international travel Archives - Fat Tire Tours https://www.fattiretours.com/tag/international-travel/ Unforgettable experiences & memories that last a lifetime. Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:12:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.5 https://www.fattiretours.com/app/uploads/2022/04/main-logo.svg international travel Archives - Fat Tire Tours https://www.fattiretours.com/tag/international-travel/ 32 32 234031270 Will Americans be Able to Travel to France this Summer? https://www.fattiretours.com/paris/will-americans-be-able-to-travel-to-france-this-summer/ https://www.fattiretours.com/paris/will-americans-be-able-to-travel-to-france-this-summer/#respond Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:14:17 +0000 https://www.fattiretours.com/blog/?p=12978 Will Americans be Able to Travel to France this Summer? - Fat Tire Tours

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UPDATE: As of April 30th, France has announced that foreign visitors will be granted entry into the country start on June 9th. 

Yes! Americans will likely be able to travel to France this summer, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. The President spent some time speaking with Margaret Brennan from Face the Nation on Sunday. When asked, ‘Will vaccinated Americans be able to visit France this summer?’, his simple and uplifting response was, “I hope so, and I do think so.”

Margaret Brennan speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Americans traveling to France this summer

The Vaccine Rollout – how this is crucial for Americans traveling to France

The President went on to outline the goals that both France and the European Union have set up to once again welcome international visitors. France is aiming to vaccinate 20 million citizens by mid-May, 30 million by mid-June, and all adults by the end of summer. Shots in arms are essential for Americans to feel safe visiting France, and for French businesses to once again reopen.
 
As more vaccines are given, France will progressively lift restrictions, starting in mid-May. Much of the country, including Paris, is currently in lockdown with a 7pm curfew. Schools and restaurants are closed, and only essential businesses are able to operate with any semblance of normalcy. According to the President, France will begin to open again in just under a month. This timeline aligns with typical summer travel spikes from Americans traveling to France.
 
The President is also working with EU member states to develop a European certificate that will facilitate intra-European travel. With this, vaccinated Americans who land in Paris may still be able to easily visit other countries within the EU, similar to pre-covid times.
 
Macron listed a number of vaccines that the French health and safety officials are considering to boost their vaccine doses – Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Astra-Zeneca, Valneva, Sanofi, Curevac. Macron hopes to produce 2.5 billion doses within France in 2021.
 
Brennan and Macron went on to speak about sending vaccines to Africa and Latin America, climate change and China and India’s part in it, regulation of large tech entities, Russian troops along the Ukraine border, and race relations. The French president stressed the need for a Franco-American alliance on all topics, hinting at the need for an even stronger bond between the two historical allies.
 

The TakeAway 

When international borders open, vaccinated Americans will likely be able to travel to France, and to other places in Europe. Here at Fat Tire Tours, we pride ourselves on being safety-minded. When borders reopen, we will continue with our heightened cleaning procedures in our office. Our group sizes will remain small so to allow for socially distanced experiences, and our contact-less check-in make starting a tour easy. We want you to experience Paris in an unforgettable way, and we are committed to keeping you safe on tour.

Check out the tours and activities that we have available this summer! Feel free to reach out to us at support@fattiretours.com should you have any questions.

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2021 Travel Trends – what you need to know https://www.fattiretours.com/news/2021-travel-trends/ https://www.fattiretours.com/news/2021-travel-trends/#respond Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:39:34 +0000 https://www.fattiretours.com/blog/?p=12961 2021 Travel Trends - what you need to know - Fat Tire Tours

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2021 Travel Trends – what you need to know

By Sadra Sumner

2020 taught us valuable life lessons.  Plans don’t always work out, flexibility in life is key, and the health, safety, and security of our loved ones is vital to our happiness.  As we carry those thoughts into a new year, our own tempered expectations of 2021 travel trends can be daunting.  Will this be the year of full recovery, or will we still be limited for the foreseeable future?  We’re looking to the five biggest travel trends in 2021 to help predict when the mundane might involve a plane so that we can keep experiencing the world in the safest way possible. 

 

1. Domestic travel is king in 2021

It’s no surprise that border closures have encouraged thrill seekers to look around them.  A recent 2021 travel trends study by Expedia & ARC showed that local demand grew significantly in 2020, especially those with outdoor options.  With more people exploring what’s in their own backyard, we see this trend continuing to boost local experiences and an appreciation for insider knowledge when international travel fully resumes.

 

2. Work from home – wherever that may be

For many of us, our 2020 daily commute was transformed into a stroll to the kitchen table. Without the need to be close to the office, many found solace in being as far away as possible, reinforcing the ability for many to work from remote locations.  We anticipate many more nomadic workers as companies adjust to virtual teams.  Do you live to work, work to live, or a bit of both?

Senlis, France - 2021 Travel Trends
Senlis, France and its inviting green environs.

 

3. Flexibility in travel from A-Z

Phocuswire coined the term ‘flexible as default’ in late 2020.  Of all the 2021 travel trends, flexibility will most certainly be the new norm for hotels, airlines, and in-destination activities. Creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests will be the goal of every company that has a chance to win back business once tourism springs to life.  Many companies have adjusted their cancellation policies to make vacation planning a less-stressful activity.  Fat Tire Tours has adopted a no-questions-asked, full money-back guarantee within 24-hours on most tours, making it easier than ever to get your reservation started.

 

4. Sustainable Travel

Lonely Planet took a different approach to their 2021 Best in Travel awards, foregoing naming specific destinations to visit in the year ahead.  Instead, they decided to focus on those positively impacting tourism through three criteria: sustainability, diversity, and community.  Some of the positive effects of covid stretch beyond Wales residents being greeted by goats in their planters; those who would normally jetset to a few different countries every summer are starting to consider the environmental impacts that their carbon emissions are causing.  Sustainable Travel seeks to protect and conserve while still allowing for the opportunity to visit beautiful parts of the world.  Guests are looking for companies whose values align with preserving local heritage.  They also want to experience new places in a sustainable way that allows others to continue to enjoy it after them.  And they want to learn about these magnificent corners of the world from all points of view.  Ethical companies who act in good faith and a genuine desire to help others experience their home will be those who come back strong. 

 

Cherry Blossom Trees - 2021 Travel Trends
Cherry Blossoms in Parc de Sceaux, France

 

5. Online or bust – the biggest trend

Some tourist attractions have never needed to rely on the internet to survive.  Consider the Blarney Stone or South of the Border; these are often stops along the way to a bigger hotspot.  But with government imposed restrictions and limited operating hours, we’re going to our phones more than ever to verify that these places will be open. That’s not just a 2021 travel trend; it’s likely the beginning of a new age of reserving activities.  Amadeus, a leading travel technology company, recently published a study claiming that 4 out of 5 travelers confirmed that technology would boost their assurance in travel over the next year.  This translates to more last-minute mobile bookings and the obligation of smaller companies to get online or close up shop.  


Conclusion

All roads are still leading to Rome, but they may just be closed for maintenance right now.  We’re confident that travel will bounce back soon, and in the meantime, we’re working hard to make your future tour with us extra special.

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