Tag: Travel

U.S. State Department Updates Travel Advisories For 10 Countries
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The United States’ Department of State has just updated the travel advisory pages for 10 countries around the world. Whilst international travel may have moved closer towards normality over the past few months, it still isn’t completely without risks and challenges – as these updates show – and travel advisories still play a key role in keeping travelers in the loop before they take their trips.

From common, everyday issues such as crime and health concerns, to more serious problems such as terrorism, war and kidnapping to name but a few, travel advisories are routinely updated by the State Department to contain up to date information about the risks associated with different destinations. Here’s a look at which ten countries were included in yesterday’s travel advisory updates, plus a recap of what travel advisories are and how they help travelers.

What Are Travel Advisories? Information For Travelers

Curated and updated by the State Department as often as is required, travel advisories provide simple, clear information about the risks travelers may face when traveling abroad. Travel advisories are color coded and sorted into four different levels – with Level 1 being the least severe and Level 4 being the most severe – to make it quick and easy for travelers to see the risks associated with visiting a specific destination.

In addition to updates from the State Department, each travel advisory contains information from the CDC about whether there is a low, moderate or high level of Covid-19 in the destination. Whilst they do not legally prevent a traveler from visiting a country, they can help a traveler to make an informed decision about whether or not it is a good idea to visit, playing an important role in the pre-travel process.

New Travel Advisory Updates – What Travelers Should Know

The ten new travel advisory updates posted on the State Department’s website yesterday feature all four of the system’s levels. Two countries were handed Level 4 updates – their details are as follows:
- Libya – do not travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict. The CDC states it has an unknown level of Covid-19
- Iran – do not travel to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. The CDC has determined that Iran has a low level of Covid-19
Three countries were handed Level 3 warnings, which tell travelers to reconsider travel to such destinations.
- Lebanon – reconsider travel to Lebanon due to crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping and Embassy Beirut’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens. The CDC states it has a low level of Covid-19
- Guyana – travelers should reconsider their trips to Guyana due to crime. The CDC has also stated that the country has a high level of Covid-19
- Guatemala – travelers should reconsider their trips to Guatemala due to crime, with some parts of the country designated as no-go areas. The CDC states it has a moderate level of Covid-19
Only one country received a Level 2 travel advisory – Zimbabwe – due to crime, with the CDC adding it has a low level of Covid-19. Four countries received Level 1 travel advisories; these are as follows:
- Saint Kitts and Nevis – CDC indicates a high level of Covid-19
- Poland – CDC indicates a moderate level of Covid-19
- Namibia – CDC indicates a high level of Covid-19
- Mongolia – CDC indicates a high level of Covid-19
Whilst they do provide important information that travelers should be aware of, travelers are free to do their own research and decide whether or not to follow through with their travel plans. Regardless of a country’s travel advisory level, travelers should always make sure they have a good travel insurance policy to keep them safe and protected whatever happens on their vacation.

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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
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June 8, 2022
Potential Tropical Storm Alex Could Wreak Havoc On Florida Travel This Weekend
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Tropical storm warnings for the weekend have been issued by the National Hurricane Center in the United States for the central and southern regions of the Florida peninsula, Cuba, and The Bahamas.

Up to 20 inches of rain and sustained winds of 39 miles per hour are expected to affect Florida from Friday through Sunday morning, with a 90% probability of turning into Tropical Storm Alex, the first tropical storm of the season.

According to the agency, heavy rains and thunderstorms are already taking place in the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico —which includes top destinations for travelers like Cancun— as a consequence of Hurricane Agatha, downgraded into a tropical storm after landfall on Monday.

The National Hurricane Center stated: “The system is expected to develop a well-defined center and become a tropical storm later today, and some slight strengthening is possible while it approaches Florida”.

Tropical Storm Alex —a name previously used for other tropical cyclones across the world— would be the first of the season 2022. A few days ago, the government of the United States issued travel warnings for US citizens about hurricane season in the Caribbean.

A few hours ago, the National Hurricane Center posted on Twitter: “Potential Tropical Cyclone One could produce coastal flooding of 1-3 ft above normally dry ground along with parts of the southwestern coast of Florida and the Florida Keys.”

Over 10 million people in the region will be affected and should take precautions for flooding and gusty winds as well —which are expected to reach 40mps and more. Miami, Key West, and Fort Myers will be the main areas affected this Friday and Saturday.

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said: “Whether the storm organizes or not, a significant flood event is possible across south Florida and the Keys.” Within the next few hours, experts and local authorities will be sharing more details about the storm’s progress. Travelers and US citizens in the area must stay alert.

Forecast For The Weekend And Warnings In Florida

It is hard to predict exactly how the storm will develop within the next few hours, but there’s already a timeline and a path predicted for this storm, and heavy rain in the area is certain.

On Thursday, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said: “There is still some variability on how this system will track, but heavy precipitation capable of scattered to numerous flash flooding is certainly plausible through southern Florida and into the Keys.”

The bulletin shared by the National Hurricane Center showed tropical storm warnings issued for Florida and specifically mentioned:
- Florida Keys including the Dry Tortugas.
- Florida Bay.
- West coast of Florida south of the Middle of Longboat Key to Card Sound Bridge.
- East coast of Florida south of the Volusia/Brevard County Line to Card Sound Bridge.
- Lake Okeechobee.
According to Abc News, from 5 to 15 inches of rain and winds from 40 to 55 mps are forecasted for most of South Florida. This is the timeline expected for the weekend and the projected path, as the Weather Channel informed:
- Friday: Heavy rains in South Florida. The main areas affected will be Miami, Sarasota, Melbourne, West Palm Beach, Dry Tortuga, Florida Bay, Lake Okeechobee, and the Florida Keys.
- Saturday: The storm will be expected in southwest Florida in the morning and should head east by night. One or two isolated tornadoes could also develop in south Florida.
- Sunday: With reduced strength, the storm will reach the Southeast U.S. coast, with strong winds, and can develop dangerous currents across the coast. By night, the storm will move away from the East Coast, into the open Atlantic.
Those interested in traveling to South Florida during the weekend might have to reconsider and all those already in the area should pay close attention to the news and official announcements from authorities. Now that hurricane season has started, travelers must carefully plan their trips.

Read More:

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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
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June 3, 2022
Travel Industry Continues Pressing U.S. Government For Removal Of Pre-Departure Testing

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The U.S. travel industry – including the nation’s major airline carriers – has once again urged the American government to remove the pre-departure testing requirement for vaccinated travelers entering the country.

On May 31, representatives from the travel industry met with members of the White House to discuss the matter – in an attempt to have the pre-departure testing requirement removed for fully vaccinated international travelers wanting to enter the United States of America.

And, not only are those in America’s travel industry arguing that the pre-departure testing requirement is a deterrent to those looking to visit the country, but they also claim it is harming the nation’s economy.

The President and CEO of Airlines for America echoed this in a statement – following yesterday’s meeting – by saying: “Quite frankly, the only impact the pre-departure testing requirement is having is a chilling effect on an already fragile economy here in the U.S.”

Major U.S. Airlines Believe Removing The Pre-Departure Testing Requirements Will See More Tourists Enter The Country

The biggest airlines in the U.S. are calling for the Biden administration to remove the pre-departure testing requirements for international visitors – as they argue that this is likely to be acting as a deterrent to those considering visiting the U.S. for tourism purposes.

And, there is no doubt that this could well be the case – especially with the number of international travelers to the States still more than 10 percent below pre-pandemic levels.

This is in contrast to its neighboring country, Mexico – which has had zero covid-related entry requirements for months, and is on the verge of seeing a return to pre-pandemic tourist numbers.

The nation is expecting as many as 40 million international visitors to enter its doors this year.

This Is Not The First Time That The U.S. Government Has Been Urged To Remove The Pre-Departure Testing Requirement

A few weeks ago we reported that more than 260 companies had signed a letter addressed to the Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, asking for the White House to remove the covid testing measures for fully vaccinated visitors arriving into the United States.

The letter had been signed by the nation’s largest airline companies – including American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Southwest – as well as major companies from the travel industry such as Hilton, Marriott and Disney.

The U.S. Is One Of The Few Nations That Still Requires Travelers To Undergo Pre-Arrival Testing

Just over a month ago we reported that the United States of America was one of the only few nations that still requires travelers – in particular those who are vaccinated – to undergo pre-departure testing for Covid-19 before being able to enter the country.

And, the fact that the nation still requires fully vaccinated travelers to undertake a Covid-19 test prior to their departure to the U.S. is sure to come as a surprise – especially as more and more countries around the world are removing ALL of their Covid-related entry requirements.

In the last few days and weeks we have seen some of the most popular destinations for tourists – including the likes of Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Vietnam – having removed all of their entry requirements, following in the footsteps of the many countries that had previously done so.

It will therefore not come as a surprise that the U.S. travel industry continues to push for the removal of the pre-departure testing requirements – in particular for those who have received their full Covid-19 vaccination.

You can keep up to date with the latest travel requirements for international visitors wanting to enter the U.S. by clicking here.

Read more:

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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

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June 3, 2022
U.S. State Department Issues 13 New Travel Advisories For June
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The US State Department has issued 13 new travel advisories for June. The latest updates, which were uploaded onto the State Department’s website on May 31st, provide information that aims to keep American travelers safe and well informed ahead of their travels. These most recent updates feature a range of countries which are located in regions that are bound to be amongst the most popular with American travelers this summer, such as Europe and the Caribbean.

With travel this summer expected to rival pre-pandemic figures, travel advisories are bound to play an important pre-travel role for those jetting off around the world this year. Here’s a look at which countries were affected in the most recent updates, plus a recap of what the travel advisory system is and how it helps American travelers.

Travel Advisories – An Explanation For Travelers

The State Department’s travel advisories are helpful updates that provide information to travelers about destinations around the world. Each update assigns a risk level to a destination, with Level 1 being the lowest risk level and Level 4 being the highest risk level. Warnings are updated frequently as and when they are needed, reflecting the ever changing risks such as crime, terrorism and health concerns that are present in each destination.

Along with a warning from the State Department, each travel advisory update also contains information from the CDC on the level of Covid-19 in each destination, allowing travelers to know what they may be getting themselves into if they do decide to travel. Whilst they play an important role in keeping travelers informed about real and current threats they may face and should always be consulted, they have no legal power to prevent travel – meaning the decision to travel is ultimately down to the traveler.

Recent Travel Advisory Updates – What Travelers Should Know

The latest travel advisories to be posted featured updates from all four warning levels. The Level 1 updates are as follows:
- St. Kitts and Nevis – exercise normal precautions. CDC indicates a moderate level of Covid-19
- Anguilla – exercise normal precautions. CDC indicates a high level of Covid-19
- Kuwait – exercise normal precautions, travelers should not visit the border region with Iraq. CDC indicates a low level of Covid-19
The Level 2 updates are:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – exercise increased caution due to terrorism and land mines. CDC indicates a moderate level of Covid-19
- Dominican Republic – travelers should exercise increased caution due to crime. CDC indicates a moderate level of Covid-19
- Tunisia – exercise increased caution in Tunisia due to terrorism. The country also has several no-go regions. CDC indicates a moderate level of Covid-19
- Turks and Caicos Islands – exercise increased caution due to crime. CDC indicates a high level of Covid-19
Level 3 travel advisories carry a warning that travelers should reconsider travel to these destinations. The recent Level 3 updates are:
- Guyana – risk of crime. Covid-19 level is moderate according to CDC
- Jamaica – risk of crime, with several areas travelers should not travel to. According to the the CDC, Jamaica has a high level of Covid-19
- Mauritania – risk of both terrorism and crime. The country’s Covid-19 level is low according to the CDC
- Poland – travelers should reconsider their trips to Poland due to its Covid-19 related restrictions. It has moderate levels of Covid-19 according to the CDC
Finally, two countries were awarded Level 4 warnings. These warnings explicitly tell travelers “Do Not Travel” to the destinations in question. The Level 4 warnings are as follows:
- Burma (Myanmar) – do not travel due to areas of civil unrest and armed conflict. CDC indicates a low level of Covid-19
- Moldova – do not travel due to armed conflict in neighboring Ukraine, and the unresolved conflict between the breakaway region of Transnistria and the central government. Moderate level of Covid-19 according to the CDC
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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
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June 2, 2022
Americans Visiting Ireland This Summer Risk Facing Severe Travel Disruption

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Covid may have subsided, but traveling Europe in the upcoming months will not come without its own subset of challenges. In fact, Americans visiting Ireland this summer now risk facing severe travel disruption, as the nation’s busiest international airport in Dublin tries to strike a delicate balance between higher travel demand and staff shortages.

After two years of unusually quiet departure lounges, the pandemic’s long-term impacts on the travel industry are only now being felt. Although London Heathrow and Toronto Pearson International also reported delays, proving Dublin Airport is not alone, it’s the latter that took the brunt of it, as more than 1,000 passengers have missed their flights in a single day.

Here is how it all went down:

How Bad Is The Situation At Dublin Airport?

After Covid, travelers have begun to turn up at the airport earlier than usual – sometimes many hours in advance – to ensure they will board their flights on time. While long lines had been a common sight at Dublin Airport over the weekend, it was yesterday, on May 30, that the situation turned truly dire, as even early showers were not guaranteed boarding.

Since Friday, there have been numerous reports on news outlets, and social media, of people who missed their flights despite arriving to Dublin Airport 3 to 4 hours in advance. The Irish Times tells of a family who showed up early at the airport at 7:58 am for a 10:45 am flight, but after two hours in line had only gotten as far as the front door of the terminal.

Customer Rebeca Boughton said ‘no information was provided to passengers queuing outside the terminal building’, and people started pushing through trying to make their flights in time. Most of the time, to no avail. Once she made it inside, Mrs Boughton learned that the check-in desk was already closed and her flight delayed until noon.

Dublin Airport Descends Into Chaos

Another couple from County Kerry, in the southwest of Ireland, also got the airport ‘several hours in advance‘ and still missed their 7:45 am flight to Italy: ‘we arrived at the closing gate at 7:40 am, and our plane was outside, but they wouldn’t let us through the gates’. According to the interviewee, they were among 36 passengers that were not allowed to board.

The person added they ‘pleaded’ at the gate to be let in, and then peeked out the window to see airport staff removing cases from the plane. Even after arguing and despite passengers being visibly distressed, it was ‘no good’ as they were still barred from boarding. The passenger has deemed the situation a ‘bad advertisement for Ireland‘.

An American family has also had had their plans ruined amid the chaos, spending over 11 hours at the airport on Sunday. Bonnie Radintz, who voiced her family’s grievances, detailed they had already missed a flight earlier that day, despite showing up on time, and were forced to walk 4 km in Terminal 2 in lengthy passenger lines with no end in sight.

Mrs Radintz, who was flying home to Minneapolis that day, said her family received ‘no water, vouchers or any form of communication’ regarding their new (delayed) flight. Interestingly, other passengers waiting outside the terminals to get in also complained of a ‘lack of communication from airport authorities’.

What Is Behind The Crisis?

According to the DAA, which stands for Dublin Airport Authority, the recent chaos at the airport can be blamed on a number of factors, ranging from a shortage of staff and unexpected absences yesterday, to several passengers turning up early. As reported by RTE, more than 1,000 people missed their flights following Sunday’s disruptions.

Other reports note that 1,000 airport workers have left their jobs since September 2020, after the DAA offered staff ‘voluntary severance’ due to the low travel demand at the time, including 248 security screening workers. The move has led to shortages in the Republic of Ireland’s two biggest airports, Dublin and Cork.

As Kevin Cullinane, a spokesperson for the DAA noted, Dublin Airport ‘clearly didn’t have enough security lanes open due to resourcing challenges’. He added that, due to staff constraints, any absence can critically impact the airport’s ability to operate lanes, as became evident on Sunday.

Airport Authorities Had No Clue About The Scale Of The Problem Until It Was Too Late

Even though there was trouble brewing as early as Saturday, airport authorities did not become aware of the scale of the problem until it was too late. Cullinane shared ‘the challenges the airport faced began at about 4:30 local time on Sunday’, and despite their best efforts to balance an increase in passengers and fewer staff, the system was ‘overwhelmed’.

What’s worse: this might not be a one-off, with Cullinane tellings RTE the airport is operating on ‘very fine margins’ and ‘running to the max’ of available staff. This means Americans flying to Ireland this summer are very likely to experience travel disruption in some level, such as excessively long wait lines, delays or cancellations.

Although more travel woes were already expected in Europe this summer, as a majority of airports in the continent are battling shortages, Dublin Airport’s recent fiasco proves how quickly, and unexpectedly, the situation can deteriorate even further. After having let thousands of passengers down, Dublin Airport expects an extra 370 officers to be hired by July.

Eddie Wilson, CEO at Ryanair, Ieland’s low-cost carrier, has urged the government to deploy the army to airports. Wilson believes one of the biggest issues at the airport today is that aspiring workers need to be security cleared before they can assume their posts. As he argues, army officers already have security clearance and could help ease the pressure.

What Is The Risk Of Experiencing Travel Disruption When Visiting Ireland?

With several American carriers announcing new flights to Ireland this summer, in response to a growing demand for overseas travel, there is always a risk your flight could be delayed, or even cancelled, taking into account Dublin Airport’s current resources, which are limited. Unfortunately, there is no way of predicting which flights will be axed and which will not.

Ireland may be open for all Americans, irrespective of vaccination status and with no testing or quarantine in place, but this does not mean travelers should not be prepared for their plans to change, or completely scrap the Covid-era contingency measures. Now, it’s cancelled flights they need to worry about, and they will become more and more frequent as summer approaches.

With that in mind, we recommend you to always purchase travel insurance covering cancellation costs before flying, in order to be better prepared when faced with adverse events. Additionally, travelers are now advised to exercise increased caution when visiting Europe due to the new monkeypox outbreaks in several parts of the continent, including Ireland.

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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

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June 1, 2022
CDC Issues Travel Advisory Traveling To These Countries Due To Monkeypox
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Are we in the early days of a new global health emergency? After several monkeypox outbreaks were registered across Europe this week, and Belgium going as far as imposing a strict 21-day quarantine for travelers with a confirmed infection, the CDC has now issued a travel warning to a number of destinations due to the emerging threat.

Monkeypox is a disease classed by the World Health Organization as being of ‘global public health importance‘. Although it mostly affects countries in West and Central Africa, it is also present in other parts of the world, and the identification of new clusters in Europe and North America, where it is not yet endemic, is worrying health experts.

CDC Formally Recognizes The New Global Health Threat

Adding weight to the other health warnings issued by countries like the UK, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC has formally recognized monkeypox as a potentially disruptive pathogen, and emitted its own travel alert to a number of destinations in Europe and beyond. According to the CDC, cases have been reported in the following states:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- England
- France
- Germany
- Israel
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Scotland
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Besides the above, monkeypox has already reached the United States as well, less than a month after the first infection clusters were identified in Europe. For that reason, the CDC has added the affected countries to the Level 2 category, stopping short of slapping a Level 3 travel warning due to monkeypox.

This means that, when traveling to all European countries listed, as well as Australia, Canada and Israel, U.S. citizens should now ‘practice enhanced precautions’ to avoid monkeypox. This is a first for these destinations, as monkeypox had been mostly limited to a number of African nations up until recently.

Out of the CDC-flagged countries, Belgium has been the first to act, enacting a mandatory 21-day quarantine requirement for travelers with a confirmed monkeypox infection. The ECDC, the European equivalent to the CDC, is also monitoring the situation closely, as the case count across Europe exceeds 100 – with a large concentration of those in Spain and Portugal.

Curiously, recent cases have not been linked to travel to Central or West African countries, ‘where monkeypox usually occurs’, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria. This is a strong indication there is community transmission within Europe and North American continents.

LGBTQ+ Americans Should Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling From Now On

Corroborating other findings by health authorities in foreign countries, the CDC mentions a considerable portion of cases have been reported among men who have sex with men, as sexual interaction with an infected individual increases transmission dramatically. In fact, the first European clusters were likely spread by risky sexual behavior at 2 raves.

Because of early infection trends, gay travelers should exercise increased caution, considering Spain happens to be one of the safest destinations for them, and thus a leader in LGBTQ+ tourism. That said, anyone can be infected, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, as ‘cases were also reported in people live in the same household as an infected person’.

How Is Monkeypox Transmitted And What Does The CDC Now Advises?

All it takes is coming into close contact with a person with an active infection, and particularly visible rashes and scabs caused by the disease. It can also be transmitted via bodily fluids such as pus or blood from open lesions, which are common throughout the course of infection. Scientists have not yet established whether it can be passed on through semen.

While most patients will recover without any long-term complications, monkeypox scabs can leave scars behind once they fall off, and seriously disrupt travel plans. Following in the steps of Belgium, the Dominican Republic, one of the preferred vacation spots for Americans, has also issued a preventive alert due to monkeypox.

As the World Health Organization states, people are most infectious when they have symptoms, much like Covid, and ‘normally for between two and four weeks’. Touching clothing, bedding, towels and contaminated objects such as cutlery and dishes have been equally recognized as precursors to infection.

When visiting Spain, France, Portugal, or any other destination on the list, the CDC now advises travelers to avoid:
- Close contact with sick people, particularly those with skin or genital lesions;
- Touching any dead or live wild animals, such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes;
- Handling all materials used by monkeypox-infected individuals as they could be contaminated.
Risk To The General Public Remains Low As Of Now

Despite the warnings, the CDC maintains that the ‘risk to the general public is low’. Regardless, travelers are advised to seek immediate medical attention when developing any known monkeypox symptoms. Those can manifest through fever, chills, tiredness and new, syphilis-like lesions on any part of the body.

The latest CDC advice deals a fresh blow to Europe, which only recently started reopening following the Covid crisis. While monkeypox is not a novel virus like Covid, it has the potential to spread quickly and trigger a new era of tightened health protocols for travelers. So far, the World Health Organization has not declared it a global health emergency.

Read More:

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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
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May 27, 2022
Travel Demand is Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels and What it Means To You This Summer
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People across the globe are eager to travel this summer, and for the first time since the start of the pandemic, global leisure and business flights have risen to levels not seen since 2019.

Airfares rose nearly 19 percent from March to April, according to recent Labor Department data, the largest month-over-month increase for plane tickets on record, and are up 33 percent from last year.

After over two years of restrictions on where to travel, people are booking new and different itineraries. The Mastercard Economics Institute’s third-annual travel report reveals several significant travel recovery trends, including:
- Today’s Traveler: For the first time since the pandemic, business flight bookings have exceeded 2019 levels, a key milestone in the recovery.
- Top destinations: Destinations are evolving as people have started booking travel farther from home. Long-haul leisure travel shot up to just -7% below pre-pandemic levels by the end of April.
- Modes of travel: Throughout 2021, traveling by car was the preferred mode of transportation but now buses, cruises, and trains are seeing an uptick in bookings.
- Consumer spending while traveling: Travelers are returning to spending on experiences over things. Travel budgets have shifted toward restaurants, bars, and recreational activities.
Travel demand is back

There is a tremendous amount of demand for travel and with that demand comes rising costs. Roughly 90 percent of U.S. travelers plan to take a trip in the next six months, and 35 percent expect to travel more this summer than last, according to data from the U.S. Travel Association.

The global travel and hospitality industry saw millions of jobs lost at the height of the pandemic as travel was nearly haltered altogether.

With large numbers of Americans taking trips for the first time since the start of the pandemic this summer, airlines, and hotels often don’t have the capacity to meet demand, driving prices even higher.

What does this mean for travelers this Summer?

People who are planning on traveling over the next few months will undoubtedly feel that demand – with long security lines, packed airports and planes, crowded attractions, and hefty price tags.

Airfare costs

Airlines predict that U.S. airports will process 3 million travelers on a single day for the first time ever this summer. Airfares skyrocketed in recent months as summer flights quickly sold out.

Record-breaking fuel costs, propelled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that spiked global oil prices. That is another reason why airline tickets have gone up even more.

Major airlines cut down on their spring and summer schedules to mitigate the impact of higher fuel costs and avoid a repeat of high-profile delays and cancellations that left travelers stranded last year.

So travelers will have fewer flights to choose from, fewer seats to select from, with higher price tags attached to them.

Long waits at airports

The next time you’re at the airport, expect to be waiting for quite a bit. Airlines and airport security staff are simply outnumbered by all the increased travel demand. This means long wait times at airports and gates.

People traveling this summer should do the best they can to prepare for these long lines by arriving early, having all their documents in order, and submitting Covid documentation to airlines before arriving at the airport.

How long will this all last?

Whether travel demand will remain robust throughout the year — or whether travelers will take a last summer hurrah before tightening their purse strings — is yet to be seen.

People have traditionally spent less on travel following rises in energy and food costs and with a global recession looming over our heads, many people may cut down their travel spending after the summer.

Only time will tell.

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May 21, 2022
10 Countries In Asia Plan On Introducing A Vaccine Passport For Travel

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Following months of speculation, the ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations has confirmed it is indeed working on a standardized vaccine passport for travel in the region. A total of ten Asian countries are part of the association, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Since Covid was first identified in early 2020, Southeast Asia has been grappling with recurrent viral surges and an endless loop of travel restrictions. While visiting the region has now become much easier again as more countries drop curbs, their ever-changing rules are still much harder to navigate than Europe’s or the America’s.

What’s Next For Southeast Asia Travel?

Like it’s usually the case with travel rules in Southeast Asia, the announcement has left tourists puzzled as it is not clear how the proposed vaccine certificate will co-exist with more relaxed rules that have been put in place in participating countries – especially those like Vietnam, where all entry curbs were removed.

Or, more importantly, whether foreigners who are not citizens of an ASEAN country would need to apply for a local vaccine passport, and how that would become operational seeing that Thailand, for instance, already struggles with issuing its controversial Thailand Passes, but here’s what has been clarified so far:

Officials Believe A Regional Vaccine Passport Will Make Travel Seamless

After months of a rumored ASEAN vaccine passport, health officials from different member states have agreed this week on both the mutual recognition, and implementation of vaccination certificates for resumption of international travel in the region. The agreement was reached in Bali, where entry rules have ironically been scrapped.

Sharing the news, the Singaporean Ministry of Health (MOH) stated ‘it is important to establish seamless travel across the region’, as countries in Southeast Asia still do not see eye to eye when it comes to pandemic-era travel. For instance, while some travelers still have to jump through a few hoops visiting Thailand, they face no restrictions whatsoever in Vietnam.

On top of that, some ASEAN countries do not necessarily recognize vaccination certificates issued in fellow member states, making international travel in the region an even bigger challenge for local residents, and sometimes even tourists. Grappling with a patchwork of entry rules when country-hopping in the region is no fun.

The Bali meeting, where health ministers and other senior officials sought to address these issues, resulted in member states vowing to ‘facilitate smooth international travel’. At the minute, however, ministers have not detailed how exactly foreigners, and Southeast Asians alike, can expect travel rules to change.

Dreams Of A Full Asian Reopening Seem More And More Unattainable

Implementing a mandatory vaccine passport would most certainly add to the woes of both unvaccinated and restriction-wary vaccinated travelers, while making the dream of a full Southeast Asian reopening unattainable. In order for that happen, countries would most certainly require a more relaxed approach to Covid, including treating it as endemic.

The fact that the collective is still discussing the implementation of a vaccine certificate, when countries like Vietnam and Indonesia have already outpaced others in fully scrapping entry requirements, is not an indication of that. Interestingly, judging by their statements, health officials in fact believe this will help boost tourism.

Besides a wider acceptance of an ASEAN vaccine passport for travel, officials also proposed a new ACPHEED – ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, an equivalent to the U.S. CDC and the European Union’s ECDC. In their words, this would help enhance the ASEAN response to public health emergencies.

What About Foreign Tourists Visiting Southeast Asia?

As mentioned above, Southeast Asian nations have different entry requirements in place, ranging from pre-departure testing to entry passes. Unlike the EU, which has moved towards harmonizing travel across the bloc in recent months, the ASEAN has not been as successful and the lack of mutual cooperation on border mesures is evident.

The Singaporean Minister of Health, Mr. Ong Ye Kung, expressed his desire to see a regional vaccine passport modelled after the EU’s Digital Covid Certificate. The certificate helped smooth travel within Europe throughout most of 2021, with the most obvious downside being foreign travelers were sometimes also expected to apply for a local vaccine passport.

Right now, we cannot confirm travelers will also need to apply for an ASEAN Vaccine Passport ahead of flying, besides carrying their own certificates from home. Seeing that the EU certificate is an obvious inspiration, any such development wouldn’t be a surprise, especially in Southeast Asia where Covid restrictions are stricter.

Vaccine Certificates Are Becoming The Norm In Southeast Asia

So far, Asian officials have not yet established how their system for mutually recognizing each other country’s vaccines, or an ASEAN-wide health passport will be put in place, but Ong did add that ‘checking for vaccination certifications may well be the norm for travel, just (like how) we check our bags and our passports’.

Ahead of launching its own vaccine passport, Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed his support the proposal, stating that every ASEAN member should adopt a ‘standardized’ Covid certificate in order to ‘rejuvenate the aviation sector’. Other business and health groups also applauded the move, agreeing it will make travel ‘seamless’.

We will report back soon as more information is published, including whether tourists will need to add an Asian vaccine certificate to their expanding list of travel documents. For now, there is still unfortunately a lot fo question marks. For all the latest entry requirements in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, please refer to this page.

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May 19, 2022
Travel To Cambodia Is Back: Here’s What It’s Like On The Ground
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Testing and quarantine have been scrapped for vaccinated travelers in recent months, land borders are reopening, and local businesses are preparing for new customers. Travel to Cambodia is back as the Southeast Asian nation gets ready for more visitors after a two-year closure.

But, what’s it like on the ground? Here’s a glimpse into Cambodia’s reopening for tourism in 2022.

Land Border With Thailand Recently Reopened, Border With Vietnam Scheduled To Reopen

In an effort to boost Cambodia’s reopening process, the Kingdom reopened its land border crossing with the northeastern province of Surin in neighboring Thailand early last week, according to a local report in the Khmer Times.

This is the first time the land border has been open to travelers since it closed in 2020 during the pandemic. The borders are open to local as well as international visitors and vaccinated persons do not need to show a negative Covid test or quarantine upon arrival when crossing the border into Cambodia.

The Surin land border is a popular overland crossing with backpackers and other travelers, as it’s a 7-hour direct bus ride from Bangkok to Siem Reap with a stop at the border.

Can I Get A Visa On Arrival For Cambodia?

To streamline the travel process, international visitors are now eligible to get the visa on arrival for Cambodia at both the air and land border check points. Tourist visas will be valid for a stay of 30 days upon arrival.

Applying for an Evisa or opting for the visa on arrival option were the top choices by travelers entering Cambodia pre-2020. The visa on arrival service was halted throughout the pandemic, and reinstating it is one of the many entry requirements that have been eased this year as Cambodia slowly reopens for travel.

It was announced on Friday that the land border crossings for travelers will also reopen between Cambodia and Vietnam. Although no date has been officially set at this time, the decision was made by officials in both countries.

On top of the land border reopening, reports also reveal that officials have agreed to ramp up direct flights between the neighboring Southeast Asian nations. With ongoing travel restrictions and air carriers suspending services, air travel throughout the region has been limited for tourists over the past two years.

Entry Requirements For Kingdom Of Cambodia: Information For Travelers

Here’s a review of the latest entry requirements for travelers to Cambodia. This is the most relaxed it has been in over two years, and the Kingdom of Cambodia is ready to welcome international visitors again.

For fully vaccinated travelers entering Cambodia via land or air:
- No quarantine
- No pre-departure or on arrival Covid tests required
- Proof of vaccination is still required (full course of doses from any WHO-approved Covid vaccine)
- Travel medical insurance to cover the cost of treatment in the case of hospitalization: minimum of $50,000 USD coverage.
- Visa on arrival is allowed: the cost of the tourist visa is $35 USD for a maximum stay of 30 days.
Unvaccinated travelers to Cambodia by land or air:
- Must show a negative PCR test result from no later than 72 hours of travel to Cambodia.
- Quarantine for 7 days upon arrival at a government-approved hotel. Must show at least $2000 in funds (per traveler) to cover the cost of the quarantine.
- Take a Covid test upon arrival before quarantine, and take a second Covid test on Day 7.
What’s It Like In Cambodia? Thoughts From Travelers On The Ground

Rich Chan is an American traveling in Cambodia. Currently based in Siem Reap as the country reopens to international tourism, he shared some thoughts with us at Travel Off Path.

“With the recent reopening of Cambodia and the tourism-based town of Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat, there’s a breath of fresh air this town has been able to take after being on life support the last couple of years.”

Siem Reap is arguably the most popular destination for travelers in Cambodia. On top of ruins of Angkor Wat (which is a city in itself), Siem Reap is home to notable museums, other temples and architectural sights, and a bustling downtown area that keeps travelers from all parts of the world coming back for more.

Are Tourist Businesses Open In Cambodia?

Many small businesses around the world were forced to shut down as a result of the pandemic and businesses in Cambodia were no different. Even though some beloved restaurants, boutique hotels, and other businesses in destinations throughout the country have closed its doors, there are plenty of places ready and eager to welcome guests.

“All the businesses that haven’t shut down because of the lack of tourism are slowly going back to business as usual,” Richard noted.

The best way to support locals and tourism on your next trip to Cambodia is to book a day tour with a local tour agency once you arrive in a new city. From the capital city of Phnom Penh to a quaint riverside town of Battambang, there’s so many ways to make the most of your 30-day tourist visa in Cambodia.

Pay tuk tuk drivers to take you around, and shop at local markets or any other small businesses you come across during your trip. Go and see the impressive Phare Circus when visiting Siem Reap or Battambang.

And upon arriving in a new city, pay a visit to a cafe that supports local NGOs to splurge on a meal. Your donation will go directly to those most vulnerable in the community. Footprints Cafe in Siem Reap is a great example of a tourist-friendly restaurant that gives back to the community.

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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
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May 17, 2022
Mexico Government Asks U.S. To Stop Including Tourist Spots In Travel Advisories

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Standing up for its tourism sector, currently plagued by numerous reports of increased violence in popular destinations, the Mexican Government has formally asked the United States to not ‘generalize’ when issuing travel advisories.

Namely, it has suggested any alerts affecting whole cities and/or states should be more specific.

Although Mexico unarguably remains a top rated holiday destination for millions of Americans, security concerns raised by U.S. authorities have led to speculation the country may no longer be as safe. Even in Cancun, where the National Guard has been deployed to keep tourists safe, the advisories have proven particularly damaging.

Now, Mexico is fiercely defending its hard-earned reputation as a tourist oasis:

Mexico Wants More Transparency From U.S. Authorities On Travel Warnings

Having succeeded in the mission of crowning Mexico one of the most visited countries in the world after Covid, Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco is now working to tackle the scrutiny the country’s security forces have been under lately. Despite Mexico’s best efforts, many now believe it is a country to be avoided due to high crime rates.

The change in perception can be attributed to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory, which lists only two Mexican states out of 32 as being completely safe for American travelers, those being Campeche and Yucatan. Comparatively, travel warnings have been slapped on all other major tourist zones, including Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur and Jalisco.

As stated on the Travel Advisory, Americans should either reconsider, or exercise increased caution when traveling to these destinations due to crime and even risk of kidnapping. Foreseeing the trouble ahead, Torruco requested a meeting with Rena Bitter, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.

During the Washington meeting, where other concerns were also debated, Torruco suggested that the travel alerts issued by the U.S. Department of State should be more specific in their classification of risk zones in Mexico. As Torruco puts it, they should ‘detail the areas that could represent problems and not generalize’.

While the Travel Advisory is quite extensive, and security alerts are somewhat more detailed under every Mexican state’s designated section, it does fail to define more precisely which neighborhoods, or zones, are affected by crime in relevant cities.

Instead, the U.S. Department of State opts for advising Americans to be cautious when visiting them as a whole.

Quintana Roo Is One Of The Destinations Targeted By The U.S. Department Of State

Let’s take the example of Quintana Roo: the advisory mentions ‘criminal activity and violence may occur in any location, at any time, including in popular tourist destinations’. On top of that, the advisory states travelers should exercise ‘increased caution’, especially after dark, when walking downtown Cancun, Tulum or Playa del Carmen.

There may be a grain true in it, but the same could be said about any other destination, or any other country. Like Torruco affirmed, ‘some isolated cases of insecurity are found several kilometers from tourist destinations’, bringing into question the U.S. Department of State’s classification of Quintana Roo’s top 3 cities as unsafe.

While we could expect Torruco to defend Quintana Roo’s honor, we also know that there have been shootings in tourist zones, including inside luxury complexes, giving some weight to the U.S. classification.

However, in his defense, they have not targeted tourists and are instead a result of gang disputes, something even the United States acknowledges.

The Mexican Government Is Prepared To Deal With Violence Surges In Tourist Spots

Despite clear disagreements as to what constitutes a safe tourist destination, Torruco considered the meeting ‘cordial’ and found ‘openness and willingness to take up the suggestion’. Meanwhile, Mexico has been taking further steps to quash the crime trend, including cracking down on corrupt police that have been known to extort tourists.

Torruco also personally handed Bitter a document describing actions taken by municipal, state and federal authorities to protect American tourists in Quintana Roo, hoping the U.S. would reconsider its travel warnings. Or then, in the least, concede that the Mexican Government is prepared to deal with the violence surge.

Lastly, he noted 3.18 million Americans have traveled to Mexico during the first quarter of the year, highlighting the close links between the two North American countries and the need for cooperation on safety issues.

So far, the U.S. Department of State is yet to make significant changes to its classification of Mexican states, though any updates will be published here.

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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

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May 14, 2022