EU promises “We will have a summer tourist season” [for travellers from Europe]
May 14, 20, 2:38 pm
#106
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
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Got to be of strange mind to take a tourist international trip currently. By tourist I mean not visiting family/friends but going to really be a tourist in a new place.
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
May 14, 20, 2:45 pm
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
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Got to be of strange mind to take a tourist international trip currently. By tourist I mean not visiting family/friends but going to really be a tourist in a new place.
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
Although this summer I think it will be beaches and mountains rather than old castles and churches, which I've already seen.
May 14, 20, 2:53 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
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Don't worry I've already been doing a lot of nice things right around home, no envy from me, just being hopeful, respectful, caring and responsible to my fellow human
May 14, 20, 3:00 pm
#109
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 3,999
If by some miracle I had a safe way to get to Europe (some revolution in safe air travel), and I were able to get to Rome, Florence, or Venice, and they had their churches open in a safe manner, I could totally have a great trip just walking around and eating takeout food or grocery store food. But that is a lot of ifs.
May 14, 20, 3:14 pm
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
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If you truly care about your fellow humans, you will be out spending as much as you can as a traveler. The people who work in the tourism and food industries need help, and many of them also send their money to places that are desperately poor. Staying at home and not participating in the economy is terribly selfish. Note that ordering from Amazon is not really helping as nearly all the money goes solely to Amazon.
May 14, 20, 3:52 pm
#111
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Join Date: Aug 2014
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So I am confused, are the Americans invited to the Dog and Pony show or not? 
May 14, 20, 4:13 pm
#112
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
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Moderator note
This thread is about a gradual opening of borders in the EU mostly for European tourists. Discussion and comparison with the situation in the US does not belong here. Please observe the forum posting guidelines which state “This is not the place for political discussions.” Those eligible may like to consider posting in one of the threads in OMNI/PR.
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May 14, 20, 5:24 pm
#114
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: 42.1% in PDX , 49.9% in PVG & 8% in the air somewhere
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Posts: 1,086
If you truly care about your fellow humans, you will be out spending as much as you can as a traveler. The people who work in the tourism and food industries need help, and many of them also send their money to places that are desperately poor. Staying at home and not participating in the economy is terribly selfish. Note that ordering from Amazon is not really helping as nearly all the money goes solely to Amazon.
We shop at Trade Joes, Safeway, QFC, have been doing take out almost every other day, if there was more interesting options we would. We feel fortunate that my sons and all are not effected and continue to have to work our long hours from my house. Wife has never been busier cooking and bring order out in. But don't agree with the the idea that we all should all go about and pretend nothing is happening and spend as much and travel as much, that is a irresponsible global statement designed to divide people, sad actually.
I am disappointed we didn't make our annual spring skiing trip to Utah/Whistler or our planned European cruise etc. etc., simply not the right thing to do in this current situation.
BTW why do you think Amazon gets all the mone soley? OMG they get the product for free, just like Costco, got it, Amazon isn't w/o faults but to position them as no more predatory a business than any airline or other business is disingenuous
May 14, 20, 5:45 pm
#115
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 722
Yaaa.......no. Testing rates are too low, many places are just starting to peak, things are opening back up despite no control. Everything western Europe learned, the US ignored and is not doing the opposite of.
Plus, EU nationals can't visit there, so US nationals won't be allowed here. I hope they don't let Americans in for a while. Ya know, until we figure out what's going on.
Plus, EU nationals can't visit there, so US nationals won't be allowed here. I hope they don't let Americans in for a while. Ya know, until we figure out what's going on.
I would bet a lot of states that reopened two weeks ago are well above 0.7.
May 14, 20, 5:49 pm
#116
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 722
Where do you get this? Everything I've heard says that the US is very aggressive in counting virus deaths, such as someone confirmed positive and dying in a car accident being counted. I have also heard of people being sick with cancer for years and then dying recently. The corpses are tested after they died, and counted as a virus death if tested positive. The US is overcounting if anything!
The testing rates and infection rates are right in there with Western Europe numbers. Some higher, some lower. The death rates in the US, however, are much lower than most of Western Europe. Besides death rates, the US would fit right in.
Also, the US is very large and diverse. It wouldn't be unreasonable to count each US state separately to make a more accurate comparison. And if you do that, New York state would be at the top. Almost every other state would be low, like Germany or Denmark. The federal government largely left it up to each individual state to decide how to handle it, much like the European Union mostly let each EU country decide how to handle it. In the US at least, it makes sense. NYC needs different actions than Wyoming. Ha, Wyoming is so vast and sparsely populated that they practice social distancing by default!
France has cases from 2019. Why isn't France being criticized for not recognizing it and shutting things down then? Yes, I know, they didn't know about it. It wasn't evident, and nobody knew what it was back then. And I agree. However, we know full well that had it been the US instead of France in the exact same scenario, the US would be highly criticized.
As a disclaimer, I will say that although I am American, I am an expat living in Africa. I haven't been in the US for almost a year now. It's interesting that here you don't hear much about the US. It's all Western Europe. The blame goes to Europe rather than the US, probably because the first number of confirmed cases here were people who had been in Europe and brought it back.
I keep reading about how poorly the US is doing, mostly on Reddit. However, nobody ever says what they're actually doing or not doing. Nobody seems to know. The media and every public forum has a blanket viewpoint (for everything, not just COVID 19): US bad, Western Europe good. Look at how other countries are raising questions about China. It's hailed as the thing that must be done. The US did it a long time ago, and it was highly criticized.
OK, I'm finished. I think I've made my viewpoint clear! Fire away!
The testing rates and infection rates are right in there with Western Europe numbers. Some higher, some lower. The death rates in the US, however, are much lower than most of Western Europe. Besides death rates, the US would fit right in.
Also, the US is very large and diverse. It wouldn't be unreasonable to count each US state separately to make a more accurate comparison. And if you do that, New York state would be at the top. Almost every other state would be low, like Germany or Denmark. The federal government largely left it up to each individual state to decide how to handle it, much like the European Union mostly let each EU country decide how to handle it. In the US at least, it makes sense. NYC needs different actions than Wyoming. Ha, Wyoming is so vast and sparsely populated that they practice social distancing by default!
France has cases from 2019. Why isn't France being criticized for not recognizing it and shutting things down then? Yes, I know, they didn't know about it. It wasn't evident, and nobody knew what it was back then. And I agree. However, we know full well that had it been the US instead of France in the exact same scenario, the US would be highly criticized.
As a disclaimer, I will say that although I am American, I am an expat living in Africa. I haven't been in the US for almost a year now. It's interesting that here you don't hear much about the US. It's all Western Europe. The blame goes to Europe rather than the US, probably because the first number of confirmed cases here were people who had been in Europe and brought it back.
I keep reading about how poorly the US is doing, mostly on Reddit. However, nobody ever says what they're actually doing or not doing. Nobody seems to know. The media and every public forum has a blanket viewpoint (for everything, not just COVID 19): US bad, Western Europe good. Look at how other countries are raising questions about China. It's hailed as the thing that must be done. The US did it a long time ago, and it was highly criticized.
OK, I'm finished. I think I've made my viewpoint clear! Fire away!
May 14, 20, 6:15 pm
#117
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 983
Got to be of strange mind to take a tourist international trip currently. By tourist I mean not visiting family/friends but going to really be a tourist in a new place.
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
"What happens if I take a trip to [wherever], and on Day 5 I feel sick, go to a doctor, and find out I have Coronavirus? Not even a severe case, but one where I'll need to stay quarantined in a room for two weeks. Nearly all travel insurance excludes COVID-19 coverage, so who's paying for the extra two weeks in a hotel during peak season?"
May 14, 20, 6:26 pm
#118
Suspended
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 687
Coronavirus is highly contagious so the odds of getting sick aren't necessarily low. And absolutely none of the re-opening proposals address this basic scenario:
"What happens if I take a trip to [wherever], and on Day 5 I feel sick, go to a doctor, and find out I have Coronavirus? Not even a severe case, but one where I'll need to stay quarantined in a room for two weeks. Nearly all travel insurance excludes COVID-19 coverage, so who's paying for the extra two weeks in a hotel during peak season?"
"What happens if I take a trip to [wherever], and on Day 5 I feel sick, go to a doctor, and find out I have Coronavirus? Not even a severe case, but one where I'll need to stay quarantined in a room for two weeks. Nearly all travel insurance excludes COVID-19 coverage, so who's paying for the extra two weeks in a hotel during peak season?"
May 14, 20, 6:38 pm
#119
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 983
No, problem magnified, since a stricken traveler who does not seek medical attention will likely be missed by community health surveillance systems, and may even place others at risk of infection. Now, if an EU government wants to issue a blanket guarantee that any tourist who gets ill with Coronavirus while traveling will have all medical and extended lodging expenses covered, then and only then are we talking serious risk mitigation that makes planning a visit acceptable.
May 14, 20, 6:42 pm
#120
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,967
France announced today that French citizens may go on vacation in July and August...in France. This accomplishes two things. One, relief for the people who have been trapped at home. Two, relief for the French tourism industry. It kind of forces French people to holiday in France.
Got to be of strange mind to take a tourist international trip currently. By tourist I mean not visiting family/friends but going to really be a tourist in a new place.
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
Though the actual risk for getting ill and at worst dying is low for many age groups as a whole the restrictions, the impact to the fun touristy stuff will make any trip questionable IMHO.
I'd want to go to Europe to see the historical sights Museums, Churches, historical monuments etc. etc. the interesting food etc. Nothing I hear now makes me believe they will be any state that would make me risk the money to fly there and be suprised
)If I go back in time two months, the places I was visiting in various countries in Europe are open today just as they were then. The places in the Middle East are more limited right now, but I expect that in a few weeks they too may be open to visitors again.
From a health perspective, I consider it no less safe today than when I was travelling in late March - in fact, I believe that things are actually safer today considering the risk of spread is much lower now.
Last edited by exbayern; May 14, 20 at 6:59 pm
