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Can we expect a carefree summer travel?

Hardly likely.

Is there still justified hope for a great vacation in the next few months?

Absolutely.

The vaccination has picked up speed.

In Europe, the lockdowns are being relaxed, and many holiday countries will soon be opening up again to tourists.

An overview of what travelers need to know now.

When can I go on vacation again?

Vacation in Europe is currently partly possible, for example in the Canary Islands or Mallorca.

Up to and including May 12th, however, a test obligation applies to return flights to Germany, including for countries that do not count as a corona risk area.

Above all, strict requirements such as quarantine and testing in some countries make a vacation at least unattractive.

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In Germany, vacation is not yet possible due to the ban on accommodation.

But the first federal states are pushing for openings: Holidays in Bavaria should be possible again at the beginning of the Whitsun holidays on May 21 in regions with low infection rates.

Hotels, holiday apartments and campsites should be allowed to open there.

Lower Saxony wants to open tourism initially to residents of its own state and allow tourist overnight stays.

Saxony is also planning to relax if the number of cases is lower.

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) is working on making vacation in Europe possible in the summer.

Countries that are heavily dependent on travel, such as Spain and Greece, insist on this.

When do the holiday countries open again?

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That is different.

At the moment, many hotels are still closed, there are few flight connections and hardly any tourist trips.

In Spain, the Corona emergency is expected to end on May 9th, removing the basis for measures such as travel restrictions.

How things will then go on is uncertain.

Greece plans to fully open the country to tourism on May 15th.

Italy plans to start the summer season on June 2nd.

At the moment, tourists have to do multiple tests to enter the country and are usually in quarantine for five days.

Here, too, it is still unclear which rules will apply to holidaymakers from June.

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In Austria, the quarantine requirement for German vacationers should fall on May 19.

Then a negative corona test or proof of vaccination or recovery is sufficient.

Tui, for example, is gradually offering further destinations in Europe in addition to Mallorca, such as Ibiza, Formentera, Faro on the Portuguese Algarve and several Greek islands.

Can I travel more easily if I have already been vaccinated?

This is already common practice in some countries.

Even travelers who have already survived a corona infection are allowed to enter some states without any major requirements.

However, the infection must often not have been more than six months ago.

A few examples: Since the beginning of May, Denmark has only allowed tourists from Germany to enter who have already been fully vaccinated.

In Iceland there is no quarantine requirement for vaccinated persons and genesis, but an additional PCR test is still required.

And the island of Madeira exempts vaccinated people from the obligation to test.

Vaccinated persons are also to be exempted from the obligation to test when they fly back to Germany by plane.

What if I haven't been vaccinated yet?

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In this case, vacationers must continue to orientate themselves on the respective entry regulations for people who have not yet been vaccinated.

The Foreign Office, for example, offers information.

Travelers should make sure that the date for the second dose of vaccination does not conflict with their vacation plans.

Often there is not much time for this appointment.

What should the planned digital vaccination certificate bring?

The introduction of a digital vaccination certificate for smartphones is planned - in addition to the yellow paper vaccination certificate.

That should happen by the end of the second quarter, i.e. by the end of June.

This is the German implementation of the so-called Green Pass planned by the EU.

This should also enable easier access to shops.

Many questions are still open.

Evidence via its own app is used for the uniform documentation of vaccinations and is intended to make it easier to travel freely, as the Federal Ministry of Health explains.

Similar to the barcode of a flight or train ticket, the vaccination status should be able to be scanned, for example at the airport.

The offer will be voluntary.

Only authorized persons may issue the proof in vaccination centers, medical practices, hospitals and pharmacies.

The makers of the federal corona warning app want to include the display of evidence in their application.

What does a travel warning mean for my vacation?

Even if many travel restrictions could fall at the beginning of summer, travel warnings for individual countries with a higher incidence are still possible.

Then vacationers should check, for example, whether and when the international travel health insurance pays.

What should I pay attention to when booking a vacation?

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In general, it is advisable to carefully examine the cancellation options for a travel offer.

In the case of individually booked accommodations, corresponding offers can be found on internet portals, now more often for holiday apartments and holiday homes.

The airlines are currently very accommodating when it comes to rebooking.

Here it is worthwhile to check what the conditions look like in summer and the rest of the year.

Package tours offer more protection.

Many organizers offer more expensive flex tariffs here.

This means that a vacation can sometimes be canceled up to two weeks before departure without giving reasons.

Which travel destinations are particularly popular in summer?

Especially in this country it should get full everywhere when vacation is possible again.

Tour operators are again anticipating a boom in vacation travel within Germany.

But you also plan with the classic sun destinations around the Mediterranean: Mallorca, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Malta, Greece and also Turkey.

Can I go on cruises again in the summer?

The shipping companies have had to cancel many summer trips again.

But there will be some ships in the Mediterranean again.

With the opening of tourism in Greece in May, Aida Cruises and Tui Cruises will also start cruising there again.

MSC Cruises and Costa, for example, also operate in the Mediterranean.

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Cruise fans must observe the shipping company-specific regulations here.

From the end of July, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will only take vaccinated people with them on their planned trips to Greece.

The German providers Aida and Tui Cruises, on the other hand, rely on an extensive test strategy and their hygiene protocols.

Will there be festivals and events again in summer?

Yes, vacation, not big parties and events: that's what it seems to be going down at the moment.

Several major events and folk festivals have already been canceled.

For example, there will be no Oktoberfest in Munich for the second time in a row.