Europe Travel Update May 2022

Providing a detailed summary of our experiences from our six-country trip for those curious about Europe’s current travel conditions

Dates of travel: April 22 to May 7, 2022

Our itinerary included a 15-night six-country trip in Western Europe. The countries visited included France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. Our flights on United Airlines went nonstop in and out of Zurich, Switzerland.

The Europe Travel Update aims to share our overall traveling experiences so people can gauge what to expect and plan accordingly based on their situation and concerns about traveling at this time.

How did we get around

We rented a car with Avis out of the Zurich Airport for 15 days and drove over 2,500 kilometers. We crossed country borders seven times. Driving through these countries was smooth, with excellent roads, good signage, and easy-to-find parking. Parking prices were low or free except in Munich, Zurich, and Strasbourg, which could get pricey. Gas prices were typical for Europe, about $8 a gallon and a few times below. Our total fuel cost for the entire trip was $450. We had a BMW Crossover type that used regular 95-octane gas.

Exchange rate

The dollar is strong. The euro was running about .94/.95 cents for a euro. We have never seen it this good during our travels. The Swiss franc was .98/.99 cents to the franc. We picked up some extra euros for future trips.

Covid screening

We had to provide proof of vaccinations to enter Switzerland and were never asked again after that. At the time, no Covid testing was required for Switzerland.

To our surprise, every border crossing we drove through was open without stopping or checking vaccination status or green cards. Most did not even have border control officers visible.

No museums, castles, restaurants, churches, or stores requested proof of vaccination anywhere. When we arrived in Italy, the Green Pass requirement for entry into all indoor settings was lifted.

Not one of the six countries required Covid testing when we were there.

Mask wearing

We report what we observed for the Europe Travel Update, but we do not provide an opinion. Covid is still very real.

From a mask perspective, here is how it is by country and at the Zurich airport:

Flights on United to and from the US: no crew wore masks, and maybe 5% of passengers wore masks.

NOTE: As of May 16, 2022, the mask requirement on flights will be lifted in the EU.

Zurich Airport and public transportation: infrequent mask use.

France: less than 5% mask usage, if that. Public transport still required masks.

Germany: Twenty percent still wear masks, and they are the FFP2. A few sites, such as museums, still required them, and they had to be that specific mask. Stores, banks, cafes, and restaurants never required them, but some servers wore them.

Liechtenstein: we never saw a mask used. Did not observe any public transportation during our short time there.

Switzerland: almost no mask usage anywhere. Some hotel and restaurant staff wore them, but that was rare. Mask use on public transportation is rare as well.

Italy: Less than 10% of people use masks. None are required in restaurants, businesses, etc., but they remain necessary on public transportation. It must be an FFP2.

How busy was the tourist activity

Most of our stops had many tourists, but we never saw long lines. Restaurants and cafes were bustling everywhere, with tons of options open. Reservations were often a good idea. Locals were amiable and seemed back into their typical groove. Hotels were all up and running. Rooms were cleaned daily.

What we did during our travels

We rarely wore our masks, which we had religiously on our previous trips during COVID-19. We always, though, had an FFP2 mask on us. Our masks were ready if we were in a tight or crowded situation. Of course, in any place it was required, we wore them.

Testing to get home

We took the BinaxNOW Ag card Covid test kit on our trip, which worked flawlessly using our laptop in our hotel room. The test was completed the day before our flight home. There was no wait for online proctors, and we tested negative. (To say the least, we were relieved because we had heard many stories otherwise.) It was simple to upload the results to the United Airlines site, and we were never asked again for the documentation, even in the US.

Click here for our article on packing your Covid test kits for travel back to the US.

Insurance we purchased

Having insurance during any overseas travel is an absolute must. Coming home without using it is something you never take for granted. On this trip, as always, we purchased our insurance through Squaremouth.com. The insurance policy was with Tin Leg, which had the best deal and coverage. The best option often varies with each trip. Click here for our article on the importance of travel insurance and how to get the best coverage and price.

For the first time, we purchased a membership with MedJet Assist, which provides medical emergency air evacuation when needing hospital-to-hospital transfer back to the US and home. It provided peace of mind. In those nightmare scenarios where you are seriously injured or ill, they will get you back to the US for medical care. Click here for our article on MedJet and what the membership provides.

Final word

Our trip was a huge success, and travel was a breeze. We felt warm welcomes everywhere. If you are still worried about Covid, that is understandable. But we would not hesitate to travel if you are vaccinated, have a booster, and do not have other serious health issues.

Always be aware of the Covid risk and have contingency plans if you test positive for Covid. There are many stories of people testing positive while traveling. This is not over, and caution needs to be taken.

Remember that the Europe Travel Update was our observations and experiences, which could differ from others.

We wish you safe travels and extraordinary adventures!

© 2024 Wanderers Compass All Rights Reserved

If you have any questions about our Europe Travel Update, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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