(CNN) — From the gloomy depths of a Northern Hemisphere winter like no other, it can seem futile thinking about vacation plans for the year ahead.

With most of the planet still in the grips of the pandemic and vaccines a long way off for so many of us, traveling for pleasure could be thought of as at best foolish, at worst, downright risky.

One thing we do know, however, is that this situation isn’t forever. For some of us, escape could be a matter of weeks away. For others, it could be coming in the middle, or even the end, of the year.

But it will come eventually, and freedom to explore will be back in the cards.

But in an era where tourism is part of the global language, we’ll continue to look ahead to the time when we can take our first tentative steps back out into the world and make good on those dreams we’ve been saving up.

These are not the obscure, or undiscovered gems that often populate places-to-go rundowns (although we did throw in a couple of unexpected spots). These are the solid-gold vacation hits that everyone needs right now.

To help with getting you there, for each destination we’ve also built a separate guide to what you need to know before you go, covering entry restrictions, current Covid guidelines and safeguards, plus what kind of vacation you can expect when you finally make it.

See somewhere you like: bookmark the guide and keep checking back for updates. We’ll keep you posted with all the latest developments as they happen.

Antarctica

With the cancellation of the 2020-2021 Antarctic cruise season, there is a lot of pent-up desire to make our biggest travel dreams come true.

One of the most remote destinations on the planet, Antarctica is not an easy (or affordable) endeavor under the best circumstances.

Perhaps the difficulty is part of the allure — the seventh continent remains on the top of many travelers’ wish lists. The striking white desert, with its dramatic, snowy peaks and vibrant turquoise waters, as well its exotic wildlife, including Emperor penguins and Weddell seals, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Making the locale even more enticing in 2021 is a December 4 solar eclipse that will darken the continent, creating a major event for Antarctic cruise lines to trumpet.

Canada

Canada has a swoon-worthy landscape for every traveler.

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Skiing, surfing, hiking, polar-bear spotting and Northern-lights sighting. Eclectic cuisine, world-class shopping, a diverse and rich culture. This is Canada.

The 13 provinces and territories that make up the world’s second-largest country by total area has something swoon-worthy for every type of traveler.

Nature lovers take solace in mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and Atlantic or Pacific coastlines while sophisticated palates nosh at Michelin-starred restaurants and hole-in-the-wall mainstays alike.

Nightlife seekers will find vibrant club scenes in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, though smaller cities Edmonton and Calgary know how to play too.

The laid-back visitor has a bevy of chill choices: among them Tofino, Canada’s original hippie destination; Kelowna, a picturesque lakeside wine country; and St. John’s, one of the country’s friendliest places.

Venture further north and it just gets wilder. Neither Nunavut nor Northwest Territories are easy to get to, but the rewards of visiting the remote regions — from the indigenous Inuit people’s artwork of the former, to the natural wonders (including unparalleled Northern Lights) of the latter — are countless.

Hot hotel openings include the anticipated spring 2021 debut of W Toronto and Halifax’s first five-star hotel, Muir Hotel. The property, set to open in August, will feature cold plunge and hydrotherapy pools with a halotherapy salt room. — Stacey Lastoe

Disney parks

If it were up to most kids, every family holiday would include a visit to a Disney theme park. There’s nothing comparable to the look of joy on a kid’s face the second they step through the gates and lay their eyes on that gorgeous castle and get their first-ever photo with Mickey.

These days, adults can’t be blamed for wanting to make a beeline to their nearest Disney park either, given the new “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” themed lands at both the Disneyland and Disney World resorts in the US — open for less than a year before the pandemic hit. In particularly high demand is the Rise of the Resistance, the most ambitious interactive attraction in Disney park history.

Disney World’s Epcot, meanwhile, has been going through a major transformation of its own, with more of these changes set to open in 2021. Perhaps most exciting is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a child-friendly ride due to open as part of the expansion of Epcot’s France pavilion in the World Showcase.

And speaking of makeovers, on the other side of the planet Hong Kong Disneyland has been going through a big one. The Asian park recently revealed its dazzling new Castle of Magical Dreams, which has been under construction since 2018 and replaces its Sleeping Beauty Castle. Part of the park’s ongoing multiyear expansion plan, it features a mix of architectural styles inspired by different cultures, while paying tribute to the multiple Disney princess stories. — Karla Cripps

Dubai

Dubai is still open for most visitors.

Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

While vacation planning for 2021 can seem like a wild roll of the dice, a trip to Dubai is a safer bet than most. The glitziest of the United Arab Emirates is currently welcoming almost all global travelers and, with the emirate embracing thorough safety checks and protocols, you can enjoy relative peace of mind while you’re there too.

Also expected next year is the opening of the grandly named Museum of the Future, the calligraphy-adorned facade of which is already an impressive new landmark in a city known for its buildings with wow factor. — Maureen O’Hare

Egypt

Egypt’s supply of ancient wonders is seemingly limitless, and 2021 may be just the year to show them all off to a world starved for cultural discovery.

Many of Egypt’s most celebrated artifacts are finally expected to get a gleaming new home this year at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) close to the site of the Pyramids of Giza.

The museum — a monumental concrete and glass space measuring nearly half a million square meters with a price tag of over $1 billion — was conceived in 2003 and has been under construction for eight years.

While the opening date has not been set, the long-delayed museum is sure to be a huge draw. A headliner: King Tutankhamun’s treasures will all be exhibited together for the first time.

A number of sarcophagi from Saqqara — newly discovered in 2020 — will be transferred to the GEM, as will wooden coffins found in Luxor in 2019.

No doubt more new discoveries will be added to the lineup — providing a deep dive into 5,000 years of history that can also be traced by trekking across Egypt to the tombs themselves. — Marnie Hunter

France

Rolling fields of lavender or grape vineyards are among highlights of a trip to France.

Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images

The bistros, boulangeries, patisseries and fromageries are reason enough to hotfoot it to France when the world starts moving in earnest.

And the rest of the things that drew nearly 90 million visitors to France in 2019 will start coming to life again too: world-class art exhibitions, elegant chateaux, towering cathedrals, medieval villages, glamorous stretches of coast and endless tangles of wine-producing vines.

Ghana

Land and sea borders currently remain closed, but now is a good time to acquaint yourself with the country’s hip cultural offerings, from an arts and fashion renaissance to new restaurant and hotel openings.

Adventurers can catch waves at deserted beaches at Cape Three Points, one of West Africa’s best surfing spots, and may spot some humpback whales too. Mole National Park is Ghana’s largest wildlife refuge and is where you can see Nolan warthogs and spotted hyenas and get close to ambling elephants.

Capital city Accra has little in the way of major attractions, but remains charming and lively. For a fashionable, cosmopolitan vibe head to Osu and the area surrounding the airport, where you’ll find designer shops and art galleries. — Maureen O’Hare

Greece

Sunset over Greece’s rugged Mani region.

Barry Neild/CNN

If we do make it back to normality in 2021, Greece will have more reason than most to celebrate — it’s marking its 200th birthday. The official anniversary of when an 1821 revolution sparked a war of independence against the Ottoman Empire is in February-March, but parties and events to mark the bicentennial are expected — Covid permitting — throughout the year.

Beyond Nafplio, the Peloponnese are worth exploring. Less touristed than many of Greece’s hotspots, they’re more set up for social distancing, especially on the wild and mountainous Mani Peninsula. That said, most of Greece, which is known to take health matters very seriously, seemed to cope well with creating a Covid-safe visitor experience in the summer of 2020, succumbing to a virus surge far later than most European destinations.

Grenada

While Grenada’s nickname comes from its famous nutmeg industry, the “Isle of Spice” is packed with flavor in every way possible.

Measuring just 18 kilometers wide and 34 kilometers long, the eastern Caribbean island is made up of sandy beaches, lush rainforests and spectacular waterfalls, but it’s Grenada’s rich character that sets it apart from more well-known tropical destinations.

Although each of its seven parishes has its own very distinct charm and appeal, Grenada’s capital St. George’s, known for its horseshoe-shaped harbor and colorful houses, is undoubtedly the most vibrant and picturesque.

The island has around 45 beaches, but Grand Anse is its most popular for good reason. Spanning three kilometers, this stunning stretch of white sand frequented by both visitors and locals offers tranquil waters, fantastic views and a wonderfully serene atmosphere. — Tamara Hardingham-Gill

Hawaii

Hawaii is home to truly extraordinary beaches — and a whole lot more.

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Hawaii is underrated. This in spite of its unceasing popularity among travelers.

To be sure, it is a gorgeous place, with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and every beach seemingly prettier than the next, but its beauty goes much deeper than its preternatural appearance.

Extraordinary beaches — some even boast black and green sand (Papakōlea Beach and Punaluʻu Beach, respectively) — have their expected appeal, but visitors who take time to venture out and away from the coast quickly discover Hawaii’s charms are in every nook and cranny.

No matter which island you choose, which beachfront accommodation or which adventure, the key is slowing down and inviting the Aloha vibes to take over. — Stacey Lastoe

Italy

Perennially popular Italy hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in March 2020, when it became the global epicenter of the pandemic — and after controlling infection rates better than most European countries over the summer, its aging population has been hit hard again by the second wave.

But nothing can dim Italy’s attraction, and as restrictions ease, this will be a time to see it at its best. Pre-pandemic, Italy’s art cities were notorious epicenters of overtourism.

But with visitor numbers not expected to return to 2019 levels for several years, for those who can make it safely, 2021 will afford the chance to see the Bel Paese in a way that hasn’t been possible for decades.

What’s more, the best known cities are trying to change tourism for the better. Having seen many of the tatty souvenir shops close in the pandemic, Venice, for instance, is focusing on promoting the city’s traditional artisans, in a bid to readjust the tourism economy before the crowds come back.

Meanwhile, Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera — one of Italy’s showstopper (and queue-heavy) art galleries — has vowed to keep entrance by pre-booking only, in order to give visitors more space, while Da Vinci masterwork “The Last Supper” is considering more same-day tickets to favor individuals rather than the big groups that usually book up slots months in advance.

Still social distancing? Italy has some of Europe’s loveliest rural towns, and its alberghi diffusi (scattered hotels) are perfect for the Covid era, putting you up in self-contained apartments dotted around villages. They’re sustainable, too, helping to support smaller places in need of tourism. — Julia Buckley

Japan

Japan is hoping to host the rescheduled Summer Olympics in 2021.

Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

Though every tourism-dependent nation is certainly deserving of sympathy going into 2021, one can’t help but feel particularly moved by the plight of Japan.

This is a country that hustled hard to ready itself for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games, only to have to cancel the event just as it was ready to showcase those efforts to the world.

Those postponed Olympic Games will kick off in Tokyo on July 23, 2021, giving travelers a chance to see some of the huge changes that have taken place, along with all the reasons we fell in love with the country in the first place. The food, the people, the culture … Japan has a way of embedding itself into your soul and we can’t wait to get back.

Major Tokyo additions include the Takanawa Gateway — the first new station built on the city’s key JR Yamanote train line since 1971. The area around busy Shibuya Station has also been revamped as part of a huge multi-layer makeover to cement it as the city’s entertainment, transport and business hub for decades to come. Other changes of note include wider free Wi-Fi coverage not just in Tokyo but in the entire country — including 108 Shinkansen “bullet train” stations.

Several new hotels opened this year as well, including the luxurious Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo and the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi.

But there’s plenty to see elsewhere, too — particularly for theme park fans. Our top pick? The new Super Nintendo World, which is due to open at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka in February 2021. –– Karla Cripps

Maldives

White sand beaches? Check. World-class dining? Yep. Incredible swimming, sailing and scuba diving? Got those too. Throughout the pandemic, Maldives has also managed to keep its borders open more than most thanks to the built-in social distancing offered by its luxurious resorts.

If anybody needed additional incentive to cross Maldives off of their bucket list in 2021, a spate of hotel openings is keeping things interesting. On deck for 2021 openings are new resorts from Ritz-Carlton, Patina, Le Meridien, Capella and Radisson Blu.

Mexico

Travel between the United States and Mexico never really stopped during the pandemic.

Donald Miralle/Getty Images

This US neighbor to the south was a respite for many in 2020, in spite of the closure of land borders between the US and Mexico and multiple surges in coronavirus cases.

Air travel into and out of Mexico never really stopped, owing to the country’s limited Covid-related travel requirements, plus its natural beauty, breathtaking coastlines and a wide swath of relatively under-touristed locations beyond hotspots like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.

While balancing physical and economic health has been an uneven juggling act the world over, the fact is Mexico and many other destinations are in dire need of tourism revenue.

Looking into fall 2021, which hopefully will be a much less complicated time to visit, Mexico City will be celebrating its quincentennial, commemorating its founding 500 years ago, with most festivities planned in September to coincide with Mexican Independence Day.

Later in the fall, Formula 1 racing fans can attend the 2021 Mexico City Grand Prix on October 29-31 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. — Brekke Fletcher

New Zealand

Unlike vast swaths of the rest of the world, many of life’s normal activities have resumed in New Zealand, thanks to one of the globe’s most successful pandemic responses

New York City

It’s a good time to explore New York’s fascinating neighborhoods on foot.

C. Taylor Crothers/Getty Images

Start spreading the news, reports of New York City’s “demise” have been grossly exaggerated. While the city has no doubt been adversely affected (what place hasn’t?) over the last year, the city that never sleeps has high hopes for a better 2021.

A lot of New York’s best offerings remain accessible, despite the ongoing pandemic (two major closures still in effect as the new year dawns are Broadway and indoor dining). And while New York City is rarely referred to as an “outdoor wonderland,” the truth is the best way to experience the city is walking through its distinct neighborhoods, maybe even with a slice of pizza in hand.

One of the best views of lower Manhattan can be seen while strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge, and New York City’s waterfront and parks are always there for you to explore.

Some seminal cultural institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, can be experienced with timed-ticketing — and without the usual crowds.

To add to the excitement, there are two highly anticipated luxury hotel openings.

Singapore

Most travelers don’t want to spend any more time in an airport than they have to. But Singapore’s Changi is no ordinary airport.

The coming year is a chance to fall back in love with travel, and a visit to the Lion City should rekindle that romance.

Beyond its spectacular airport, the city-state is home to a UNESCO-listed botanical garden, one-of-a-kind Peranakan culture, and some of the world’s most spectacular luxury hotels.

Its food scene is a major highlight — whether visitors opt for $5 Hainan chicken rice from a hawker stall or $500-per-plate Michelin-starred fine dining, nobody ever goes home hungry. — Lilit Marcus

Spain

Barcelona has taken time out to reevaluate its tourism offering.

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Spain, with its miles of picturesque sandy coastline and vibrant historic cities, has always been an unmissable travel destination.

Barcelona’s Las Ramblas may have been emptier than usual this year, while the party ground to a halt in the beach bars of the Balearic Islands, but Spain’s tourism hotspots are preparing to wow visitors once again.

Barcelona, like other European cities plagued in recent years by overtourism, has taken the time out to reevaluate how visitors can continue to enjoy the city without making it uninhabitable for locals.

The Balearics, meanwhile, are repositioning themselves with far more than iconic nightlife: secluded bays, a plethora of wildlife and sumptuous Mediterranean meals enjoyed al fresco will be the top attractions for visitors when they return.

Plus, by next summer, Spain’s fiestas — outdoor parties featuring fireworks, parades and celebration — might be back, and what better way to mark new beginnings than toasting 2021 under the Spanish sun? — Francesca Street

Thailand

For more than a century, Thailand has woven its spell on the masses with its glittering temples, fiery food, stunning beaches and mountainous landscapes.

All of that’s still there — plus a little more. The country has been heavily promoting domestic tourism in recent months, meaning there’s been no shortage of new hotel and restaurant openings — particularly in the capital, Bangkok.

For those with their eye on Thailand’s south, the government is reportedly considering reopening Maya Bay, which has been closed since 2018 as part of a program aimed at reviving the area’s decimated corals.

Though not yet confirmed, the stunning cove made famous by “The Beach,” the 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, may welcome visitors in mid-2021, but with strict visitor caps. — Karla Cripps

United Kingdom

The UK has plenty of beautiful scenery, including the Lake District.

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

“Plague Island” isn’t likely to be top of anyone’s travel hot list, but let’s try to see past the unfortunate sobriquet applied to Great Britain by The New York Times after a new strain of virus led to many countries severing travel connections with the UK.

The first place in the world to approve the coronavirus vaccine will hopefully, by the coming summer, have shaken off its notoriety. What should emerge is one of the world’s top tourism offerings, but very different.

The UK’s recent Brexit from the EU will see the country’s tourism sector happier than ever to see foreign visitors, particularly given that those arriving from Europe may face more bureaucracy than before to travel here.

Brexit, plus the financial impact of the pandemic, may mean many Brits choosing to staycation this year, although some may splurge on an overseas escape after months of enforced lockdown. But the good news for foreign visitors is that a widely expected slump in the pound should make the UK great value for money.

While the country may seem like a small collection of islands, it still offers wide open spaces for those still wary of crowds. There are the hills and waters of the picture-perfect Lake District, the dramatic coastline paths of Cornwall and Wales, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and even the pretty scenery at the end of London’s Underground lines. — Barry Neild

Uruguay

As neighbors Brazil and Argentina have struggled to contain the pandemic, laid-back little Uruguay has kept infection rates down — and as South America starts reopening for travel, that will serve it well.

Not that this is some kind of consolation prize; Uruguay has always had a huge amount to offer visitors, but as the continent’s second smallest country, it has often been dwarfed in the tourism stakes by its behemoth neighbors.

The current summer season (December-March) has effectively been canceled, with the government vowing to keep borders closed to stop infection rates rising. But once they reopen, there’s a huge amount to discover.

Punta del Este is one of the Americas’ buzziest beach resorts, while Jose Ignacio, an hour up the coast, is a boho (but exclusive) resort. Carmelo, near the Argentinian border on the River Plate, is a laid-back weekend destination for Argentinians. It’s known for its wine — and the once-quiet Uruguayan wine scene is going from strength to strength.

Keep an eye on our individual destination guides for updated information on openings, travel rules and more.

An earlier version of this story misidentified the capital of the UAE.

The post 21 places to go in 2021 appeared first on TripALoud.

10. United States

America knows how to dish food that hits the spot.

Getty Images

There’s the traditional stuff such as clam chowder, key lime pie and Cobb salad, and most importantly the locavore movement of modern American food started by Alice Waters.

Yum

Cheeseburger — a perfect example of making good things greater.

Chocolate chip cookie — the world would be a little less habitable without this Americana classic.

Dumb

All overly processed foods such as Twinkies, Hostess cakes and KFC.

9. Mexico

Mmmmexico.

Courtesy Denis Dervisevic/Creative Commons/Flickr

Amongst the enchiladas and the tacos and the helados and the quesadillas you’ll find the zestiness of Greek salads and the richness of an Indian curry; the heat of Thai food and the use-your-hands snackiness of tapas.

Yum

Mole — ancient sauce made of chili peppers, spices, chocolate and magic incantations.

Tamales — an ancient Mayan food of masa cooked in a leaf wrapping.

Dumb

Tostadas — basically the same as a taco or burrito but served in a crispy fried tortilla which breaks into pieces as soon as you bite into it. Impossible to eat.

8. Thailand

Street eats are a Thai attraction. Flip through a Thai cook book and you’ll be hard pressed to find an ingredient list that doesn’t run a page long. The combination of so many herbs and spices in each dish produces complex flavors that somehow come together like orchestral music. Thais fit spicy, sour, salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy and slippery into one dish.

Yum

Massaman curry — a Thai curry with Islamic roots.

Som tam — the popular green papaya salad is sour, extra spicy, sweet and salty. It’s the best of Thai tastes.

Dumb

Pla som — a fermented fish eaten uncooked is popular in Lawa and reported to be responsible for bile duct cancer.

7. Greece

Souvlaki is paradise on a stick.

LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The secret? Lashings of glistening olive oil. Gift of the gods, olive oil is arguably Greece’s greatest export, influencing the way people around the world think about food and nutritional health. Eating in Greece is also a way of consuming history. A bite of dolma or a slurp of lentil soup gives a small taste of life in ancient Greece, when they were invented.

Yum

Olive oil — drizzled on other food, or soaked up by bread, is almost as varied as wine in its flavors.

Spanakopita — makes spinach palatable with its feta cheese mixture and flaky pastry cover.

Gyros — late-night drunk eating wouldn’t be the same without the pita bread sandwich of roast meat and tzatziki.

Dumb

Lachanorizo — basically cabbage and onion cooked to death then mixed with rice. Filling, but one-dimensional.

6. India

Sweet and spicy chai tea.

NOAH SEELAM/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

When a cuisine uses spices in such abundance that the meat and vegetables seem like an afterthought, you know you’re dealing with cooks dedicated to flavor. There are no rules for spice usage as long as it results in something delicious. The same spice can add zest to savory and sweet dishes, or can sometimes be eaten on its own — fennel seed is enjoyed as a breath-freshening digestive aid at the end of meals.

And any country that manages to make vegetarian food taste consistently great certainly deserves some kind of Nobel prize. The regional varieties are vast. There’s Goa’s seafood, there’s the wazwan of Kashmir and there’s the coconutty richness of Kerala.

Yum

Dal — India has managed to make boiled lentils exciting.

Dosa — a pancake filled with anything from cheese to spicy vegetables, perfect for lunch or dinner.

Chai — not everyone likes coffee and not everyone likes plain tea, but it’s hard to resist chai.

Dumb

Balti chicken — an invention for the British palate, should probably have died out with colonialism.

5. Japan

Japanese apply the same precision to their food as they do to their engineering. This is the place that spawned tyrannical sushi masters and ramen bullies who make their staff and customers tremble with a glare.

Yum

Miso soup — showcases some of the fundamental flavors of Japanese food, simple and wholesome.

Sushi and sashimi — who knew that raw fish on rice could become so popular?

Tempura — the perfection of deep-frying. Never greasy, the batter is thin and light like a crisp tissue.

Dumb

Fugu — is anything really that delicious that it’s worth risking your life to eat? The poisonous blowfish recently killed diners in Egypt, but is becoming more available in Japan.

4. Spain

Churros: dough meets chocolate.

Lauren Aloise

Let’s eat and drink, then sleep, then work for two hours, then eat and drink. Viva Espana, that country whose hedonistic food culture we all secretly wish was our own. All that bar-hopping and tapas-eating, the minimal working, the 9 p.m. dinners, the endless porron challenges — this is a culture based on, around and sometimes even inside food.

The Spaniards gourmandize the way they flamenco dance, with unbridled passion. They munch on snacks throughout the day with intervals of big meals. From the fruits of the Mediterranean Sea to the spoils of the Pyrenees, from the saffron and cumin notes of the Moors to the insane molecular experiments of Ferran Adria, Spanish food is timeless yet avant garde.

Yum

Jamon Iberico — a whole cured ham hock usually carved by clamping it down in a wooden stand like some medieval ritual.

Churros — the world’s best version of sweet fried dough.

Dumb

Gazpacho — it’s refreshing and all, but it’s basically liquid salad.

3. France

Freshly baked French baguettes — mouthwatering.

PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images

If you’re one of those people who doesn’t like to eat because “there’s more to life than food” — visit Paris. It’s a city notorious for its curmudgeonly denizens, but they all believe in the importance of good food. Two-hour lunch breaks for three-course meals are de rigeur.

Entire two-week vacations are centered on exploring combinations of wines and cheeses around the country. Down-to-earth cooking will surprise those who thought of the French as the world’s food snobs (it is the birthplace of the Michelin Guide after all). Cassoulet, pot au feu, steak frites are revelatory when had in the right bistro.

Yum

Escargot — credit the French for turning slimey, garden-dwelling pests into a delicacy. Massive respect for making them taste amazing too.

Baguette — the first and last thing that you’ll want to eat in France. The first bite is transformational; the last will be full of longing.

Dumb

Foie gras — it tastes like 10,000 ducks roasted in butter then reduced to a velvet pudding, but some animal advocates decry the cruelty of force-feeding fowl to fatten their livers.

2. China

Peking duck — just one of many Chinese culinary delights.

GREG BAKER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The people who greet each other with “Have you eaten yet?” are arguably the most food-obsessed in the world. Food has been a form of escapism for the Chinese throughout its tumultuous history.

The Chinese entrepreneurial spirit and appreciation for the finer points of frugality — the folks are cheap, crafty and food-crazed — results in one of the bravest tribes of eaters in the world. But the Chinese don’t just cook and sell anything, they also make it taste great.

China is the place to go to get food shock a dozen times a day. “You can eat that?” will become the intrepid food traveler’s daily refrain. China’s regional cuisines are so varied it’s hard to believe they’re from the same nation. It’s not a food culture you can easily summarize, except to say you’ll invariably want seconds.

Yum

Sweet and sour pork — a guilty pleasure that has taken on different forms.

Dim sum — a grand tradition from Hong Kong to New York.

Roast suckling pig and Peking duck — wonders of different styles of ovens adopted by Chinese chefs.

Xiaolongbao — incredible soup-filled surprises. How do they get that dumpling skin to hold all that hot broth?

Dumb

Shark’s fin soup — rallying for Chinese restaurants to ban the dish has been a pet issue of green campaigners in recent years.

1. Italy

Nothing beats traditional Neapolitan pizza

MARIO LAPORTA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Italian food has captivated tastebuds around the globe for centuries, with its zesty tomato sauces, those clever things they do with wheat flour and desserts that are basically vehicles for cream. It’s all so simple. Get some noodles, get some olive oil, get some garlic, maybe a tomato or a slice of bacon. Bam, you have a party on a plate. And it is all so easy to cook and eat.

From the cheesy risottos to the crisp fried meats, Italian cuisine is a compendium of crowd-pleasing comfort food. Many people have welcomed it into their homes, especially novice cooks. Therein lies the real genius — Italian food has become everyman’s food.

Yum

Ragu alla bolognese (spaghetti bolognaise) — the world’s go-to “can’t decide what to have” food.

Pizza — mind-bogglingly simple yet satisfying dish. Staple diet of bachelors and college students.

Italian-style salami — second only to cigarettes as a source of addiction.

Coffee — cappuccino is for breakfast? Forget it. We want it all day and all night.

Dumb

Buffalo mozzarella — those balls of spongy, off-white, subtly flavored cheeses of water buffalo milk. The flavor’s so subtle you have to imagine it.

Editor’s note: This article was previously published in 2013. It was reformatted and republished in 2017 and again in January 2021.

The post World cuisine: 10 best food cultures appeared first on TripALoud.

(CNN) — Serving 20 million passengers a year in pre-pandemic times, the modern clean spaces of Athens International Airport have been the world’s gateway to the treasures of Greece for most of the 21st century.

But while authorities hope the slow return of international travel later in 2021 might eventually bring the arrival halls of the Eleftherios Venizelos hub back to life, a few kilometers to the west, another airport will remain eerily quiet — as it has for much of the last 20 years.

Located on the southern Athenian coast on a site roughly three times the size of Monaco, Hellenikon — which translates to “the Greek” — was for decades the only international airport in Athens.

The former airport complex was originally built in the late 1930s at a time when Greek aviation was still in a nascent stage. During the World War II occupation of Greece by Axis powers, the site was used by Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe and became a target of Allied air raids.

Major gateway

The airport was once Greece’s largest.

Dimitris Sideridis

Following the end of the war, Hellenikon hosted Greek, US and British forces but by the 1950s it had become Athens’s main hub for commercial air travel. Significant reconstruction work followed, including expanded runways and a new control tower and terminal halls.

With Greece’s tourism industry rapidly expanding, Hellenikon served as the gateway for millions of people arriving from all corners of the globe to explore the country’s archaeological marvels and sun-baked beaches.

Time took its toll, however, and on March 30, 2001 — after years of debates and planning — Hellenikon shut its doors indefinitely to make way for a larger, more modern facility.

Hellenikon shut its doors in 2001.

Dimitris Sideridis

“In the 1990s, the airport had ended up handling well above 10 million passengers [annually],” Vasilis Tsatsaragkos, president of the Olympic Airlines Workers’ Cultural Center, tells CNN.

“Hellenikon was unable to meet the country’s dynamically increasing tourism needs.”

In 2004, parts of the disused complex were transformed into venues for the Athens Olympics, hosting baseball, fencing, kayaking and other sporting events.

But years of neglect followed and the 1,530-acre brownfield site — once envisaged largely as a metropolitan park — was left to decay amid disagreements over its redevelopment and Greece’s descent into economic chaos in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

Stalled redevelopment

The airport still contains abandoned airplanes belonging to defunct carrier Olympic Airways.

Dimitris Sideridis

In 2014, a consortium of investors signed a €915 million ($1 billion) development deal, a key part of a post-bailout agreement between debt-saddled Greece and its international lenders.

Under the deal, Hellenikon is to be turned into one of Europe’s largest coastal resorts, filled with luxury hotels and apartments, as well as shopping malls, a park and a casino and entertainment complex.

Efforts, however, to kick-start the project have repeatedly stalled amid political opposition and various bureaucratic obstacles. Five years ago, at the height of Europe’s refugee crisis, the sprawling site became an informal settlement sheltering thousands of refugees living in harrowing conditions, its abandoned terminals and Olympic facilities filled by a sea of tents.

Frozen in time

Since its closure, it’s been allowed to fall into disrepair.

Dimitris Sideridis

Some of its listed buildings that will be preserved from demolition include the former East Terminal building, designed in the 1960s by the firm of groundbreaking Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in the 1960s.

Currently, a sense of emptiness permeates its dilapidated, cavernous hall at ground level. A short walk downstairs takes you to what once was a bustling lounge area, now cluttered with debris from half-ruined walls and a collapsed ceiling that exposes bungles of twisted wires hanging overhead.

Elsewhere, a jumble of trash, broken glass and discarded record books reveals the daunting scale of decay, while faded tourism posters and torn maps add a note of gloom to the scene.

Outside the crumbling structures, a small fleet of decommissioned Boeing aircraft, including an imposing 747-200 alongside a Boeing 737 and Boeing 727, sit idle on the edge of the complex.

The rusting, stripped-down passenger jets all belonged to Olympic Airways (OA), the carrier that for decades ruled Greece’s skies and became synonymous with Hellenikon.

When OA ruled the skies

Olympc Airways once had exclusive access to Hellenikon’s West Terminal.

Dimitris Sideridis

Launched by business magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1957 following an agreement with Greece’s government for the exclusive use of air transport, OA swiftly expanded its fleet and helped put the country on the global tourist map.

“This was the airline that connected Greece with the whole world — within 23 hours, Athens had ‘contact’ with five continents,” Tsatsaragkos says.

OA quickly became known for its second-to-none luxury cabin service, reflecting the lavish style of its Greek founder and one of the world’s wealthiest men. Its flight attendants were dressed in chic uniforms created by renowned designers such as Coco Chanel and Pierre Cardin while its passengers famously enjoyed their meals on porcelain plates with gilded cutlery and crystal glasses.

Following the 1969 opening of the Saarinen-designed East Terminal, which served all foreign carriers, Hellenikon’s West Terminal was exclusively reserved for OA. Through its gates, a steady stream of celebrities — from Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren to Omar Sharif and Neil Armstrong — was pictured arriving in Greece.

Mementoes from Hellenikon’s past will be preserved in a new museum, according to Vasilis Tsatsaragkos.

Dimitris Sideridis

But in 1973, the death of Onassis’ 24-year-old son, Alexander, in the crash of a two-engined amphibian Piaggio jet shortly after take off from Hellenikon shocked Greece and the Onassis family, and ultimately led to the end of OA’s “golden age”.

On January 1, 1975, Onassis formally sold the company to the Greek state and died on March 15.

In its first 18 years, OA’s fleet had increased from 15 to 28 — including the technological marvel of the time, a Boeing 747-200B Jumbo bought in 1973 for the Athens-New York route — but the national carrier went on to face major financial problems in the decades that followed due to chronic mismanagement.

Having been renamed Olympic Airlines in 2003, the carrier ceased operations in 2009, several years after its relocation — along with the rest of Greece’s aviation industry — from its former home at Hellenikon.

But the memory of both the abandoned airport and OA will live on in a new museum that will be housed in an earmarked building inside the redeveloped site, according to Tsatsaragkos.

“We have collected 23,000 items documenting the history of both OA and civil aviation,” he says, adding that seven aircraft will be among the future exhibits.

“We keep gathering material. This museum is our big vision.”

This story was originally published in June 2020 and updated in February 2021.

The post The Greek airport that was left to fall apart appeared first on TripALoud.

(CNN) — The “Plague Island” headlines splashed across the front pages said it all.

With its out of control infection rates and deaths heading past the 125,000 mark, the UK started 2021 as Europe’s Covid pariah.

Now though, after a vaccination program that has seen more than a third of all adults receive at least one dose, countries across Europe, and tour operators who have struggled over the past 12 months, are falling over themselves to welcome weary Brits for a dose of summer sun.

Harry Theoharis, Tourism Minister for Greece, told the virtual ITB Tourism conference this week that the country would welcome anyone who’d been vaccinated, could prove they had antibodies or present a negative PCR test.

Declaring, “All you want is Greece,” his impassioned plea has kicked off a race for tourists’ unspent lockdown cash, which authorities across the Mediterranean hope will boost ailing communities that have lost millions over the past year.

Spain, which pulled in over 18 million British travelers in 2019, and Portugal have also said they’re keen to get Brits flying in as soon as it’s safe to do so.

There’s clearly a market too. ABTA, a UK travel trade association, says that 63% of Brits are hoping to book a foreign vacation in 2021.

There’s just one niggling issue. It remains illegal to leave the UK for a vacation. This week the country’s transport minister, Grant Shapps, warned that it’s still too soon to book a foreign trip.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has penciled in May 17 as the soonest possible date that international travel will be allowed.

Building traveler trust

Vaccinated British tourists will be permitted to visit Cyprus from May.

CHRISTINA ASSI/AFP via Getty Images

That doesn’t appear to be deterring European countries and tour operators from going all out to attract visitors or tourists from booking.

Thomas Cook said it saw a 25% rise in enquiries about the Mediterranean island of Cyprus in the wake of its announcement about plans for vaccinated travelers.

From fully flexible booking offers, to tourism officials touting falling Covid numbers, there’s an undeniable effort to entice vacationers to book as soon as possible.

For Luis Araujo, president of tousim body VisitPortugal, it’s definitely not too soon to lock in a vacation.

“They should book immediately,” he says when asked whether potential tourists should wait before booking their summer break.

“We need to build trust with tour operators and travel agents. If we don’t have this proactive reaction in terms of booking or asking for travel, then everything will take longer to recover… What we need now is mobility.

“And we need it now because each day that passes is a day we lose.”

More than 25,000 people were given training in 2020, with a further 12,000 already being trained this year, he says.

With a fast-falling infection rate, down to 83.2 per 100,000, Araujo is keen to point out that Portugal is coming through the worst and will soon be ready to welcome back tourists.

It’s not just about vaccinated visitors, though. Araujo wants anyone who can prove they’re Covid-free, either by providing a negative test or proof they’ve got antibodies or had a vaccine, to be able to visit Portugal.

“The shift has to be from considering ‘dangerous’ countries to looking at people and the risk of people,” he says.

“It’s controlling the pandemic at the same time as allowing people to enter the country. It’s not just a country for those who are vaccinated.

“It’s important to consider that people, even from high risk countries, can enter if they have proof they’re not contaminated.”

Clearer Covid secure credentials

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

Araujo is keen to emphasize that Portugal is not in competition with other countries around Europe for vaccinated tourists.

Rather, that there needs to be cooperation across the European Union to provide standardized safety rules for starting travel up again safely.

“I think the competition is to build trust and get planes in the air,” he says. “It’s not a matter of discussing if we have five more tourists than Greece or 10 less than Spain.”

Operators, too, are making their Covid secure credentials clearer as international travel gets closer.

“We have a team dedicated to making sure that our accommodation, bike and taxi providers are compliant with all applicable Covid rules and have appropriate safety measures in place, such as enhanced room cleaning between stays and physical distancing,” says Simon Wrench from Inntravel, an operator that offers walking and cycling holidays in Cyprus, Spain and Slovenia.

Greece, meanwhile, is said to be prioritizing vaccines for residents of 40 small islands with populations of 1,000 or fewer, including Haiki, Kastellorizo and Meganisi, before vaccinating people on popular tourist islands such as Mykonos and Crete.

The aim is to vaccinate as many people working in the tourism industry as possible, making it safer for them and for visitors in the process.

“We believe that the latest announcement from the tourism minister regarding Greece welcoming British tourists from mid-May and the protocols required for travel to Greece will help build consumer confidence ahead of the summer season,” says Dimos Stasinopoulos, CEO of Epoque Collection, which has properties in Santorini and Athens.

“We will be introducing a number of safety measures at OMMA Santorini when it opens in May and will be offering flexible cancellation policies to put our guests’ minds at rest.

“The safety measures at OMMA Santorini include temperature checks, safety kits in each room, frequent cleaning protocols as per WHO standards and disinfected key cards.”

Israel’s green pass

Israelis receive a “green pass” after vaccination which can be used to grant access to venues and events.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Image

And it’s not just Brits that are being courted by tourist hotspots across southern Europe.

Israel has the most successful vaccine program in the world, with 4.8 million of its 9 million people fully vaccinated with two doses and 80% having had at least one jab.

“For such a small country, pretty much everyone travels by plane, so for them in particular it’s felt hard to be “locked in,” says Andrea Bertoli, Deputy CEO of lm group.

“In similar echoes to what’s been happening in the UK as the vaccine program accelerates, the talk [in Israel] has been about the skies opening.

“In fact, in Israel, it’s probably one of the main aspects of Covid-19 discussions since the infection rates started to go down.”

The country has penciled in travel agreements with Cyprus and Greece, but is planning to introduce strict rules amid concerns about the importation of more contagious variants of Covid-19.

Bertoli explains that travelers will need a so-called “green passport” proving they’ve been vaccinated, with no travel allowed until 10 days after a second dose.

Israel’s high levels of vaccination also mean it’s ripe to attract visitors looking for a Covid safe break.

“The success of Israel’s vaccination roll-out has given hope for the return of international tourism,” says Sharon E. Bershadsky, director of The Israel Government Tourist Office UK.

“It is allowing the industry to plan for the return of tourists in the not too distant future — making Israel not only an attractive destination, but a healthy destination.”

Bershadsky is optimistic that tourists can return “soon.” And with its vaccination program almost complete, it could mean the country enjoys a tourism boom while others play catchup.

Too early to book

Greece plan to open its borders to British travelers on May 1.

LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images

Despite tourism boards and operators making every effort to prove they can safely host visitors, the fact remains that leisure travel will not be possible for some weeks at least.

While this may change, booking right now is a major risk according to Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer website which.co.uk.

“Our advice is that it is too early to book,” he says. “You don’t know where you can go or when you can go and booking at the moment opens you up to financial risk.”

Boland also points out that stories about increased demand don’t tell the whole story.

“Some of the headlines you’ve seen of 500% increase in bookings are from very low original numbers,” he says

“Yes, there is a group of people, particular older people, who feel more confident about booking holidays abroad to countries that are making noises about allowing vaccinated people in. There are a lot of risks still attached to that.”

Boland highlights the fact that, as with the UK government’s much derided travel corridors policy in 2020, destinations could potentially end up on the “red list” while holidaymakers are on the beach or lying by the pool.

That could mean having to quarantine in a managed facility at their own cost, something which would not be covered by insurance.

Then there’s the added cost of Covid tests, which are likely to be required anywhere between three or five times on a trip depending on the destination. Currently a PCR test costs around £100 ($139), which soon adds up if you’re a family of four.

Green corridors

“We’re calling for travel companies to be up front,” adds Boland. “You can’t just keep promising flexibility will cover you in every eventuality, because it won’t, not right now.”

Although it may be too soon to book, vaccines appear to be the most certain way for travel to start up again safely.

“We are really optimistic that a green corridor agreement between individual countries if not a common green passport will be accepted across Europe and the UK,” says Andrea Bertoli.

“While it’s not quite a turbo-boost to tourism, it means we can certainly put the key in the ignition.”

Although a unified vaccine passport is unlikely to be agreed soon, there’s no denying those that can prove themselves to be immune to Covid are likely to power the travel industry for the rest of 2021 and well into 2022 as well.

The race for bookings is on.

The post How vaccinated travelers became hot property appeared first on TripALoud.

(CNN) — Renowned for its nourishing simplicity, Greek cuisine is considered among the finest and healthiest in the world. With an emphasis on baked rather than fried food, most traditional dishes avoid elaborate sauces, preferring the perfume of herb seasonings.

Indeed, one Greek island, Ikaria, has been under the microscope in recent years, as one in three of its 8,500-odd residents are over 90 years old. While there may be other lifestyle components involved, a typical Greek diet appears to be a major factor here.

Taramasalata (Ταραμοσαλάτα)

Taramasalata is made from cured fish roe.

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The worst tongue twister on a list of starters, this pungent dip consists of a starchy base of soaked breadcrumbs or potatoes with added lemon juice and olive oil.

One of its crucial ingredients is a peculiarly Greek delicacy — cured fish roe. As the authentic color is a rather off-putting gray-yellow, some cooks, and supermarkets, add pink coloring to make it appear more appetizing.

Gigantes (Φασόλια γίγαντες)

Gigantes is now a mezze standard.

Lis Parsons/ZUMA Press/Newscom

While dried haricot bean soup (fasolada) fed hungry Greeks during the German occupation in World War II, the dish is now somewhat looked down on.

Surprisingly though, its sister dish, a hearty plate of giant baked beans seasoned with cilantro, has made it to the typical mezze spread. You might also hear the “gigantes” further described as “plaki,” which denotes a dish that’s oven-baked in tomato sauce.

Choriatiki (Χωριάτικη)

Every Greek menu offers its version of this classic salad.

Image by Baklava from Pixabay

From the humblest taverna to the most sophisticated restaurant, every menu in Greece will offer a choice of “choriatiki” salad, or paesienne.

There may be regional or chef-specific variations on this classic, but the foundations are the same — sliced tomatoes, onions and cucumber, olives, feta cheese plus a dressing of olive oil and oregano. Order a bush-sized one at dinner time for a complete healthy meal.

Kotosoupa (Κοτόσουπα)

Kotosoupa preperation begins with boiling a whole chicken.

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This nutritious soup is renowned for its curative properties and looks deceptively easy to make.

The cooking process actually involves slowly boiling a whole chicken in a pot with vegetables and bonnet rice and then picking the meat off, discarding the skin and bones. But the fun really begins with the egg and lemon sauce, “avgolemono.”

At this point, you break a couple of yolks into a bowl and slowly pour some of the broth while whisking. Squeeze in some lemon juice and stir the bowl’s liquid carefully back into the pot — it won’t curdle if just simmering.

The result is a rich, silky smooth soup that marries fat, carbs and protein with vitamin C.

Pies (Πίτες)

Pastry treats for eating on the hoof, these are sold in every Greek bakery.

Anacleto Rapping/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Pies (or pitta) are a big deal in Greece. In fact, every bakery in Athens sells an assortment, both sweet and savory, for those pangs of hunger while on the trot. There’s tyropita (cheese pie), spanakopita (spinach pie), zambonopita (ham pie), kotopita (chicken pie), chortopita (pie with mountain greens) and combinations thereof.

Each is encased in puff pastry with two exceptions, tyropita kourou (made with flaky short crust) and, from the Sporades islands, strifti, a fried, spiral-shaped filo cheese pie.

Fava (Φάβα)

Fava is a Santorini favorite.

Steve Outram/Newscom

Hailed as a superfood by dieticians because of its high protein and negligible fat content, the unpretentious fava, a puree of yellow dried split beans, lies not a million tastebuds away from the English pease pudding. In Greece, it’s more closely associated with the island of Santorini, where it’s prepared with onions, olive oil and lemon juice.

Keftedes (Κεφτέδες)

Kids’ favorite: Keftedes meatballs.

Newscom

These bite-sized meatballs are a children’s perennial party favorite. Keftedes are prepared by mixing pork, veal or lamb mince and finely grated onion with dampened stale bread, scented with fresh mint and bound with egg yolk.

The mixture is left in the fridge to cool and firm up, before being rolled into balls, dusted with flour and fried in olive oil.

Soutzoukakia (Σουτζουκάκια)

Soutzoukakia are meatballs in a cumin-scented sauce.

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When Greeks from Turkey’s Aegean coast returned to the country after the Greco-Turkish War, they brought many of their own recipes with them. The ever-popular soutzoukakia, is one of the most noted. Indeed, you may often see the extra description “Smyrneika,” which is from Smyrna, in taverna menus.

Like keftedes, they’re meatballs. However, soutzoukakia are baked in a cumin-scented sauce rather than floured and fried. They’re almost always served with pilau rice, a reminder of their oriental provenance.

Moussaka (Μουσακάς)

Moussaka — just as good the next day.

David Cooper/Toronto Star/Getty Images

By far the best known Greek dish internationally, typifying the country’s cuisine, moussaka is also one of the most elaborate.

Here minced meat, slices of potatoes and eggplant are separately fried before being layered in a baking pan and topped with a béchamel sauce. Next comes a long, slow cooking in the oven. One of moussaka’s plus points, which makes up for its long preparation, is that it tastes as good lukewarm or reheated — perhaps a reason for its popularity.

Moschari kokkinisto (Μοσχάρι κοκκινιστό)

Moschari kokkinisto, or veal casserole in tomato sauce, is the most common stew across Greece. Veal, rather than beef, has traditionally been the country’s meat of choice. This is because of the lack of space for raising large animals in the confines of a walled town or castle.

Pep up the stew with pickling onions, rosemary sprigs plus red wine and you end up with stifado (Στιφάδο). Brought to Greece by the Venetians, it’s an unusually calorific course in a country of light meals.

Pastitsio (Παστίτσιο)

A lighter version of moussaka.

Foodfolio/Newscom

The only types of pasta that have been fully integrated in Greek cuisine are spaghetti, long macaroni (bucatini) and orzo (risoni).

Orzo is cooked together with meat in oven dishes, while spaghetti is almost exclusively eaten as a bolognese, flavor-enhanced by cinnamon and all spice. Pastitsio is a Greek invention, however. Here a base of boiled long macaroni with cooked minced meat is topped by a cheese sauce and given a quick final bake in the oven.

It may look like moussaka, but the air trapped along the macaroni renders it a fluffier, lighter meal.

Ladera (Λαδερά)

All vegetable dishes, of which there are plenty in Greek cuisine, come under the ladera heading, usually as stews: green beans, ladies fingers, eggplants, zucchini, artichokes, the lot.

Exemplary vegan pleasers, ladera used to be the staple food during Lent or on the day before major religious festivals, when the Orthodox faithful are supposed to abstain from meat.

Koulouria (Κουλούρια)

Koulouria originate from Greece’s Jewish community.

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You can pick up these rings of baked bread dough covered in sesame seeds from street vendor stands in every Greek city. Originating from Thessaloniki’s Jewish community, it’s essentially a southern version of the Central European pretzel.

While koulouria has served as the comfort food of Greek school children throughout the ages, they face competition from a multitude of manufactured munchies today.

Bougatsa (Μπουγάτσα)

This sweet treat hails from the city of Thessaloniki.

Bastian Parschau/Getty Images

Thessaloniki’s other great culinary contribution to Greek cuisine, bougatsa consists of filo pastry wrapped around a sweet semolina-based custard. Usually baked as a large pie and then freshly cut in smaller pieces, it’s served with icing sugar and cinnamon powder, zen perfect alongside a cup of coffee.

Spetzofai (Σπετζοφάϊ)

Greek sausages aren’t mass produced. In fact, each butcher’s shop manufactures its own, following the regional style.

Spetzofai, a local recipe from the Pelion peninsula in Thessaly, calls for a wintry stew of mountain sausage and sliced green peppers. But unlike most sausages in Greece, these are chorizo-style spicy, with the peppers adding an extra kick.

Galeos skordalia (Γαλέος σκορδαλιά)

Galeos, the school shark, is a common fish in Greek waters. With a similar taste to cod, it’s traditionally served on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation. Although the date always falls during the fast of Lent, the Annunciation is a joyous occasion, so the Orthodox church allows the consumption of fish.

This custom continues today, and you’ll notice an odor in the air if you happen to be in the country on that day. The fish fillets are boldly accompanied by “skordalia”, a strong smelling aioli made with olive oil and lots of crushed garlic on a base of potato, bran or breadcrumbs.

Souvlaki (Σουβλακι)

Souvlaki are sold as skewers straight from the grill.

Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket/Getty Images

Often confused with gyros, a type of kebab, Souvlaki is made up of skewered, grilled pieces of meat, typically chicken, lamb or pork and can be found throughout the Balkans and the Middle East.

The fast food of previous generations and the sustenance of travelers, they’re sold as skewers straight from the grill or wrapped in pitta bread with salad and a sauce, usually tzatziki.

Tzatziki (Τζατζίκι)

Another Greek appetizer classic, tzatziki is a refreshing mixture of cool yoghurt, crunchy cucumber, garlic, olive oil and fresh, aromatic mint.

For traditionalists this is the only proper accompaniment to souvlaki — and they have a compelling case. The grilled meat cuts can be heavy on the stomach, and the ingredients in tzatziki aid digestion.

Kleftiko (Κλέφτικο)

Kleftiko is cooked in parchment paper, allowing meat to be steamed in its own juices.

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This dish of slowly cooked roast lamb with herbs wrapped in baking parchment paper stems from an era when the village bakery was also in charge of the communal oven.

Households would bring in their own parceled joint on Sunday mornings for baking and pick it up at lunch time.

Although the advent of fitted kitchens has made this scenario obsolete, the recipe is still popular. The parchment paper allows the meat to be steamed in its own juices, perfumed by the added herbs.

Melomakarona (Μελομακάρονα)

Nothing says Christmas in Greece quite like juicy, sweet melomakarona.

Alexia Angelopoulou/picture alliance/Getty Images

For Greeks, the sight of melomakarona — egg-shaped, honey-soaked cookies specked by chopped walnuts — screams “Christmas” as loudly as a decorated tree. Indeed, it’s considered bad luck if a household doesn’t bake a few dozen during the weeks leading to the Nativity.

Visit any friends in Greece during this period and you’ll be offered the house melomakarona. Try one, praise the cook for their crumbliness and you’ll for sure be invited next year, as well.

Gemista (Γεμιστά)

Gemista are delicious served hot or cold.

Paul Cowan/Newscom

The thick skin of beef tomatoes, zucchini and bell peppers makes them easy to hollow out, so Greeks stuff them and bake them in the oven. This stuffing is normally a mixture of cooked rice, onions, aromatic herbs and the excised vegetable flesh itself.

They’re delicious served hot or cold, a bonus in a warm weather country, where leftover food must go straight to the fridge.

Dolmadakia (Ντολμαδάκια)

Dolmadakia are typically fille with minced meat and served with a hot sauce.

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Stuffed vine leaves are a common sight from Syria to Sarajevo — indeed the word “dolma” is Turkish, meaning “stuffed” — but it’s mostly Greek restaurants that have introduced them to the rest of the world.

Unlike gemista though, the usual filling here is minced meat and they’re served hot with avgolemono sauce.

Dolmadakia can, occasionally, be served cold as “yalantzi” — a Turkish word for a liar and a conman — when filled with rice instead. This is the only option during meat-abstaining Lent.

Loukoumades (Λουκουμάδες)

Loukomades are best eaten hot from the pan.

Gordon Chibroski/Portland Press Herald/Getty Images

You can smell the caramel-style aroma of these so-called “Greek donuts” — fried dough balls richly bathed in honey and seasoned with cinnamon powder — whenever you pass any large bakery.

Connoisseurs eat them hot from the pan, so settle for nothing less and buy from places where they are cooked on the spot.

Spoon sweets (Γλυκά κουταλιού)

Spoon sweets are best enjoyed in small doses.

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The vast quantity of fruit produced in Greece proved overwhelming in olden times, when trade was slow or nonexistent. As a result, spoon sweets, such as Western European jams, became the Greek way of preserving fruit.

This is one of the occasions when pure sugar rather than honey is used in traditional Greek recipes. It’s added in such large quantities, that most people can only bear a gloopy spoonful. Try them with yoghurt to temper the sugar rush.

The post Best Greek food: 24 of the tastiest selections appeared first on TripALoud.

(CNN) — Greece has lifted quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers and those testing negative for Covid-19 from key tourism markets, including Europe, the UK and the United States, in what officials called “baby steps” on the road back to normality.

But while qualifying visitors will be able to check into hotels to enjoy Greek sunshine and beaches, they’ll be subject to the same restrictions as locals, meaning restaurants and bars will remain off limits, except for takeaways.

The move marks the first time the country has been open to American visitors since March 2020 when Greece entered its first lockdown at the onset of the pandemic.

It also makes Greece one of the first major European destinations to reopen to tourists ahead of the summer season — a development that could see it steal a significant chunk of holiday traffic away from rival hotspots.

Under the new rules, arrivals from the EU, UK, United States, Israel, Serbia and the UAE who have been vaccinated or have a negative PCR test up to 72 hours prior to arrival can enter.

Officials said targeted rapid checks will be carried out at entry points and quarantine hotels are ready to accommodate those who test positive during this process. Safety protocols including wearing masks and social distancing will remain in place.

Greece’s Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis told CNN that the country “is taking these baby steps, the start of a gradual opening process that will lead to a full opening of tourism in Greece on May 14. During the weeks ahead we will be making adjustments.”

‘Slow start’

The party island of Mykonos, pictured here in May 2020, took in less than a third of its usual tourism revenue last year.

ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

In addition to Athens and the east coast city of Thessaloniki, direct international flights are now allowed in some of Greece’s most popular vacation destinations in Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu.

The tourism sector accounts for more than 20% of the country’s GDP and an estimated 25% of the Greek workforce — more than a million jobs.

With its economy so dependent on the sector, and only gradually recovering from a near decade-long financial crisis, Athens has been vigorously campaigning for the introduction of vaccine passports to encourage EU-wide travel. It has also been in talks with non-EU countries to try to establish travel corridors.

Israeli visitors testing negative or with vaccination certificates have been exempt from a one-week quarantine since early April, but officials say other ongoing restrictions plus a recent surge in Greek cases has discouraged all but a few.

Monday’s opening-up announcement was welcomed on the popular party island of Mykonos. Mayor Konstantinos Koukas has said revenues in the Covid-hit 2020 season were just 30% of the previous year.

Iraklis Zissimopoulos, CEO of the Semeli Hospitality Group, which includes hotels, bars and restaurants on the island, described the lifting of the quarantine restrictions as a symbolic move.

“It sends the message that Greece is sticking to its promise to fully open in May and as such it is welcome,” he said. “We know it is going to be a slow start.”

‘Protective shield’

Even with Greece’s vaccination program progressing at a modest pace — currently under 10% of the population have received one dose — more restrictions are expected to be lifted in the weeks leading to May 14.

As of next month, once the most vulnerable groups have been vaccinated, those working in tourism are expected to be next.

But dozens of Greece’s smaller islands, with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, are now Covid-free with the entire population having received both jabs. The vaccination program is now expanding to bigger islands.

It’s hoped that securing the islands will allow Greece to offer specific Covid-free zones.

“If all the locals are vaccinated in Mykonos, an island of about 10,000 then we will have a protective shield,” says Zissimopoulos, who is also a cardiologist.

What is certain is that the appetite for travel is there.

Earlier this month an experiment devised by travel industry experts saw nearly 200 Dutch participants fly to the island of Rhodes, trading lockdown back home for a week of voluntary confinement in a beach resort.

They were not allowed to leave the resort during their stay and agreed to quarantine for up to 10 days upon returning home.

The “safe holidays” test run attracted applications from more than 25,000 people in under 24 hours, according to Martine Langerak, spokesperson for the tour operator Sunweb, which organized the trip under the auspices of the Dutch government.

Special moments

Roxane Seewoester: “We hope they will be able to come and celebrate their special moment with their loved ones.”

Design Farm Productions

“We were surprised by the demand. It shows how much people want to go on holiday,” Langerak told CNN.

Despite Greece’s resolve to open its borders, some countries like the UK still have restrictions in place preventing international travel, and Greece’s recent rise in infections mean quarantine rules may apply to holidaymakers when they head home.

Travel industry experts in Greece agree that it will be a slow start with bookings starting to only pick up toward July. This means hundreds of thousands who work in tourism and related industries will have to wait to find out if, and when, they have a job this summer.

Roxane Seewoester, a 25-year-old wedding planner at Golden Apple Weddings in Rhodes, a destination that normally receives over two million tourists annually, says the majority of tourist weddings were canceled last year.

This summer they are again gradually being pushed back.

“We work a lot with people from the United States and Australia,” she says. “It’s a long way to travel. People need months to plan. We hope they will be able to come and celebrate their special moment with their loved ones and that we will all be able to get on with our lives.”

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(CNN) — Teenage models Lydia-Angel Beach and Charlotte Claussen are seated on Monastiraki Square drinking in the warm Athens sunshine, having just sated their post-casting hunger with a juicy takeout souvlaki from classic kebab joint Thanasis.

London-born Beach, 18, who grew up in Ibiza, and her colleague Claussen, 19, from Hamburg, flew in a few days ago, after Greece’s decision to lift a quarantine requirement for vaccinated travelers and those testing negative for Covid-19 from key tourism markets.

“It’s model season, so we’re here for work but also combining it with a vacation,” says Beach. “The weather is amazing, the people are really welcoming and the food is really good. Everyone speaks English, so it’s easy to get around.”

There aren’t many other tourists currently enjoying what would be the start of peak season in Athens, but there soon could be.

As of April 19, residents of the European Union, the United States, the UK, Israel, Serbia and the UAE who have been inoculated or present a negative PCR test up to 72 hours prior to arrival are free to enter Greece and must abide by domestic restrictions on movement.

The country has promised to open to all other countries on the same terms, as of May 15.

The move has so far been unmatched by any other major tourist destination in Europe — where new waves of Covid-19 are currently prompting heavy lockdowns. And even for Greece they represent a bold step at a time when restrictions for locals are still in place.

A tiny minority in Greece, including some opposition politicians, see it as an unnecessary gamble, risking a further rise in Covid cases, which reached a new peak earlier in April. It comes at a time when healthcare services are already stretched.

But in a country where 20% of national income depends on cash from visitors and the effects of a decade-long financial crisis are still being felt, most people see it as a vital step out of a financial hole, insisting that vaccines and testing will help weather any virus resurgence.

A good place to travel

Greece is opening up to vaccinated or negative-testing tourists.

Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

For the first visitors, the easing of restrictions in Greece is already proving a welcome contrast to tighter controls at home.

“In Germany, Covid-19 restrictions are much stricter,” says Claussen. “Things are much more relaxed here. It’s a good place to travel to right now and Greece really needs tourists,” she says.

She and Beach are thrilled to learn that restaurants and bars, which have remained closed for much of the past year but can provide delivery and takeout, are due to open for outdoor dining on May 3.

“It will be nice to be able to go out for a cold beer after working a 12-hour day,” says Claussen.

For Greek citizens, the official messaging around the country’s opening up is mixed. While the government has taken to the international stage to throw doors open wide and tantalize visitors with the prospect of warm Mediterranean sunshine, locals are still subject to restrictions.

Greeks remain in lockdown and are required to send an SMS or carry a handwritten note in order to leave their homes to visit a doctor, assist someone in need, shop at the supermarket or get some exercise, among other restricted activities.

For now, they can only move between municipalities within their prefecture on weekends. Masks remain mandatory indoors and out.

On Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced measures, including a strict ban on domestic travel around the May 2 Orthodox Easter, the country’s most important holiday, for a second consecutive year to minimize virus transmission.

There is some light at the tunnel’s end. Greece’s vaccination program is speeding up, with appointments for those in their 30s opening up next week. Rates of transmission, intubation and death appear to be decreasing slightly, and Greece’s Covid toll of 329,134 cases and 9,864 deaths is relatively low.

Earlier this month, store owners breathed a sigh of relief after being permitted to welcome customers with an in-store appointment or picking up items ordered in advance. Schools are in the process of reopening with the aid of self-testing kits for teachers and students.

‘Everyone is tired’

Greece opened up to visitors in 2020, but tourism revenues were drastically down.

LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images

Dr. Theoklis Zaoutis, professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a member of the Greek government’s Covid-19 advisory committee, tells CNN that the decision to open is essential to restoring national morale.

He says officials are willing to slam on the brakes if Covid cases start to get out of hand.

“We want to give [the Greek] people a ray of hope, given that everyone is tired,” he tells CNN. “If the numbers get better or worse, we have an opportunity to change the road map,” he says.

“We have two tools now that we didn’t have last year, namely vaccines and self-testing kits. Twenty-five percent of the population has received at least one vaccine dose. The goal is to increase vaccination across all age spectrums.”

Despite the government’s move to warm up the tourism engines — following a disastrous 2020 that saw arrivals Greece-wide plummet from a record 31.3 million in 2019 to 7.4 million last year — by gradually phasing in arrivals, it appears that travelers are hesitant, for now.

Most of the smaller hotels dotted around Athens remain shuttered, with many expected to open on or after June 1 in line with their counterparts on the rest of the mainland and the islands.

Boutique property 18 Micon Str., a short walk from Monastiraki Square, gingerly opened its doors to guests in mid-March. Occupancy for the month of April is at a mere 10% and exclusively Greek, whereas in 2019 it was at 89%, says Frini Spanaki, director of the company that owns the hotel.

She is cautiously optimistic about the reopening of tourism.

“We have bookings mostly from mid-May onwards, the majority from the UK, US, Israel, France, Denmark and Belgium, with 99% of them on a flexible basis,” says Spanaki, who points out that flight schedules have not yet been stabilized.

‘Needle in a haystack’

Most Greeks support the country’s reopening.

ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, the government has said tourism industry workers will be given vaccination priority in coming weeks.

“I believe Athens is a safe destination,” adds Spanaki. “Safeguarding the health and safety of visitors has now become ingrained in the culture of all sectors. Therefore, there is no reason anyone should hesitate to book a holiday in Athens or on the islands.”

On a recent spring morning along the pedestrianized streets around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Acropolis in Athens, the tourists were conspicuous by their absence.

At the entrance to the Acropolis, a trio of tour guides, their state-issued permits slung around their necks, could be seen idling on a bench in the shade.

“If you’re interested in a tour, let us know,” one of them calls out to a group of young Greeks passing by the ticket office. There is no one waiting to purchase a ticket, let alone the usual long queues.

Asked if they’ve seen any tourists around, one responds: “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

On Parthenonos, a side street in the shadow of the Acropolis, where elegant interior design stores and jewelry studios, like The Art of Turtle, are fast replacing tourist shops trading in tacky plaster cast statues of Greek gods, owner Katerina Rodopoulou isn’t holding her breath for a quick upturn in fortunes.

Rodopoulou, who crafts delicate silver earrings and necklaces by hand, has yet to receive a customer from abroad since reopening two weeks ago. She believes the country should focus on restarting the wider economy, and not simply wait on tourist arrivals.

“It’s a somewhat strange situation, in terms of how visitors will come here without being quarantined and what will happen here with vaccination. It all seems very unclear,” Rodopoulou says.

“I don’t expect that visitors will start flooding in on May 15. I think people might even be slightly more reluctant to travel this year because Greece hasn’t demonstrated it is effectively handling the pandemic.”

Island escapes

While it remains to be seen whether Greece’s mass-market visitors will be cautious, there are signs that upscale travelers are already showing interest.

Greece is particularly keen on attracting Americans who were unable to travel to the country last year, not least because it aligns with the Tourism Ministry’s efforts to attract travelers with a higher spend.

Mina Agnos, founder and president of inbound destination management company Travelive, says holiday bookings for Greece from her clients, 70% of whom are North American, are coming in thick and fast.

“We’ve had a lot of early bookings, especially for August and September. I think September will be peak season this year,” she says.

“There has been a shift this week after the announcement that Greece is reopening. It looks like we’ll have a good amount of travelers coming from the US this year, particularly since they couldn’t visit last year.”

Agnos points out that, so far, demand for vacations on the islands has far outweighed that for Athens.

“What I’m seeing is a focus on longer stays on the islands. You have the work-from-homers who want to stay for longer periods of time, even for a month,” she says.

“You used to see people, especially Americans and Canadians, wanting to do a lot of things in a short period of time, whereas now they take direct flights from European countries to the islands. They might stay on Paros for a couple of weeks and do some day or overnight trips to nearby islands like Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini and Milos.”

Agnos also reports a very substantial increase in yacht charters, especially catamarans and sailboats, which she describes as “the ultimate social distancing vacation,” as well as multi-generational holiday bookings.

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Mykonos, Greece (CNN) — In Greece’s best-known party island, white houses, blue shutters and scarlet bougainvillea all glimmer in the sun.

Two weeks after the country’s official tourist season was declared open, everything is silent except for the work of bringing the place back to life.

In the main town’s maze-like alleyways, where during the busy summer months social distancing is easier said than done, work crews paint luxury shops. If all goes well, they will soon again be the backdrop of thousands of Instagram photos.

At beach bars across the island, the speakers that normally pump out basslines and beats are silent, the only sound coming from the sea. Music still isn’t allowed in venues despite the easing of restrictions to allow use of outdoor areas.

Clubs remain shut, hoping to soon reopen as Operation Blue Freedom picks up pace. This is the name of the Greek government’s plan to declare 80 islands — including most of the country’s top tourism destinations — Covid-safe by the end of June.

The key is an aggressive vaccination campaign to jab every island resident. Visitors are only to be allowed to come if they’ve been vaccinated, recovered from infection, or have a negative PCR test.

At the Mykonos Health Center, vaccination appointments are fully booked, with over half of the island’s population having received at least one shot.

Real estate agent Jerry Markantonatos has just received his jab. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since the first day that the virus started spreading,” he tells CNN.

“Honestly, I feel very lucky because I’m in the tourist business, I have a family, parents. So for me it’s a big relief that as everybody that will visit Mykonos and Greece has to prove they are negative and we are also vaccinated we can ensure protection. Definitely Mykonos will be a Covid-free island this summer.”

Trickle of tourists

Mykonos is famous for its nightlife.

Mykonos Municipality

Greece’s post-Covid economic recovery plans are driven by tourism. The industry accounts for 18% of the Greek economy and one in five jobs. It’s the same industry that helped Athens out of a 10-year financial crisis that ended just before Covid hit.

Last year, the country received less than a third of tourists compared to 2019, when over 31 million visited, according to the UNWTO, the UN’s tourism body.

“Mykoneans were shocked to see their island with only a trickle of the tourists they are accustomed to,” says mayor Konstantinos Koukas. “But this year all indications show arrivals could double those of 2020.”

With the country’s government keen to roll out the welcome mat, Athens has been taking steps that exceed those of other major tourist-dependent Mediterranean nations.

In early April, while under lockdown and seeing a surge in cases, Greece opened pathways for leisure travelers from select countries that had made rapid progress in vaccinating their populations.

Visitors are already starting to trickle back to the party island.

Elinda Labropoulou/CNN

On April 19 it became the second EU country, after Croatia, to permit Americans to arrive without quarantine. The move marked the first time the country has been open to American visitors since March 2020 when Greece entered its first lockdown at the onset of the pandemic.

With US visitors being Greece’s biggest spenders, Athens is banking on a summer surge in American travelers fueled by an increase in US airlines direct flights between the two countries. The US ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, recently praised this summer’s “record number of nine daily direct flights by US airlines to Greece.”

With dozens of already fully vaccinated islands and long stretches of virgin coastline, Greece promises space and choice.

Things are more complicated in Mykonos, where unlike many other idyllic destinations, the island’s brand and revenue are shaped around nightlife, described by a local club owner as a “tough nut to crack” in Covid-era logistics.

Magic recipe

Venue owners on Mykonos hope the Covid vaccine will be the “magic recipe” to reviving nightlife.

Mykonos Municipality

Although the US State Department recently added Greece to its long list of countries with the designation “Level 4: Do Not Travel,” the promise of a Covid-free Mykonos has generated increased interest from global travelers — particularly from the United States, says Iraklis Zisimopoulos, CEO of the Semeli Hospitality Group, which includes hotels, bars and restaurants on the island.

“We receive a lot of questions, though not all translate to bookings yet,” he says. “The two main questions are if we are all vaccinated and whether guests can really party in the island like they used to.

“We tell them that we expect that by the 1st of July things will be very close to how they used to be before Covid.”

Zisimopoulos describes the vaccine as “the magic recipe to nightlife resuming.”

Reopening plans globally remain fluid, regardless of how welcoming a country’s policies. New variants are a constant worry. A number of countries continue to ban their citizens from traveling abroad. Travelers may be forced to quarantine after returning home.

In Mykonos, this summer’s first mega-yachts have started arriving. At the trendy Alemagou Beach Bar and Restaurant, champagne is already flowing and a German bachelorette party is underway. Following many months in lockdowns, a guest from Hamburg in a flowery dress says she and her childhood friends are “living the dream,” finally reunited.

“Last year the regulations were there… but we didn’t have the vaccinations,” says Alemagou co-owner Vangelis Siafidas. “This year we were among the first ones to open. We wanted to show people that they can have a good time and a safe time. This is what makes people book tickets.”

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(CNN) — What awaits American visitors to Europe this summer is a byzantine and constantly-changing array of Covid-related restrictions and registration requirements. It’s sort of like shifting mask mandates in the US, just with lots of paperwork and foreign languages thrown in. This is what I discovered on my Kafkaesque odyssey to Greece in June as an eager but under-prepared American.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. But first, here are all the mistakes my husband and I made on our six-day trip to Europe (about all we could swing with two toddlers at home), so that you don’t make the same ones.

When we arrived at a mostly empty Newark airport on a Sunday night, the Lufthansa check-in agent told us we would not, even as fully vaccinated travelers, be allowed out of the airport into Germany if we missed our connecting flight from Munich to Crete. It turned out, though, that there was also a question of whether we would be let into Greece.

Earlier in the week, when my husband had asked me if there were any paperwork requirements for entry into Greece, I said no. But in my hasty trip planning, I had neglected to read two emails carefully enough to know that everyone entering Greece needs a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) and the QR code issued upon its completion.

Tourists are expected to return this summer in greater numbers to Greece, visiting the old town in Mykonos and other popular spots.

Loulou D’Aki/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The form had to be submitted by 11:59 p.m. local time the day before we were scheduled to arrive in Greece, which meant we had to select the following day, Tuesday, as our earliest possible arrival date even though we had tickets to arrive in Heraklion on Monday.

With that cloud of uncertainty hanging over us, we boarded our Lufthansa flight — an altogether very pleasant and almost pre-pandemic-like experience, save for the masks and a little less hands-on service — to Munich and crossed our fingers that it would all work out.

This is probably a good place to mention that Covid travel, particularly of the international variety, is not for the faint of heart. No matter how much research you’ve done, not everything will be effortless and smooth. This is the new normal of crossing borders in our not yet post-pandemic world.

We visited after Greece opened up to Americans but before the United States was added on June 18 to the European Union’s list of approved countries, opening up more options for both vaccinated and unvaccinated US travelers. However, each country has the final say on its own rules and restrictions, so going anywhere in Europe still requires a lot of detailed research. And growing concern about the Delta variant is prompting new restrictions in some countries.

Mixed messaging as the travel industry irons out the rules

When we arrived in Munich, the possibility of not being let into Greece became quite real. A help line customer service agent in Greece told me that we wouldn’t be allowed in because we didn’t have a QR code for that day. Another plot twist: Bavaria, the region of Germany where Munich is located, requires KN-95 masks, which we didn’t own.

That was probably the low point: finding out we had to purchase less comfortable masks after a red eye while not knowing if we’d be able to leave the airport until the next day. We spent several nail-biting hours working the phones and stressing over whether we would reach the azure waters that lured us.

The island of Crete is full of spectacular Mediterranean scenes, including the secluded Seitan Limania Beach.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images

After the blessed gate agent at TUI had some back-and-forth with employees on the ground in Crete, they assured us we would be let in. (We also subsequently learned that the consequences of arriving sans QR code are not being sent back but submitting to a Covid test at the airport.)

The hotel, and accompanying hospitality, made the high-drama journey a distant memory. We made it just in time for magic hour — that time of day when the sun sets over the Aegean and you drink a perfectly tart glass of rose and eat a Greek salad with tomatoes that are their own kind of life force.

Crete, where the economy is predominately reliant on the tourism industry, is checking all the boxes to make visitors feel safe.

“The Covid regulations here are strict,” said Agapi Sbokou, CEO of Phaea Resorts, which owns five hotels in Crete, including Blue Palace. There is so much that happens behind the scenes, Sbokou told me over lunch at Blue Palace. “For instance, glass has to be washed at a certain temperature,” she said.

Masks are mandatory for employees at all times, even outside, and the compliance was uniform and unstinting. If the resort staff was disgruntled about having to wear a face covering in temperatures that frequently drifted above 90 degrees, they didn’t show it.

Stavros Beach in Crete is preparing to welcome more international visitors this summer.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Images

High levels of Covid compliance

The big picture in Greece is that even if there were some glitches getting in, once you’re on the ground the warm and welcoming spirit is, perhaps, stronger than ever. The country, heavily reliant on foreign visitors, seems really happy to see people, particularly Americans.

Remember, Greece was one of the first European countries to open up to American tourists and there is a real sense that the Greeks are committed to making this season feel as “normal” as possible while observing Covid protocols.

And travel is picking up, albeit slowly. Sbokou said the hotel was at 50% occupancy. On our packed flight to Mykonos a few days later, it seemed to be at least a quarter American.

But that doesn’t mean getting around Greece is always easy. Our planned four-hour ferry trip from Crete to Mykonos was abruptly canceled less than 24 hours before our voyage due to a transit workers strike. In a strange way, it was reassuring to find out that things can go sideways for reasons other than the global pandemic. We ended up on two SkyExpress flights — motto: “Greece is Bliss.” And yes, even at this juncture of our journey, I nodded in agreement with their tagline.

In family-friendly Crete, Covid consciousness and compliance was in full effect: Over the six days and six flights of our trip, the trip to Mykonos from Athens was the first — and only — time I heard a flight attendant tell a passenger to pull her mask over her nose and mouth. Everyone else seemed to be fully compliant.

Luxury resort Kalesma Mykonos just opened in May.

Courtesy Kalesma Mykonos

But what about on one of the Mediterranean’s most famous party islands — Mykonos — known as a bastion of hedonism? I was curious to find out if its vibe could coexist with our not-yet-Covid-free world.

Still, in early June, Kalesma’s buzzy and delicious new restaurant, Pere Ubu, was hopping. Patrons dined on braised lamb and seafood dishes while abiding by the rule of not having more than six people at a table, even outside.

Mykonos is hoping for a better tourism season this summer.

Byron Smith/Getty Images

Ramping up for tourism’s recovery

During the first weekend in June, the island was relatively quiet. Mykonos did not feel empty, nor did it have the full summertime kinetic energy; locals told me the island was at about 40% capacity.

When I asked someone at the hotel what time the stores were open until, I was told, “Not late, only until midnight.” In the summer, Mykonos’ shopping mecca usually doesn’t close until 5 a.m. to accommodate the over 200,000 visitors that regularly filled this rocky isle during pre-pandemic times.

The beach clubs, where front row sun beds can cost €200 to rent, were still largely empty. Scorpios, the famous Mykonos night club, opened on June 12 and has a reservation-only policy this season.

But those beaches will likely look much different in July and August. Since the EU recently cleared Americans to travel to Europe, it will ostensibly make it easier to travel more freely within the bloc. And on July 1, digital Covid certificates for citizens and residents of EU member states came into play for more countries, allowing more unrestricted travel for Europeans. (However, the Delta variant is likely to complicate travel this summer).

Tourists walk on the Balos beach and lagoon in Crete in May.

Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images

As guidelines constantly shift, tourism industry professionals are still learning the ropes themselves. I encountered hospitality professionals who didn’t know the difference between an antigen and PCR test. This is not the biggest deal, unless a traveler learns last-minute that the PCR test is required, which costs twice as much and takes much longer to get results, potentially impacting travel plans.

When we were leaving Crete, there was some confusion about whether we had to attest to having taken a self-administered Covid test, which we had not. No one ever asked for that form (also completed hastily with our vaccinated status in the pre-departure rush).

All of these foibles may be minor inconveniences and make for a good story, but taken altogether, the regulatory morass could be a drag on the economic recovery.

I once again asked myself the question, as I had many times during the pandemic in situations that involve assuming some degree of Covid risk: “Is all this hassle worth it?” Each time I have come back to what has become a kind of Covid mantra of mine: “No one said navigating a global pandemic was supposed to be easy.”

This trip wasn’t either easy or convenient, but it was worth it to feel, in person, the big, beautiful world out there. I’d do it all again (and soon). Next time, though, I’ll pay more attention to the fine print.

Top photo: Phalasarna Beach on the western coast of Crete. Photo by Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images. Hannah Seligson is a writer based in New York City.

The post An American in Greece: Travel to Europe is no easy feat this summer appeared first on TripALoud.

Yet so far, tourists seem to be keeping calm and carrying on, sitting out the heatwave by the pool instead of canceling their vacations.

Lucy Thackray, a visitor from London to Lefkada, one of the Ionian islands off the west coast of the Greek mainland, had put her sightseeing plans on hold “to stand in the pool with a frozen drink.”

It was 95 F when she arrived on Monday, she said — and after an hour’s “boiling” cab ride to her hotel, she didn’t much feel like moving from the pool.

“I’ve taken two boats to pretty beaches, but I’m not doing any sightseeing that isn’t water-adjacent,” she said.

“I wouldn’t go hiking or wander round the towns. It definitely feels too hot to do stuff — even in the evenings it’s sweaty-hot.”

A Greece old hand — she reckons she’s been around 25 times — she said she’s never experienced this level of heat.

By Thursday morning, it was pushing 99 degrees.

Another sign of climate change

Brandon Miller, supervising meteorologist for CNN Weather, said that a “heat dome” is currently parked over south-east Europe.

“Storm systems are traveling north of the ‘high pressure ridge’ and allowing the midsummer sun to bake the region, and allowing hot, dry air from the Sahara to travel north into the region,” he said, adding that the extreme weather is another sign of climate change.

“Greece is known for frequent heat waves and for fires. But climate change is also making these worse, as temperatures increase and droughts become more severe and frequent,” he said.

It’s not just Greece and Turkey (which has also been severely hit), says Miller, with “significant drought” and “particularly hot” temperatures across much of southern Europe, especially within the past two weeks.

‘Unbearable’ temperatures

Sirena Bergman, another Brit in the Ionian islands, arrived in Kefalonia last week from Spain. She expected roughly the same temperatures, she said — but was in for a nasty surprise.

“I haven’t noticed that anything’s closed because of the heat, but it’s definitely affected our behavior,” she said.

“Our accommodation is at the top of a very steep uphill walk and it’s basically unbearable to do until the sun goes down. Walking around is quite unpleasant if you’re going more than five minutes, unless you’re by a sea breeze.

“To be honest if you’re coming for a sunny holiday and you’re staying near a beach or somewhere with a pool it’s probably fine, but I do feel for locals who are having to travel and work in this heat.

“It feels extremely stifling which, while a novelty for us based in the UK, I would imagine is hell to try and do anything productive through.”

Shutdowns in Athens

Of course, sitting by the pool on an island is a different beast from going on a city break. JT Genter, a digital nomad from the US, had arrived in Greece with his wife before the CDC changed its guidance.

They visited the Acropolis on July 29 — only to find it was closed because of the heat.

“Athens felt hot and empty — it was over 100 degrees every day we were there and the crowds seemed muted,” he told CNN Travel.

“We went to the Acropolis at midday, bought our tickets online per the signage, and walked to the open gates, to be told that they were closed until 5 p.m.”

They returned at 6 p.m. — along with many others who’d had the same idea. His photos from the day show crowds walking up the (unshaded) steps together.

And yet, he says it was worth braving the heat to go, calling it “fascinating.”

Keep calm and carry on (in the shade)

So far, tour operators — for whom this is the latest disaster in an industry-ruining year — are proceeding as usual. Chris Wright, managing director of Sunvil, confirmed that all trips to Greece are going ahead as planned.

“Luckily none of the areas we operate in are currently affected, and temperatures are now subsiding to normal levels for the time of year,” he said.

“We have operated in Greece for over 45 years and are well versed in dealing with wildfires. Our representatives on the ground are providing recommendations locally on how to handle the heat.”

CNN’s Miller says that the next two weeks “look pretty hot and dry, though not as extreme as the past week or so.”

He doesn’t think postponing trips is necessary, though.

“Just pay close attention to local conditions, and take precautions for heat and sun exposure,” he says.

“Another thing to be on the lookout for is smoke, which can cause poor air quality.

“Fortunately most of the fires are fairly localized, so the smoke is not as widespread as we have seen in the western US, Canada, and Russia, where massive fires are contributing huge amounts of smoke carrying for thousands of kilometers.”

Visitors might also want to look to their fellow travelers for advice. Nicole Walsh, who has been vacationing in “unbelievably hot” temperatures of almost 106 degrees — at 4 p.m. — in Crete, says that the heat is manageable.

“If you’ve got air conditioning it’s not that bad, and it’s more bearable in the evenings and early mornings,” she said.

“You just have to adapt your day, stay out of the sun and spend a lot of time in the water.

“I’d only say postpone [your trip] if you don’t like the heat or are staying somewhere without air conditioning — but you’re unlikely to be coming at this time of year if you’re looking for a holiday away from the sun.”

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