Early last week, a federal judge in Florida struck down the transportation mask mandate enacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ruling set into motion the latest battle over rules and regulations in the travel industry. All major U.S. airlines and Amtrak, Greyhound, Megabus, Lyft, and Uber have lifted their mask mandates considering.
the news, but the CDC is now taking steps to appeal the decision.

Considering the COVID-19 situation and the current spike in cases throughout the U.S., the CDC has determined that its order requiring masks on planes, trains, and buses is still necessary. This determination gave the Justice Department the green light to appeal the federal judge’s ruling that overturned the mandate.

“It is CDC’s continuing assessment that an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health,” the health agency said in a statement last week. “CDC will continue to monitor public health conditions to determine whether such an order remains necessary. CDC believes this is a lawful order, well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health.”

Although the Justice Department filed an appeal following this statement from the CDC, it did not request a stay of the judge’s ruling, a move that would have immediately reinstated the mask requirement.

The federal mask mandate, which would have expired on April 18, had only recently been extended to May 3 when the federal judge overturned it. Though political experts fear the fallout for President Biden should the mask mandate be reinstated, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the appeal is necessary to preserve “CDC authority over the long-term” should the pandemic get worse. “Because as we’ve noted from here, we expect there to be difficulties of the pandemic. And we certainly want the CDC to continue to have this authority.”

In the meantime, some local authorities, like in the city of New York, have enforced their mask mandates for airports, public transportation, and rideshares. The CDC is also still advising passengers on all forms of transportation that a face covering is recommended.

Greece is gearing up for the boom in summer tourism by making it easier for travelers to visit the country. Starting May 2, the Mediterranean nation will lift all COVID-19-related entry rules.  

That means visitors will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination to enter Greece, whether they arrive via land, air, or sea. Greece will do away with all testing requirements regardless of a traveler’s vaccination status. In the U.S., they have lifted the nationwide mask mandate.  

“[We’re] not ignoring the pandemic, but we are entering a new regularity by lifting the restrictions, although we will be ready for the autumn and another vaccination rollout,” the Greek minister for health, Thanos Plevris, told The Points Guy. 

Plevris also added that these safety protocols were not being dropped indefinitely. The Greek government is considering reintroducing them in September, depending on how the COVID-19 situation develops over the next few months.  

The lifting of these regulations will be a significant change for a country with some of the strictest COVID-19-related laws in Europe. Currently, unvaccinated travelers can only enter Greece with proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Still, once in the country, they aren’t allowed to dine in indoor restaurants or enjoy other indoor activities such as theaters, stadiums, nightclubs, and museums. Greece also currently has a strictly enforced mask mandate and only allows a maximum of three passengers from the same family to ride in a taxi together.  

As the countdown begins for these rules to expire, Greece expects to receive an enormous surge in visitors between June and August. According to The Points Guy, numbers may reach up to 80% of 2019 levels, a record-breaking year. 

Travelers interested in visiting Greece this summer should book their accommodations as soon as possible as hotels and resorts are selling out fast and raising prices. 

For non-European Union residents dreaming of living la dolce vita—the sweet life—in Italy, that dream will become easier to reach thanks to the country’s newly-approved digital nomad Visa.  

The Italian government voted the digital nomad visa into law on March 28, joining the ranks of several other nations that have developed similar programs throughout the last two years, hoping to attract remote workers as a replacement—or supplement—to tourists. 

The new law will allow remote workers who don’t live in the European Union to spend a year living in Italy, but only those who are “highly qualified” will be awarded visas. The exact requirements of what will be considered “highly qualified” have yet to be defined. Still, some Italian officials have suggested that there may be a minimum income requirement for applicants to be successful.  

“We are happy to have approved the proposal, but we are also aware of the next steps. The government has to work on a new bill to implement the law, defining all the procedures and details,” Italian MP Luca Carabetta, a proponent of the digital nomad visa, told The Local. 

“Requirements for the remote worker are the availability of suitable accommodation, adequate income, health insurance, and a clean criminal record,” he added. 

Beyond the exact visa qualifications and application process, remote workers are also eager to know whether the new digital nomad visa will allow them to bring their families and eventually apply for extensions to stay longer than a year.  

While some visa options already exist for non-EU remote workers looking to live in Italy—like the self-employment Visa, intra-company Visa, and the EU Blue Card—the new digital nomad Visa will make the process much easier, especially for freelancers. 

Other European countries already welcoming remote workers through special visa programs include Germany, Spain, and Portugal. 

For the first time in two years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer advise travelers against sailing aboard cruise ships.  

The change came last week as the CDC updated its website regarding cruise travel and removed all references to its 4-tier risk assessment system. Typically, the CDC uses these warning levels to inform travelers about the rate of COVID-19 transmission in certain countries and the cruise industry overall. 

Although the agency keeps its system advising travel to countries worldwide, the “CDC is removing the COVID-19 Cruise Ship Travel Health Notice,” CDC spokesperson Dave Daigle told USA Today. “Travelers will make their risk assessment when choosing to travel on a cruise ship, much like they do in all other travel settings.” 

According to Daigle, the decision to remove the notice was based on the current state of the pandemic and the decrease of COVID-19 cases stemming from cruise travel over “the past several weeks.” 

This decision also comes just over two weeks after the CDC lowered its risk assessment level of cruise travel from “Level 3,” signifying a high risk of transmission, to “Level 2,” a moderate risk. 

Despite the CDC no longer actively advising against cruise travel, the health agency’s COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships remains, outlining the health and safety protocols that cruise lines should take. As a part of the program, which is optional for cruise lines to join, travelers can check for the color code of the specific ship they plan to sail on. 

According to the CDC website, the “color-coding system gives travelers the information they can use to make informed decisions before choosing to travel. Color status designations show the number of COVID-19 cases reported for each ship in the program, whether an investigation is needed, additional public health measures a ship is taking, and whether a ship has opted out of the program.” 

The CDC recommends that travelers are “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccines before sailing aboard a cruise ship. Those at a greater risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Such as immunocompromised travelers, the CDC advises “[talking] to your healthcare provider about what they may need additional precautions before, during, and after travel.”  

The health agency recommends that travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, should get tested “as close to [the] time of [the] cruise departure as possible,” as well as three to five days after the cruise. 

Whether your goal is to pack light for convenience or to avoid airlines’ ever-increasing luggage fees, there is an art to traveling with only a carry-on suitcase. Here are some tips for the next time you plan to hop on a plane without checking a bag.

Choose the right carry-on luggage.

Though most airlines follow the same standard for size restrictions for a carry-on, be sure to look up the specific guidelines of the carrier you’ll be flying with. Some only allow for smaller suitcases than the norm, while some are stricter in enforcing their rules than others.

Pack multi-purpose items.

That colorful pair of pants that only matches one shirt? Those shoes you can only wear under one specific circumstance? Leave them at home. The key to packing light is to focus on bringing items that can be easily mixed and matched with one another. Bring about one week’s worth of clothing and if you’re traveling for longer, then expect to do laundry at your destination.

Don’t fold your clothes. Roll them.

Choosing the proper clothing is vital in packing light, but so is the method of placing them in your carry-on luggage. Instead of folding your clothes like you might do at home, tuck in all edges of the garment (like sleeves, for example) and roll them into a tight cylinder. This method saves space, but it also prevents hard-to-get rid-of wrinkles.

Bring the essential toiletries.

While it might tempt you to bring all your favorite hair and body products, full-size bottles of liquids, creams, and gels are not allowed in your carry-on. Instead, purchase TSA-approved 100 ml bottles and fill them with your indispensable products. If you’re lucky, Your products may already be sold in a travel size. Remember that you can only bring the number of bottles that can fit in a large Ziplock bag (though many airports are not strict about this rule), so only bring what you need. The rest—like toothpaste, shower gel, and lotion can indeed be found in your accommodations or at a local drugstore in your destination.

Make use of your item.

While some airlines may charge fees even for a carry-on suitcase, passengers are still allowed a free personal item. These bags—usually a backpack, purse, or weekender—should fit under the seat in front of you, and though they’re typically small, don’t be afraid to pack them with any additional items that don’t fit in your carry-on. It’s also best to keep electronics, important documents, and you should also keep identification in your article for safekeeping.

Countries worldwide are reopening their doors to tourists, some after nearly two years of isolation. The latest nations doing away with some of their COVID-related restrictions are a string of Asian destinations that travelers have been eagerly awaiting to explore. 

Here’s what you need to know if you plan on visiting some of the most popular destinations in the region. 

CAMBODIA 

As of last week, Cambodia no longer requires international visitors to take a CVOID-19 test before arrival. However, with a 92% vaccination rate, the country prioritizes vaccinated travelers as it eases restrictions. Currently, unvaccinated people can still visit Cambodia but must undergo a two-week quarantine period. Those who are fully vaccinated can skip this mandatory quarantine. 

SOUTH KOREA 

South Korea is easing several COVID-19 restrictions for travelers, but many remain in place. Foreign visitors must be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arriving in South Korea. If over 180 days have passed since their initial vaccination, international travelers will also have to show proof of a booster shot. Starting April 1, fully vaccinated travelers can register with South Korea’s Q-Code website, which will generate a QR code allowing them to enter the country without a seven-day quarantine. Those arriving via plane must present a negative PCR test taken only 48 hours before departure.  

VIETNAM 

Nearly all restrictions in Vietnam have been lifted. Now, both Vietnamese nationals and foreign visitors can enter the country without quarantine. Travelers are still required to show a valid negative COVID-19 test upon arrival and must monitor their health during the first ten days of their stay. If they develop any symptoms, they notify local health officials right away.