What Americans must know before visiting Europe this summer

According to the European Travel Commission, 37% of American travelers planned European holidays in 2025. I am one of them, leaving a cruise in the Mediterrane this summer with family friends to celebrate graduates of the high school of our adolescents. It’s been a minute that I did not go to Europe, and there are obviously a lot in the world these days. So I contacted some experts to discover what American families should know if they are going to Europe this summer.

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1. There is a new entry requirement for the United Kingdom.

All American travelers now need an electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. It is not difficult to do: you fill out an online form and pay costs of £ 16. But you have to do it before arrival. “It takes about three days for the application to be processed,” said Sally French, a travel expert at Nerdwallet and co-host of the Podcast Smart Travel. “This is what matters most about it.”

The new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIA) originally at the origin of the launch in 2025 was now delayed until 2026. Thus, even if you do not have to worry about this year, the Americans traveling in Europe from the last quarter of 2026 will have to request an ETIS authorization before the trip.

2. Your passport cannot be close to its expiration date.

It’s nothing new. But it’s something that continues to trip travelers. “Please check the expiration dates on your passports,” explains Melanie Fish, travel expert for Expedia Group. “There are several countries which will not even allow you to enter if your passport is within six months of expiration. Each year, I know someone who arrives at the airport and is repressed because their passport is always valid, but that will expire in a few months and that they cannot get on the plane.” Many European countries adhere to this policy.

3. Summer will always bring the crowd.

Because people tend to book international travel well in advance, all the economic concerns that have recently developed among American travelers will probably not have a significant impact on summer trips to Europe. “We always see a lot of demand,” explains French. “In 2024, we saw tourism in the EU exceed the 2023 record of around 2%. It is this growth continues, and we generally expect it to always be the case. ”

A decrease in trips to the United States by international visitors in reaction to recent measures by the Trump administration could also increase the crowd in Europe. “When people think in alternative places to spend their holidays that are not the United States, perhaps Western Europe rises above the list,” explains Sarah Kopit, editor-in-chief of the company news and market studies in the Skift travel industry.

If you try to check some buckets sites, expect crowds. But you can balance this by taking detours throughout your trip to less popular places. “Tourist attractions are called tourist attractions because they attract tourists, and they attract tourists because they are incredible,” explains Fish. “We want to go to Paris and see the sites.

Over-tourism costs could continue to appear to try to counter the crowds, but the collection and application of these costs can sometimes be confusing. “Internet is your friend here,” says Fish. “None of these over-tourism costs are prohibitive to make a trip to Europe, but these are costs that you need to be aware of. For this reason, I would study before leaving, because I do not want someone to tell me that there are not real costs. I want to know what is really required of me.”

4. It will probably be hot.

The last summers in Europe have been scorchers, and this summer will probably bring more of the same thing. “There is no reason to think that 2025 will not be hotter than 2024,” explains Kopit. “And Europe, unlike other countries that have been dealing with extreme heat for some time, has not had much of its infrastructure established with air conditioning than certain other places, including the United States.”

So, if AC is a must, check that all the hotels you reserve have it. And be intelligent to plan your visits. “Book the tickets in advance for these things you know that you will want to see and book them for the first thing in the morning or later in the evening to jump the heat,” explains Fish. “And do not exceed your day. If you do not build frequent gelato ruptures during your days to wander around Florence, you are wrong.”

5. A “plan B” could be more important than ever.

We have been bombed with new ones each day recently here in the United States, and many of these big titles already have or could have effects on international travel. “Being informed, more than ever, is very important at the moment,” said Tania Swasbrook, co -founder of the luxury travel company Vgari Lifestyle, a virtuoso agency. “Be active, not passive. Be active in finding information. Be active in protection and your family, not just “we are going. »»

She recommends having backup plans for everything, from your flights to your daily travel route. “Download as many applications as possible,” she says. “Have the application of the airline of the airline on which you travel, not only the one you have reserved for. You could have booked on American, but British Airways operates the flight. You must be aware – or have a travel advisor.”

6. If you are a considerate traveler, you should always get a warm welcome.

People living outside the United States can have opinions on the recent actions of the Trump administration. But that should not translate into the way Europeans consider American travelers at this stage. “I can say with confidence that my friends abroad do not confuse American tourists with everything they read in the news of the United States government,” explains Fish. “It is always true that the inhabitants are delighted to welcome respectful and curious visitors.”

Thus, the usual words of wisdom on international trips are still applying now. “Be respectful of the cultures of others,” says Kopit. “Know where you are going and what are the standards and be respectful when you are invited to someone else’s country.”

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