
THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS ON RECENT AND FUTURE TRAVEL
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(This story was last updated on January 12 2021)
There is no question that the spread of the coronavirus around the world has affected not only travel in the short term but will continue to do so for at least a year or two into the future.

Here is a collection of stories, arranged from latest to earliest, written since early March of 2020 about the impact of the coronavirus on travel for Tales Told From The Road or published elsewhere. Many of these stories have been posted on the Tales Told From The Road Facebook Page.
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“U.S. to Require Negative Virus Tests From International Air Travelers” (The New York Times, 1/12/21)
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“What vaccines mean for the return of travel” (National Geographic, January, 2021)
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“CDC Now Says Travelers Should Get Three Covid Tests” (Forbes, 11/23/20)
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“How One Airline’s Pandemic Hurt Becomes Everyone’s Pain” (The New York Times, 11/21/20)
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“US-Canada border closure likely to be ‘with us for a while’” (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 11/18/20)
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“CUBA COVID-19 CONDITIONS AS HAVANA AIRPORT REOPENS… WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!” (ChristopherBaker.com)
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“Travel and Coronavirus Testing: Your Questions Answered” (The New York Times, 11/10/20)
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“Governor Cuomo Announces New Guidelines Allowing Out-of-State Travelers to “Test Out” of Mandatory 14-Day Quarantine” (New York State Governor’s Office, 11/1/20)
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“United will try testing passengers on New York-to-London flights.” (The New York Times, 10/29/20)
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“Costa Rica to eliminate coronavirus test requirement for tourists” (The Tico Times, 10/22/20)
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“Canada-U.S. Border Closure Extended To Nov. 21” (HuffPost, 10/19/20)
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“Iceland Tourism Prepares for a Comeback” (The New York Times, 10/13/20)
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“Help! I’d Like to Ride the Train. Is it Safe?” (The New York Times, 10/3/20)
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“Now at the Boarding Gate: Coronavirus Tests” (The New York Times, 9/30/20)
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“Pandemic Convinces Airline Workers It’s Time for New Horizons” (The New York Times, 9/30/20)
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“These pandemic upgrades and downgrades might surprise you” (The Washington Post, 9/30/20)
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“How the scuba community is navigating the pandemic’s uncharted waters” (The Washington Post, 9/25/20)
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“United to Become First US Airline Testing Passengers for COVID-19” (Travel Pulse, 9/24/20)
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“U.S. Airports Will No Longer Screen International Arrivals for COVID-19” (AFAR, 9/9/20)
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“To Many Travelers, 2020 Was the Summer of 1965” (The New York Times, 9/4/20)
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“New York airports to test passengers for COVID-19” (Budget Travel, 8/31/20)
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“Hawaii Will Require Tourists to Fill Out Safe Travels Application” (Travel Pulse, 8/30/20)
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“Remember the ‘Travel Bubble’? Here’s How It Burst” (The New York Times, 8/28/20)
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“Bali won’t allow tourists until 2021. These 4 destinations will probably follow.” (The Washington Post, 8/28/20)
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“Move Over, Sustainable Travel. Regenerative Travel Has Arrived.” (The New York Times, 8/27/20)
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“Hawaii won’t allow tourists until at least October because of coronavirus surge” (The Washington Post, 8/19/20)
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“As Amenities Sit Unused, Airports Reconsider Their Design” (The New York Times, 8/18/20)
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“Airport Covid-19 testing could help countries open for travel” (Travel Weekly, 8/15/20)
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Money can buy social distance. But where does that leave budget travelers?” (The Washington Post, 8/14/20)
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“Canada-U.S. border will remain closed until Sept. 21” *(CBC, 8/14/20)
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“The State Dept. lifted its blanket international travel advisory. What does that mean for Americans?” (The Washington Post, 8/7/20)
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“Coronavirus FAQ: Can An Airline Put You On A No-Fly List For Refusing To Mask Up?” (NPR, 8/7/20)
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“A majority of travelers are not willing to get on planes, a new survey shows.” (The New York Times, 8/6/20)
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“See for Yourself: How Airplanes Are Cleaned Today” (The New York Times, 8/5/20)
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“Airline industry doesn’t expect to fully rebound from coronavirus drop until 2024” (USA Today, 7/29/20)
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“How Airlines Are Changing the Flying Process” (AARP, 7/24/20)
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“New York Residents Get Green Light for Global Entry” (Travel Market Report, 7/23/20)
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“Worried About Crowded Planes? Know Where Your Airline Stands” (The New York Times, 7/21/20)
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“US-Canada, Mexico border closures extended into late August as American COVID-19 cases surge” (USA Today, 7/17/20)
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“Western Outbreaks Threaten Tourist Season at National Parks” (The New York Times, 7/16/20)
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“Vacation in the Summer of Covid-19” (The New York Times, 7/16/20)
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“Travelers to New York Who Do Not Comply With Quarantine Measures Could Face $2K Fine” (Travel+Leisure, 7/14/20)
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“US border closures with Canada and Mexico to be extended another month, officials say” (CNN, 7/14/20)
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“A closed border, pandemic-weary tourists and a big bottleneck at Glacier National Park” (The Washington Post, 7/9/20)
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“Croatia Welcomes US Tourists, Flouts EU Travel Ban–Here’s What To Know” (Forbes, 7/10/20)
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“Thinking of Traveling in the U.S.? These States Have Travel Restrictions” (The New York Times, 7/10/20)
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“American Passports Are Worthless Now” (Map) (Medium, 7/9/20)
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“Travelers Heading to NY May Be Asked to Disclose Where They’re Staying As Part of Mandatory Quarantine Rule” (Travel+Leisure, 7/9/20)
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“We took a plane, train and (rental) automobile for the experience, not the journey” (The Washington Post, 7/9/20)
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“Visa Waivers, Vouchers, Flight Discounts and Other Travel Lures” (The New York Times, 7/8/20)
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“On Some Planes, Empty Rows While Passengers Crowd Together” (The New York Times, 7/8/20)
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“Pilots Were Once in Short Supply. Now They’re Losing Their Jobs.” (The New York Times, 7/6/20)
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“England Drops Its Quarantine for Most Visitors, but Not Those From the U.S.” (The New York Times, 7/1/20)
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“Venice Tourism May Never Be the Same. It Could Be Better.” (The New York Times, 7/1/20)
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“Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? A Country-by-Country Guide” (Travel+Leisure, 7/1/20)
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“What Americans Need to Know About Europe’s Travel Ban” (The New York Times, 7/1/20)
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“Restrictions leave US travelers high and dry” (CNN Travel, 6/27/20)
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“With few rules in place, airlines, airports adopt their own strategies for combating the coronavirus” (The Washington Post, 6/27/20)
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“It’s Official—Americans Won’t Be Allowed Into Europe When It Reopens” (AFAR, 6/26/20)
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“Airlines tried social distancing on board. For many, that experiment is ending.” (The Washington Post, 6/26/20)
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“Amid the pandemic, a writer finds inspiration in century-old travel stories” (The Washington Post, 6/26/20)
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“These states still require travelers to self-quarantine or present negative COVID-19 test” (USA Today, 6/25/20)
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“So, Can I Go to Europe? — How the Coronavirus Is Changing European Travel for Americans” (Rick Steves Europe/Rick’s Travel Blog, 6/25/20)
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“The New Escapism: Isolationist Travel” (The New York Times, 6/24/20)
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“E.U. May Bar American Travelers as It Reopens Borders, Citing Failures on Virus” (The New York Times, 6/23/20)
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“‘The Future Looks Bleak’: The Pandemic Ravages Medical Tourism” (The New York Times, 6/23/20)
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“The future of travel, according to guidebook writer Rick Steves” (The Washington Post, 6/22/20)
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“How the Pandemic Has Affected Passports, Global Entry, T.S.A. PreCheck and More” (The New York Times, 6/20/20)
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“Road Trip Alert: Travel To Or Through These States Can Mean You Need To Self-Quarantine” (Forbes, 6/19/20)
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“When It’s Illegal to Travel in Your Own Country” (The New York Times, 6/19/20)
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“Cruise Ships Won’t Sail from U.S. Ports Until Sept. 15” (Cruise Industry News, 6/19/20)
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“Is it safer to fly or drive this summer? 5 health experts weigh in.” (The Washington Post, 6/18/20)
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“Flights to Beijing Are Canceled, Lockdown Is Renewed As Coronavirus Cases Spike (Video)” (Travel+Leisure, 6/17/20)
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“Australia ‘very unlikely’ to allow foreign tourists in 2020” (Financial Review, 6/17/20)
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“Travel Insurance: Is It Worth It?” (The New York Times, 6/17/20)
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“Coronavirus: Canada-U.S. border shutdown extended to July 21” (Global News, 6/16/20)
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“Airlines ban alcohol on planes in response to Covid-19” (CNN, 6/16/20)
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“United Will Place People Who Refuse to Wear a Mask on a No-fly List (Video)” (Travel+Leisure, 6/16/20)
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“11 Ways The Pandemic Will Change Travel” (The Washington Post, 6/15/20)
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“In Europe, Travel Returns, but Not Confidence About What Comes Next” (The New York Times, 6/15/20)
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“What It’s Like To Take A Road Trip Now” (Forbes, 6/14/20)
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“Will A $4,000 Tax Credit For Travel Be In The Next Stimulus Package?” (Forbes, 6/13/20)
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“Virus Delays Passports for 1.7 Million Americans” (The New York Times, 6/13/20)
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“Travel: Americans Unlikely To Be Welcome To Europe In July, Here’s Why” (Forbes, 6/12/20)
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“Is this goodbye to make-your-own waffles? Coronavirus may end the hotel breakfast as we know it.” (The Washington Post, 6/12/20)
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“For Much of Europe, Reopening Day Is Here” (The New York Times, 6/12/20)
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“The ‘New Normal’ of Visiting America’s National Parks” (Smithsonian Magazine, 6/12/20)
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“U.S.-Canada Travel Ban Will Be Extended To End Of July” (Forbes, 6/11/20)
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“Would-be vacationers approach summer travel cautiously” (The Washington Post, 6/10/20)
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“This Map Will Show Where You Can and Can’t Travel Due to Coronavirus (Video)” (Travel+Leisure, 6/10/20)
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“You aren’t the only one itching to travel: Airlines are slowly adding flights” (The Washington Post, 6/10/20)
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“Airlines Adding Pre-Flight Health Questionnaire” (Travel Pulse, 6/10/20)
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Flying Was Once Routine. During the Pandemic, It’s a Feat. (The New York Times, 6/9/20)
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“What Travel Insurance Does Not Cover After The Pandemic” (Forbes, 6/7/20)
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“The coronavirus is reshaping an old hierarchy: Who can travel where” (The Washington Post, 6/6/20)
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“Europe’s Patchwork Reopening” (The New York Times, 6/5/20)
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“China Steps Back in Airline Dispute With the Trump Administration” (The New York Times, 6/4/20)
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“Iceland and other destinations are opening to Americans, but should you go?” (The Washington Post, 6/4/20)
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“South Africa Will Remain Closed to Tourists Until February 2021 (Video)” (Travel+Leisure, 6/4/20)
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“Airlines Say Everybody Onboard Must Wear a Mask. So Why Aren’t They?” (The New York Times, 6/4/20)
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“Venice Glimpses a Future With Fewer Tourists, and Likes What It Sees” (The New York Times, 6/3/20)
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“Virus Leaves The U.S. Travel Industry Struggling” (Travel Industry Today, 6/3/20)
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“What Will It Take to Reopen the World to Travel?” (The New York Times, 6/3/20)
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“Routes: Quarantines quash air travel revival plans + more news” (SF Gate, 5/3o/20)
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“Crowds cause Arches National Park to shut gates just three hours after opening” (The Salt Lake Tribune, 5/29/30)
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“Hawaii Extends Quarantine Order for Tourists” (Travel Pulse, 5/29/20)
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“Summer at America’s national parks kicks off with long lines and crowded trails” (National Geographic, 5/29/20)
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“Is it safe to travel now? It depends.” (National Geographic, 5/28/20)
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“Camping in the West? Like Everything These Days, It’s Complicated” (The New York Times, 5/27/20)
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“Too sick to fly: Should airlines offer refunds to infectious passengers?” (The Washington Post, 5/27/20)
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“No, Japan Will Not Pay For Half Your Travel Costs If You Visit” (Forbes, 5/27/20)
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“Thinking About Flying? Here’s What You Need to Know Now” (The New York Times, 5/27/20)
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“The Latest Trend in Vacation Rentals: Long-Term Stays” (The New York Times, 5/26/20)
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“Retiring to a sunny foreign vacation spot was the American dream. Now the coronavirus is forcing some expats to come back.”(The Washington Post, 5/26/20)
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“A Social Distant Las Vegas? What Are The Odds?” (The New York Times, 5/26/20)
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“Why Some Cities And Counties Are Banning Face Masks With Valves” (Forbes, 5/26/20)
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“Is the Age of the Road Trip Over Forever?” (The New York Times, 5/25/20)
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“People are wearing hazmat suits on planes. But should they?” (The Washington Post, 5/25/20)
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“As Passengers Disappeared, Airlines Filled Planes With Cargo” (The New York Times, 5/25/20)
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“Trump suspends travel from Brazil as coronavirus pandemic worsens in South America” (CNBC, 5/24/20)
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“The Travel Industry Copes with Coronavirus” (Video; Peter Greenberg on CBS Sunday Morning, 5/24/20)
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“One final viral infusion: Trump’s move to block travel from Europe triggered chaos and a surge of passengers from the outbreak’s center” (The Washington Post, 5/23/20)
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“Airlines slowly reviving flights; Frontier to begin temp checks” (SFGate.com, 5/23/20)
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“Japan Offering Tourists A Subsidy Plan” (Travel Pulse, 5/23/20)
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“Heading to the beach this weekend? Rules vary dramatically depending on where you are.” (The Washington Post, 5/22/20)
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“Hertz, Car Rental Pioneer, Files for Bankruptcy Protection” (The New York Times, 5/22/20)
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“European Countries Are Paying People to Travel Again. Could America Too?” (AFAR, 5/22/20)
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“Airlines Given Tentative OK to Halt Service at Dozens of U.S. Cities” (The New York Times, 5/22/20)
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“The TSA Has New Rules for Travelers Passing Through Airport Security (Video)” (Travel+Leisure, 5/22/20)
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“Britain to Quarantine All Incoming Air Travelers; a Chinese Coronavirus Vaccine Shows Promise: Live Coverage” (The New York Times, 5/22/20)
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“U.S. Museums Are Reopening: To See Monet, Don a Mask” (The New York Times, 5/22/20)
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“Hawaii Cancels Its ‘Aloha!’ Welcome” (Tales Told From The Road, 5/21/20)
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“Getting on a Plane? Please Take the Food Out of Your Bag” (The New York Times, 5/21/20)
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“Europe Lifts Coronavirus Travel Restrictions, But Air Canada Waits To Resume International Flights” (Forbes, 5/21/20)
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“Trump administration extends border closures to Canada, Mexico until June 22” (USA Today, 5/20/20)
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“Everything is on the table as hoteliers re-evaluate F&B” (HOTELSMag.com, 5/20/20)
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“What happens to your loyalty program after the pandemic?” (The Washington Post, 5/20/20)
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“Survey Finds Travelers Targeting Destinations Closer to Home” (Travel Pulse, 5/19/20)
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“‘It Feels Like We Got the City Back for Ourselves.’” (The New York Times, 5/19/20)
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“How Hotels Could Change After Coronavirus, From Private Spa Time to DIY Happy Hour Kits” (CN Traveler, 5/19/20)
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“Navigating pandemic-era air travel: Here’s what it’s like to fly internationally right now” (The Washington Post, 5/19/20)
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“What Is an Immunity Passport—and Do I Need One to Travel?” (AFAR, 5/18/20)
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“Coronavirus: Italy to lift travel restrictions as lockdown eases” (BBC News, 5/16/20)
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“Iceland plans to welcome back tourists by June 15” (The Washington Post, 5/16/20)
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“Oregon Begins to Reopen” (Tales Told From The Road, 5/16/20)
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“Coronavirus FAQs: How Risky Is It To Fly? Is There Any Way To Reduce The Risks?” (NPR, 5/15/20)
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“Air travel is about to get even more miserable than it used to be, says writer” (CBC, 5/15/20)
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“The pandemic grounded cruise ships indefinitely. But bookings are still rolling in.” (The Washington Post, 5/15/20)
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“Resort Towns Ask: Will There Be Summer?” (The New York Times, 5/15/20)
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“For tourist destinations during a travel ban, counterprogramming makes perfect sense” (The Washington Post, 5/14/20)
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“Delta to retire Boeing 777s as pandemic dims outlook for international travel” (CNBC, 5/14/20)
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“Hotels vs. Airbnb: Has Covid-19 Disrupted the Disrupter?” (The New York Times, 5/14/20)
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“Across Europe, Reopening Borders in Time for Summer” (The New York Times, 5/13/20)
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“Tips from Rick Steves on keeping your traveling spirit alive” (SeattleRefined.com, 5/13/20)
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“Trump Administration Plans to Extend Virus Border Restrictions Indefinitely” (The New York Times, 5/13/20)
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“What to do when disaster strikes on vacation” (The Washington Post, 5/13/20)
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“Dreaming of Travel? The Internet Says You’re Not Alone” (Travel Pulse, 5/13/20)
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“Update: United Airlines Will Notify Passengers In Advance When Flights Are Full” (Forbes, 5/12/20)
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“Exclusive: U.S. airlines tell crews not to force passengers to wear masks” (Reuters, 5/12/20)
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“Refunds or Credits? Travelers and Businesses Face Off” (The New York Times, 5/12/20)
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“‘It’s Surreal Walking Through the Empty Airports’” (The New York Times, 5/12/20)
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“Air Travel Is Going to Be Very Bad, for a Very Long Time” (The Atlantic, 5/11/20)
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“So Much For United Airlines’ Pledge To Block The Middle Seat” (Forbes, 5/10/20)
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“‘Europe needs a break’: EU plots to restart travel and tourism despite COVID“ (Reuters, 5/9/20)
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“Two-week quarantine for travellers to UK would ‘devastate’ aviation industry” (The Guardian, 5/9/20)
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“Is It Safe To Travel Anywhere? All Your Coronavirus Questions Answered” (The Wall Street Journal, 5/9/20)
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“The First Signs of Travel’s Return?” (The New York Times, 5/8/20)
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“I Just Flew. It Was Worse Than I Thought It Would Be.” (The Atlantic, 5/8/20)
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“For travelers, anticipation is the best part. But what if there’s no trip to look forward to?” (The Washington Post, 5/8/20)
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“The Host of a New Travel Show on How to Keep Wanderlust Alive” (The New York Times, 5/7/20)
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“Travel Q&A: Why are some planes crowded even with air travel down?” (OregonLive.com, 5/6/20)
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“Is it possible to plan a “safe” vacation?” (The Washington Post, 5/6/20)
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“Coronavirus and Travel: Everything You Need to Know” (Conde Nast Traveler, 5/6/20)
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“Europe is loosening coronavirus restrictions. But don’t expect to vacation there anytime soon.” (The Washington Post, 5/6/20)
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“Some Oregon State Parks Reopen For Limited Day Use Starting Tuesday” (Oregon Public Broadcasting Website, 5/6/20)
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“The Future of Travel: How the industry will change after the pandemic.” (The New York Times, 5/6/20)
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“‘The city is ours again’: How the pandemic relieved Amsterdam of overtourism” (The Washington Post, 5/5/20)
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“When will we start traveling again? Here’s what experts are saying” (CNBC.com, 5/5/20)
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“Travel Agents and First Travelers Ready to Navigate a New World Order” (Travel Agent Central, 5/1/20)
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“Coronavirus and Travel: What You Should Know” (AARP.org, 5/1/20)
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“Which Airlines Have Raised Baggage Fees in 2020?” (The Travel Pulse Podcast, 5/1/20)
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“Passengers Must Wear Masks On Major Airlines To Cut Spread Of Coronavirus” (NPR.org, 4/30/20)
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“Travel Expert Rick Steves Pays His Staff Out Of Pocket As Travel Shuts Down Worldwide” (WGBH.org, 4/29/20)
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“How to protect your next trip against a pandemic” (The Washington Post, 4/29/20)
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“California air travel plunged after the coronavirus. But by how much?” (Los Angeles Times, 4/28/20)
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“Yellowstone in 2020” (Tales Told From The Road, 4/28/20)
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“Coronavirus Travel Restrictions, Across the Globe” (The New York Times, 4/27/20)
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“Flight Attendants Warn: Leisure Travel Needs To Stop Now” (Forbes.com, 4/26/20)
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“Planning (Or Just Dreaming About) Post-Coronavirus Travel” (Tales Told From The Road, 4/26/20)
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“US airlines still waiting on coronavirus aid as Treasury demands some repayment” (ThePointsGuy.com, 4/14/20)
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“Help! The Coronavirus Struck and I Want a Refund” (The New York Times, 4/11/20)
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“Driving and Travel Restrictions Across the United States” (The New York Times, 4/10/20)
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“Will the Coronavirus Kill ‘Shakespeare’?” (Tales Told From The Road, 4/10/20)
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“Flying via a Smaller Airport? It May Take a While” (The New York Times, 4/9/20)
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“The Open Road Calls, but Authorities Say ‘Stop’” (The New York Times, 4/6/20)
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“U.S. Stops Issuing Passports Except For ‘Life-Or-Death’ Emergencies” (Time.com, 4/3/20)
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“No Crowds. No Flying Fish. Coronavirus Empties Pike Place Market.” (The New York Times, 3/31/20)
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“How The Coronavirus Is Affecting Film Festivals” (Tales Told From The Road, 3/29/20)
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“These expert tips will help you get a coronavirus refund” (Christopher Elliott, 3/24/20)
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“Travel and the Coronavirus: Answers to Your Top Questions” (The New York Times, 3/23/20)
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“Visiting U.S. National Parks During The Coronavirus ‘Era’” (Tales Told From The Road, 3/23/20)
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“Coronavirus Pandemic & Travel” (Peter Greenberg YouTube video, 3/20/20)
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“Airports Reel as New Coronavirus Screening Goes into Effect” (The New York Times, 3/15/20)
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“Smart Travel Planning in the Time of Coronavirus” (The Wall Street Journal, 3/15/20)
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“What You Need to Know About Trump’s European Travel Ban” (The New York Times, 3/12/20)
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“Airlines are scrambling to understand and implement new coronavirus travel restrictions” (CNN.com, 3/12/20)
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“CDC Releases Updated Guidance for Airlines Amid Coronavirus (Video)” (Travel+Leisure, 3/6/20)
(This list will be periodically updated. It was last updated on January 12, 2021.)

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