Pandemic travel news update: Europe, Anguilla and Abu Dhabi relax restrictions

Come here to learn more about which countries are relaxing entry rules, which attractions are reopening and places which have unfortunately closed due to Covid.

Openings

You can almost smell the sunscreen.

An approved list of “safe” destinations is due to be approved this week, although there is still no confirmation as to when these changes will be implemented.

Some members of the EU bloc have announced their own easing of restrictions.

Croatia also welcomes vaccinated travelers, as well as those who present a negative PCR test or proof that they have recovered from the Covid-19 test in the last 180 days, and no less than 11 days before their arrival.

Earlier this month, Cyprus reopened to vaccinated travelers from 65 countries, including the we and the UK, while Portugal began to allow entry of visitors from England, Scotland and Wales after being added to UKthe “green” list of countries where travel without quarantine is authorized.

The EU’s Covid digital certificate – a “vaccine passport” that would facilitate internal movement within the bloc – is expected to come into force on July 1.

Brittany – notoriously more in the EU – on Monday lifted the ban on residents taking holidays abroad. However, its “orange list” of countries is already sowing confusion among travelers and resentment in the travel industry.

There are deterrents to travelers other than an officially sanctioned “tut tut”. Anyone traveling to an Amber List country will need to take a Covid-19 test on their return, quarantine themselves for 10 days, book and pay for two more tests, and complete a passenger tracing form.

MSC Cruises took off from the English port of Southampton Thursday for a four day jaunt around the British coast.

In Washington DC, the American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Holocaust Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture have all reopened, while the Smithsonian Zoo will welcome visitors from May 21.

On the West Coast, THEThe Broad Museum is back in business on May 26.

More in Hong Kong, Art Basel lasts until May 23. The multi-day celebration of modern and contemporary art is the region’s first in-person event since the pandemic.

It could help offset this week’s disappointment when a travel bubble Hong Kong and Singapore has been postponed from its next start date of May 26 due to new cases of Covid in Singapore. No reprogramming date yet.

Look ahead

Elsewhere in the British capital, the Windmill strip club was once the shady crown jewel of Soho. The neighborhood has been cleaned up for a long time and now the club has had a polish as well – after a £ 10million ($ 14million) overhaul it will reopen in June as a glamorous dining venue. Nude dancers, however, are not on the menu.

Days later, Disney’s first hotel with Marvel characters – Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel – will open on June 21.

In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi will end the mandatory quarantine for international travelers on July 1.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower – which in happier times welcomed 7 million visitors a year – will reopen on July 16. The number of visitors will be limited to 10,000 per day.

Lockdown hobby of the week

Feel like you’ve wasted 2020 gorging on “Tiger King” and developing a beer and donut habit? Prepare to feel a little more regret.

Said Napper, “I don’t think I’ve been bored once in the past 14 months.”

CNN’s Tamara Hardingham-Gill, Lilit Marcus and Francesca Street contributed to this report.