Here we go again. Japan today (Monday) announced that it’s closing its border to international travellers due to fears of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Japan will bar entry to foreigners from midnight on Monday, and Japanese returnees from specified nations will have to quarantine in designated facilities, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters. ABC News reports that the Israel Health Ministry said the country’s coronavirus Cabinet had authorized a raft of measures, including red-listing travel to 50 African countries, banning entry by foreigners and mandating quarantine for all Israelis arriving from abroad. Australia today said it’s delaying the Read more
Europe
As pandemic restrictions ease Canadians are packing their bags, with interest in travel insurance quotes surging 293% YOY, according to a report from RATESDOTCA. While far from pre-Covid numbers, it’s clear Canadians are once again ready to pack up and go, though the destinations they are planning to visit have changed. Interest in domestic travel climbed 330% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021 while interest in international travel fell 14%. The report pulls data from thousands of quotes for travel insurance from Q3 2019 to Q3 2021. While the U.S. remains the top destination, interest in visiting has fallen 66% Read more
Canadians will soon have a new way to reach one of the world’s greatest cities. WestJet today announced it will add non-stop service from Calgary to London’s Heathrow Airport, starting in early spring 2022. As WestJet continues to increase global connectivity from Western Canada, the addition of non-stop service between Calgary and London-Heathrow signals confidence in the recovery of business and leisure travel between both destinations, officials said. “As the airline with the most flights from Alberta, this is an important recovery milestone as we forge new connections between Canada and one of the world’s most sought after global hubs,” Read more
If you’re a Canadian with a mixed dose of vaccines, Ireland has some good news for you. The Irish government says it is now accepting mixed vaccinations as proof of inoculation. That’s a relief for millions of Canadians who received mixed vaccines, such as AstraZeneca followed by Moderna or Pfizer. Some countries were slow to accept mixed vaccinations, but the U.S. agreed to the policy a few weeks ago, and now Ireland’s official website makes the same point. To visit Ireland, you only need to fill out a Passenger Locator Form and show your vaccination proof. No PCR-style or even Read more
This is a re-post of a blog I published in June, 2014. Lest we forget. YPRES, BELGIUM – I take a train through rolling fields of prosperous farms and frisky Holsteins and small, black sheep grazing on deep, green grass. I dive into perfectly cooked sole at a stunning restaurant. I wander adorable streets filled with attractive brick buildings and drink rich Belgian beers on lovely squares and stroll through romantic parks with tiny bridges over pretty marshes and silent fishermen trying their luck I have a lovely time in this small town and the surrounding area. But I also Read more
