COVID Winter Guide to Traveling Europe
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I decided to backpack across Europe in winter during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some called me brave, others called me crazy, I called myself antsy, impatient, and more than ready to ~safely~ explore.
I had recently gotten my booster shot, parted ways with my previous job, and was craving to feel my feet touch places of Europe I hadn’t seen since studying abroad in 2014. Not to mention, there were people across the pond who I was missing dearly. I thought long and hard, scoured travel blogs, and familiarized myself with country-to-country travel restrictions until finally deciding to take advantage of this opportune time in my personal life, despite the inopportuneness of approaching the two-year anniversary of an ongoing pandemic. It’s always hard to say what direction this pandemic will take, but if I’ve learned anything over the past couple of years it’s that life is far too short not to follow your intuition and take leaps.
So here I am, having leaped across the Atlantic almost two months ago and wanting to share what it’s like ‘COVID-wise’ moving around Europe and the UK.
Since late November I’ve traveled without too many hiccups to France, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and the UK. Each country has been slightly different, and regulations change frequently. I’ve compiled a list here of the most common COVID regulations that I’ve encountered along with advice and tools on navigating travel abroad during this COVID winter.
COMMON ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The entry requirements when moving from one country to the next have been pretty standard throughout this winter. Here are the most common requirements I’ve experienced when traveling across borders in Europe.
PLF = Passenger Locator Form
Each country in Europe has its own version of a ‘PLF’ which you can easily find by Google searching ‘(destination country) passenger locator form.’ This electronic form needs to be filled out prior to your flight (usually 24-48 hours before departure) as you’ll be sent a digital QR code for flight check-in.
Testing
Some countries require a negative antigen test 24-72 hours before travel. It has been incredibly easy to find pharmacies issuing tests in all countries I’ve traveled to thus far. If for some reason you’re having trouble finding a testing location once you’re abroad, don’t be afraid to ask around - hotel receptionists and pharmacists are helpful on-the-ground resources.
Health Pass
Apart from the UK, most restaurants, museums, and other public spaces in Europe require showing a ‘health pass’ to enter. A COVID Health Pass is a QR code that can be scanned to show your vaccination status (note, you cannot get cleared if you are not fully vaccinated nor can you travel to most countries without a mandatory quarantine). Paris was my first destination in the EU and I found a pharmacy that was able to issue a COVID Health Pass QR code for a fee of 35 euros through this site. HOWEVER, I later learned that it’s not completely necessary for tourists to convert their vaccine cards to these EU-specific Health Passes. Other travelers I’ve met along the way have been showing their U.S. CDC vaccination cards and have been equally successful entering public spaces.
Checking travel requirements
When boarding my flight from Greece to Ireland, the young woman in front of me was denied boarding the aircraft. She did not have a negative antigen test and was unaware that the requirements had changed just the week before. To avoid situations like this, I have found two great resources to help double-check necessary requirements when preparing to travel to a new country. Since things are changing rapidly, especially with the outbreak of Omicron, I have used this site and this site to cross-reference all documentation requirements to ensure I’ll be able to board my next flight.
GENERAL COVID TRAVEL ADVICE & OBSERVATIONS
1. Be covered with travel insurance. Not only are flight cancelations becoming more and more common, but it’s also incredibly important to be fully protected health-wise while traveling amidst a virus outbreak. I’ve been using G1G travel which is affordable and has wide health and travel coverage that’s helped me to feel more at peace throughout my travels.
2. Get boosted! Especially if you’re traveling from the U.S., there’s no reason not to be as boosters are available for anyone over the age of 18. Protect yourself and the communities you’ll be immersed in.
3. As it’s winter now, keep in mind that it is of course cold, days are shorter, it is not peak travel season, and COVID cases are predictably rising. Due to all these factors, many places seem to be less crowded, but of course, there is always a risk.
4. Check on local COVID rules frequently. From one day to the next, the city of Florence had mandated wearing masks in outdoor spaces. Similarly, a couple of weeks later Ireland instated an 8 pm closure time for all restaurants and pubs overnight. Things change fast during this time, so it’s important to keep yourself informed on current rules and regulations.
5. Expect to budget more for COVID testing in-between countries or in case of exposure.
6. Bring enough COVID essentials to protect yourself and others while traveling - disposable masks, at-home COVID tests, hand sanitizer, Vitamin C & Zinc.
7. Monitor your symptoms and be flexible with your itinerary in case you’re exposed or start to feel sick.
8. If possible, travel slow. Spend less time on buses and planes and more time exploring where you are. This gives you a lower chance of exposure and a better chance of immersing yourself in one culture at a time!
Just because travel is possible, it is harder than normal and might not be the right thing for everyone. In many cases, it’s safer to stay home during this pandemic. International flight routes are continuing to re-open and people are traveling overseas regardless, so I hope the information here can help with your own decision-making and travel preparation.
