With the latest app release, we are making your trips easier with some major improvements and a new feature – a digital assistant to help you with trip alerts and services at every step of your trip.
What's new?
Updated trip display
We’ve improved how your trips are displayed, making it easier to find quickly the information while on the go.
No more passwords
Sign up and log in with an email sent to your email, so you can forget your password, forever.
New feature: a digital travel assistant
We’ve added a digital assistant that can help you along your trips. You can ask the assistant to send you the weather forecast, or help you book travel extras, such as airport transfer, lounge, or a sightseeing tour for your trip.
To get started, open the chat with your assistant and type your question.
The assistant can help you add your trips – simply follow the instructions to import your trip with a booking number or your flight details. If you prefer, you can also forward your booking reservation to trips@checkmytrip.com and we will automatically add the trip for you.
CheckMyTrip will be available via app only
Our mission is to help you stress less during your trips, by having all the trip information in one place. That’s why we’ve decided to focus on improving your experience in the app and with our new release CheckMyTrip will no longer be available on the web.
Why should I use the app?
Receive real-time notifications about your trip
See your full trip itinerary, even if you don’t have access to the internet
Access a virtual travel assistant to help you along your journey
All you need to know before visiting the beautiful Cinque Terre region in Northern Italy – when to go, where to stay, what to do and how to get around the Cinque Terre.
From five sleepy Italian fishing villages to one of the most famous coastal landscapes in the world – the Cinque Terre has been through a few changes over the years, but it still looks every bit as gorgeous as you’d imagine. It’s now a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with up to 2.4 million people a year visiting the Cinque Terre to walk, boat and train their way through its dramatic cliffs and pretty coastal villages.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VISITING THE CINQUE TERRE
The Cinque Terre National Park is the smallest and oldest National Park in Italy, and was designated back in 1999. It covers an area of only 15 square miles but packs plenty of gorgeous scenery into a small space, with a mix of rocky cliffs, scenic coves, clear blue waters, terraced vineyards and olive groves linked by a network of footpaths.
The Cinque Terre is located just south of Genoa in northwest Italy. It’s within easy reach of the airports at Genoa, Pisa, Rome, Florence and Nice by mainline train, and there’s a local train between La Spezia and Levanto which stops at each of the villages.
People often talk about the Cinque Terre like it’s one place, but it’s actually a stretch of Italian Riveira coastline made up of five separate villages – known as the Five Lands or Cinque Terre in Italian (which is pronounced cheen-kweh teh-rreh).
Running from north to south the villages are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Each one of the five is a beauty, with pastel buildings tumbling down the hillsides and sparkling sea views, but each has its own different character.
If you’re really tight on time you could ‘do’ the Cinque Terre in one day by starting early and walking straight through from one end to the other. There are a lot of day trips available from other Italian cities like Florence, Pisa or Milan which include travel. Or you could take the train or boat from one village to the next and spend around an hour in each.
But you wouldn’t be really doing it justice, and you’d be missing out on the best time of day. Between 10am and 4pm villages are rammed with day-trippers – the train platform in Monterosso at 4pm took me right back to commuting on the London Tube in rush hour. But come the evenings things calm down and there’s much more of a relaxed feel.
Ideally you’d want to spend three or four days visiting the Cinque Terre to give you time to explore each village, do a couple of half-day walks and a boat trip along the coast. The villages have a different atmosphere at different times of day, so staying for a few days gives you time to decide on your favourite and go back for sunset or dinner.
And if you’ve got more time, there are plenty more walks you can do, or you could travel further afield and visit the neighbouring towns of Portovenere, Levanto or La Spezia.
The Cinque Terre’s never exactly quiet – peak season runs all the way from Easter until October. But to avoid the worst of the crowds, steer clear of July and August. Accommodation gets booked up really far in advance in the summer and it can be really hot and dry, with average highs of 29ºC/84ºF, so isn’t the best time for walking.
Shoulder season – May and September – is a good time for visiting the Cinque Terre, with warm days around and fewer people than in peak season. Spring sees average high temperatures around 17–21ºC/63–70ºF and is mostly dry. October and November are the wettest months and there’s a risk of heavy thunderstorms causing landslips.
Or if you want to risk the off-season you can get a bargain and have the paths to yourself in December and January. Though some restaurants and accommodation closes down in winter, and you risk boats being suspended and hiking trails closed in bad weather.
Staying in one of the five villages means you don’t have to travel in each day and can soak up the atmosphere in the evenings. But because it’s so popular, accommodation is pricey – even for pretty uninspiring places – so book early. There aren’t many hotels except in larger villages Monterosso and Riomaggiore, so it’s mostly guesthouses and apartment rentals.
The villages are so close together that there isn’t really any one with a better position than the others. And as you can get between them so easily it’s not really worth moving around and staying in a couple of different villages if you’re just staying for a few days.
It’s more a case of picking the village which has the right character (and has the best accommodation available to suit your budget) for you.
The largest and furthest north of the villages, Monterosso is the easiest to get to so can be very busy – especially at weekends. It’s split into two sections linked by a short tunnel with an old town and resort-style beachfront area. Monterosso is the only Cinque Terre village with a proper beach and seafront promenade. It has the widest selection of accommodation and best hotels, and is the least hilly so it’s the most accessible, but can be expensive.
At the other end of the Cinque Terre is Riomaggiore, another larger village which has a gorgeous setting with brightly coloured houses set around the harbour. Riomaggiore has a good selection of places to stay, with a couple of hotels. It also has lots of restaurants and the best nightlife – though it’s still fairly relaxed – but brace yourself for plenty of hills.
Vernazza and Manarola are both smaller and are arguably the most beautiful of the Cinque Terre villages. Manarola is surrounded by vineyards and has is a good place to watch sunset, and Vernazza has a pretty harbour and tiny beach. Neither have hotels so you’re looking at guesthouses or self-catering accommodation.
Finally Corniglia is the central village of the five. It’s the smallest village and the hardest to get to, as there’s no sea access and a huge flight of steps leads up to the village from the train station. This makes it the quietest – especially in the evenings – and its position high up on the rocks means you get great views (I stayed here and loved it).
Otherwise a cheaper option is to stay in neighbouring Levanto* or La Spezia*. Both of these towns are on the Cinque Terre train line so it’s easy to get around, but accommodation, food and pretty much everything else is cheaper as you’re not in the ‘proper’ Cinque Terre. They also have a more authentic, local feel as they’re not so overrun with visitors.
For centuries, the only way you could get between the Cinque Terre villages was on foot, and it’s still the best way to get around, with a constant stream of gorgeous sea views. There’s a mix of coastal and hillside paths. to choose from Though the coast paths aren’t just a walk along the seafront – at least not the part that’s open.
The one flat stretch of coast path from Corniglia to Riomaggiore is closed for the foreseeable future after it was damaged in landslips back in 2011. Other paths involve lots of ups and downs with some rocky ground with a few big drops and steps.
You don’t need to be really fit but do need to be be comfortable walking uphill and have decent shoes – most people were wearing hiking boots or sturdy trainers.
The distances involved aren’t huge, but it can take longer than you’d guess from the distance as it’s so hilly. Plus you often end up waiting for people to pass on narrow stretches which slows things down. So start early or late if you can to miss the peak of walkers.
The Sentiero Azzurro or Blue Trail starts from Monterosso and takes around two hours to reach Vernazza and another two to carry on to Corniglia. From Corniglia to Manarola you have to take the high route via Volastra – it takes around three hours and involves some serious climbs but the views at the top through the vineyards are well worth it.
Then from Manarola you can walk on to Riomagiorre via Beccara in around 90 minutes, though there’s another big climb to start.
As well as the main walks there are quieter hill paths, like the Sentiero Rosso or Red Trail from Portvenere to Levanto. Shorter sanctuary walks also run steeply uphill from the villages. And even if you’re not hiking there are lots of hills and steps in the villages.
To walk the coast path from Monterosso to Corniglia you need a Cinque Terre Card. You can get them in villages and from huts at the start of each section of the path. If you’re walking between Corniglia and Riomaggiore via the hill path you don’t need a permit.
Cinque Terre Cards cost €7.50 (1 day) or €14.50 (2 days). They include free wifi, local buses and toilets (€1 otherwise). Or there’s a train version which also includes unlimited train travel on the Cinque Terre line between Levanto and La Spezia. They cost €18.20 (1 day), €33 (2 days) or €47 (3 days), with discounts for children, families and off season.
Many Americans are eager to start planning travel after receiving their full COVID vaccine and booster shots. And countries are once again open to international visitors—typically, with fewer entry requirements for those who are fully vaccinated. Some destinations, like Greece and Iceland, have welcomed vaccinated travelers for much of the last year, while others, like Australia and Morocco, are just beginning to reopen.
Read on for the places to travel after your COVID vaccine.
Vaccinated travelers can once again visit Australia. In addition to showing proof of vaccination, visitors must also have a negative PCR test result from within three days of departure or a rapid antigen test from within 24 hours. Travelers must complete a digital passenger declaration form.
Unvaccinated travelers can only enter the country if they apply for and are granted an exemption.
Vaccinated travelers can once again visit the island nation of Papua New Guinea. Travelers must show proof of vaccination, complete an online health declaration form, and present a negative COVID test result from within 72 hours of departure. Travelers must also test upon arrival at their own expense.
Vaccinated tourists can travel to the Philippines without quarantining, but need to show a negative PCR result from within 48 hours of departure.
Travelers must also show proof of COVID travel insurance with at least $35,000 worth of coverage in case they get sick while in the country. The government is also asking travelers to self-monitor for symptoms for at least seven days after arrival.
Unvaccinated travelers can not enter the Philippines.
Morocco re-launched international air travel for vaccinated travelers from the U.S. and elsewhere in early February. In addition to proof of vaccination, travelers must show a negative PCR result from within 48 hours of departure and complete a passenger health form. Travelers may be subject to random testing at the airport.
The country is not open to unvaccinated travelers.
Travelers from the U.S. and all other countries, regardless of vaccination status, can once again enter Norway without additional requirements as of February 12.
While not its own country, Bali is one of Indonesia’s few destinations now open to U.S. travelers with no quarantine requirement. Travelers must also provide a negative PCR result from within 48 hours of departure, show proof of payment for at least four days at a government-approved hotel, and show proof of COVID health insurance with coverage of at least $20,000. Travelers must also test upon arrival, then wait at their hotel for the results; they must test again on the third day of their stay. The same rules apply for Batam and Bintan; vaccinated travelers visiting other parts of Indonesia must undergo a 24-hour quarantine and meet additional requirements.
Portugal is now open to vaccinated travelers. The country requires travelers to show an EU Digital COVID Certificate or a vaccine certificate from an approved third-country list, which does not include the U.S. As such, vaccinated U.S. travelers must show a negative PCR test result from within 72 hours of departure or rapid test result within 24 hours. Travelers must also complete a passenger locator card.
Starting May 1, vaccinated U.S. travelers will be able to visit new Zealand. Until then, however, the borders are only open to people traveling for a “critical purpose,” such as to work in healthcare or to be with a close family member.
Get up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance in CheckMyTrip
Now in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
The capital of Andalucía is proud, beautiful and packed full of culture. Many civilizations have left their mark on this colorful ciudad and Seville wears its heritage with pride. Its sensual blend of Islamic, Gothic and Renaissance architecture is on magnificent display in the royal palace and mighty cathedral.
Beyond the elaborate mansions and verdant parks that Seville is most famous for, the city’s spirit thrives in countless tapas restaurants, in bar-strewn plazas and along the banks of the Guadalquivir river. From soul-stirring flamenco to glorious gastronomy and gregarious neighborhoods, here are our 10 favorite things to do in Seville.
Remarkably well-preserved, the royal palace is one of Spain’s most beautiful buildings and serves as a palimpsest of Sevillian history. Originally built as a fort in the 10th-century, subsequent rulers – from the Moors of North Africa to the Spanish Christians six centuries later – left their indelible mark on the palace complex. Let your imagination run amok beneath intricately carved archways and in staterooms whose geometric tiles have witnessed the scheming of sultans and kings. Don’t miss the stunning Patio de las Doncellas which archaeologists uncovered in 2004 or the subterranean baths of Doña María de Padilla. The sensual, foliage-filled gardens look prettiest in the soft light of the late afternoon – keep an eye out for a glimpse of peacock feathers.
After the glare of Seville’s sunny squares, the candle-lit depths of the Baños Árabes offer instant respite. Like much of the city’s architecture, the act of communal bathing harks back 700 or so years to when Seville was the seat of Moorish power. Then Muslims would cleanse by moving through a series of marble pools before seeking purification of the spiritual sort in a nearby mosque. Today the experience is less authentic but no less pleasurable. The ritual of steam, scrub and soak is heavenly at Aire Baños Árabes; spa baths housed inside a grand 16th-century Mujédar palace. After floating through the thermal circuit beneath cavernous ceilings bedecked with bronze lanterns, head up to the roof terrace for a view over the medieval cathedral and bell tower. This is one of Seville’s most romantic activities: reserve a slot at dusk before a late-night meal.
Tour the rooftop of the largest Gothic cathedral in the world
The Catedral de Santa María de la Sede is a staggering affair that melds Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish architecture. In true Sevillian style, Spanish Christians transformed the city’s 12th-century mosque into a cathedral between the 15th and 16th-centuries. These layers of history are best viewed on a rooftop tour, where you can get up close with startling gargoyles, the intricate stained glass windows and even see the sculptors’ initials, etched into the stonework.
If you can bear the crowds of tourists traipsing through it, make time for the cathedral’s cavernous interior, home to Christopher Colombus’ tomb and several valuable works of art. Ogle Francisco de Goya’s haunting painting Santas Justa y Rufina, the martyrs who are the city’s patron saints, before stepping out into the peaceful Patio de los Naranjos, an inner courtyard named after the sixty-six orange trees within.
Raw, passionate and utterly hypnotic, flamenco in Seville is rooted in Triana, a typically working-class neighborhood that was originally home to the Roma community, people who migrated from eastern Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Intimate flamenco shows at night are the most powerful; let the frenzy of stamping feet and quavering voices transport you in Triana’s CasaLa Teatro. Close to the cathedral, shows in La Casa del Flamenco unfold between Mujédar arches or for something simpler, try the tiny Casa de la Guitarra.
With its low-slung ceilings, wooden beams and program of top-quality artists, atmospheric El Arenal hosts one of the best “tablaos” of flamenco in the city. For more of a casual setting try Lola de los Reyes, an authentically Sevillian bar whose elegant proprietor frequently joins in. Facemasks may be required during some performances so have one on hand.
Photo de Life Of Pix provenant de Pexels
Feast on tapas in Seville’s best restaurants
Seville is truly the epicenter of tapas – the small plates that have become one of Spain’s most prolific exports. More than 3,000 tapas bars hide along Seville’s side streets. Some are traditional affairs of wood, tiles and waiters that could be as old as the bar itself; others are swankier fusion joints. Feast on Andalucían classics such as pescaíto frito (deep-fried fish) or artichokes with jamón at Casa Morales. Stand with the locals at the back of this bustling bodega, a jarra of local brew Cruzcampo in hand. Just around the corner, haunches of ham swing from the ceiling of Cafe Bar Las Teresas, a friendly tapas bar replete with tiles and loyal customers.
If you – ever – tire of the platters piled high with fried slivers of berejenas (aubergines) and casseroles of chickpeas and spinach, then make your way to La Brunilda, an unassuming whitewashed building where inventive cuisine is beautifully served. Locals may squabble over who serves the best acorn-fed jamón ibericó bellota in Seville, but everyone agrees that the wafer-thin slices of the cured, salty meat are delectable at Casa Román, a 19th-century institution on the Plaza Venerables. Pencil in time for a siesta after lunch.
An icon of Seville’s elegant skyline, the Giralda gleams golden against the blue sky that stretches above Andalucía nearly all year round, The scalloped archways and Islamic ornament found on the lower section belies the Giralda’s origins; it was formerly the minaret of the 12th-century mosque. Climb the 35 ramps and flight of stairs during the morning, while it is cool. It’s worth the effort; at the top lie 24 mighty bells and panoramic views of Seville, with the hazy outline of the Sierra Norte mountains in the distance.
Cycle around Seville, from the Santa Cruz to Triana
Flat and sunny Seville is one of Spain’s most cycle-friendly cities. Grab a pay-as-you-go bicycle, Servici, and head off along 111 miles (180km) of smooth, interconnected bike lanes. Set out from the old Jewish district of Santa Cruz, a labyrinth of cobbled streets and squares shaded by orange trees, then head north towards the La Macarena neighborhood. En route, you’ll pass the ochre-and-white Basílica de La Macarena and the soaring arches of the Palacio do los Marqueses de la Algaba, a restored Mujédar palace that doubles as a cultural center.
After refueling on café con leche, peddle south past the two-millennia old Roman columns on Alameda de Hércules square and over the river into Triana. The old heart of Seville’s old ceramics industry is less picturesque than Seville’s other neighborhoods but still worth a visit. It is lined with popular cafes and eye-catching tiles adorn shop fronts, though not much happens here during the hours of siesta.
Glorious and sun-drenched, this grand monument to Spain’s historic towns and cities is crammed full of the azulejo tiles that Seville is famous for. An ambitious commission for the 1929 Exposición Iberoamericana, it took local architect Aníbal González 15 years to complete the Plaza de España. Each of the four bridges over the crescent-shaped canal represents the old kingdom of Spain: Castile, León, Navarre and Aragón. In between snapping pictures, brush up on your Spanish history; tiled murals in each alcove tell the story of Spain’s provinces. Visit during the quiet of siesta, while the rest of the city naps.
Get up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance in CheckMyTrip
Now in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
If you’re traveling to France, here’s a guide to understanding what the health and vaccine passes are, where you need to present them, and how you can apply for them—wherever you’re traveling from.
France has tightened the rules of its vaccine pass (pass vaccinal) again. The pass initially required that people get a booster shot no more than seven months after their second vaccine dose to keep the pass active. That timeframe has been reduced to four months as of February 15.
This rule also applies to tourists visiting France. While they don’t need a booster to enter the country, they will need one to access venues where the pass is required.
The rule applies to anyone over the age of 18. Teenagers aged 12-17 can continue to use their pass without a booster.
The passes are compulsory across many places in France (there’s little you can do without one). They can be presented on smartphones or in paper format with a QR code that is scanned upon entry.
Trying to get your head around the rules of the COVID passes in France can be confusing as the rules are constantly in flux. Here’s a guide to understanding the latest rules and how they apply to visitors.
What is the difference between a health and vaccine pass?
Thevaccine pass(pass vaccinal)indicates that the holder has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and applies to anyone over the age of 16. However, people over the age of 18 must now have a booster shot to keep their pass active. In France, that means they must get their booster no more than four months after receiving the second dose of an AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or no more than two months after a Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Tourists will need to show proof of a booster shot if they are over the age of 18 to enter venues where the vaccine pass is required.
The health pass (pass sanitaire) applies for people aged between 12 and 15 and is either proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test (taken within 24 hours prior).
The passes are not required of children under the age of 12.
Do I need a health or vaccine pass to enter France?
No, the pass is only used to access domestic services and venues in France. “[The pass] does not apply in the contect of heath control at the borders,” a spokesperson for the Health Ministry told Lonely Planet. The documentation you need to enter France during the pandemic varies depending on where you are coming from. You can learn more about what’s required in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
Once you’re in France, you’ll need to have the pass as it’s almost impossible to do anything without it.
How can tourists apply for the health and vaccine pass?
If you’re traveling from the EU or any country signed up to the EU digital COVID cert program, you can present your digital COVID-19 certificate or any approved European health certificate that documents your vaccination and booster status. The French embassy in Germany confirms that if the certificate issued to you appears with a European flag, your certificate is compatible and “will be recognised during [checks] in France in the same way as French certificates.”
If you’re traveling from the UK, the French government confirmed that people vaccinated in the UK can now import their NHS QR code into the TousAntiCovid app. They can also present a digital or paper NHS certificate showing their full vaccine status as it’s recognized by the EU’s digital COVID certificate system.
If you’re traveling from the US you must apply in person through a dedicated pharmacy in France when you arrive in the country. You’ll be required to pay a fee of up to €36 (about US$44) for the service. However, it’s important to note that not all pharmacies offer this service. You might find one easily in cities such as Paris, but as you can see from this map there aren’t that many participating pharmacies spread out evenly across France.
When applying, you’ll be asked to show your passport and official vaccination certificate (CDC card) with your booster shot information. The pharmacist will convert the details from that certificate into the French system and provide you with a QR code that can be scanned at venues where the health pass is required.
In the meantime, a number of tourist sites are accepting the CDC vaccination card from American visitors. The Palace of Versailles confirmed to Lonely Planet that Americans are permitted to show their CDC vaccination certificate for entry, and it has been reported that the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre are allowing it too but it is not generally accepted otherwise as a health pass.
If you’re traveling from elsewhere, follow the same process that applies to American tourists.
French citizens can upload their vaccination or testing status to the ToutsAntiCovid app, or apply for a paper version with a QR code.
Where do I need to present it?
The pass into effect last July, granting the holder access to any leisure or cultural venue across France with a capacity of more than 50 people, including museums, galleries, theaters, cinemas, concert halls, exhibition spaces, nightclubs, discos, zoos, open-air festivals, sporting venues, theme parks, libraries, swimming pools, and tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower.
In August, it was extended to restaurants, cafes and bars (both indoors and outdoors), long-distance trains and coaches, domestic flights, hospitals, nursing homes, and large shopping malls.
Can I get a vaccine pass if I have recently recovered from COVID-19?
The vaccine pass also indicates the holder has recently recovered from COVID-19 (or has a medical exemption from vaccines). If you tested positive for COVID in the EU, UK or Schengen Area country then you can upload your positive test to the EU digital COVID cert app. The test must be more than 11 days old but less than six months old.
If you tested positive for COVID outside the EU, in countries such as the US, Canada or Australia, for example, you could run into difficulties. You can see what options may be available to you through the Health Ministry website.
Where can I get tested in France?
Testing is widely available in France in most pharmacies and medical facilities but you’ll generally need to make an appointment in advance. Most pharmacies can do antigen tests for about €25, and PCR tests can cost about €45. When using the health pass as an unvaccinated person or without a booster, your testing status is only valid for 24 hours, which means you’ll need to be regularly tested to enter venues. You can find testing locations near you through the COVID testing map.
Morocco officially lifted its international travel ban and reopened to vaccinated foreign visitors on February 7. But, there are some requirements you’ll need to follow in order to enter.
The move to open the borders follows “the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the kingdom” said a government statement via AFP, as hospitalization numbers stabilize across the North African country.
Morocco imposed one of the northern hemisphere’s strictest travel bans to deal with the emergence of the Omicron strain of COVID-19, closing all land, air, and sea borders to travelers on November 29. The move stranded tens of thousands of Moroccans abroad, as well as keeping international visitors within the country, when repatriation flights ended in December.
Even though Morocco has reopened to foreign visitors, there are a few requirements to enter.
Those age 12 and older must present a completed health form, present a vaccination pass (passes issued by other countries are accepted according to the Visit Morocco website) and proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 48 hours prior to boarding the flight.
Visitors must also take a rapid antigen test upon arriving in Morocco. Some visitors age 7 and older will also be required to take an additional test within 48 hours of arrival at their hotel.
Meanwhile, the country is still battling a growing number of coronavirus cases, particularly among the unvaccinated population, and some domestic measures remain in place. Proof of vaccination (i.e., a vaccine pass) is required to enter establishments such as hotels, cafes, restaurants, museums gyms, hammams, supermarkets, and public transport. Wearing face masks in public areas is required.
When tourists return, it’s likely they will be required to abide by the same domestic rules. US citizens should carry their Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) white card as proof of vaccination, the US Embassy says, although it “cannot be certain what proof will be accepted by individual establishments”.
The UK Embassy confirmed that Morocco will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record at the border, though whether this will be accepted has a vaccine pass has yet to be confirmed. EU citizens can present their EU Digital COVID certs as proof of vaccination as the certificate’s QR code is recognized in Morocco.
Get up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance in CheckMyTrip
Now in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
Every year from mid- to late February, the setting sun hits Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall at just the right angle, creating the illusion that the waterfall is on fire. The phenomenon, which is known as the “firefall,” is estimated to happen between February 10–28, 2022, according to the National Park Service.
For the firefall at the 1,575-foot Horsetail Fall—located on the eastern side of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley—to be visible, conditions have to be nearly perfect. In addition to clear skies so that the sun can hit the waterfall, there also has to be enough snow melted so that the waterfall is flowing.
This year, the event may be seen as early as February 10 and run until February 28. Prime viewing could last from February 18 through February 23 with the best time to see Yosemite’s firefall being between 5:27 and 5:39 p.m. on February 21, according to forecasts from photographer Aaron Meyers, who has shot the event many times.
The firefall appears in Horsetail Fall. According to the NPS, to view Horsetail Fall, guests should park at Yosemite Falls parking (west of Yosemite Valley Lodge) and walk 1.5 miles to the viewing area near El Capitan Picnic Area. If that area is full, visitors are advised to park at Yosemite Village or Curry Village and use the free shuttle to get to the viewing area.
One lane of Northside Drive will be closed to vehicles to make way for pedestrians traveling between the Yosemite Falls parking site and the viewing area. Parking or stopping to unload passengers on Northside Drive in the area is prohibited. Find out more details about parking and accessing the area from the NPS website.
Visitors are also advised to bring warm clothes, as well as a headlamp or a flashlight.
While this event had previously been little-known, there has been a massive increase in interest in recent years. The new restrictions were added after the area had seen litter and unsanitary conditions due to a lack of facilities and more visitors, according to the NPS. This year, toilets and dumpsters will be available at the picnic area.
Get up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance in CheckMyTrip
Now in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
Global Entry (GE) is one of two popular “Trusted Traveler Programs” run by the U.S. government, and it’s the best way to clear immigration quickly after your international flight back to enter the United States. And when we say quickly, we mean quickly.
Global Entry gets you access to a dedicated line …and the entire process takes few minutes!
The other Trusted Traveler Program is TSA PreCheck, which you can use to skip long lines at airport security before getting on your flight whether you are traveling domestically or internationally.
However, part of the reason why Global Entry is so popular – and powerful – is that it also comes with TSA PreCheck. That means you can skip long lines at security on your way into the airport and as you come back into the country through immigration.
So if you travel internationally just once, that makes Global Entry the easy choice over PreCheck.
Both programs have a five-year membership once you’re enrolled. Global Entry costs $100, while PreCheck costs $85. And as you’ll see below, more and more credit cards offer credits to cover the enrollment cost.
How to Get Global Entry
Global Entry itself costs $100 for a five-year membership. However, plenty of credit cards include a credit Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment as a perk. It seems like a new card adds this feature every year.
The Global Entry Application
Signing up for Global Entry involves a two-step process:
Upon conditional approval of your application, successfully completing a background check, plus an in-person interview at an Enrollment Center or upon arrival to the U.S. at an Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) location. Note that you need to bring a valid passport with you to complete your enrollment.
What are the benefits of Global Entry membership?
There are several benefits of Global Entry, with the largest one being saving time at airport security screenings. No one enjoys standing in long TSA lines, and having Global Entry can help you avoid that.
In addition, here are a few more benefits of having Global Entry membership:
It includes TSA Precheck™ membership.
You don’t need to remove several items from your carry-on bag, including shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets when going through airport security.
No paperwork needed upon arrival.
No processing lines.
Ability to clear customs before arriving in the United States (where applicable).
How to use Global Entry
Using Global Entry is a very seamless process. Once you have gone through the application and approval process, all you will need is your Known Traveler Number. This is commonly referred to as “KTN”.
To make your Global Entry experience, it is best practice to add your KTN to all of your frequent flyer programs. Once you do this, your ticket will prepopulate with your TSA Precheck™/Global Entry membership, and you can breeze through airport security. If you don’t do this, you will need to manually add your KTN to each flight you purchase, or manually add it at the airport with an airline representative.
After this, your membership is ready to go. Your boarding passes will say TSA Precheck™/Global Entry on it. When you approach security, show the attendant your boarding pass, and you will be on your way.
Bridgerton, the soapy, sexy take on Regency England is a certified smash on Netflix—but fans of period drama will be forgiven if they can’t shake the sense and sensibility that they’ve seen several of the show’s locations before.
That’s because the series re-created Georgian-era style by shooting in some of Britain’s last surviving country homes and classical gardens. The modern-day owners of these sumptuous showplaces often subsidize daunting maintenance costs by renting space to movies and TV shows—and, in many cases, open the doors to tourists for at least part of the year.
Here are some of Bridgerton’s most important settings, so you can have a ball there, too.
Ranger’s House
Visit Britain
The exterior of the Bridgerton family’s home is played by the Ranger’s House on the western edge of Greenwich Park in southeast London. The mansion, once known as Chesterfield House, dates to the 1720s and is a lesser-known museum containing the bulk of the art collection of Julius Wernher, a German-born baron of South African diamond mines who used to live here.
A few minutes’ walk away, you can visit some of Greenwich’s other great sights, including the Royal Observatoryand Meridian Courtyard, Maritime Greenwich (which stood in for Paris in the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables), and the spectacular National Maritime Museum,connected by portico to 1616’s Queen’s House, which was shot as Somerset House for Bridgerton. All of them can be visited.
Ranger’s House: Chesterfield Walk, Greenwich, London. Train stations: Greenwich or Cutty Sark. Closed over the winter.
Wilton House
Wilton House
Clyvedon Castle, the home of Bridgerton‘s Duke of Hastings, is not a real place. Massive Wilton House, 3 miles west of Salisbury, supplied many of the interiors instead. The portrait hall, hallway, and entrance hall all make appearances on screen. The drawing room and grand hall, meanwhile, stood in for chambers in the residence of another character, Lady Danbury, and the grounds were shot as a substitute for London’s Hyde Park.
Wilton House is also featured in nearly every episode of another Netflix series, The Crown, posing as Buckingham Palace. Wilton’s Double Cube Room (pictured above) serves as part of Her Majesty’s family living quarters.
Wilton, Salisbury. Train station: Salisbury, then bus R3 or R8; trains to Salisbury from London take about 90 minutes.
Castle Howard
Trip Advisor
The outside of the show’s Clyvedon Castle is actually Castle Howard, an 18th-century architectural hodgepodge about 200 miles north of London near the city of York. This vainglorious pile is so oversized that its creator demolished the village of Henderskelfe because it spoiled his view. You might have also seen the Castle (which, despite the name, isn’t one) in 1981’s Brideshead Revisited miniseries.
Like most of the other Bridgerton locations, Castle Howard is open for tours; you can see rooms in which some of the show’s balls were staged. Those magnificent, village-eating gardens are accessible for strolls as well. And yes, as in the show, the estate’s Temple of the Four Winds, a rococo folly built on the grounds, would make a secluded spot for a little lovers’ folly of your own—but out of decorum, kindly refrain.
Castle Howard Estate, York. Train station: Malton
Syon House
Britain Magazine
Syon House, a well-preserved private home for nobility just west of London, is a frequent movie star, appearing in dozens of productions including Gosford Park and The Madness of King George. In Bridgerton, the place stands in for King George III’s pad once again, but this time it pretends to be Buckingham House, the smaller precursor to today’s Buckingham Palace (itself open summers in central London).
Bridgerton scenes set in the King’s hallway and dining room were shot at Syon, but that’s not all: It was also used for the study and dressing room of the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. Outside, the 30-acre gardens are often open on weekends, and there’s a free 200-acre public park beyond.
Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex. Train station: Brentford or Syon Lane. House interior open only three days a week from March to October (check ahead).
Hatfield House
Atlas of Wonders
Hatfield House, 21 miles north of London, is frequently used as a location in period pieces—it also provided the setting for the Oscar-winning The Favourite. The buildingmakes appearances in Bridgerton as the home of the Featheringtons and as the Gentleman’s Club.
Great North Road, Hatfield. Train station: Hatfield; park and gardens closed for winter; house open only in summer.
Royal Crescent
Somerset Live
The streets of Bath, an ideally preserved oasis of historic architecture and Roman mineral springs, actually did most of the on-camera work for London’s Mayfair neighborhood. Bath Street, Alfred Street, and Beauford Square all hosted scenes, and the Bath Guildhall served as the show’s Rambury Ballroom.
The front doors of No. 1 Royal Crescent, a popular townhouse museum preserving Regency style, also stood in for part of the Featheringtons’ home. The rest of Royal Crescent was used as Siena’s London home as well as Grosvenor Square. Train station: Bath Spa
Holburne Museum of Art
Pinterest
The exterior of wealthy widow Lady Danbury’s mansion is actually Bath’s Holburne Museum, which houses the eclectic art collection of a rich 19th-century naval officer. It was built in 1799 as the Sydney Hotel, and it still has the last remaining English pleasure garden from the 1700s.
A few storefronts in Bath also served as settings. The Modiste dress shop is a real commercial space at 2 Abbey Street, and Simon has too much to drink at a bar that’s actually a cafe called The Colombian Company at 6 Abbeygate Street. One of the show’s many balls was filmed beneath the chandeliers of Bath’s handsome Assembly Rooms—already part of the standard tourist circuit.
The Holburne Museum: Great Pulteney Street. Train station: Bath Spa
Get up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance in CheckMyTrip
Now in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
Temps are low in Europe in February, but so are the crowds—and hotel rates. Isn’t that reason enough to get those 2020 travel plans off to a roaring start?
1 Madeira, Portugal
If you want to avoid the cold and wet weather that hits much of Europe in February, visit the island of Madeira, which sits in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa.
This environment makes Madeira the perfect place for outdoor activities, even during the winter months. Try hiking Ponta de São Lourenço, which is a nature reserve filled with red-streaked volcanic rocks that offers majestic views of the ocean. Or, if you don’t want to hike, but still want amazing views, visit the Cabo Girão Skywalk, which is a clear platform that hangs off of Europe’s highest cliff— definitely not for those afraid of heights. Be sure to sample some of the area’s wine while you’re here, too. Head to Blandy’s Wine Lodge, where you can take a tour and find out how this region’s wine is made.
You can also try paragliding, or even the famous street tobogganing. Plus, if you visit at the end of February, you can take part in the Carnival festivities.
2. Prague, Czech Republic
Explore the winding streets of Prague’s Old Town to admire the pastel-colored buildings this February. Take a walk down Karlova Street, which historically was the way Bohemian kings traveled to their coronations, and check out the local shops selling glassware, wooden toys, painted eggs, puppets, and other crafts that make great gifts.
Warm up from the cold by visiting one of the city’s museums, like the Prague Jewish Museum, the National Museum, or the Museum of Beer. For a unique experience, check out the Franz Kafka Museum, which is devoted to the famous writer.
3. St. Moritz, Switzerland
There’s no wrong time to visit this swish alpine resort town, which stuns both in summer and winter, but February is arguably the best. Ultra-luxe ski resorts are in full swing, the winter temps are at their warmest (ideal for lingering on the high slopes), and Switzerland’s world-famous White Turf horse-racing event takes over three weekends on the town’s frozen lake.
4. Paris, France
Paris is an obvious choice for a Valentine’s Day trip across the pond. The city is known as the most romantic in the world, and it certainly won’t disappoint if you decide to visit this winter.
Plus, February is often the cheapest month to fly to Paris, and you can enjoy off-season hotel prices and fewer crowds at the big attractions. Skip the lines and still get a chance to see some of the most popular tourist sites in the world, including the Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace, and the Arc de Triomphe.
One night, take a Seine dinner cruise, where a heated boat will take you down the iconic river that flows through the center of the city. Consider booking a ticket to performances at the famous Moulin Rouge or Opéra Garnier for another exciting night in Paris.
5. Tenerife, Canary Islands
Your options are limited, but it is possible to squeeze in some European beach time during the second month of the year. While mainland Spain fluctuates from cool to cold, the southernmost Canary Islands—specifically Tenerife—are warm year-round. February is one of the best times to visit Tenerife’s southern beaches, when temperatures hit the low 70s and there’s less chance of rain.
Lounging by the water at Playa de la Tejita is requisite, but if you’ve got more time to spare, don’t miss a hike through the forests of the Anaga Mountains or a walk through Garachico, where you can also swim in rock pools formed by lava. Heads up: time your trip for the tail-end of the month and you’ll be just in time for the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival (February 19–March 1, 2020), a celebration of music, color, and life.
Get up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance in CheckMyTrip
Now in CheckMyTrip, you can check the COVID-19 travel restrictions for your origin and destination as part of your travel itinerary or directly in the app, in case you don’t have a trip planned yet.
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