Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Malta, Germany, the Czech Republic—so many countries in Europe have just opened or are about to. If you’re vaccinated, right now is a uniquely enjoyable and fun moment for experiencing these places without the usual tourist crowds and with a warm welcome from virtually everyone you meet. In this live Q&A, we talked about how to make your Europe trip easy and special.

You can watch the full Q&A above.

These were the over-arching takeaways:

• Covid-related logistics—such as testing requirements, flight schedule changes, hotel availability, car rental—are much easier to handle than you might imagine. Based on what Wendy’s hearing from travelers, logistics and service levels are much better in Europe than in the U.S. this summer so far. Of course, such logistics are hugely diminished, or eliminated entirely, if you use the right local fixer who has the knowledge and resources on the ground. Just ask your fellow travelers.
• Countries that are usually packed are experiencing a unique crowd-free moment.
• There is value to be had if you travel now. In Portugal, for example, prices have dropped for 2021, but not for 2022.

You can read about Billie’s experiences in Greece, France, and Spain this month here:

• What Athens Is Like Right Now
• Naxos is the Greek Island You’ve Been Looking For
• The Time to Go to the Greek Island of Paros is Now
• Paris Is Having a Moment. Don’t Miss It.
• The Wonderful Thing the Pandemic Revealed About Madrid
• 6 Things I Learned About Taking an International Flight to a Recently Reopened Country

• Where you Can Travel If You’re Vaccinated, No Pre-trip Testing Required
• How to Get a Quick Covid Test for Travel
• The Countries That Are Open to U.S. Travelers and What You’ll Find There
• Pandemic-Era Travel: Recent trip reviews from real travelers who have been overseas
• What Vaccinated Travelers Do and Do Not Need to Worry About
• Understanding Travel Insurance in the Covid Era
• Italy’s Reopening: What Travelers Can Expect
• Where to Travel in 2021: What’s open, what’s worth it
• Smarter Airline Travel in 2021: Best flights, seats, and fares
• All of our previous Q&A Zoom talks

Thanks again to all who joined us and to all of you who are watching now. Sign up for our newsletter for info on our next talk, and please share our videos and articles with a friend who loves travel. Together we can figure out how to do it as smartly, safely, and meaningfully as possible. —Wendy, Brook, Billie, and Kristine

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