back to December 10 of last year and shunning more than 73 million Americans who have opted for not getting immunized.
Heading into the fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the early days of Brazil’s long, hot summer months, the strict vaccine rule, which placed the country side by side with the Netherlands, Canada and the like, has been done away with. Brazilians authorities have loosened their border curbs and now expect tourists to produce only one of the following documents:
Proof of vaccination; or
A negative Covid test undertaken one day prior to boarding.
How Many Doses Are Required To Fit The Vaccination Criteria?
Two doses are enough, or one in Janssen’s case.
Brazil considers Americans to be fully vaccinated when they have fulfilled the initial immunization scheme of any Anvisa-approved vaccines, other brands that have been certified by the World Health Organization, or even by equivalent health organs in specific countries. Anvisa is the equivalent to the States’ own Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
In sum, Brazil accepts all popular vaccination certificates issued worldwide, most notably Pfizer’s, Moderna’s, Janssen’s, Sinovac’s and others. The decree states that, in order to be deemed valid, vaccination proof must contain the recipient’s name, the vaccine brand or information about its manufacturer, as well as the number of doses given and their precise dates.
Both printed and electronic certificates are accepted, but it is worth noting Brazilian border officers will not accept QR-code only certificates without any specifications. If you qualify as a vaccinated traveler and plans on using a digital certificate as proof of entry, make sure it includes all of the relevant information described in the paragraph above.
What Covid Tests Are Accepted As Proof Of Entry?
On the other hand, if a traveler cannot present proof of vaccination, they will no longer be refused boarding, but must present a negative Covid test result, issued by a laboratory, taken at most one day prior to the departure time. The unvaccinated can choose between the more-detailed PCR, or the Rapid Antigen tests.
Other than that, all of the following is true:
Travelers are not required to complete an entry form
There is no post-arrival testing for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated
No quarantine applies to travelers arriving from abroad
There are no restrictions on inter-state travel within Brazil
The mandatory use of face masks in planes, public transport, airports and other public settings has been lifted*
*Different Brazilian states, cities and municipalities have their own jurisdiction which may, or may not, countermand the Federal mandate. If you’re unsure whether masks are still required in a particular state or at your final destination, we advised you obtain confirmation from local authorities.
Brazil Is Yet To Fully Reopen Like Argentina, But It’s Getting Seriously Close To It
This isn’t yet a full reopening in the mold of neighboring Argentina or the fellow Portuguese-speaking Portugal, but it serves as evidence Brazil is indeed pursuing a path of wider reopening, unlike other American nations that not only continue banning unvaccinated Americans, but are going as far as tightening rules further.
Besides lifting the controversial ban, the tropical gem has said yes to cruise ships and proved it is on top of the latest travel trends, being the proud home of South America’s first-ever digital nomad village. Of course, we want to see Brazil resume tourism as usual with zero requirements for all, but until that day comes, we will savor every smaller win.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
