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5 European countries were just added to the US 'do not travel list' weeks before the holidays

Dec. 07, 2021
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3 min read
Eiffel tower, France
5 European countries were just added to the US 'do not travel list' weeks before the holidays
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Just weeks before the start of the busy December holiday season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added a handful of popular European countries to its highest advisory.

The CDC on Monday, Dec. 6 added Portugal, Liechtenstein, France, Cyprus and Andorra to its highest designation, “CDC Level 4: COVID-19 Very High.”

The CDC uses a four-level system that categorizes international destinations, with four designating a “very high” level of COVID-19. U.S. travelers are urged to avoid traveling to these destinations.

The designation is likely related to the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, deemed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization. According to WHO, it is less responsive to COVID-19 vaccines and may be more contagious than variants we’ve seen thus far. So far, omicron has been found on six continents and in 19 U.S. states, according to The New York Times.

Late last month, the Biden Administration suspended entry to the U.S. by travelers from eight South African nations, including South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The temporary ban applies to those who have been in the affected countries within 14 days of attempted entry to the U.S. and does not include American citizens or permanent residents.

The White House also imposed new testing restrictions for all travelers on U.S.-bound flights, limiting the testing window from three days to just one day.

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But the CDC’s designation could potentially put a damper on holiday travel, which is supposed to be a boon for the struggling international travel industry. For instance, Air France increased service between France and the U.S. this winter, anticipating demand between the two nations.

But countries have also indicated they would tighten restrictions if necessary. Portugal has recorded nearly 25,000 positive coronavirus cases in the past week and 121 deaths. Due to the high cases, the country said it wouldn’t hesitate to implement new restrictions even during the winter holiday season. The government has already reimposed indoor mask wearing for all people.

“We all wish that these measures were not necessary, but if they become necessary, we will take these measures,” Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa said last week.

So far, however, if travelers are particularly concerned about the omicron variant, it's not obvious with their travel booking behavior. According to a study by the travel deals website Scott’s Cheap Flights, nearly 90% of travelers said they had no intentions to cancel their holiday travel plans.

Featured image by VALERIA SCHETTINO/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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