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travel to new york from london covid

  • Passports, travel and living abroad
  • Travel abroad
  • Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in the USA set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the US embassy or consulate in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

Countries may restrict travel or bring in rules at short notice. Check with your travel company or airline for changes.

If you test positive for COVID-19 while in the USA, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to seek treatment there.

Visit TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre) for general COVID-19 advice for travellers .

Passport validity

If you are visiting the USA your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You don’t need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.

Global Entry programme

The US Customs and Border Protection programme Global Entry allows pre-approved travellers through border control faster at some US airports. If you’re a British citizen, you can register to get a UK background check on GOV.UK . If you pass the background checks, you’ll be invited to apply for Global Entry.

Visa requirements

You will need either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver or a visa to enter or transit the USA as a visitor.

You are not normally eligible for an ESTA visa waiver if you have been in the following countries on or after March 2011:

  • North Korea

You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you have travelled to or been in Cuba after 1 January 2021. You must instead apply for a US visa.

You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you:

  • have been arrested (even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction)
  • have a criminal record
  • have been refused admission into, or have been deported from the USA
  • have previously overstayed under an ESTA visa waiver

Check the US State Department website for more information on US visas.

Applying for a visa

Visit the US Embassy for details on how to apply for a visa.

US visa appointments

Visa appointments at the US Embassy in London are limited. Plan your application as far ahead as possible before travel. If you need to travel urgently, you can request an expedited interview through the US Embassy’s appointment service provider.

Visit the US Embassy’s website for more information on visa appointments.

Children and young people

Under-18s must:

  • have a valid visa or ESTA visa waiver on arrival
  • be able to provide evidence about the purpose, location and length of their visit if asked by immigration officials
  • have written consent from one or both parents if travelling alone, with only one parent, or with someone who is not a parent or legal guardian

The US authorities can stop you entering the country if they have safeguarding concerns about a child. If this happens, the US authorities will take the child into their care. Their return from the USA could take months. The FCDO cannot speed up the return of British nationals who are under 18 from the USA.

The US Government provides information about children under-18 travelling to the USA . If you have any questions, contact the US Embassy .

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Rules for travelling to the USA from the UK explained: tests, vaccines and more

By Sarah James

New York

The US eased travel restrictions for visitors from the UK in November 2021, with rules around testing eased in June 2022. Find out what all this means for your trip.

Can I travel to the USA?

Yes. Since November 2021, international travellers from the UK have been able to visit the USA. Between November 2021 and May 2023, this was on the condition that travellers were fully vaccinated. We were on the first flight out in early November 2021, so have first-hand experience of the process.

The first British Airways flight to New York from London

What Covid tests do I need to travel to the USA?

As of June 2022, the requirement for air travellers to show proof of a negative test to enter the USA has been dropped.

"We are able to take this step because of the tremendous progress we've made in our fight against the virus. We have made lifesaving vaccines and treatments widely available and these tools are working to prevent serious illness and death, and are effective against the prevalent variants circulating in the US and around the world," a senior official said in a statement.

West Village in New York

Do I need to be vaccinated to go to the USA?

At the time of writing (2 May 2023), yes – most international air travellers need to show proof of being fully vaccinated to enter the USA. Any vaccine approved for use by the World Health Organisation or by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be accepted, including AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and others. The final vaccine dose must have been administered at least 14 days before travelling.

From 11 May 2023, the US will end the vaccination requirements for interntational travellers. This is when the coronavirus public health emergency ends.

Can unvaccinated people travel to the USA?

Until 11 May, to enter the USA unvaccinated you must have been granted an exception or be a US Citizen, US National, or US Lawful Permanent Resident. You can find out if you qualify as an exception to the rules by reading the list outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .

After 11 May, you don't need to be vaccinated to travel to the USA.

Do I need to wear a face mask in the USA?

Rules on wearing masks differ in each state and in different settings, so it's important to check before you travel, however there are currently no states requiring people to wear masks in public spaces. You may be required to wear a mask in certain settings, such as healthcare facilities.

travel to new york from london covid

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

  • As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
  • As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

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United States of America, Department of State

U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the United Kingdom

Social / search, travel and health alert: u.s. embassy london, united kingdom.

Embassy notification or alert

Travel and Health Alert: U.S. Embassy London, United Kingdom (November 29, 2021)

Location:   United Kingdom

Event :  Travel and Health Alert

On 28 November 2021, the United Kingdom updated its COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for travel to England.  The new rules come into effect on Tuesday, 30 November at 4:00am.

There are separate rules for U.S. travelers who qualify as fully vaccinated and for those who are not fully vaccinated.  The following site will assist travelers in determining their vaccination status according to the UK:   https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countries-with-approved-covid-19-vaccination-programmes-and-proof-of-vaccination .

All U.S. travelers must  complete a passenger locator form before commencing travel  to the United Kingdom.

After 4:00am on 30 November :

Fully vaccinated travelers must book and pay for a take a PCR test before the end of day 2  after arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.  The day of travel is day 0.  If you will be in England for less than 2 days, you still need to book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test.

Unvaccinated travelers  must take a COVID-19 test within 3 days of departure to England.  You must book and pay for day 2 and day 8 PCR tests.  You only need to take the tests if you are still in England on those days.  You must  quarantine  for 10 full days regardless of test results.  If you are in England for less than 10 days, you must quarantine for the time you are here.

Free NHS tests do not fulfill any of the above testing requirements.  Private test providers may be found at the following site:  https://www.gov.uk/find-travel-test-provider .

U.S. travelers are encouraged to review the complete COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules for travel to England including details on what to do after a positive test result, testing and isolation exceptions, red list countries, and the Test to Release scheme at the following site:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

There may be slight local variations to entry rules, please see the below websites for travel to other parts of the UK.

Scotland:   https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/

Wales:   https://gov.wales/rules-international-travel-and-wales-coronavirus

Northern Ireland:   https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice

Further information on travel to the United Kingdom:

  • Read the Department of State’s  COVID-19 page .
  • Read the United Kingdom  country information page  .
  • See the  U.S. Embassy’s web page  regarding COVID-19.
  • Visit the CDC’s webpage on  Travel and COVID-19 .
  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
  • Review the  Crime and Safety Report  for the United Kingdom.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

For emergency services, please contact the Embassy or appropriate Consulate General:

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy London, United Kingdom 33 Nine Elms Lane London, UK SW11 7US +44 (0) 207-499-9000 from U.S.: 011 44 207-499-9000 [email protected] https://uk.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Edinburgh +44 (0) 131 556-8315 [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Belfast +44(0) 28 9038-6100 [email protected]

State Department – Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 United Kingdom Country Information Enroll in  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security updates

Follow us on  Facebook  and  Twitter

More Information

Some useful sources of updates include:

  • London Metropolitan Police Service  @MetPoliceUK
  • Transport for London (TFL)   @TFL
  • London Fire Brigade    @LondonFire
  • City of London Police UK   @CityPolice
  • British Transport Police   @BTP

By washingtonax | 30 November, 2021 | Categories: Alert , Belfast , Cardiff , Edinburgh , Security & Emergency Messages , Travel & Tourism , U.S. Citizen Services , U.S. Embassy London

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Demonstration Alert: PLANNED DEMONSTRATION AT U.S. EMBASSY LONDON, FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Demonstration alert: planned demonstrations throughout london, february 3-4, 2024.

Disclaimer – Footer This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in The United Kingdom. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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  • Help centre
  • Travel advice

USA travel advice

travel to new york from london covid

On this page:

travel to new york from london covid

USA travel alerts

There are currently no travel alerts - You're good to go!

Please check the travel advice for all countries in your itinerary .

Entry requirements

Please make sure you check all the US entry requirements that apply to you before heading to the airport. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) US travel advice is here .

Good news – for all customers arriving by air to the USA, including foreign nationals, effective 12 May 2023 there is no requirement to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination or complete an attestation form.

If eligible under the US Visa Waiver Program, you’ll need to apply and obtain an ESTA for travel .

For more information, including other Visa types please visit the US Department of State website.

Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

USA and Canada - Mobile Passport Control:

If you are an American or Canadian citizen you can download the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app to create a profile.

This will enable you to submit/upload passport information on arrival into the USA. You will then receive a QR code, and this will significantly speed up your journey through US immigration at selected airports.

Please be sure to check that your destination airport is supported by MPC.

You can download the MPC app here:  https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control .

Face masks are a personal choice for our customers and people travelling in either direction between the UK and the United States.

We encourage everyone to be respectful of fellow passengers’ mask preferences, with masks still available for those wishing to wear them.

Helpful links

International travel guidance from the  US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)  advice for the United States

US Embassy in the UK  travel and visa FAQs

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)  application

Visiting major attractions

Walt disney world in orlando, florida, check availability before purchasing tickets.

A Disney Park Pass reservation for the dates you wish to visit is now required in addition to your Disney ticket.

You must check there is availability in the parks on your chosen dates before purchasing park tickets or reserving a Disney Park Pass.

travel to new york from london covid

Link your ticket with your account to reserve your Disney Park Pass

Disney Park Pass reservations can only be made once your park tickets have been linked with your My Disney Experience account.

Please be aware that availability can change. We highly recommend linking your ticket and reserving your Disney Park Pass as soon as possible to guarantee park access on the dates you want to visit.

Good to know

If you're staying in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel you can reserve your Disney Park Pass as soon as your Disney park ticket has been added to your My Disney Experience account and linked to your hotel reservation.

Customers staying in alternative accomodation can only make Disney Park Pass reservations once their Disney tickets have been purchased  in full  and linked to their My Disney Experience account.

To link your Disney park ticket to your My Disney Experience account, you'll need a ticket reference. This will be made available to you around 7 days after booking, but usually sooner.

When you receive your ticket reference, we recommend linking it with your My Disney Experience account and reserving your Disney Park Pass as soon as possible.

  • Tickets are fully refundable up until your holiday balance due date.
  • Some experiences, including theme parks, may be modified or unavailable to allow for physical distancing and limited contact.
  • Services such as Park Hopping and Genie may be modified or unavailable and cannot be guaranteed.
  • Keep up to date with the latest requirements, safety measures and other information in place by visiting the Walt Disney World  Know before your go  website.

Universal Orlando Resort, Florida

Planning your trip.

Universal Orlando Resort has begun to reopen with restrictions and safety measures in place. However some hotels remain closed. For the latest information, visit https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/safety-faqs

Airport guides

travel to new york from london covid

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

travel to new york from london covid

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

travel to new york from london covid

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

travel to new york from london covid

Los Angeles

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

travel to new york from london covid

Miami International Airport (MIA)      

travel to new york from london covid

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

travel to new york from london covid

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

travel to new york from london covid

San Francisco

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

travel to new york from london covid

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

travel to new york from london covid

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

travel to new york from london covid

Washington DC

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening and US security

Passenger screening and us security.

The US Transport Security Administration (TSA) screens all baggage going through commercial US airports, for security reasons.

When flying to or from the US you may notice your baggage has been opened after it was checked in.

When this happens, a notice will be placed inside your bag telling you that it was opened for inspection by a TSA official, and your bag will be resealed with a tamper evident label.

Locking your check in bags

You should always make sure your bags are securely locked before checking them in. The TSA recommends you leave your bags unlocked to make them easier to search, but we disagree with this policy.

You can buy special TSA-approved locks, which can be opened by security officials with a master key. The locks can be bought from luggage shops at most airports.

Please be aware that the TSA has the right to break into your locked baggage, which can cause damage if you're not using the TSA-approved locks.

Loss or damage of items during TSA screening

If there is any damage or loss of items incurred during the TSA’s screening process you should make a claim on your insurance.

You can also contact the TSA Consumer Response Centre on 1-866-289-9673, where your case will be assessed on an individual basis. Further information is available on the TSA website at www.tsa.gov .

Baggage security screening in the US

This section tells you about US passenger security screening, and what to do if you've experienced difficulties when flying to or from the US in the past.

In order to ensure security on flights into the US, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screens passenger information for all travellers entering the country.

When you give us your Advance Passenger Information (API) for a flight to the US, your full name, date of birth and gender will be supplied to the TSA for watch-list screening. Find out more about this process on the TSA website .

How to make an enquiry when you have API problems with flying to and from the US

If you've experienced difficulties when flying to or from the US in the past, it may be the case you share the name of someone on the US government’s ‘no fly list’, or there may be another issue with your records.

If this is the case you can apply for a ‘redress number’ from the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveller Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). This number may help prevent problems in the future.

Contact us  to add your redress number to future bookings with us, so we'll have it as part of your Advance Passenger Information.

TSA pre-check

This section explains what TSA Pre✓ and Global Entry are, who is eligible to use them, and how they can apply.

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has developed a pre-screening process called TSA Pre✓. This allows qualifying travellers, including Virgin Atlantic passengers, to enjoy faster security screening and use dedicated TSA Pre✓ lanes at participating US airports.

With TSA Pre✓, you don't need to remove shoes, light jackets or belts when you go through security. Compliant liquids and laptops can stay in your hand luggage as well.

UK nationals can use TSA Pre✓ by joining the Global Entry programme , which also allows a faster entry through US immigration on arrival.

Who can use TSA Pre✓ at the airport?

Membership of the TSA Pre✓ programme itself is to US citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Citizens of other countries, including the UK, can join the Global Entry programme , which allows use of the TSA Pre✓ lanes at the airport.

The Global Entry programme, for non-US citizens

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection 'Trusted Traveler' programme for non-US citizens, including UK passport holders. It helps you get through customs and immigration more quickly when you arrive in the US at certain airports , by using automated kiosks.

You will also be able to use the faster TSA Pre✓ security lanes, if they are in operation at your airport.

To join Global Entry, you will need to apply and undergo a background check and interview. There is a non-refundable application fee, currently $100.

Applying for TSA Pre✓ and the Global Entry programme

The application process for TSA Pre✓ or Global Entry involves a background check by the TSA. This includes taking your fingerprints and verifying your identity to check your criminal history, legal status, and other intelligence-related information.

You will also need to have an in-person interview at a US airport. We recommend you sign up for an interview ahead of time, so you can meet with a TSA official when you're next in a participating US airport.

Apply for TSA Pre✓

(US citizens and lawful permanent residents only)

Apply for Global Entry

(For citizens of other countries, including the UK)

How to use TSA Pre✓ or Global Entry

Once your application for TSA Pre✓ or Global Entry has been approved, you'll be issued with a Known Traveler Number (KTN).

You should add this number to your booking, via My booking , at least 72 hours before you fly. A TSA Pre✓ symbol should appear on your boarding pass, and you'll be allowed to enter the faster security lanes at the airport.

travel to new york from london covid

If you have a connecting flight on another airline, including our partner Delta Air Lines, you'll also need to add your Known Traveller Number (KTN) to your booking with them.

Global Entry members arriving in the US enter dedicated kiosks, scan their passport or U.S. permanent resident card, have their fingerprints checked and complete a customs declaration. They can then get their bags and leave the airport.

Additional information

The TSA authorises passengers for expedited screening, not Virgin Atlantic. Random and unpredictable security measures are incorporated throughout US airports, and no passengers are guaranteed expedited screening.

Not all US airports currently offer TSA Pre✓ , including some that Virgin Atlantic fly from.

Children aged 12 and under can accompany an eligible traveller through TSA Pre✓.

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Tourists May Be Able to Travel Between New York City and London As Soon As the Holidays

Homeland Security is reportedly in the early stages of a plan to “safely encourage trans-Atlantic travel while mitigating public-health risks.”

travel to new york from london covid

Travelers may soon be able to fly between New York City and London with a shortened quarantine period as part of a reported plan to open a travel corridor between the two major cities.

The travel corridor, which could open as soon as the holidays, would likely require passengers to get tested for COVID-19 before their flight, The Wall Street Journal reported . The plan is part of an effort from officials, including in the U.S. Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security, to make international travel possible.

While nothing has yet been finalized, a Homeland Security official told the WSJ the agency was in the early stages of a plan to “safely encourage trans-Atlantic travel while mitigating public-health risks.” Part of the discussions concerns the length of quarantine: Some, like transportation officials and an airline trade group, support a 24 hour isolation period, while others are arguing for a four to seven-day quarantine.

The U.S. has also been in discussions with German officials, the paper noted.

The UK currently has travel corridors open with several dozen countries and territories, including many in Europe and several in Asia, that remove the self-isolation requirement for incoming passengers. Visitors from the U.S., however, must currently self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.

New York City — once the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. — has seen a decrease in cases from the height of the spring and early summer and recently reopened indoor dining at reduced capacities. While certain parts of the city are currently experiencing an uptick in cases and are subject to further restrictions, the city remains at a 1 percent positivity rate on a 7-day rolling average, according to the state .

The numbers are far lower than the U.S. overall where several states have seen dramatic increases in cases, including Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, according to Johns Hopkins University .

The UK has also seen a recent growth in case numbers and implemented new restrictions at the end of September, including imposing a curfew for restaurants and bars. In addition, masks are required in taxis, and on public transportation, weddings have been limited to 15 people (down from 30), and casual gatherings remain limited to six people.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she’s not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram .

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Travel Between New York and London Could Resume as Early as November

With the help of covid testing, heathrow hopes that flights to and from new york would be up and running by thanksgiving..

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Travel Between New York and London Could Resume as Early as November

Heathrow now has rapid-result COVID-19 testing facilities.

Photo by Shutterstock

London’s Heathrow Airport is hoping that on-site passenger COVID-19 testing will facilitate an opening of passenger travel between London and New York as early as November.

“I would love to have a New York–London pilot up and running by Thanksgiving. That seems entirely feasible,” Heathrow’s CEO John Holland-Kaye told U.K.-based industry publication Travel Weekly during a webcast on September 27.

On October 20, Heathrow officially launched rapid-result COVID-19 testing facilities in its T2 and T5 terminals following testing trials that started back in August. The facilities are initially being made available to passengers traveling to Hong Kong, where proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to flight departure is required. The tests being offered are rapid-result Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and Antigen tests.

The tests cost £80 (US$105) per passenger, and the results are available within one hour.

The airport is analyzing the testing process and sharing its findings with British government officials. The hope is that the testing could ultimately provide a safe alternative to the 14-day quarantine requirement currently in place for travelers arriving in the United Kingdom from numerous countries and territories, including from the United States.

“There is consensus that testing is the answer to getting people flying, that testing before departure is the better way of doing it and that we need a common international standard,” Holland-Kaye told Travel Weekly .

The airport executive said that he has received feedback from the British government indicating that they could begin deliberating on the testing issue sometime in October.

One of the main questions they will be looking into, he said, is how and whether airport testing should factor into the reopening of international travel. A recent study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that testing people for COVID-19 too early in the course of the infection is likely to result in a false negative test, which means that being tested upon arrival could result in a false negative for travelers who were very recently infected.

“We’ve proposed two things: a shorter quarantine on arrival followed by a test after five or seven days for people from high-risk countries, [and] a pilot on the New York–London route with testing before people get on a plane,” Holland-Kaye told Travel Weekly . The latter option is more complicated “because you need mutual recognition of testing between countries.”

In early September, U.K. transport secretary Grant Shapps said the government was looking into a testing plan that would reduce the amount of time people have to self-isolate from 14 days to 7. Failing to self-isolate can now result in a £10,000 (US$12,900) fine.

Holland-Kaye is hopeful that effective and rapid testing will be the key to restarting much-needed international travel. And he isn’t alone. Numerous airlines have begun offering rapid COVID-19 testing options to passengers, including United, American, Lufthansa, Hawaiian and Alaska.

A growing number of airports , too, are incorporating testing capabilities into their operations as the airline industry works to find ways to get more planes and passengers back up into the air sooner rather than later.

>> Next: These U.S. Airports Are Getting COVID-19 Testing Facilities

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Everything you need to know about visiting New York — city etiquette, when to go, and the latest COVID-19 advisories

  • If you're planning a trip to New York, here's what you should know for a smooth and enjoyable stay.
  • Brush up on your city etiquette, and pack wisely depending on what time of year you're visiting.
  • Visit Insider's hub for travel guides, tips, and recommendations.

Insider Today

If you're planning a visit to New York City, here's everything you need to know to stay safe while traveling, including city etiquette, the latest COVID-19 advisories, and tips on when to visit.

COVID-19 advisories

New York City was hit early and hard by COVID-19, but the city has since fully reopened with regularly updated safety protocols.

Face coverings are no longer required at indoor public places, although they're still mandatory on mass transit, including the subway, and at Broadway shows and other performing arts venues. Private businesses can decide whether or not to enforce their own mask requirement, and some still do, so it's best to keep one handy just in case.

Businesses are also no longer required to ask patrons for proof of vaccination, whether for indoor or outdoor activities. However, in response to an increase in cases, on May 16, the health commissioner's office issued a new advisory that people wear medical masks during public indoor gatherings.

It's important to remember that the situation is fluid, and we recommend following the guidelines of the CDC, WHO, and other reputable agencies.

New York is a true four-season city, so the weather will vary dramatically depending on when you visit. Snow season generally starts in December, but is usually heaviest in January and February and can also continue in March. April and May see a fair amount of rainfall interspersed with overcast and sunny days.

The year's hottest months are typically July and August, and high humidity levels often carry through part of September before tapering off to cooler temperatures in October. 

If you want to come in the summer, June is a solid option for generally warm, sunny weather with a chance of rain. Late September and October are the most mild, which makes them a great time for a lot of walking and sightseeing. We also recommend late November and early December as one of the loveliest times of year to visit New York — although it will be colder, it won't be January cold, and that's when the city begins to buzz with holiday markets, window displays, ice skating rinks, and more festivities.

However, if you're looking for a snow-filled holiday, we'd recommend aiming for early- or mid-January, as the snow gets more slushy and wet (aka not fun to trudge through) in February. Just remember to bring a good coat and water-resistant boots, and you can pick up gloves or scarves if needed from the many street vendors that sell winter-weather accessories that time of year.

NYC etiquette

New Yorkers have a reputation for being blunt, some might even say rude, but that attitude usually comes down to the fact that everyone in the city is busy and has somewhere to be. Here are some quick tips to fit in smoothly with locals and enjoy your stay.

  • Walk to the right on the sidewalk. If you're in a big group, be courteous and don't take up the whole sidewalk walking side by side.
  • Don't stand still in the middle of the sidewalk or on busy street corners where foot traffic is coming from all directions. If you need to pause to check your phone for directions or after exiting a store, simply stand against the side of a building.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and don't keep valuables like your phone or wallet in back pockets. 
  • On the subway, let riders exit the train first before you get on.
  • If you need directions, rather than asking someone walking by (who may not have time to stop or might not live in the area), we recommend running into a bodega or shop and asking someone working inside. 

View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting New York City.

travel to new york from london covid

  • Main content
  • COVID-19 travel advice

Considering travel during the pandemic? Take precautions to protect yourself from COVID-19.

A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine can prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill due to COVID-19 . But even if you're vaccinated, it's still a good idea to take precautions to protect yourself and others while traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, you're less likely to become seriously ill or spread COVID-19 . You can then travel more safely within the U.S. and internationally. But international travel can still increase your risk of getting new COVID-19 variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you should avoid travel until you've had all recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.

Before you travel

As you think about making travel plans, consider these questions:

  • Have you been vaccinated against COVID-19 ? If you haven't, get vaccinated. If the vaccine requires two doses, wait two weeks after getting your second vaccine dose to travel. If the vaccine requires one dose, wait two weeks after getting the vaccine to travel. It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination.
  • Have you had any booster doses? Having all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses, including boosters, increases your protection from serious illness.
  • Are you at increased risk for severe illness? Anyone can get COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 .
  • Do you live with someone who's at increased risk for severe illness? If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the COVID-19 virus to the people you live with when you return, even if you don't have symptoms.
  • Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Even if you've had all recommended vaccine doses, you must follow local, state and federal testing and travel rules.

Check local requirements, restrictions and situations

Some state, local and territorial governments have requirements, such as requiring people to wear masks, get tested, be vaccinated or stay isolated for a period of time after arrival. Before you go, check for requirements at your destination and anywhere you might stop along the way.

Keep in mind these can change often and quickly depending on local conditions. It's also important to understand that the COVID-19 situation, such as the level of spread and presence of variants, varies in each country. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.

Travel and testing

For vaccinated people.

If you have been fully vaccinated, the CDC states that you don't need to get tested before or after your trip within the U.S. or stay home (quarantine) after you return.

If you're planning to travel internationally outside the U.S., the CDC states you don't need to get tested before your trip unless it's required at your destination. Before arriving to the U.S., you need a negative test within the last day before your arrival or a record of recovery from COVID-19 in the last three months.

After you arrive in the U.S., the CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test 3 to 5 days after your trip. If you're traveling to the U.S. and you aren't a citizen, you need to be fully vaccinated and have proof of vaccination.

You don't need to quarantine when you arrive in the U.S. But check for any symptoms. Stay at home if you develop symptoms.

For unvaccinated people

Testing before and after travel can lower the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 . If you haven't been vaccinated, the CDC recommends getting a viral test within three days before your trip. Delay travel if you're waiting for test results. Keep a copy of your results with you when you travel.

Repeat the test 3 to 5 days after your trip. Stay home for five days after travel.

If at any point you test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 , stay home. Stay at home and away from others if you develop symptoms. Follow public health recommendations.

Stay safe when you travel

In the U.S., you must wear a face mask on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation. The mask must fit snugly and cover both your mouth and nose.

Follow these steps to protect yourself and others when you travel:

  • Get vaccinated.
  • Keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) when you're in indoor public spaces if you're not fully vaccinated. This is especially important if you have a higher risk of serious illness.
  • Avoid contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.
  • Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air flow (ventilation).
  • Don't touch frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, elevator buttons and kiosks. If you must touch these surfaces, use hand sanitizer or wash your hands afterward.
  • Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. The CDC recommends wearing the most protective mask possible that you'll wear regularly and that fits. If you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases, wear a mask in indoor public places and outdoors in crowded areas or when you're in close contact with people who aren't vaccinated.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
  • Don't eat or drink on public transportation. That way you can keep your mask on the whole time.

Because of the high air flow and air filter efficiency on airplanes, most viruses such as the COVID-19 virus don't spread easily on flights. Wearing masks on planes has likely helped lower the risk of getting the COVID-19 virus on flights too.

However, air travel involves spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people. Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask when traveling can help protect you from COVID-19 while traveling.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has increased cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and equipment, including bins, at screening checkpoints. TSA has also made changes to the screening process:

  • Travelers must wear masks during screening. However, TSA employees may ask travelers to adjust masks for identification purposes.
  • Travelers should keep a distance of 6 feet apart from other travelers when possible.
  • Instead of handing boarding passes to TSA officers, travelers should place passes (paper or electronic) directly on the scanner and then hold them up for inspection.
  • Each traveler may have one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 ounces (about 350 milliliters) in a carry-on bag. These containers will need to be taken out for screening.
  • Personal items such as keys, wallets and phones should be placed in carry-on bags instead of bins. This reduces the handling of these items during screening.
  • Food items should be carried in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for screening. Separating food from carry-on bags lessens the likelihood that screeners will need to open bags for inspection.

Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds directly before and after going through screening.

Public transportation

If you travel by bus or train and you aren't vaccinated, be aware that sitting or standing within 6 feet (2 meters) of others for a long period can put you at higher risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 . Follow the precautions described above for protecting yourself during travel.

Even if you fly, you may need transportation once you arrive at your destination. You can search car rental options and their cleaning policies on the internet. If you plan to stay at a hotel, check into shuttle service availability.

If you'll be using public transportation and you aren't vaccinated, continue physical distancing and wearing a mask after reaching your destination.

Hotels and other lodging

The hotel industry knows that travelers are concerned about COVID-19 and safety. Check any major hotel's website for information about how it's protecting guests and staff. Some best practices include:

  • Enhanced cleaning procedures
  • Physical distancing recommendations indoors for people who aren't vaccinated
  • Mask-wearing and regular hand-washing by staff
  • Mask-wearing indoors for guests in public places in areas that have high cases of COVID-19
  • Vaccine recommendations for staff
  • Isolation and testing guidelines for staff who've been exposed to COVID-19
  • Contactless payment
  • Set of rules in case a guest becomes ill, such as closing the room for cleaning and disinfecting
  • Indoor air quality measures, such as regular system and air filter maintenance, and suggestions to add air cleaners that can filter viruses and bacteria from the air

Vacation rentals, too, are enhancing their cleaning procedures. They're committed to following public health guidelines, such as using masks and gloves when cleaning, and building in a waiting period between guests.

Make a packing list

When it's time to pack for your trip, grab any medications you may need on your trip and these essential safe-travel supplies:

  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
  • Disinfectant wipes (at least 70% alcohol)
  • Thermometer

Considerations for people at increased risk

Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 . But older adults and people of any age with certain medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness. This may include people with cancer, serious heart problems and a weakened immune system. Getting the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses can help lower your risk of being severely ill from COVID-19 .

Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 . If you're unvaccinated, staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 . If you must travel and aren't vaccinated, talk with your health care provider and ask about any additional precautions you may need to take.

Remember safety first

Even the most detailed and organized plans may need to be set aside when someone gets ill. Stay home if you or any of your travel companions:

  • Have signs or symptoms, are sick or think you have COVID-19
  • Are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test
  • Have been diagnosed with COVID-19
  • Have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past five days and you're not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines

If you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 , get tested after at least five days. Wait to travel until you have a negative test. Wear a mask if you travel up to 10 days after you've had close contact with someone with COVID-19 .

  • How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Domestic travel during COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Requirement for face masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • International travel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • U.S citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and immigrants: Travel to and from the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Non-US. citizen, non-U.S. immigrants: Air travel to the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • People with certain medical conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Stay up to date with your vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Pack smart. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart. Accessed Feb. 4, 2022.
  • Travel: Frequently asked questions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) information. Transportation Security Administration. https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/who-advice-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-the-sars-cov-2-omicron-variant. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • VRHP/VRMA Cleaning guidelines for COVID-19. Vacation Rental Management Association. https://www.vrma.org/page/vrhp/vrma-cleaning-guidelines-for-covid-19. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Safe stay. American Hotel & Lodging Association. https://www.ahla.com/safestay. Accessed Feb. 7, 2022.
  • Khatib AN, et al. COVID-19 transmission and the safety of air travel during the pandemic: A scoping review. Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases. 2021; doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000771.

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  • Check CDC recommendations for travel within the U.S.
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  • Review airport security measures .

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US could establish a travel corridor with London by the end of the year

Andrew Kunesh

Your winter travel plans to the U.K. may be possible after all.

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal , U.S. officials hope to reopen travel between New York City and London by the end of the year. No specifics have been announced yet, but WSJ notes that the "growing availability of Covid-19 tests in the U.S." may allow for "shortened traveler quarantine periods" when traveling between the two cities.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

The report states the White House's National Security Council has already approved the corridor plan, so it may make more headway over the coming weeks. It's not yet known if the U.K. has already approved these plans.

WSJ's source said that travelers would be tested before boarding their flight to the U.K. and upon arrival in the country to reduce quarantine time. It's not clear how short quarantine would be for these travelers, but it's safe to say it will be shorter than the current 14-day quarantine U.S. citizens are subject to upon arrival.

New York to London could be the first of many "COVID-free" travel corridors we see over the coming months. WSJ also noted that the U.S. and Germany have been in similar talks, but no route specifics were mentioned. There's no word if other European nations — or the European Union — have been in similar talks.

Further, U.K. citizens are currently barred from entering the U.S. if they've spent time in the U.K. within the last 14 days. I think it's safe to assume that this ban would be lifted if the New York to London corridor was put into place, though it wasn't specifically mentioned in the article.

Related: These are the 45 countries Americans can visit

Will this actually happen?

travel to new york from london covid

It's interesting to see the U.S. and U.K. start talks on a travel corridor now — especially when you consider new coronavirus case counts. The U.S. continues to see days with more than 50,000 new infections. Likewise, the U.K. broke records with just under 23,000 new cases on Oct. 4.

Both New York and London have seen a rise in new cases over the past two weeks as well. At the same time, however, New York's case count has remained extremely low when compared to other parts of the U.S.

That said, I think it's still likely that we could see this travel corridor come to fruition by the holidays.

Mortality rates have continued to stay low in both countries. Mandatory testing before and after arrival would also ensure that no new cases are introduced from either side of the pond too.

Additionally, the U.K. has been one of the few European countries admitting American tourists and travelers throughout the coronavirus pandemic , albeit with quarantine. New York to London is an extremely important route for business, leisure and family travel, so reopening the routes would be great news for U.S. and U.K. airlines, businesses and tourism — something badly needed in both countries.

If implemented, we will likely see this spur other travel corridors worldwide, especially in countries that rely heavily on tourism.

Related: The 5 best high-end international flights you can book with miles this winter

Bottom line

Reopening travel between New York and London would be a huge step forward for the airline industry. It's the most profitable airline route in the world , bringing over $1 billion in revenue to British Airways every year. In addition, other industry heavyweights like American, Delta, United and Virgin Atlantic operate the route on a near-hourly basis during normal travel times.

These types of travel corridors might be the key to reopening international travel until there's a widely available vaccine. We'll keep an eye out for an official announcement from the U.S. or U.K. government.

Feature photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

You asked: What should I do if I get covid while traveling these days?

Approaching the pandemic’s four-year anniversary, by the way concierge looks into protocols for testing positive abroad.

travel to new york from london covid

Traveling has always come with complications. Our By The Way Concierge column will take your travel dilemmas to the experts to help you navigate the unexpected. Want to see your question answered? Submit it here .

“What should you do if you test positive for covid while touring a European country?” — Margaret L., Allen Park, Mich.

Gone are the days of vaccine passports and time-sensitive PCR tests. What’s left now will depend on the country you’re visiting — and probably will look like suggestions rather than mandate.

For example: In France , you’re not required to do anything, although masking, avoiding vulnerable people, working from home and telling close contacts that you’re sick is recommended. In Germany, the national guidance is to stay home “if possible” and avoid contact with others, but there’s no official requirement to isolate. Italy lifted coronavirus isolation requirements last summer .

Ideally, you should follow local rules and do your best to minimize the spread of disease, says Lin H. Chen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and the director of the Travel Medicine Center at Mount Auburn Hospital.

But remember that what stands today may not hold true by the time you’re traveling. Check in with the destination’s health ministry website to stay up to date before your trip.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website still notes : “Don’t travel while sick.” But airlines are no longer collecting proof of negative coronavirus tests to fly back to the United States, and there are no requirements to reenter the country.

Still, “we are in a transitional period,” Chen said, alluding to guidance stateside. The CDC plans to loosen covid isolation recommendations for the first time since 2021.

The current guidance says those who test positive should stay home from work and school for five days. The new recommendations, which have yet to be finalized but could come in April, will look more like dealing with the flu or RSV: If you test positive and have a fever or severe symptoms — or seem to be getting worse — you should isolate. But once you’re fever-free without the aid of medication for 24 hours or have symptoms that are mild and improving, you’d be good to go.

Dave Daigle, the associate director for communications for the CDC’s Center for Global Health, told me in an email that people who get sick while traveling should separate themselves from others as much as possible, although he did not say for how long.

Sick travelers should also monitor their symptoms and follow local guidelines as well as health-care provider instructions. They should also stay up to date on vaccines (including ones for the coronavirus ), wash their hands, cover coughs and sneezes, and wear a mask when around others when sick.

“Before your trip, make a plan for how you will get health care if you get sick or injured when traveling,” Daigle said, noting that that’s especially important for senior citizens, pregnant people, people with underlying medical conditions and people who will be traveling for more than six months.

I asked European travel planners and guides for their take on your question. Rome-based cookbook author and tour guide Katie Parla says if you’re sick, she’d recommend wearing a mask, sticking to outdoor activities, downloading local food-delivery apps, “and for sure cancel your food tour or wine tasting.”

Sandra Weinacht, travel planner and co-owner of Inside Europe Travel Experiences , said clients don’t ask about coronavirus issues anymore, but her friends in Germany say people who are “nice and considerate” wear masks if they’re sick.

Terika L. Haynes, a travel planner and owner of Dynamite Travel , says travelers should still take the coronavirus seriously and recommends that those who get sick while traveling should head to the nearest doctor or pharmacy, or try an online telehealth service right away.

If you are concerned about illness derailing your trip, follow the CDC’s recommendation to consider travel insurance in case you need medical care abroad or a policy that allows you to cancel for any reason.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

travel to new york from london covid

United Kingdom Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to the United Kingdom

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Entry details & exceptions

Ready to travel, find flights to the united kingdom, find stays in the united kingdom, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, dominican republic, netherlands, philippines, puerto rico, switzerland, united arab emirates, united kingdom, know when to go.

Sign up for email alerts as countries begin to open - choose the destinations you're interested in so you're in the know.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United Kingdom.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter the United Kingdom without restrictions.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter the United Kingdom without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter the United Kingdom?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering the United Kingdom.

Can I travel to the United Kingdom without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in the United Kingdom?

Mask usage in the United Kingdom is not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in the United Kingdom?

Restaurants in the United Kingdom are open. Bars in the United Kingdom are .

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Help! My London Rental Apartment Vanished and I’m Out $3,100.

Following instructions she thought came from Booking.com, a woman wired payment for her planned eight-day stay to a bank account in Bilbao, Spain. It was a scam. She blames the company, but does she also bear some responsibility?

A photo illustration with a lavender background has a white door with six windows, a door handle and a mail slot on the left side. From left to right, in three frames, the door seems to flip about 45 degrees to reveal a different color on the back. In the next two frames, it flips further to show that on its back the door is a mousetrap.

By Seth Kugel

Dear Tripped Up,

Last May, I reserved a two-bedroom apartment in London for eight days through Booking.com, using a credit card to hold the reservation. Soon afterward, I received what looked like an official email from the company offering me a 20 percent discount and insisting I pay the host directly, in advance, via wire transfer. I sent the equivalent of $3,100 to the account of a man named Nyholm Peik, which I now know was a foolish thing to do. Soon afterward, Booking emailed to tell me the property was no longer available. I got in touch with Booking and spoke with several agents about getting a refund, but they gave me the runaround, continually insisting on more documentation. Can you help? Sylvia, New York City

Dear Sylvia,

What New Yorker would be gullible enough to wire money across the Atlantic to the account of a person they’d never so much as spoken to on the phone?

You and me, for starters. In January 2011, I fell for a very similar scam , transferring about $625 to the bank account of a person named D. Kali Muthu after booking accommodations through an amateurish-looking site called privatelondonaptletting.com.

In my defense, the online vacation rental market was like the Wild West back then. Airbnb was just hitting 100,000 listings (compared with seven million today) and most people still thought Vrbo was a typo. Plus, I had wired money for a rental apartment via a similarly dubious-sounding website, rentflat.com.br, in Rio de Janeiro the year before without a hitch.

In your defense, the online vacation market has since matured. So don’t giants like Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com have systems in place to prevent scammers from posting fictitious listings? And don’t they try to prevent renters and owners from communicating off-platform to prevent just this kind of problem?

Yeah, mostly, sort of. But not in your case.

There also was some confusion about what the company’s refund policy is when users get scammed. Angela Cavis, the company’s director of communications for North America, said in a statement that Booking.com does reimburse the losses customers suffer in these cases.

“We have supported the guest in this case in recovering lost funds, as we do with any potentially impacted customers in this situation,” she wrote, adding that in your case, the process was slower than usual because it required internal escalation.

But when a company customer service representative wrote to tell you that you would be getting a full $3,100 refund — less than 24 hours after I wrote to Booking.com’s media office — it was described as “an exceptional, one-time gesture of good will.”

When I asked about this discrepancy, Booking.com said that the wording in the customer-service representative’s email was inaccurate and apologized for the confusion.

As to the company’s anti-fraud efforts, Ms. Cavis wrote that, “our dedicated account security team works to monitor and block suspicious activity around the clock, leveraging dedicated technology and continually implementing new measures.”

She also urged travelers to get in touch with customer service if “a property appears to be asking for payment outside of what’s listed on their confirmation” and to visit Booking.com’s “ Trust and Safety Resource Center” for travelers which includes warnings not to send bank transfers and “not to communicate with properties outside the Booking.com platform.”

All good advice, and it is generous of Booking.com to pledge to refund payments it never received in the first place, even when customers miss warning signs. But the company also has a responsibility to root out false listings and monitor active listings for signs of trouble.

Though “most” hosts need “to verify their location through methods like receiving a verification letter with a registration code, uploading videos, video calls with our team and more,” wrote Ms. Cavis, this one slipped through — for reasons she did not specify.

I’m no expert on fraud detection, but to my eye the listing you reserved had plenty of warning signs that should have raised red flags.

To start, the flat in Islington was a newish listing that had no reviews and only one prior reservation, according to a follow-up statement from Ms. Cavis. In that instance, the customer “encountered similar issues with the ‘host,’ and ultimately canceled their reservation as they realized it was likely a scammer” she wrote. And yet the listing stayed up.

The emails you sent me of the reservation included only one image, but it was enough. Using a reverse image search, I found the same image elsewhere on the internet, even on another (apparently real, well-reviewed) Booking.com listing, in another London neighborhood.

I wouldn’t have expected you to do an image search, and a lack of reviews is a problem with all new listings. But then came a warning sign that both Booking.com and you should have spotted: a request from the host — sent via the Booking.com platform — to get in touch directly using the email address [email protected] .

Booking.com, as does Airbnb and Vrbo, restricts hosts and guests from exchanging contact information before a reservation is made, but does generally allow hosts and guests to exchange contact information afterward, even as they encourage users to keep communication on the platform.

But still, with so many other warning signs, I would think the passing along of an email and such a request for information from the host should set off an algorithmic alarm and at least trigger a warning. (I did a quick search and found that apturist.online was registered in Iceland and was seemingly a riff on apturist.com, a vacation rental service on the Costa Blanca in southern Spain. Nothing to see here, folks!)

Once you wrote to the scammers, they had your email address and used it — sending you an email dressed up to look like an official Booking.com message and from an @confirmations-booking.com address, which might seem like a legitimate address, though the company says all its emails end in @booking.com.

Reading copies of the emails you forwarded to me, the imperfect English is also suspicious (“Your booking to Two bedroom apartment with view needs to be paid in full”), as were some of the account details at the Spanish bank BBVA. “Nyholm Peik,” has no online presence I could find, and the address attached to the account is that of Vanity, a London “gentleman’s club” whose license was suspended in early 2023 .

In our follow-up communications, Sylvia, you asked whether Booking.com had reported this apparent crime to the authorities, or to the bank. I asked the company, which said it was the customer’s responsibility to report fraud that takes place off its platform, and BBVA, which declined to comment. Consumers should make such reports to the F.B.I.’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and their own bank.

I was curious whether Airbnb and Vrbo do anything differently from Booking.com, so I got in touch.

Edith Morris, a spokeswoman for Vrbo, said the company deploys “a variety of sophisticated risk strategies and tools to monitor for suspicious behavior on a 24x7 basis and continually invest in our capabilities.” The company provides “payment protection against fraudulent listings,” although that does not necessarily cover a case in which a guest sends money outside the Vrbo platform.

Airbnb has a new verification process for properties, rather than just hosts, in the works and will use “a combination of sophisticated anti-fraud technology, A.I. and human review to check for authenticity,” according to a spokeswoman. She added that the first “verified” icons will appear soon on some listings in the United States, Canada, Australia, England and France.

One method involves the hosts taking photos via the Airbnb app that match the photos in the listing, with location sharing on. The process will expand to 30 more countries this fall.

But even now, the spokeswoman said, Airbnb attempts to detect false listings before they go live, using technology that looks for, among other things, duplicate photos. In 2023, this system blocked 157,000 “suspicious listings” from being activated, she said.

I’m not sure whether that number is reassuring or terrifying. If they stopped 157,000 listings, how many more must have slipped through?

If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.

Seth Kugel is the columnist for “ Tripped Up ,” an advice column that helps readers navigate the often confusing world of travel. More about Seth Kugel

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Barron's

Chinese Tourists Are Staying Close to Home. Paris and New York Are Hurting.

F or Ma Liang, a travel agent in Chengdu, China, bookings for overseas group travel are nearly full. “That’s because we’re barely offering any trips,” he said in an interview.

Demand for travel outside of China is so low that many services have been cut, from flight routes to excursions at the famous sights and shopping districts of cities like Paris, Rome, and New York—where throngs of Chinese used to roam in hordes, spending $255 billion in 2019, and becoming a lucrative cohort internationally.

All that changed during Covid, and it has yet to recover.

As of December, the capacity of flights leaving and entering China had reached just over half of the same period in 2019, according to flight analytics firm OAG Aviation Worldwide.

The routes themselves paint a striking picture. Domestic flights—or seats, to be precise—made up 92.6% last month while flights into or out of China made up only 7.4%, less than half the prepandemic level, according to OAG.

Analysts are beginning to be more realistic compared with their highly optimistic forecasts that Chinese leisure spending—including overseas travel—would skyrocket after Covid restrictions were dropped. Much of the pessimism now is based on the continued failure of consumer spending to rise.

“Non-domestic demand resumption remains uncertain,” Morgan Stanley analysts wrote last month. “It may take longer than expected for demand to recover from 70-80% of pre-Covid levels.”

Consultancy Oliver Wyman surveyed nearly 4,000 “affluent” Chinese and found that “many experienced international travelers from mainland China—namely, those who had already traveled internationally before the Covid-19 pandemic—are delaying their travel plans due to economic uncertainty.”

Retailers have struggled, especially luxury brands, which grew increasingly dependent on high-spending Chinese tourists over the course of the 2010s. In 2019, luxury spending by Chinese consumers represented about a third of the global market for high-end goods, according to Bain & Co. In 2023, that share had shrunk to just under a quarter.

That took a toll on top-line growth for the sector in the peak pandemic years, impacting everyone from industry giants like LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Kering to smaller specialty companies, such as Burberry Group and Canada Goose Holdings. Many companies have started to note a tourism rebound, but the recovery is slow. On Jan. 25, LVMH said the company’s sales for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 to Chinese consumers in France were still about 30% less than in the same quarter in 2019, even though LVMH’s business in China is thriving.

“We’re not particularly concerned, neither pessimistic nor optimistic, but we don’t see the big busloads of Chinese customers coming in groups,” said LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault on a call with analysts.

Another factor—though smaller—seems to be personal exhaustion. China’s youth are experiencing an unprecedented unemployment crisis, which has given employers leverage to overwork employees.

Unemployed 28-year-old Yang Qi of Shanghai said two of her employed friends told her they both aren’t traveling because of sheer exhaustion from work. “They’re totally burned out,” she told Barron’s. And younger people who do travel aren’t spending the way they used to.

For the small number of Chinese who are traveling abroad, Asian countries are the main beneficiaries. Most outbound flights from China this month were to South Korea, but seat capacity was still 22% lower than in the same period in 2019.

Japan and Thailand were next, but their numbers were a fraction of prepandemic levels. Destinations like the U.S. and to one-time shopping paradises for wealthy Chinese like France and Italy now lack regular direct flights, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Observers are waiting to see how numbers fare for this month’s Lunar New Year holiday, long known as the world’s largest annual human migration. While traditionally most people return home to feast together and visit family, an uptick in outbound travel was seen before the pandemic. Li Ying, 29, of Beijing, said financial considerations had influenced her decision not to return home for the holiday.

Governments have been scrambling to boost tourism. One issue: China’s passport and visa processing centers are overwhelmed—20 million Chinese passports have expired since 2020, according to travel management company BCD Travel China.

In November, in a rare move for a visa-stingy country like China, Beijing said it would allowing visa-free entry for nationals of France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Malaysia starting Dec. 1. Ireland and Switzerland were recently added to the list.

Malaysia reciprocated the visa-exemption policy for China. A similar mutual agreement was reached between China and Thailand, and China and Singapore said their reciprocal visa-free plan would begin sometime in early 2024.

Time will tell if the visa moves affect travel, but Chinese consumer sentiment has repeatedly disappointed over the past year, with large numbers saving for what they see as an uncertain future.

—Sabrina Escobar contributed to this article.

Write to [email protected]

Chinese Tourists Are Staying Close to Home. Paris and New York Are Hurting.

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  5. United offers free COVID-19 tests on flights between New York City area

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