Need a Visa for Europe? Hurry Up and Wait Europe Travel Advisory Travel Documents by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - October 1, 2023October 1, 20230 For most travelers from the United States, going to Europe is a relatively smooth experience, without the need to apply for visas or pay steep fees for short visits. But for people like Duygu Yildirim, that isn’t the case. Yildirim, 36, holds a Turkish passport and lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. Within Europe’s Schengen Area, a border-free zone allowing free movement among 27 European countries, citizens of Turkey and dozens of other countries, including India, South Africa and China, must apply for visas for stays of fewer than 90 days. The application process is expensive, anxiety-inducing and time-consuming. For every visit to Europe, the visa costs 80 euros (about $85) and requires an in-person appointment as well as hard copies of various legal
Passport Crisis, Hurry Up and Wait Travel Travel Advisory Travel Documents Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - April 4, 2023April 4, 20230 Candese Charles Tue, April 4, 2023 at 12:03 PM GMT+2 LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If you’re looking to travel abroad and need a passport, you’re not the only one. Currently, the rush of applications has pushed the wait time to several months. “We’re getting 500,000 applications a week for passports,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said March 24, calling the renewed demand for travel “unprecedented.” The State Department warns it is taking 10 to 13 weeks to receive a passport and the expedited process, which costs an extra $60, will take seven to nine weeks. Staffing shortages are being blamed for some of the delays. Trying to get an appointment at one of the 20 passport centers in Clark County, Nevada is leaving some people
What’s this I hear about Vaccine Passports in our futures? COVID Travel Advisory Travel News Uncategorized by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - February 16, 2021February 16, 20210 The future of travel during Covid-19 So you got the Covid-19 vaccine. Is it a ticket to take a trip wherever you want? Some tourist destinations say yes, as the concept of a “vaccine passport” circulates around the world. While this is a problem-solving suggestion that could work for travel companies, tourists, doctors, and governments, the idea also comes with some major concerns and dilemmas, from efficacy to ethics. Here are the main points to consider as you start to hear more about vaccine passports. What is a vaccine passport? In theory, the idea is very straightforward: You get the Covid-19 vaccine (after doing the full course—right now, it’s two doses) and the vaccination card that you’ve been given will act as an entry pass into
CDC to Allow a Phased-In Return to Cruising in the US Carnival Cruise Cruise Norwegian Cruise Lines Royal Caribbean Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - October 31, 2020October 31, 20200 The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is letting the no-sail order expire on Oct. 31, setting the stage for a conditional, phased-in return to cruise ship operations. “Considering the continued spread of COVID-19 worldwide and increased risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships, a careful approach is needed to safely resume cruise ship passenger operations,” the CDC said in its Oct. 30 statement. “CDC is establishing requirements to mitigate the COVID-19 risk to passengers and crew, prevent the further spread of COVID-19 from cruise ships into U.S. communities, and protect public health and safety.” The phase-in to cruising will start with testing and implemented safeguards for crew members “while these cruise ship operators build the laboratory capacity needed to test future passengers.” After that, “test voyages”
Cruise Lines Will Now Require COVID-19 Test Prior to You Sailing Carnival Cruise Cruise Norwegian Cruise Lines Royal Caribbean Travel Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - October 16, 2020October 16, 20200 Testing will be performed on all passengers and crew as travelers slowly wade back into the waters of traveling again. Cruise lines are finding ways to ease concerns about the close quarters and communal nature of their seafaring vessels. Now, several major cruise companies have agreed to implement new regulations that will require passengers to prove their negative COVID-19 status before embarking on any ships. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents major cruise lines around the world, recently released a statement that all of its members worldwide have agreed to test passengers and crews on all ships with a capacity to carry 250 people or more. Only those with a negative test result will be allowed to embark. “We see testing as
Is Your AirBnB Clean? AirBnB Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - October 9, 2020October 9, 20200 Home-sharing company Airbnb is making its 'Enhanced Clean' standards compulsory for all hosts. Starting November 20, 2020, all AirBnB hosts are required to implement the newly imposed safety guidelines and cleaning procedures or risk being removed from the AirBnB platform. The new cleaning guidelines are now mandatory in order to boost traveler confidence and help address traveler safety concerns. The enhanced Airbnb cleaning standards were developed with former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and cover a 'five-step cleaning process.' The 5-step cleaning process is a set of cleaning practices that all hosts are required to follow between guest stays, in addition to their local laws and guidelines. The process is based on Airbnb’s cleaning handbook, which was developed in partnership with experts in
Traveling to the Dominican Republic during the Coronavirus Pandemic Caribbean Dominican Republic Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - September 30, 2020September 30, 20200 Things travelers want to and should know if traveling to the Dominican Republic during the pandemic. This INFORMATION UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2020: Entry Requirements: Aligning with the launch of the Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan on September 15th, travelers no longer need to provide a negative PCR or COVID-19 test upon arrival. Instead, airports and other ports of entry will administer a quick, aleatory breath test to between 3% and 10% of passengers, and all those who present symptoms, upon arrival. All passengers will also need to perform a temperature check. Passengers who present symptoms or whose test results are positive will be isolated and attended at authorized locations. Prior to departure, travelers should confirm with their airline provider and airport of origin regarding any
British Virgin Islands to Reopen December 1, 2020 to International Visitors British Virgin Islands Caribbean Travel Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - September 26, 2020September 26, 20200 British Virgin Islands premier and minister of finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has announced that the territory’s borders will open to international visitors on December 1. The premier, while addressing the launch of the "BVILOVE" tourism campaign on Monday, said that the government is optimistic and is vigorously preparing for the reopening. The premier said that the government intends to reopen the territory in the safest way possible, using science and technology as a guide. “This next phase also comes with a risk factor, where if a case of COVID-19 gets into our territory, then it can go through the whole community very quickly. That is why we must use technology,” Premier Fahie said. “The concentration must be to use the technology through a simulation prior, to
The Caribbean Islands Have Amended Their Travel Entry Requirements Bahamas Barbados Caribbean Jamaica Montego Bay New York Punta Cana St. Lucia Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - July 23, 2020July 23, 20200 Caribbean destinations that have opened their borders to tourism this month are amending travel entry requirements amid a sharp resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. A key market for the Caribbean, the U.S.’s caseload has climbed to over 3.7 million and deaths have reached over 140,000, according to Worldometers. The Bahamas has gone as far closing its borders to American travelers for the time being to prevent the spread of the virus. St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris has closed the country’s borders to travel indefinitely. Many destinations have already updated their policies to require a COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival (see: Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico). The challenge will be for travelers to find testing programs that process a
Get Ready for a Return to Gambling in Las Vegas on June 4th Las Vegas Travel Advisory Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - May 29, 2020May 29, 20200 On Friday afternoon, Gov. Steve Sisolak gave Nevada casinos a tentative date they could plan to reopen: June 4. Seventy-eight days after casinos first closed down to help stem the spread of COVID-19. The move comes as the state has faced an increasing amount of pressure to reopen; Nevada’s unemployment rate hit record highs in April, and casinos in 12 other states had opened their doors ahead of those in Sin City. Virginia Valentine, president and CEO of the Nevada Resort Association, said Sisolak’s announcement is “fantastic news” for Nevada’s gaming industry. “Our members have spent more than two months preparing for this day,” she said in an emailed statement. “They’ve put in place enhanced health and safety plans and protocols … Our
