Is France's reopening up in the air? What you should know if you're planning June travel
Editor's Note
Editor's note: This post has been updated with new COVID-19 case numbers.
In May, TPG learned that France was planning to reopen to tourists on June 9. But, with just one week until international travelers are rumored to be allowed -- and following a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in France -- there has still been no official word on what the reopening will look like or whether it will happen at all.
We're still hopeful that Americans will be able to go to France this month, but we just don't know for sure yet. Be prepared in case the answer is "no."
According to the U.S. State Department, as of May 18, "The president of France has laid out a reopening plan that would allow 'foreign tourists' with a health pass (tied to being fully vaccinated or having a negative COVID-19 PCR test) to enter France beginning June 9, 2021, if COVID-19 levels remain under control."
Here’s more information about France’s reopening.
However, the French government remains mum on what, exactly, the health passes will entail and how prospective travelers can apply for them.
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The State Department's statement indicates that the restart will depend on the current pandemic situation within France when June 9 rolls around.
Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) shows France has had more than 5,575,000 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, resulting in nearly 109,000 deaths. But the number of cases and hospitalizations is now on a downward trend according to Reuters.
Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center puts those numbers even higher and says that less than 17% of France's population has been fully vaccinated.
If France does reopen on schedule, it is expected to relax its current 9 p.m. curfew by two hours to 11 p.m. and do away with it completely by June 30. (Those who break it are subject to a €135 fine.) The country has also said it would allow restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity.
Anyone looking to travel to France should check the State Department website. Like most of the world's nations, France is under a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory -- a joint warning from the State Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing both rising COVID-19 numbers and civil unrest, with demonstrations posing a threat in some tourist areas. Bookmark the website for the French Embassy in the United States to check for additional intel.
France joins most European Union (EU) member countries in opting for a slow, phased-in approach. However, fellow EU nations Italy and Greece are already fully open to Americans again, and seven member countries -- including Greece -- are already using digital COVID-19 certificates to help with streamlining the traveler verification process. Earlier this week, the president of the International Air Transport Association said similar electronic health passports could eliminate airport waits of up to eight hours.
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- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
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10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
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Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023