By Susan  Sherren for Couture Trips
Published June 30, 2012  3:08 PM CST

Yes, it has been awhile since American tourists have roamed the green isle-Ireland. However, starting on July 19, U.S. visitors who have been vaccinated, have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival or have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six months will be able to visit Ireland and they will not have to quarantine. This is welcome news to those wanting to spread their wings outside of the United States. Travelers to Ireland will need to familiarize themselves with the E.U. Digital COVID Certificate ,  the certificate, once completed  will prove visitors have been vaccinated, received a recent negative test result or have recovered from COVID in the last half-year. Your certificate will include necessary information, such as your name, date of birth, date or issue, vaccine/test/recovery history and an ID number. 

toIreland offers a multitude of possible itineraries. If you enjoy exploring cities, Dublin is a gem. The western coast of the island is a perfect spot to kayak and explore the rugged Atlantic coast line. You can head north and explore Belfast to Derry-Londonderry along the Coastal Causeway. Don't forget about Cork, Killarney and Waterford. Our experts will help you select the best itinerary for your vacation and holiday goals. Plus we always manage to sprinkle a little magic into each itinerary. 

By- Susan Sherren for Couture Trips
Published- 6/28/21 3:17 PM CST

​Yes, Americans are indeed welcome to stroll or bike the lovely canals of Amsterdam again. After quite a long year battling COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, the Netherlands opened up its borders. In a shocking move, no vaccination or COVID-19 testing is required, and not even a period of quarantine is mandated. Travellers should expect to wear face masks on public transportation, and social distancing requirements are likely to remain in place through August. Tours of Amsterdam's Red Light District have been halted and are being relocated out of the city. This Saturday, concert halls, cinemas, and sporting venues across the Netherlands are cleared to reopen. Curfews limiting alcohol purchases and public drinking also will lift on Saturday.

The plans were announced on June 18, 2021 in a press conference with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge. "The Netherlands is taking a big step. The end of the crisis is in sight”, Rutte stated during the conference. If you are planning on a trip to The Netherlands, visit www.CoutureTrips.com to schedule a consult. We have quite a few amazing and unique itineraries for this area. We offer comprehensive travel planning services. Don't go it alone; we are experts in all things travel. Prior to making any travel arrangements always double check with the country you are desiring to visit. During this period of time border controls and requirements may change. Visit Traveling to the Netherlands for the most accurate and up to date  information. 

By Susan Sherren for Couture Trips
Published 6/28/21 11:35 am CST

By Susan Sherren for Couture Trips
Published 6/15/21 5:33 P M CST

 Yes, it has been quite awhile since many of us have basked in the sun near the Seine River or tasted a delicious macaroon. We haven't even been able to enjoy strolling the vast hallways of the Louvre Museum either. The pandemic resulted in massive border closures throughout the world as countries grappled with containing the pandemic within their protected borders. France officially opened to Americans wishing to visit their stunning country on June 9, 2021. Those who work in the tourism industry are exuberantly waiting to reignite tourism! “Are we ready?” says David Mebane, founder and CEO of the Austin-based Fat Tire Tours, a bicycle tour company with hubs in eight foreign cities, including Paris. “Desperately ready. We’ve been ready. Chomping at the bit. I don’t know what other idioms I can come up with. We are so looking forward to getting back to what we do best: having fun and showing people around the European cities we love.” Many travelers are also chomping at the bit to fly back to one of the most amazing countries on the planet. Oh, how we have missed Paris! Vaccinated visitors from “orange” countries—including the U.S. no longer need to quarantine on arrival or justify the reasons for their trip to France. They will, however, still be asked for a negative COVID-19 PCR test no older than 72 hours, or a negative antigenic test procured no more than 48 hours prior to arrival. Unvaccinated children will be allowed in with vaccinated adults, but those age 11 and older will have to show a negative test

All international arrivals to the United States—including returning U.S. citizens—must provide proof of a laboratory-generated negative COVID-19 test result procured no more than three days prior to departure to the U.S. The test must be either a viral antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), such as a polymerase chain (PCR) test. There is currently no exception for those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19. You can watch Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne welcome back tourist to France by clicking the link (Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne). While many are welcoming tourists back to France, being vaccinated is encouraged and recommended. Visit www.travel.state.gov for the most up to date requirements for travel. We are excited to begin helping our clients return to France. We have some stunning itineraries for France. Click the button below to start planning your next great escape to France.

​Travel is definitely a passion for many of us. Circling the globe and visiting unique sites can be pretty addicting. Unfortunately, our travel habits can either positively or negatively impact the environment. You can’t discount the impact you have on the world around you. Even in the pre-travel planning stage, loading up on single-use toiletries is where we can go wrong. So let’s look at a typical itinerary and see how we can turn it into a more environmentally gentle trip.

So we discussed passing on the single-use toiletries, and let’s shop for more eco-friendly versions. Bagdent, a company based in Prague,  developed an excellent toothbrush kit with six refillable toothpaste bullets. Just fill these tubes with your own toothpaste, and your set to go. The kit comes with three toothbrushes just for travel. Just imagine how many partially used travel-sized toothpaste tubes lie in rubbish heaps. Also, try using refillable containers for your shampoo and conditioner—lots of plastic saved with this tip.

Next, consider the plane trip and all the wasted plastic from blanket wrappings to plastic cups. The enormity of plastic use in-flight is shocking. So travelling with your own beverage container and blanket makes perfect sense. Hydaway makes the world’s most collapsible water bottle, and you can even order Hydaway’s charcoal filter to help with less than secure sources of water. Now let’s focus on the hotel portion of our journey. Try using your towel more than once; maybe your Mom was right! Just hang it up and let it dry. You can even bypass the hotel’s plastic cups favouring your Hydaway travel cup instead- saving even more plastic.

​ Don’t forget to pack a tote bag for a shopping excursion; you’ll find some countries you visit won’t even offer plastic shopping bags. So come prepped. If you are planning on renting a car, go green and try out an electric vehicle. Walking and using public transportation systems also lessens your impact on the environment. So you see, with some small and subtle changes in your travel habits, you can make a significant impact. Don't forget the small things in life often have the greatest impact.