Colorado road trips

Rising gas prices may discourage some travelers from packing up the car, but the American road trip remains an enduring tradition that can provide an affordable vacation option. The Colorado Tourism Office has made it easy for road-trippers to explore the state's 24 Scenic & Historic Byways. The office's microsite includes an interactive map that enables travelers to explore options by region, interest or season. Travelers seeking inspiration can also access insider tips and side-trip suggestions within more than 150 Colo-road trip itineraries, including historic attractions, active adventures and cultural opportunities (colorado.com/colorados-scenic-historic-byways).

FamilyTravel.com

U.K. ends COVID rules

Britain's government said Monday that all remaining coronavirus measures for travelers, including passenger locator forms and the requirement that unvaccinated people be tested for COVID-19 before and after their arrivals, would end Friday to make going on holiday easier for the Easter school vacation. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the changes will mean people "can travel just like in the good old days." The news was welcomed by U.K. airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, which said they are beginning to ease mask requirements on some routes.

Associated Press

Vietnam too

Vietnam on Wednesday scrapped quarantine and other travel restrictions for foreign visitors in an effort to fully reopen its border after two years of pandemic-related closure. Visitors entering the country only need to show a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. Visitors must monitor their own health during the first 10 days of their stay and notify medical professionals in Vietnam if they experience any COVID-19-like symptoms. "I'm very excited the country is reopening completely," said Tuyet Lien, the owner of a shop selling silk and other souvenir products. "The tourists will come back soon and business will thrive again."

Associated Press

New Zealand opens early

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday that her nation was "ready to welcome the world back" with most tourists allowed to return by May. The announcement bought forward the date that tourists from countries including the U.S., Canada, Britain and much of Europe can visit from the previously announced date of October. When the pandemic began, New Zealand enacted some of the world's strictest border controls and tourism evaporated. Tourists must be vaccinated and test negative for the virus before leaving their home country and again after arriving in New Zealand.

Associated Press

War and travel

Travel site The Vacationer just released the results of its "Russia-Ukraine Conflict Travel Survey," conducted on March 1. Almost 40% of American adults said that Russia's war on Ukraine has led them to reconsider their 2022 travel plans. Some 14% said they're rethinking plans to travel both domestically and internationally, while 25% said it would only affect their international plans. In a separate survey by MMGY Travel Intelligence, 47% said they're going to "wait and see" how the Ukrainian situation plays out before they make plans to travel to Europe. Thirty-three percent said that it would likely or definitely cause them to cancel or reschedule their European trips planned for 2022.

TravelPulse