After two years of travel restrictions, the world is opening back up for travel and thousands of people around the world are taking to the skies and returning to travel with the hope that it will be the same as we remember. Here are a few tips to help make your summer travel to Europe great.
The Good
It’s easier now than ever before to access tickets to museums and historical sites in Europe. Pre-COVID, many places required you to queue up at the ticket window to purchase your tickets on the day you wanted to visit. However, now, you can pre-purchase timed entry tickets online and save them to your phone to present upon arrival. When searching for tickets, be careful to purchase your tickets directly from the site you wish to visit, as there are many ticket resellers in Europe who will sell you the exact same ticket for an extra fee.
Most European countries have lifted all restrictions, increased the number of people who can visit, and returned to normal operating hours, making access to sites easier than it has been in the past two years. If there are any remaining restrictions, like masks or vaccination required, they are clearly listed on the site’s website so that you will know ahead of time.
The Bad
While travelers who have braved Europe over the past two years have experienced smaller crowds, this summer travel is back in full swing. Riverboat cruises and large tour groups have returned to Europe, which means that popular sites, such as Versailles, are crowded and tickets are selling out more quickly. If you plan ahead and purchase your tickets a few weeks in advance you should be okay. Also, visiting sites early in the day will most likely allow you to experience smaller crowds.
The Ugly
While travelers were busy preparing for this summer, not all companies that support travel were geared up to the point of normalcy. As a result, some airports, including Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, have had significant backups at security causing travelers to miss their flights. Flights across Europe have been delayed due to these security issues and a multitude of other problems due to more limited ground crew, and several airlines have cancelled flights throughout Europe due to crew shortages. Additionally, flight paths have been altered to prevent planes from flying over Russia and Ukraine, which has created a bottleneck for air traffic control. Plan to arrive at the airport earlier than usual and if possible, research alternative flights ahead of time so that if yours is delayed or cancelled you’ll know what other options you have.
If you’re traveling to Europe this summer, planning ahead can help you make the most of your time and allow you to experience all of the splendor, history and culture during your summer travel to Europe. View our Europe Travel Guides for inspiration and itineraries to help you plan your next trip.
Have you traveled to Europe this summer? What recommendations do you have?
