12 new Airbnb features and changes consumers will welcome

No doubt Airbnb is a popular lodging and vacation option. But many people also have been vocal on social media with complaints about everything from high cleaning fees to ridiculous checkout requirements by hosts.

Well, Airbnb has listened to those grievances and made some changes to its vacation booking platform. Specifically, it has launched more than 50 new features and upgrades to improve the booking and lodging experience.

“Millions of people have given us feedback on how to improve Airbnb,” Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement. “We’ve listened.”

He said the company analyzed “millions of customer service tickets,” reviewed “thousands of social media posts” and spoke with “hundreds of thousands of guests and hosts.”

Chesky called the resulting changes Airbnb’s “most extensive set of updates ever.” Airbnb, which expects 300 million guests this year, just posted its first-ever profitable quarter for the first quarter of 2023.

Here are a dozen of the most notable changes or new features for Airbnb guests:

This is what Airbnb’s new total price feature looks like. (Photo courtesy of Airbnb)

Price transparency: Users of the website and app now can see the total price, including fees but excluding taxes, in addition to the nightly rate.

Longer stays: With more people having flexible work schedules, Airbnb is offering stays of a month or longer under a new “months” search tab. Users can search for listings available for one month up to 12 months.

Better maps: Airbnb said more than 80% of guests use its map feature. Now, the maps are faster, contain persistent pins when zooming and panning, and show more listings.

Reimagined Wishlist: Airbnb redesigned its Wishlist feature, where you can save listings you like for future trips. Changes include larger images of saved homes and being able to add notes to saved listings.

These images show Airbnb’s redesigned Wishlist feature. (Photo courtesy of Airbnb)

Curated private rooms: To get back to its roots, Airbnb has unveiled a curated category of private rooms in a host’s home. It’s an option on the home page called “Rooms.” Private rooms also tend to cost less: Airbnb said the average nightly rate of a private room on its platform is $67. CEO Chesky has even listed a room in his San Francisco home on Airbnb to show his commitment to this idea.

Increased security/privacy: The listing page for a home now show if there’s no lock on a private room door, if the bathrooms are shared or private and if people other than the host will be in the home during your stay.

Improved search filters: It’s easier to switch between viewing rooms, entire homes or all types of places and see the different prices within the “type of place” filter

Host passport: Users can read more information about hosts, such as what college they attended, their favorite song in high school and their pets.

Checkout changes: Guests now can see checkout instructions on the listing page before booking a stay. And if guests think the instructions are over the top, they can choose “excessive checkout tasks” in a post-stay review. Airbnb said hosts with repeated low ratings for “unreasonable chores” will be removed from the platform.

Instant rebooking credit: If a host cancels a reservation within 30 days of arrival, most guests will receive an instant credit to be used to rebook another stay immediately.

Faster customer service: For customers with problems during a stay, Airbnb aims to answer 90% of support calls within two minutes.

Payment options: Guests in the United States and Canada can pay for stays in four interest-free installments over six weeks thanks to a partnership with Klarna. For U.S. bookings over $500, guests can pay monthly. Airbnb said more countries will be added.

Note: The featured photo at top is courtesy of Airbnb.

Get ready for another hectic season of summer air travel

Perhaps you’ve noticed that more people are traveling. And air travel is expected to hit record numbers this summer, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

With fading pandemic worries and few travel restrictions, people are eager to travel again, especially to international destinations.

“The demand for air travel far exceeds our ability to meet that today,” Geoff Freeman, CEO and president of the U.S. Transportation Association (USTA), said today in a Zoom call with the media. He and other travel experts hope the industry can avoid some of the issues that created chaos last summer, with many flight delays and cancellations.

The issues lie with too few air traffic controllers (1,200 less than 10 years ago), too few airline and airport staff, long waits for travelers to enter the United States, and chronic underfunding of aviation infrastructure and technology, Freeman said. If these issues aren’t fixed air travel woes could continue into 2024 and beyond, he added.

Air travel trends

Regardless of those issues and airfare being up nearly 18% in March from a year earlier, more travelers than ever are expected to crowd airports, planes, trains, cruises and popular destinations this summer and beyond.

In addition to the USTA’s forecast, David Pekoske, head of the Transportation Security Administration, this month told Bloomberg that he expects a potential record number of travelers to pass through U.S. airports this summer. And Delta Air Lines said it is seeing record advance bookings for travel between June and August.

U.S. domestic leisure travel is driving the increase in air travel, per the USTA. Business and international travel still are below per-pandemic levels.

A new Ipsos survey commissioned by the USTA shows that 53% of all Americans and 80% of U.S. leisure travelers plan to travel in the next six months.

More than a third (35%) of people who have traveled by air for pleasure in the past 12 months reported a flight delay or cancellation, the survey found. And less than a third of recent U.S. air travelers say they’re “very “satisfied with the air travel experience.

Travel website Expedia has said that summer flight searches as of April 1 were up 25% from the same period of time last year. Interest is up by triple digits for international destinations in Europe and Asia.

Popular U.S. and international destinations this summer, according to Expedia.

Top 5 U.S. destinations            Top 5 international destinations

1.  New York                                       1.  Cancun

2.  Los Angeles                                   2.  London

3.  Seattle                                           3.  Rome

4.  Orlando                                          4.  Punta Cana

5.  Las Vegas                                      5.  Paris

The USTA’s Freeman advised summer travelers to be patient as they likely will experience longer lines at airports. “We’re already starting to see that,” he said. “I’m hopeful we’ve learned lessons from last summer.”

Check back here in a few weeks for tips on how to make your summer travel smoother.

Deadline to get your Real ID for travel has been extended again

If you don’t have your Real ID yet for travel, don’t worry. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today said enforcement of the Real ID driver’s license has been extended by 24 months to May 7, 2025, from May 3, 2023. The initial deadline was in 2008.

May 7, 2025, is when you must show the new form of identification if you’re age 18 or older and want to fly within the United States.

Americans with state IDs that don’t comply with the federal government’s new “Real ID” standards won’t be able to get past airport security checkpoints. A state-issued driver’s license is the most common form of identification for air travel.

“This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement. “DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible.”

Work on the Real ID began in 2005 based on a recommendation in the 9/11 Commission report that the federal government should “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification.”

Find out if you need a Real ID

If you haven’t had to renew your driver’s license for a few years, chances are you don’t have a Real ID. To check, look for a star at the top of your license conveying it’s certified as a Real ID. Instead of a star, California uses a star on a golden bear and Ohio uses a black cut-out star.

Many Americans are unaware that traveling by air will require a Real ID at airport security checkpoints, according to the U.S. Travel Association (USTA).

In addition to a Real ID license, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners will accept 15 other identifications including, a valid U.S. passport/card, a Global Entry card or a permanent resident card. If you have TSA Precheck or Clear, you still will need a Real ID or other acceptable form of ID.

To see if you will need a REAL ID for upcoming travel, answer some questions on the Homeland Security website.

Confusion over the Real ID

A USTA survey in 2020 found that many Americans don’t have a Real ID or are confused about it. Among the findings were:

• 65% thought their driver’s license was not a Real ID or they were confused
• 36% say they’re certain their license is not a Real ID
• 21% say they’re unsure if their license is a Real ID
• 15% thought they had a Real ID and could correctly identify the star
• Of the 52% of Americans who say they plan to fly in the next two years, 54% have a federally approved ID, such as a passport, but don’t have a Real ID or are unsure.

The numbers probably haven’t changed much since the USTA in May requested an extension in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to get a Real ID

To get a REAL ID, you must go to the DMV and bring proof of identity, which varies by state. Check with your state’s DMV for specifics. Some DMVs do not accept laminated social security cards. The DHS website provides a map with state-by-state information on getting a REAL ID.

Anyone under age 18 doesn’t need to show identification to travel within the United States with a companion who has identification. That typically includes children flying as “an unaccompanied minor,” who is escorted by an adult with identification. Check with your airline first because each carrier has different rules about children, especially unaccompanied minors.

For more information, go to the FAQs page on the DHS website.

Consumers ignore inflation, driving up Thanksgiving travel forecasts

Despite high prices on everything from gas to hotels, Americans plan to travel big for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Travel hubs will be busy this holiday season as AAA predicts 53.4 million people will travel, an increase from last year and 2020. It expects Thanksgiving-related travel this year to reach 95% of its pre-pandemic volume.

“This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. “Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday.”

Travel demand is rebounding as COVID-19 restrictions have lifted. People are eager to spend the holidays with family and friends or take that delayed trip to an exotic locale.

Inflation ignored

Travel demand is high even as Americans’ confidence about the economy declined in October.

October also brought good news as inflation cooled (to a 7.7% annualized gain), but while some prices fell, others rose. Gas prices have declined somewhat, but remain high. On Tuesday, the national average price for one gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.77, up from $3.42 a year ago but down from $3.89 a month ago, according to AAA. The peak was $5.42 in mid-June.

Prices for other travel essentials, such as airfare, car rental and lodging, are higher and could be affected by limited capacity and staffing shortages, said AAA.

Earlier this month, average domestic airfare for Thanksgiving was $282 round trip, up 17% or $40 from last year, according to travel site Hopper.com. The average international ticket cost $842 round trip, up 30% or $195 from last year. Both sets of prices are higher than in 2019.

Hotel prices are up to an average $155-170 a night, depending on the forecast. Car rental rates have subsided from their summer heights, but it depends on where you rent. The average rate nationally is just under $100 a day during Thanksgiving week.

More travelers

Stubborn inflation doesn’t appear to be affecting holiday travel.

Overall, AAA expects 6.4 million more Americans to travel this Thanksgiving. In addition, the United States on Nov. 8 began letting non-citizens tourists enter the country through land borders and ferry crossings for the first time since March 2020 if they’re fully vaccinated with proof.

Whether you travel by car, plane, train, bus or boat for Thanksgiving this year, be prepared for crowds, traffic and possible delays and cancellations.

AAA expects some 48.3 million Americans plan to hit the road this holiday season. Although travel by car still is popular, air travel has almost completely recovered from its dramatic drop during the pandemic. The number of air travelers moving through U.S. airports has exceeded pre-pandemic levels in November 2019, according the data from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

One of the major U.S. airlines, Delta, last week said it plans to carry nearly 6 million people from Nov. 18-29, just below the number of passengers on the same dates in 2019.

So, where are travelers going for Thanksgiving? Big cities, beaches and Disney are the most popular. Anaheim, California; Orlando, Florida; and New York City are the top domestic destinations. Internationally, it’s Mexico and the Caribbean.

Tips if you’re driving

• If you can, avoid traveling on Nov. 23, which is predicted to be the worst driving congestion. Major metro areas could see more than double typical drive times, and Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City may see more than three times the usual delays.
• Hit the road when there’s less traffic — before 11 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• Make sure your gas tank is full and check your vehicle’s battery, tires, oil, brake fluid and windshield-wiper fluid to ensure it’s road worthy.
• Allow for extra time in case you get stuck in traffic or worse.

Tips if you’re flying

• Avoid the peak travel days of Nov. 18 and Nov. 27. Thanksgiving Day will be the slowest day at U.S. airports.
• Arrive at the airport early so you have enough time to park, get to the terminal, check luggage and move through longer security checkpoint and other lines. The Atlanta, Dallas Fort-Worth and Denver airports are expected to be the busiest. The general rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before departure of a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
• Know the travel rules. Within the United States, people who are fully vaccinated don’t need a negative COVID-19 test and don’t need to quarantine, but face masks still are required on public transportation, including planes, and in U.S. transportation hubs, such as airports. If you’re traveling internationally, check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website for international travel information and its “Destinations” page for possible health risks and restrictions for specific areas.
• Download your airline’s app to access your mobile boarding pass, get flight alerts, track checked bags and more.
• Check-in online. Once at the airport, use a self-tagging kiosk to check bags and then go straight to a security checkpoint.
• Cushion your travel plans. For some people that may mean building in an extra day in case your flight is delayed or cancelled. For others, it may mean buying travel insurance that covers unexpected delays, trip interruptions or a sudden illness.

Tips sources: AAA; Delta Air Lines; Hopper.com; INRIX; ThePointsGuy.com; Sheryl Jean; Thrifty Traveler

Scotland Diary 1: Five restaurants in Edinburgh to tickle your locavore fancy

Dining in Scotland has moved well beyond haggis — its signature dish of sheep’s innards, onions, oatmeal and seasoning that used to be cooked in a sheep’s stomach — thanks to a strong locavore movement.

Sourcing and eating locally grown and produced food has been gaining steam across that country for a while. That means plenty of modern Scottish restaurant menus, especially in the capital city of Edinburgh, reflect the country’s gastronomic heritage. Surrounded by water on three sides and lots of open space, Scotland has a cornucopia of everything from grains and seafood to cattle and sheep.

Try one of these five restaurants in Edinburgh for local flavor:

The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant

This sustainable restaurant takes museum food to a new level — with lovely views of the Princes Street Gardens to boot. Located in the Scottish National Gallery, private owners Victor and Carina Contini buy direct from over 70 Scottish artisan suppliers and use produce grown in their 1-acre garden on the city outskirts. On my visit, a chalkboard-drawn map of Scotland showed the source of its produce, meats, fish and other ingredients. Menus change seasonally. It’s two-course lunch special (an entry and dessert) for $26 is a steal ($30 gets you three courses). It also offers afternoon tea. Service is impeccable.

A lunch combo at the Scottish Cafe & Restaurant. (Sheryl Jean)

The Gardener’s Cottage

Nestled in London Road Gardens at the foot of Calton Hill, this this restaurant in an 1836 stone cottage was once home to a gardener. It’s fitting then that the front path is lined with vegetable and flower gardens used by its chef. Inside, most tables are communal, lending a coziness to the rustic restaurant. Pared-down, multi-course menus offer a $43 lunch and a $80 dinner, with dishes like spring ricotta with asparagus, ox cheek and rhubarb with white chocolate. Each dish reflects the freshest seasonal ingredients that day. During my fixed-price lunch, I particularly enjoyed the mackerel with cucumber horseradish and oxails (flowers) and braised hogget (young sheep with grain mustard, kale and purple carrot.

Mackerel was one of the lunch courses I ate at The Gardener’s Cottage. (Sheryl Jean)

Aizle

Everything here is locally sourced, so the menu changes based on the availability and the season. Chef Stuart Ralston, who opened Aizle in 2014 after working for Gordon Ramsay at London NYC, creates dinner from what’s left. Spring ingredients include beetroot, fresh fish, hogget, lanark blue cheese and Scottish mussels. The six-course dinner tasting menu costs about $105 per person.

The Kitchin

This 2006 restaurant in a converted whisky warehouse on the Leith waterfront was one of city’s first to showcase regional Scottish ingredients. It received a Michelin star in 2007. Chef Tom Kitchin worked with chefs at three 3-star Michelin restaurants: La Tante Claire in London, Guy Savoy in Paris and Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo. He focuses on modern British cuisine influenced by French cooking techniques. It offers three surprise tasting menus (about $150 or $210 per person), a three-course lunch menu (around $60 to $73) and a la carte options such as razor clams, veal, monkfish and strawberries and custard.

Kyloe Restaurant & Grill

If you want to know what all the fuss is about those cute Highland cows, this restaurant is for you. Kyloe — an old Scots word for Highland cattle — sources pedigree Aberdeen Angus beef from top Scottish farms and butchers. Diners at this Old Town restaurant can choose from many cuts of beef, including cote de boeuf, chateaubriand and ribeye — and plenty of non-beef options. Prices for meat — since that’s why you’re here — run from $20 to $80. Bonus: The rustic dining room in the Rutland Hotel offers views of Edinburgh Castle.

Read my two subsequent blog posts: Scotland Diary 2: Walking is big business in Scotland and Scotland Diary 3: Climbing 4,400-foot Ben Nevis is no trifle.

Notes: Prices and menu items are accurate as of mid-2022, but may change over time. Wine pairings typically are not included in the prices. This weekly feature on Scotland that will run through July 26.

Herb and flower gardens line the path to the entrance of The Gardener’s Cottage. (Sheryl Jean)

An It’s-It ice cream treat is a San Francisco must

Even in cool, foggy San Francisco, summer means ice cream to many people.

The one frozen treat you cannot miss is … an It’s-It. Not only is it delicious but it’s probably the most iconic San Francisco frozen treat. you’ll come across.

What is an It’s It?

It’s an ice cream sandwich extraordinaire. The classic version features vanilla ice cream between two oatmeal cookies and then the whole oversized sandwich is dipped in dark chocolate. Other flavors are: mint, cappuccino, green tea, chocolate and strawberry ice cream. It makes Pumpkin flavored ones each fall.

When I introduced my niece and nephew to It’s-Its a few years ago, it launched a mission to find — and eat — as many different flavors as we could in a couple of days. I think we tasted four or five.

The It’s-It factory shop at its company headquarters in Burlingame, Calif., offers a variety of ice cream sandwich flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, mint and green tea. You can see the shop from State Highway 101. (Photo by Sheryl Jean)

It’s-It Ice Cream has been making the cookie sandwiches since 1928. Initially, the company sold the treats only at San Francisco’s legendary Playland-at-the-Beach for more than four decades. Even after that, for many years you could only find an It’s-It on the West Coast — at the factory shop at the company’s Burlingame headquarters (about 15 miles south of San Francisco) or at some large supermarkets west of the Rockies.

Most recently, It’s-It Ice Cream announced in March on its Facebook page (see below) that the treat would make its East Coast debut this year at certain Costco stores. Here’s the list of Northeast locations.

How to avoid rental car madness on your vacation

If you’ve started to research or book travel, you may have noticed the sky-high car rental prices.

I recently wanted to rent a car in a different city and found it would cost over $100 a day. A friend recently was quoted $128 a day. That can add quite an unexpected cost to a weekend or longer trip.

Why? By now, I’m sure you’ve heard about the global supply chain issues causing delays on the delivery of supplies for all kinds of products, including semiconductors and other parts that go into cars.

In addition, car rental agencies, like any travel-related business, were hard hit last year during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. To stay afloat, they sold off pieces of their fleets, but now they’re short on vehicles as demand surges.

Scott’s Cheap Flights has an excellent article on ways to get around this issue. I’ve linked to it instead of reinventing the wheel, so to say.

Survey: Global travelers are ready to roam and spend more money on longer trips

The pent-up demand for travel is real.

People across the globe are ready to roam again as vaccination rates rise and government restrictions lift, reaffirm the results of a survey released on May 12.

In addition, travelers (70%) plan to spend more money this year than in the past five years, projects Flywire, the global payments partner of Adventure Travel Trade Association. Most of them say savings during the coronavirus pandemic will boost their travel budget in 2021 and 2022.

Update on May 13, 2021: Other evidence is mounting. Flight bookings in April were up 11% from April 2019, according to Axios Markets based on data from American Express Travel. And a Harris Poll survey for the Let’s Go There coalition found that 77% of Americans plan to take a trip this summer, up from 29% in June 2020.

“Although health and safety concerns continue to be top of mind, consumers are excited to resume traveling and are increasing their budget to make up for lost time,” said Colin Smyth, vice president and general manager of travel at Flywire.

With COVID-19 still a concern, many people (39%) will travel in their own country this summer before going international later this year or in 2022, the Flywire report found. Still, 30% will travel to Western Europe and nearly a quarter each throughout North America or to the Caribbean.

Last week, I blogged about how many U.S. states and other countries are starting to reopen to travelers. Keep in mind the situation is constantly changing.

“Everyone is enthusiastic about travel but when it comes to bookings in Europe, there’s still some hesitancy” based on the uncertainty of local restrictions,” Dustin Figge, CEO and founder of Homelike, an online provider of temporary housing for business, said during a live webinar hosted May 12 by Flywire.

Since Iceland reopened in early April, Iceland Encounter in Reykjavik has been getting four times the number of travel requests, mostly from U.S. residents, than in 2019, said Erling Aspelund, owner of the adventure travel company, said in the webinar. But actual bookings are slower, he said.

According to Axios and American Express Travel, the top 10 U.S. destinations are New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, Charlotte, Denver, San Francisco and Phoenix. Internationally, Sydney, Melbourne, London, Dubai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Paris are popular.

How people will travel

The Flywire survey found that three-quarters of travelers would pay more for a trip with additional health and safety protocols, such as rapid testing.

Other data show similar trends. Over half (57%) of Americans are excited to go on vacation in the future, but 63% still want to continue social distancing, according to Morning Consult’s May 12 pandemic report.

Aspelund and Nicole Murray, guest relations manager of Keefer Lake Lodge in British Columbia, Canada, said consumer demand for remote locations, privacy and outdoor activities is driving their business right now.

“Versus this time last year, our phones are ringing nonstop when usually this is our quiet time of the year,” Murray said. Keefer Lake Lodge offers Catskiing in winter, and heli hiking and corporate retreats in the summer.

Currently, Canada restricts travel and Americans cannot visit for leisure purposes. Canada’s prime minister has said its land border with the United States could reopen this summer for non-essential travel.

How travel will look

Vacations will look different from before the pandemic.

Travelers (60%) are considering new destinations based on the pandemic-related factors like crowds, trip duration and lodging type. And 63% are willing to pay more now to reserve a spot on a future trip.

Three-quarters of survey respondents said their first vacation probably will be to places where there aren’t many people: 35% will go to the beach, 16% will go to a spa/resort and 14% seek an exotic destination.

How long trips will be

Roughly two-thirds of travelers plan to take a longer vacation – and seek lodgings where they can easily do so.

Aspelund of Iceland Encounter said he’s getting requests for trips averaging over 10 days, compared with the typical summer trip of six to seven days.

The remote working trend is influencing longer vacations. Flywire found that 34% of travelers have worked from domestic (25%) and/or international (17%) accommodations since the pandemic began, with people spending an average of 10.6 days working away from home. Furthermore, 59% said remote work will be a consideration in future travel plans.

Homelike has seen increased demand for locations that offer an element of nature now that people aren’t commuting as much, Figge said. He also has seen more interest in what he calls “secondary cities,” such as Manchester and Cambridge in the United Kingdom over London, he said.

“The line between travel and work is blurring,” Figge said. “It’s not so much about working anymore, but living. This will be a trend that won’t be going away once Covid is over.”

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Note: Flywire commissioned Regina Corso Consulting to conduct an online survey of 825 frequent leisure travelers in North America, the United Kingdom, Japan and Spain in March. All of the respondents are age 25-65 with a household income of at least $75,000.

The featured photograph is from rawpixel.com via Pexels License.

Have COVID-19 vaccine will travel this summer

Regardless of how and where you plan to go, the summer travel season this year promises to be busy.

After being cooped up for more than a year during the coronavirus pandemic, Americans are expected to be out in droves this summer as more people get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (14 days after receiving your last recommended vaccination dose), restrictions relax and more businesses reopen or extend their hours and services.

Many states and countries have or are planning to ease travel restrictions in time for the traditional summer tourist season.

Rental cars are expensive and more people are flying. The number of people traveling through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints at U.S. airports topped 1.5 million for the week ended April 25 vs. 128,875 a year earlier.

Travel search skite Kayak has seen an increase in travel searches for warm-weather leisure destinations such as Hawaii and Mexico.

Travel within the United States

Some states and countries still have testing, mask and quarantine regulations in place, but that’s gradually changing.

Some states have done away with testing requirements to enter and 17 states, including Iowa and Wisconsin, had fully lifted their mask mandates as of early May. Other states, such as California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania, plan to lift restrictions to some degree in May and June.

Check out CNN’s updated list of coronavirus-related travel restrictions by state.

TSA has extended its face mask requirement for all U. S. public transportation, including airports, commercial aircraft, buses and all rail systems, through Sept. 13.

Travel outside the United States

Internationally, one of the biggest changes recently occurred, when the European Union (EU) indicated plans to welcome vaccinated American tourists in June. Now, travel to Europe is limited.

The vaccines given in the United States — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) — “will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told The New York Times. The EU would recommend its 27 member countries relax current border restrictions, but it will be up to individual country and travelers probably will have to show a vaccination certificate.

Some countries are setting their own tourism rules to welcome back travelers ahead of the EU.

In mid-March, Iceland eased border restrictions for vaccinated Americans and other international visitors. As of April, Croatia ended its COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated American travelers. Croatia also is open to travelers who aren’t vaccinated if they meet certain requirements.

More countries are following suit to help jump start their economies ravaged by the pandemic, including:

* In late April, Greece lifted its quarantine restrictions for Americans and some other international travelers who provide a valid vaccination certificate or negative COVID-19 PCR test result 72 hours before arrival, and plans to reopen fully to tourism in mid-May.

* Italy is preparing to have a health pass ready in mid-May to welcome foreign travelers.

* Starting June 9, France plans to welcome U.S. and other foreign tourists with a “health pass,” according to Reuters. By then, bars and restaurants will be back to offering outside service, and museums, cinemas and theaters will have reopened. And France will start raising its 7 p.m. curfew to 9 p.m. on May 19, 11 p.m. on June 9 and and erased on June 30.

* Spain said it plans to open to travelers from outside Europe in time for summer and is preparing to implement a digital health certificate, which it will start testing in May at all of its 46 airports.

Meteore, Greece, is one of that country’s top tourist destinations. (Photo by Sheryl Jean)

The Points Guy blog provides a comprehensive country-by-country guide of where you can travel to once you’re vaccinated. Kayak also has a web page of pandemic restrictions by country.

Some countries, such as Estonia, Poland and Romania, still have bans on vaccinated U.S. tourists.

Northern California reopens indoor wine tasting

An activity that has made Northern California famous is returning: the indoor wine tasting.

Wineries have been hosting limited outdoor tastings. But now, some NorCal wine areas, including Napa Valley, will resume indoor tastings as California relaxes restrictions due to a lower rate of new COVID-19 infection cases and a higher vaccination rate. Social distancing guidelines and mask wearing still are being followed.

Earlier this month, Napa and Sonoma counties moved into the less restrictive the orange tier (“moderate” risk), allowing for indoor wine tastings. In Napa, that means wineries are limited to 25% capacity indoors, or 100 people. In Sonoma, wineries that serve meals can operate at 50% capacity, or up to 200 people.

The change is just in time for the beautiful spring weather and summer vacationers.

I enjoyed an indoor wine tasting at Raymond Vineyards in Napa Valley pre-pandemic. (Photo by Sheryl Jean)

After all, visiting a winery isn’t just about the wine. Wineries often are nestled in special nooks among the Northern California landscape, boast spectacular gardens and vistas, and offer delicious food made by well-known chefs.

The San Francisco Chronicle recently published its Top 25 Wineries for spring 2021, including the location, type of wine, price, if the winery is dog or family friendly and if food is available. Most of the tasting fees range from $20 to $75.

The list includes well-known names, such as Domaine Carneros, Frog’s Leap Winery, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Iron Horse Vineyards and Mayacamas Vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties. I’ve visited some of those,

But the list also featured newer names, such as Faust Wines (one of Napa Valley’s newest tasting rooms, opened in 2020 in St. Helena), Dashe Cellars (it relocated from Oakland to an historic airplane hangar in Alameda in 2019) and Ashes & Diamonds Winery (its Midcentury Modern tasting room opened in 2017 in Napa.

If you’re not yet ready for indoor tastings, you can opt for the patio or try a new label at home or outdoors. For inspiration, check out Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2020 and winners of the San Francisco Chronicle 2020 Wine Competition.

For a taste, the American AgCredit Sweepstake winners offer a wide range of styles and prices:

• Sparkling Sweepstake: Breathless Sonoma County (California) Blanc de Noir, $32
• White Sweepstake: Trader Moon Wine Co. (California) 2018 California Honey Moon Viognier, $5.99
• Rose Sweepstake: Ferrari-Carano (California) 2019 Sonoma County Dry Sangiovese Rose, $15
• Red Sweepstake: DeLorimier Winery (California) 2016 Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $75
• Specialty Sweepstake: Ferrante Winery (Ohio) 2017 Grand River Valley Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, $30
• Packaging Sweepstake: VARA New Mexico Vina Cardinal Rose Wine Label, $32

Cheers!