At American Holidays, the wellbeing and safety of our customers is our highest priority and while the world changes daily we aim to keep all our customers up to date with accurate travel information.

We take advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), supplemented with information from World Health Organisation (WHO), the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), as well as local knowledge from our robust team of Ground Operators.

The DFA and FCDO offer information on travel to all countries throughout the world, including personal safety, local laws and customs, important entry requirements and visa information as well as updates on natural disasters, political situations, public health alerts and what to do if something does go wrong.

All clients travelling on a package holiday must have travel insurance. We recommend purchasing a policy at the time of booking if you do not have an existing policy. If purchasing a new policy, we recommend you read a sample policy to understand its various restrictions can cover, such as age, before you purchase.

Before you depart

• Check you have all your valid documentation; passports, entry visas and booking documentation.
• Have appropriate travel insurance in place before travelling.
• If your holiday with us is affected by travel restrictions we will contact you to offer advice, the latest information and options available to move, change or cancel your booking.
• If you are on holiday and government advice changes we will contact you with the latest information
• Read up local laws and customs of the country you are visiting and understand how they differ from home, especially if you plan on driving while on holiday.
• Research vaccinations or any other medical requirements for your destination, and if necessary, visit a travel health clinic before you travel.
• Respect local laws, customs, and traditions.
• Tell your family or friends about your travel plans so they know where you are going and when. Ensure they have your contact details, you have theirs and stay in touch. Save the contact details of the local Consulate to your phone/devices in case of emergencies.

For the latest official local government travel advice visit:
• DFA – https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/
• FCDO – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Passports

When travelling to the USA, Canada, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean you must hold a “Machine Readable Passports” (MRP), this includes children and infants.

For all other travel, it is strongly recommend that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your expected return date.

Please see our Passport FAQ for more details on expiration and visa requirements.

From May 12th 2023 the United States have removed the requirement for international visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

All passengers entering to the United States must have the following documentation.

• Non US Citizens are required to have valid entry visa’s in place prior to travel – ESTA and Visa Requirements
• You’ll be required to provide your contact information to your airline. This will be done during the check-in process

Electronic System for Travel Authorisation ESTA

No testing is required to return to the Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland or the United Kingdom. There is no longer a requirement to fill in a passenger locator form.

All eligible travellers seeking to enter to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) for under 90 days must hold a valid visa 72 hours before you travel. The ESTA is now subject to enhanced security requirements and some countries you may have previously visited may also affect you receiving an ESTA.

We strongly recommend you apply for your ESTA at the time of booking your holiday.

Further details, the application form and fee can be found here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Electronic Travel Authorization

Since March 2016 Canada introduced an entry requirement for visa exempt foreign nationals. This requirement is applicable to all Irish and British passport holders entering Canada by land, air or sea.

Applying for an Eta is a simple process and just takes a few minutes. You will need your passport, a credit card (Visa or Mastercard), and an email address. The cost is $7 Canadian Dollars. It will be valid for up to 5 years.

We strongly recommend you apply for your ETA at the time of booking your holiday.

For more information, please click the following link http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/

To apply for an Eta please click the following link http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-start.asp

Travel to Mexico/The Caribbean

Please contact your Personal Travel Planner for more details on any requirements for your trip.

Rest Assured

Our Personal Travel Planners will call you around 14 days before your holiday to discuss the most up to date requirements specific to your holiday destination. In addition, this information will be clearly highlighted on your departure documents stating the time in which a test may/must be conducted before you travel and any requirements for children as well as adults. You will also receive a pre-departure email with a checklist and reminder.

We have introduced several ways to give you added flexibility, protection and peace of mind so you can travel with confidence with us.