Flying to Europe this year may sound as absurd as opting for premium gasoline. With such high prices, is it really the right time to splurge?
“As a result of the lack of labor market and all that stuff going on, travel is more expensive than it was at one time,” says travel journalist Oneika Raymond. “Flights are really expensive. Accommodation is really expensive. And revenge travel is one thing.
Even though travel prices are rising overall due to limited supply and growing demand, the pockets of affordability remain.
Europe is one of those pockets where the weakening of the exchange rate against the dollar and the weak demand have left prices relatively unaffected. In fact, flights to the US have become so expensive this year that some international destinations, including many in Europe, offer a relative discount.
“If you want to pay to fly nationally, look at international destinations,” says Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, a travel booking app. “Because there’s a good chance there’s a flight to somewhere else in the world for about the same price.”
Domestic flights were 30% higher at the end of May 2022 compared to May 2019, according to data from Hopper.
“Airfare this summer in the United States will cost $ 600 to $ 800,” Berg says. “At these prices you can come to Reykjavik, Iceland or Dublin, Ireland.”
In fact, U.S. flights to Europe were only 13% at the end of May 2022 compared to the same period in 2019, according to Hopper. This trend continues with tourist demand remaining below pre-pandemic levels: About 19% fewer US travelers left Europe in May 2022 compared to May 2019, before the pandemic, according to data from the International Trade Administration.
Simply put, prices and demand for flights in Europe are rising, but not as fast as elsewhere.
“Given how high the domestic flight price is, you can get more vouchers for your buck with longer distance destinations,” explains Berg.
Even though 2022 may decline as a bear market for everything from stocks to crypto-currency, the US dollar has gained ground on many foreign currencies. The dollar was 15% stronger against the euro in May 2022 compared to May 2021, according to Federal Reserve data.
“Today what we see is that a dollar can buy more euros than it has essentially since the euro was launched,” says Berg.
This means that everything you buy while traveling to countries that use the euro will receive a 15% discount if your currency exchange remains stable. US travelers will enjoy this benefit on everything from food and housing to events and transportation.
Of course, global inflationary pressures continue to push up prices everywhere, including Europe. Annual consumer prices in Germany rose 7.9% in May, according to the Financial Times, just shy of the 8.6% increase in the US. However, while prices may continue to rise almost everywhere, the relative strength of the dollar may help soften the blow.
Inflation has not affected any aspect of the trip more directly and dramatically than the cost of renting and operating a vehicle. Rental car prices are up a budget-busting 69% in May 2022 in May 2019 compared to May 2019, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. And everyone knows how high gasoline prices have jumped.
These factors should make this the summer of public transportation for money-conscious travelers. But the US offers some tourist destinations that can be explored by train.
Not so in Europe, where popular cities offer safe, affordable and reliable transit. Cities like Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen can be explored for only a few euros, which equates to only a few US dollars with cheap exchanges.
Visiting national parks in the US made sense in 2020 and 2021 for a number of reasons. But saving money in 2022 means cars will skip right away if possible.
We are in strange times where traveling in Europe is an off-the-beaten-path, budget-friendly choice. The facts, however, speak for themselves. Airfare to Europe is rising less rapidly than domestic tickets, and fewer travelers are visiting the continent. The dollar is strong, and the US has dropped its testing requirement for arriving travelers, which has left the country in pain.
All this combined to make Europe a good choice for travelers in a reverse year. Driving on the rails in Zurich could be cheaper than renting a car in Cleveland.
This article was provided to the Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.
Is there a travel advisory level 4 for COVID-19 at this time?
There are no Level 4 COVID-19 travel health notifications at this time.
Can Coronavirus Survive Surfaces? It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 will survive on surfaces, but it may seem to behave like other coronaviruses. On the same subject : Increased Food Costs Affecting Summer Chefs. A recent study of the survival of human coronaviruses on surfaces found great variability, ranging from 2 hours to 9 days (11). of Virus.
Can COVID-19 be transmitted through food?
There is currently no evidence that people can take COVID-19 from food. The virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed at temperatures similar to those of other known viruses and bacteria found in food.
What are the organs most affected by COVID‐19?
The lungs are the organs most affected by COVIDâ € 19 See the article : Podcast: Juan Andino Breaks Interstate Telehealth Waivers.
Is COVID-19 vaccination still necessary, even after getting infected with the virus and recovering?
Evidence is growing that vaccination after infection strengthens protection and further reduces the risk of a new infection. This may interest you : LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau health districts offer Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to 5 years – Newsroom. Therefore, COVID-19 vaccination is generally recommended for the eligible population, including those recovering from the disease.
How long does immunity last after COVID-19? Due to the limited length of follow-up, it remains unclear how long the immune protection lasts after the previous infection
Can you get COVID-19 if you already had it and have antibodies?
It is important to remember that some people with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 may become infected after vaccination (vaccine breakthrough infection) or after recovering from a previous infection (newly infected).
Can you be reinfected with COVID-19 twice?
Long-term lab data suggest that a previous infection with the original Omicron is not entirely protective against re-infection with the new mutants, although the true risk of becoming re-infected no matter which variant is unique to each person and situation.
What is the risk of getting coronavirus on a plane?
Because of the way air is circulated and filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes. Even if the risk of infection on an airplane is low, travelers should try to avoid contact with sick passengers and wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers that are 60% to 95% % Alcohol content. more information: Exposure risk during travel
What happens if there is a sick passenger on an international or domestic flight during the COVID-19 pandemic? Under current federal regulations, pilots must report all illnesses and deaths to the CDC before arriving at a U.S. destination. According to CDC protocols, if a sick passenger has a contagious disease that poses a risk to others on board the aircraft, CDC works with local and state health departments and international public health agencies to contact exposed passengers and crew. Your current contact information when booking your ticket so that you can be notified when you are on a flight on a sick traveler.For more information, see the CDC website Protecting Traveler’s Health from Airport to Community: Investigating Contagious Diseases on Flights.
How long can COVID-19 survive out in the air and on other surfaces?
Scientists have found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in aerosols lasts for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.
Does COVID-19 live in the air?
Research shows that the virus can live up to 3 hours in the air. It can enter the lungs when someone who has it breathes and you breathe in the air.
