Summer vacation begins in less than a month. More than two years after the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, many Swiss are finally wanting to travel again. Beach and sea are very popular. Blake asked the country’s three major travel agencies for their most popular vacation destinations in summer 2022. This resulted in a top 13 parade.
At the top of the list are Hotelplan, Tui and Kuoni: Greece and Spain. Third place goes to Turkey, followed by Italy and the United States. There is also demand for Cyprus, Canada, Egypt, Portugal and the Maldives. Traveling to our neighboring countries is also very popular. With the exception of Italy, it is rarely booked through travel agencies. The Swiss usually go to Germany, Austria and France on their own by car.
Although the expectation of the summer holidays is great: Corona has not yet been forgotten. There are still some things to keep in mind when traveling. So you’re ready for summer 2022, Blick answers the seven most pressing questions about the best vacation destinations:
Do you still need a Covid certificate?
In most cases no more. In Europe, you can move almost freely again this summer without corona vaccinations. However, in some cases, people who are not immunized must be tested. For example in France, Portugal or Egypt. A certificate of vaccination continues to facilitate travel.
For vacations in the United States or Canada, it is still mandatory. If you are not vaccinated against Corona, you will not come to the country. However, additional testing requirements for flights to the US should fall this weekend.
When do the vaccinations (boosters) I need to travel expire?
The European Union has limited the validity of certificates to 270 days after the two vaccinations. This only applies to a few countries, such as France. There, a negative Covid test is due after the deadline. Certificates of reinforcement are only officially valid for 270 days in Switzerland. But even after this time has passed, there is no need to worry. Because the booster vaccination is valid in the rest of Europe, Egypt and the United States without any time limit. If you still want to be on the safe side, you can get your IV vaccination before the leave – Even if it is at your expense.
Can non-vaccinated people also travel?
yes. There are no restrictions at all in Greece, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Austria, Cyprus and the Maldives. Anyone who has not been vaccinated but wants to go to France, Portugal or Egypt must test negative for Covid. Travel to the United States or Canada is not possible.
Do I still have to pack the protective mask?
yes. Mask requirements on planes fell in May. The vast majority of countries have also canceled the obligation to wear masks in restaurants or public facilities. However, there are a few exceptions almost everywhere. In some countries, a mask is required on public transport, in others, in state buildings. In the United States, the rules differ from state to state. Therefore, it is worth packing enough masks and clarifying local rules before departure or immediately after arrival.
What should I consider when traveling by plane?
It is advised to arrive at the airport early. The basic rule of being at the airport two hours before departure is outdated. Now it’s worth arriving three or even four hours early. Aviation experts speak of a “big mess” at European airports when they think of summer. The reason is the lack of staff after Corona in airlines and airport operators. The Pentecost weekend was a foretaste: Thousands of passengers missed their flights in London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, Because the officials could not deal with the attack in time.
Is travel really getting more expensive in the summer of 2022?
ultimate. Trip prices rose for two reasons: kerosene, on the other hand, became more expensive. On the other hand, the demand is clearly outstripping the supply of flights – airlines cannot keep up due to the lack of staff. As a result, they raise their prices to maximize profits. In addition, in many holiday countries there is high inflation, which, among other things, leads to high hotel prices. Even everyday products in the destination country are likely to become more expensive. “In the western Mediterranean – Spain, Portugal and Tunisia – the price increase was even more pronounced,” says Hotelplan spokeswoman Bianca Gvaweler.
What is the size of the reservation?
Sometimes higher than it was before Corona. Hotelplan received 10% more bookings in June-August compared to 2019. Tui and Kuoni also reported very satisfactory demand. In general, experts predict that the volume of bookings for summer vacation 2022 will be slightly less than the volume of 2019. So the recovery is real!