Getting around Europe this summer may not be easy. There are long queues at airports, imaginable public transport movements and crowds of visitors.
“Traveling to Europe this summer can present some challenges,” says Stephen Anderson, chief marketing officer at FocusPoint International, a threat control and crisis response company. Public transport strikes, for example, can cause headaches for tourists with predefined plans to move European cities to soak up culture and monuments. “
Even worse: almost everyone needs to be in Europe this summer. Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA, said Americans’ interest in traveling to Europe is “explosive. “
“Our most recent foreign traveler confidence index also revealed that the majority of Europeans plan to holiday in their own country this summer,” it adds. “Italians and Spanish are leading the way, filling beaches and rural destinations with travelers from all over the world. ” and most likely forcing the recovery of transportation systems. “
Last week, I shared my last advisor to travel around Europe this summer. In the current component of this series, I am referring to transport issues.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about traveling in Europe:
Virtually all pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted in Europe. But getting to Europe can be just a challenge. Flights are complete and transportation systems have been disrupted due to a shortage of hard work.
You will avoid headaches if you avoid the maximum tourist spaces on the busiest days of the summer season. For example, I spent last Saturday in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. It was crowded with foreign visitors. Also, if you hear about a transportation strike or a crowded airport, stay away if you can.
That depends. If you like warm weather, now is the time to be in Europe. But everyone must be here too, which means the costs are higher. Flights and trains are full. If you like quiet holidays, this is not the time to be in Europe.
Yes. This is the maximum month of popular holidays. Therefore, in addition to foreign tourists, you will share your hotel with the locals. In addition, many local businesses, such as restaurants, cafes, and gift shops, are likely to be closed during the month. August can also be chaos in Europe if forecasts are accurate
You may have noticed the photographs of the mountains of luggage at London’s Heathrow Airport or the queues at the Amsterdam Airport terminals. This is still the case, and it makes air shipping in Europe one of the least requested shipping modes.
Michael Stalf, who runs a car rental company in Germany, describes it as a “horror story. “
“We have summer vacations in some federal states, and all airports and airlines are understaffed,” he says. “This has resulted in many cancelled flights and delays. “
There are even discussions about raising foreigners to alleviate the labor shortage.
“Airlines are struggling to keep up with demand,” says Valentina O’Kane, an advisor at Incognito Global Travel. “Airlines reschedule or cancel flights with little or no knowledge. “
His advice: get there as soon as possible to your flights abroad. Two hours is not enough. You will need at least 3 to pass check-in and security. Also bring hand luggage with clothes for two or three days, in case of an unplanned stopover.
My customer advocacy site provides more methods for handling canceled or delayed flights. This summer you will move around Europe.
Most trains run normally in Europe this summer. But movements are a possibility. In Athens and Paris, the locals I spoke to talked about the concern of public transport movements.
“The strike by British rail staff in the UK may involve long-term moves across Europe for their safety task,” says Bryn Culbert, an expert on cheap travel at travel booking platform Wanderu.
She says careful studies can keep your summer from going off the rails.
“For example, if you’re making plans for an exercise holiday in France, do a quick online search for the country’s shipping unions. Check their social media profiles for announcements of upcoming actions,” he says. “You will see temporarily that the LDS-Rail union in France is planning a strike for July, so it may not be a smart day to travel by TGV. “
If you think social unrest may be your ability to get around Europe, consider a new mode of transport. This means traveling by bus or renting a car.
If you can find one, and if you can buy fuel.
The shortage of rental cars that has affected car rental in the U. S. The US has also affected European operators. Tenants report that, in some cases, rates have doubled from pre-pandemic levels.
Experts say you should make sure you have a car rental booking before you leave for Europe, preferably at the same time you make your air bookings.
Stalf, the owner of the car rental agency, says that while cars offer the most flexibility in Europe, they are among the most expensive tactics for getting around.
“Gasoline costs are at an all-time high in Germany,” he says. , it’s the same situation. “
How much does it cost in Europe via car?It exactly says you deserve to pay about $15 a hundred miles just for gas.
The summer of 2022 will be one of the busiest, if at all, of the fashionable trips.
If you are going to travel to Europe, you will have to choose carefully the shipping mode. Each has its drawbacks. Air travel is fast, but it’s crowded and unreliable. A rental car provides flexibility, but it is expensive. Public transport is better for the environment and more cost-effective, but beware of social unrest.