But there are a few caveats. Here’s the need-to-know on the subject:

This new benefit extends to all Amex cardholders regardless of which Amex card they have, but the flights must all be booked through “Amex Travel.” In addition, the cardholder will only be reimbursed for a portion (up to 75%) of the non-refundable flight cost.

This new benefit is called Trip Cancel Guard and was previously only extended to Platinum Amex cardholders -if they had a good reason to cancel their trip.

While no reason for the cancellation is now needed, all cardholders/travelers must cancel at least two full days before their departure date.

We think it’s a good deal overall, especially for those wanting that extra peace of mind when booking a flight. Hey, it’s better than nothing.

Safe and happy travels, Dean & Andie

Whether you’re looking for info on fantastic food crawls in Barcelona, chocolate-making in Edinburgh, or the newest “historic palace tour” in Paris, we’ve got you covered. The monthly updates to our city-by-city pages will have everybody talking and traveling. Just click on the menu bar of our Clued In Travel Books website and choose the location you’re most interested in. This way you won’t miss a minute of the fun.

Happy and safe travels, Dean & Andie

As expected, Italy has announced that it will be removing all of its pandemic restrictions on May 1, 2022. This includes all green passes, health passports, entry/ travel requirements, testing, mask mandates and the like. Let’s hope the rest of Europe takes note and shows the same courage. It’s time to get back to our normal lives. Enough.

Happy travels, Dean and Andie

It’s time to plan that trip to Paris…  We are happy to report that France has finally removed its “health pass” requirement and lifted nearly all of its mask mandates; the only place where masks are still required is on public transportation. The inconvenient health pass was formerly required to enter all restaurants, museums, theatres, and trains.

France has suddenly eased its border restrictions as well. The US has now been re-classified as a “green” country so that fully vaccinated travelers can enter simply by showing their proof of vaccination. (Unvaccinated travelers are also welcome if they show proof of a negative Covid test taken within 48-hours of their departure.)  Alternatively, travelers may show proof that they contracted Covid-19 and recovered within six months of their trip!  Children under age twelve are exempt from all the entry requirements.   Happy travels, Dean and Andie

Yearning for an easy Scottish side trip? A super affordable, direct train route between London and Edinburgh is now operational and tickets start at around £20.  (Competition from Easy Jet and other budget airlines is the reason; it used to cost five times as much to travel between the two capitals by train compared to the cheapy-cheap airlines.)

Now you can just hop on-board one of Lumo’s new, electric-powered trains right from London’s Kings Cross Station. Trains feature a catering service, free WiFi, entertainment systems, and paperless ticketing.  The route ends at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station which just happens to be smack dab in the very center of town.  Let’s go get a wee bit o’ Scottish love.  Slangevar!

Things are definitely turning more positive for travelers. France has now dropped all Covid test requirements for travelers entering their country from the UK and USA as long as they are “fully vaccinated.” This means boosted too, if the original vaccination was completed more than nine months prior to the intended travel. Many other European countries have dropped restrictions as well. Start planning that amazing vacation while airfares and hotels are still discounted. Europe is back!

Happy travels, Dean and Andie

Yes, our brand new Bored in Florence – Awesome Experiences for the Repeat Visitor for 2022 is up on amazon.com right now! Snag your copy (in ebook or paperback versions) and start getting excited. It joins our recently published Bored in Rome, Bored in Paris, and Bored in London books. From horseback riding along the Appian Way to wine tasting in a 17th century London cellar, from visiting a private hair stylist in Florence to taking a special pastry workshop at the famed Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris, we’ve got you covered. Europe is BACK!

Watch for the new 2022 editions of Bored in Edinburgh and Bored in Barcelona because they’re coming soon.

Happy travels, Dean and Andie

Great news out of the UK – February 2022

“Vaccinated travelers can now enter Britain without taking any Covid tests.  Visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved Covid vaccine need only  fill out a passenger locator form before traveling to to Britain and Scotland.  This means the U.K. now has one of the most free-flowing borders in the world — hopefully sending a clear message that we are open for business.”

(Note: Unvaccinated people still must take tests before and after arriving, but no longer need to self-isolate until they get a negative result.)

In addition, London’s Gatwick airport has announced that it plans to reopen the second of its two terminals in March 2022.  Face masks are no longer mandatory in most indoor spaces in England, and those vaccine passports for gaining entry into nightclubs and large events have been scrapped.

Prime Minister Johnson announced this week that he hopes to also lift the mandatory self-isolation for people who test positive by the end of this month as part of a plan to “live long-term with Covid.”

Happy travels, Dean and Andie

Grab one of our fabulous “Bored In” books today and start planning it!

Our new Bored in Rome, Awesome Experiences for the Repeat Visitor for 2022 is now up on amazon.com and we can’t wait for you to see it. It joins Bored in Paris and Bored in London –with six more editions coming soon. They’re very fun and will inspire you like nothing else can. Imagine riding a horse along the historic Appian Way, or taking an English-speaking pastry workshop at Le Cordon Bleu. In London, find your inner Sommelier at a wine tasting inside a 17th century cellar near the Thames. These things and more can be yours, and these special books are available in both paperback or ebook. And they’re great for the first-time visitor as well!

Happy travels, Dean and Andie

We’re not big on getting travel insurance. In general, we don’t even sign up for those flight cancellation reimbursements that pop up during the online booking process. But these days, temporary travel insurance might just be the thing to make you feel more secure about going abroad. Most of the major companies who provide this service are actually quite inexpensive when you consider what you get for the money. They offer all kinds of insurance against things that can happen while you’re traveling and usually include the nasty cost of a so-called “quarantine hotel” should you test positive for Covid in a country that has the power to force you into one of these places.

The cost of them ranges from around $2000 per person for the whole of the quarantine. That cost would be paid 100% by most insurance companies. Granted, there aren’t many countries still forcing travelers into a quarantine hotel. Instead, you’re usually just asked to self-isolate in your hotel or Airbnb. This too can become expensive though if your health situation causes you to extend your stay because you can’t return to the US.

So, these are the things to think about when considering travel insurance, and to make things a bit easier our friends at Money.com have curated a list of companies that has been thoroughly researched by their money experts. Here is the link.

Safe and happy travels, Dean & Andie