New rules, bigger crowds and soaring temps: How to survive your 2025 European vacation
New rules, bigger crowds and soaring temps: How to survive your 2025 European vacation
Show Caption
Hide Caption
How to prepare for a long-haul flight to Europe: Top tips
Looking for to explore Europe? These essential tips can make for a smooth flight across the pond.
Americans traveling to the UK now need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Passports must have at least six months validity remaining for entry into many European countries.
European travel is expected to remain popular this summer, potentially increasing crowds.
Travelers should prepare for hot weather and consider booking activities during cooler times of day.
According to the European Travel Commission, 37% of U.S. travelers plan to take a European vacation in 2025. I'm one of them, heading off on a Mediterranean cruise this summer with family friends to celebrate our teens' high school graduations. It's been a minute since I've been to Europe, and there's obviously a lot going on in the world these days. So, I reached out to some experts to find out what American families need to know if they're going to Europe this summer.
1. There's a new entry requirement for the United Kingdom
All American travelers now need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. It's not hard to do: You fill out an online form and pay a £16 (about $21.43) fee. But you have to do it in advance of arrival. 'It does take about three days for the application to get processed,' says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet and co-host of the Smart Travel podcast. 'So that is what matters the most about it.'
The new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), originally set to launch in 2025, has now been delayed until 2026. So, while you don't have to worry about it this year, Americans traveling to Europe starting in the last quarter of 2026 will need to apply for an ETIAS authorization before travel.
2. Your passport can't be close to its expiration date
This isn't anything new. But it's something that continues to trip up travelers. 'Please check the expiration dates on your passports,' says Melanie Fish, travel expert for Expedia Group. 'There are several countries that just will not even let you enter if your passport is within six months of expiring. Every single year I know someone who gets to the airport and is turned away because their passport is still valid, but it's going to expire in a couple of months and they can't get on the plane.' Many European countries adhere to this policy.
BEST OF EUROPE: 11 best places to go in Europe for a family vacation
3. Summer will still bring the crowds
Because people tend to book international trips well in advance, any economic concerns that have developed recently among American travelers probably won't have a big impact on summer travel to Europe. 'We are still generally seeing a lot of demand,' says French. 'In 2024, we saw tourism in the EU exceed the 2023 record by about 2%. It's this ongoing amount of growth, and we generally expect that to still be the case.'
A decrease in travel to the U.S. by international visitors in response to recent moves by the Trump Administration could also lead to increased crowds in Europe. 'When people are thinking of alternative places to spend their holiday that are not the U.S., perhaps Western Europe goes higher up on the list,' says Sarah Kopit, editor-in-chief of travel industry news and market research company Skift.
If you're trying to check off some bucket-list sights, expect crowds. But you can balance that by taking detours throughout your trip to less popular spots. 'Tourist attractions are called tourist attractions because they attract tourists, and they attract tourists because they're amazing,' says Fish. 'We want to go to Paris and see the sights. But then maybe we want to spend a couple of days in Champagne country and take a detour to towns outside the city.'
Over-tourism fees could continue popping up to try to counteract crowds, but the collection and enforcement of these fees can sometimes be confusing. 'The Internet is your friend here,' says Fish. 'None of these over-tourism fees are prohibitive to taking a trip to Europe, but they are fees you need to be aware of. For that reason, I would do a little bit of studying before I go, because I don't want someone telling me there's a fee that's not real. I want to know what's actually required of me.'
4. It's likely going to be hot
The last few summers in Europe have been scorchers, and this summer will likely bring more of the same. 'There's no reason to think that 2025 won't be hotter than 2024,' says Kopit. 'And Europe, unlike other countries that have been dealing with extreme heat for quite some time, doesn't have a lot of its infrastructure set up with air-conditioning that some other places, including the U.S., do.'
So if AC is a must, check that any hotels you book have it. And be smart about planning your sightseeing. 'Book tickets in advance for those things you know you're going to want to see, and book them for first thing in the morning or later in the evening to skip the heat,' says Fish. 'And don't overpack your day. If you don't build in frequent gelato breaks during your days wandering around Florence, you're doing it wrong.'
SKIP THE LINES: Europe without the crowds? Travelers say these are the best crowd-free spots
5. A "Plan B" might be more important than ever
We've been bombarded with news every day lately here in the U.S., and many of those headlines are already having or could have impacts on international travel. 'Being informed, more than ever before, is very important right now,' says Tania Swasbrook, co-founder of luxury travel firm Vgari Lifestyle, a Virtuoso Agency. 'Be active, not passive. Be active in researching information. Be active in protecting yourself and your family, not just being 'Off we go.''
She recommends having backup plans for everything from your flights to your daily travel itinerary. 'Download as many apps as you can,' she says. 'Have the airline app of the airline you're traveling on, not just the one you booked it on. You could have booked on American, but British Airways is operating the flight. You have to be in the know — or have a travel advisor.'
6. If you're a considerate traveler, you should still get a warm welcome
Folks living outside the U.S. may have opinions about recent doings by the Trump Administration. But that's not expected to translate to how Europeans view American travelers at this point. 'I can say with confidence that my friends overseas are not confusing American tourists with anything they're reading in the news about the American government,' says Fish. 'It's always true that locals are excited to welcome visitors who are respectful and curious.'
The usual words of wisdom about international travel still apply today. 'Be respectful of other people's cultures,' says Kopit. 'Know where you're going and what the norms are, and be respectful when you're a guest in someone else's country.'
What Americans need to know before visiting Europe this summer originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
More from FamilyVacationist:
The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
2 hours ago
- Politico
Why the U.S. government is touting tourism in Afghanistan
Presented by Housing For US HAPPY TRAILS — If you haven't made summer plans yet, here's an idea: Have you considered Afghanistan? The State Department strongly advises against travel for Americans but the Department of Homeland Security has determined that conditions are on the upswing in the perennially war-torn country — and that even tourism is starting to come back. 'Tourists are sharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage, according to some reports,' DHS said. The rosy observation appears in a recent DHS notification in the Federal Register, announcing the revocation of Temporary Protected Status for about 12,000 Afghans who have taken refuge in the U.S., part of the Trump administration's larger effort to dismantle refugee programs and remove non-citizens from the country. In a finding that has confounded experts and advocates, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined that there have been 'notable improvements' in the security and economy of Afghanistan such that refugees would not be in imminent danger upon their return. Afghanistan used to be a popular draw for foreign backpackers, part of the famed 'Hippy Trail.' That ended with the Soviet invasion in 1979, which ushered in nearly 40 years of conflict. By some measures, the country is indeed experiencing a period of relative calm compared to more recent years. That's because the U.S. is no longer at war with the Taliban thanks to a peace deal signed during President Donald Trump's first term and a chaotic American withdrawal completed under President Joe Biden. The White House still has a hostile view of the Taliban government, including Afghanistan on a list of 19 countries whose citizens are now banned or restricted from entering the U.S. under an executive order that took effect Monday. But in the federal register, DHS notes that attacks involving improvised explosive devices have declined by 72 percent over the past year; the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has fallen to 23.7 million, down from 29 million a year earlier; and GDP rose 2.7 percent. DHS notes approvingly that tourism has increased a whopping 913 percent, reportedly with the encouragement of the ultraconservative Taliban, since the U.S. withdrawal – with about 7,000 people, primarily from China, visiting Afghanistan in 2023. DHS, however, seems to have been selective with its statistics. In the footnotes of its Federal Register notice, the agency three times cites a report from last year by the United States Institute of Peace – an independent organization that the Trump administration and DOGE moved to shut down (a judge has halted the effort but the organization still faces an uncertain future). USIP's report on the state of the country three years into Taliban rule is much less sanguine, concluding that Afghanistan has 'only a façade of domestic stability' and that humanitarian and human rights conditions are 'dire.' Since taking power, the Taliban has issued over 100 decrees restricting the rights of women and girls to education, employment, healthcare and mobility — even declaring that female voices cannot be heard outside the home, according to USIP. Hundreds of men and women have been subjected to public floggings. Authorities have carried out disappearances and extrajudicial killings. In any case, the report was not produced to make a case, one way or the other, for Afghan TPS, said Scott Worden, USIP's director of Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs. 'It's validating to see the US government crediting the quality of USIP's research enough to cite it in an important administrative determination,' Worden said. 'However, the information that is cited in the USIP report does not speak to the specific risks that Afghans who have received TPS face if they go back to a Taliban-run Afghanistan.' The fact that Chinese tourists find the country safe, he said, is not really relevant since their government supported the Taliban. 'That is a totally different circumstance from an Afghan who helped America, who worked closely with Americans will face if they return to Taliban rule and will be subject to persecution or even worse.' As for American tourists, it may be best to stick with the State Department advisory, which flatly recommends 'do not travel.' Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@ Or contact tonight's author at bfox@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @ben_foxed. What'd I Miss? — California asks judge to 'immediately' block military from joining ICE raids: Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking a federal judge for a restraining order that blocks Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from ordering National Guard troops and Marines to support immigration raids in Los Angeles. 'They must be stopped, immediately,' attorneys for the state wrote in a filing today. The request, submitted around 11 a.m. local time today, urged U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to act within two hours. The urgent plea came as Newsom and other California officials continued to assail Trump's order to 'federalize' 4,000 members of the state's National Guard for a mission to protect federal immigration facilities and personnel amid street protests. The state sued Monday to block that effort as well as Hegseth's subsequent deployment of 700 Marines to assist the National Guard effort. The restraining order request, however, is focused explicitly on a growing expectation among California officials that those troops will soon be sent on arrest missions alongside agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement — raising the likelihood of direct confrontations with L.A. residents. — Troops deployed to LA will cost $134M, Pentagon official says: President Donald Trump's decision to deploy troops to Los Angeles amid mass deportation protests will likely cost $134 million, the Pentagon's budget chief told lawmakers. Acting Pentagon comptroller Bryn MacDonnell, testifying at a House budget hearing today alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said the estimate covers costs such as travel, housing and food. — Trump administration weighs pulling education grants for California: The Trump administration is considering cutting federal education funds to California, according to people familiar with the administration's thinking. The discussion comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump feud over the president's deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles to stop immigration protests. A Trump administration employee, who was not permitted to speak publicly about the administration's plans, told POLITICO the Education Department may stop the disbursement of 'formula funds,' which are awards based on a predetermined formula created by Congress. The administration has not yet reached a final decision, according to a separate person familiar with the discussions. But there is some uncertainty over the department's ability to pull funding that is not directly connected to California's state department of education. — Trump: Protests in DC will be met with 'very heavy force': President Donald Trump warned that any protests during this weekend's major military parade in Washington will be met with 'very heavy force.' 'If there's any protester who wants to come out, they will be met with very big force,' the president said today during an impromptu Oval Office press conference. 'I haven't even heard about a protest, but [there are] people that hate our country.' The comments come as the White House and Washington law enforcement officials are preparing for a military parade on Saturday, which coincides with the Army's 250th — and Trump's 79th — birthday. — Former Biden aides agree to testify on his mental acuity to House Oversight: Four senior Biden White House aides agreed to testify to the House Oversight Committee as part of its probe into former President Joe Biden's ailing health while in office, according to a committee aide. Chair James Comer had requested the aides' cooperation with his investigation in May, amid renewed scrutiny in Washington of the former president's mental acuity. Last week, the Kentucky Republican sent a subpoena to Biden's physician Kevin O'Connor, calling him to appear on June 27 after O'Connor rejected Comer's invitation to testify. Even after Biden largely retreated from public view, congressional Republicans have focused extensively on concerns around the octogenarian former president's health. The Senate will hold a hearing on the matter next week. AROUND THE WORLD BRITISH SANCTIONS — Britain will formally sanction two far-right Israeli ministers for their comments over Gaza, the U.K. confirmed today. The assets of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will be frozen and the pair will also face travel bans, the Times first reported. No financial institutions will be allowed to deal with them. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the ministers had 'incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.' He added: 'These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now — to hold those responsible to account.' In response, Israel said: 'It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.' Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the Cabinet would meet next week to respond to what he called the 'unacceptable decision.' While the U.S. has continued to stand resolutely behind Israel as it wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, other longtime allies — including the EU, Britain and Canada — have grown increasingly critical of Israel and its military tactics. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have consistently been the most hard-line ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and are crucial allies keeping him in power. 'A DANGER TO US ALL' — The European Commission announced today its latest salvo of sanctions on Russia, taking aim at the Kremlin's energy exports, infrastructure and financial institutions. The measures, which are intended to pile pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine, include proposals to lower the oil price cap from $60 to $45 per barrel and ban the use of the Nord Stream pipelines to funnel gas between Russia and Germany. A further 22 Russian banks will also be cut off from the SWIFT international banking system, with the current, partial prohibition on Russian financial institutions broadened to a 'full transaction ban,' Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. Calling the sanctions 'robust' and 'hard-biting,' von der Leyen said the Russian economy was already buckling under the pressure of the EU's past measures and the new package would pummel it further. 'Russia continues to bring death and destruction to Ukraine,' she said at a joint press conference with the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. 'Our message is clear: This war must end.' Kallas said it was 'clear that Russia does not want peace' and needed to pay the price for its 'outright illegal' war. 'Russia is cruel, aggressive and a danger to us all,' she added. Nightly Number RADAR SWEEP SPEED WINS — New research suggests that the speed at which you walk can reveal how your brain is functioning. And a precipitous decline in walking speed can predict other underlying health problems. It's normal to slow down your walking pace as you age. But people who can keep up a quick pace into their later years are more likely to have a brain that's functioning like that of a younger person than those whose average gait is much slower. The research can even predict survival — a study showed that men with the slowest walking speeds at age 75 had a 19% chance of living for 10 years, compared to men with the fastest walking speeds who had an 87% chance of survival. Jasmin Fox-Skelly reports for the BBC. Parting Image Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here.
Eater
4 hours ago
- Eater
The Strip's Biggest Food Hall Just Opened — Here's What to Eat
A new food hall has opened on the Las Vegas Strip — the latest in a citywide boom of food halls that bring together local favorites, national chains, and celebrity chef brands under one roof. And Via Via, which debuted Monday, June 9 at the Venetian Resort, might just be the city's most exciting one yet. While some Las Vegas casinos have traded buffets for brand-new food halls, Via Via took a different approach — transforming its existing food court by swapping out familiar mall staples like Bonanno's and Fatburger for buzzy, sought-after restaurants from across the country. One standout is Howlin' Ray's, the cult-favorite Los Angeles spot known for its Nashville-style hot chicken. Its fans once lined up for hours to get fried chicken sandwiches, and even nine years after opening its first location in LA's Chinatown, lines are still a common sight on weekends. James Beard Award nominee and New York Times best-selling author Mason Hereford is bringing a double dose of New Orleans flavor to the Las Vegas Strip. His cult-favorite spots, Turkey and the Wolf and Molly's Rise and Shine, are now slinging sandwiches and breakfast hits at Via Via. Turkey and the Wolf, the sandwich slinger that Bon Appétit crowned America's Best New Restaurant in 2017, is known for its offbeat menu — think double-decker collard green sandwiches and chicken pot pie-stuffed empanadas with tarragon buttermilk. Right next door, Hereford's Magazine Street breakfast spot, Molly's Rise and Shine, serves up playful takes on the morning classics, like a Grand Slam McMuffin stacked with sausage patties, American cheese, grilled onions, and house-made English muffins. Also at Via Via, acclaimed New York noodle spot Ivan Ramen serves some of the city's most enjoyable noodles on the Las Vegas Strip — a critic once declared its ramen 'so good it will make your eyes explode.' But the menu goes well beyond ramen, offering a lineup of inventive, izakaya-style small plates like asparagus with miso nuta and stracciatella, spicy pickles, and wagyu pastrami buns. Some may remember chef Ray Garcia, the talent behind ¡Viva! at Resorts World, and his B.S. Taqueria from its stint at the short-lived Sundry food hall in southwest Las Vegas, where it served tacos, small bites, and a deep tequila list that rivaled full-service bars. Now, the concept returns with a fresh take at Via Via. On the menu are dishes like chile-rubbed al pastor, wood-fire grilled cauliflower, and house-made chorizo, all tucked into freshly pressed heirloom corn tortillas. The Lower East Side's Scarr's Pizza has been serving pies for nearly a decade, but even its newest location drew lines around the block when it opened in 2023. Owner Scarr Pimentel grinds his own flour in-house to create the ideal foundation for a simple, perfect slice of cheese 'za. All'Antico Vinaio, the legendary sandwich shop from Florence known for its round-the-block lines, square-cut schiacciata bread, and towering stacks of cured meats and cheeses, opened its second Las Vegas location at the food hall. The first outpost debuted at UnCommons last year. Lastly, the hospitality group behind Death & Co. — the influential cocktail bar that helped define the modern cocktail renaissance — is bringing its latest concept to Las Vegas. Close Company, which debuted in Nashville just a couple of weeks ago, offers the same high-caliber cocktails as its predecessor but in a more relaxed, neighborhood-style setting. It marks the first Las Vegas venture for Gin & Luck, the team behind Death & Co. locations in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. Via Via is the latest addition to Las Vegas's ongoing food hall boom. At the Miracle Mile Shops inside Planet Hollywood, Tacotarian recently opened inside the new Miracle Eats food court, which is slowly filling out with other vendors like Irv's Burgers and Fat Sal's. Like the Venetian, Caesars Palace also gave its food court a glow-up, replacing its functional but forgettable stalls with celebrity names like Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri's Chicken Guy. Off-Strip, the short-lived Sundry, which famously closed exactly one year after opening last June, is being replaced by a popular Hawaiian food hall focused on Asian street food. And newcomer H-Mart has brought its own built-in food hall packed with Korean and other Asian favorites. Via Via follows in the footsteps of Proper Eats at Aria, bringing together talent that already draws crowds in cities across the U.S. With names like Howlin' Ray's, Ivan Ramen, Turkey and the Wolf, and Death & Co. — and menus this stacked — Via Via isn't just a food hall; it's a cheat sheet for what's hot in American dining right now. See More: Vegas Restaurant News Vegas Restaurant Openings
The Hill
4 hours ago
- The Hill
Canadian road trips to US drop 38 percent year-on-year
The number of Canadians returning from road trips to the United States fell sharply in May compared to the same period in 2024. Canadian-resident return trips by car totaled 1.3 million, a 38.1 percent drop from May 2024 — marking the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. Canadian-resident return trips from the U.S. by air also fell — by 24.2 percent — compared to May 2024. The decline in Canadian-resident air travel from the U.S. accounts for the overall dip in return air travel. While Canadians' return travel by air declined by 3.7 percent overall, return air travel increased by 9.8 percent among Canadians returning from overseas countries compared to last May. U.S. residents, meanwhile, traveled to Canada at a lower rate than they did last year but saw a more modest decline than their Canadian counterparts. U.S.-resident arrivals to Canada by car fell by 8.4 percent and, by air, fell by 0.3 percent, compared to last May. The decline in Canadian road trips to the U.S. continued a trend seen in prior months. In April 2025, Canadian-resident return trips by car from the U.S. totaled 1.2 million — a 35.2 percent decline from April 2024. Canadian-resident return trips by air fell by 19.9 percent, compared to the prior month. The overall tourism decline threatens to wipe out $12.5 billion from the American economy this year, NewsNation reported. The decline in tourism comes as tensions between the U.S. and Canada have cooled under the Trump administration, as President Trump continues to muse publicly about making Canada a 51st state of America, which Prime Minister Mark Carney has repeatedly rejected as a nonstarter.
