Anyone who books a package tour must be informed by the tour operator and the agent before booking as part of the pre-contractual information obligation, general information about passport and visa regulations as well as special health formalities in the travel country. On the other hand, if you organize your trip yourself, you should definitely do your research in good time so that your holiday doesn’t end at the border.
This is what happened to a consumer who recently contacted the European Consumer Center (EVZ): Her short vacation to Albania ended at the airport. The identity card was still valid, but would expire in a few weeks. She would have been back long ago, but the airline couldn’t turn a blind eye, because Albania requires that the travel document be valid for at least three months before entering the country. Another consumer who had contacted the EVZ was also unable to spend Easter in the USA as planned because a full Covid vaccination is still required for entry, which the consumer was unable to produce.
So if you organize your trip yourself, you should not forget to find out about the various travel regulations, such as passport requirements, visa requirements, necessary insurance, compulsory vaccinations and other formalities in good time and before booking, because applying for or extending a passport takes many months Organizing a visa can also take longer and vaccination protection is not built up from one day to the next, warns the consumer advice center in a broadcast.
ESTA approval for entry into the USA – beware of cost traps
If you want to vacation in the USA and don’t have a visa, you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA), which can currently be obtained for 21 dollars on the website of the American Customs and Border Protection. ESTA”, you will find a considerable number of third-party providers and agencies that offer this service at much higher, mostly hidden, prices. Do not click on the first link that comes up, but use the official ESTA page. Also, beware of further restrictions: Who For example, who has been to Cuba before will not receive an ESTA authorization but must apply for a visa.Therefore, check the official ESTA website, which contains answers to the most frequently asked questions (also in German), whether your situation relates to the special cases counts.
Electronic entry permit for the United Kingdom will soon also be required
As in the past, simply fly to London with your identity card for a short trip. Thanks to Brexit, that has not been possible since October 2021, because a valid passport is now mandatory. It is also planned that in 2024 (an exact date has not yet been set) an electronic entry permit, called ETA, will also be introduced for a fee.
As you can see, travel regulations are subject to change, so it’s important to stay up to date. Reliable sources of information are the websites of the respective embassies and consulates, those of the Italian embassy in the holiday destination and those of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.viaggiaresicuri.it).
