Travel Updates for Spring & Summer 2024 Updates on the latest events that might impact our tours around the world.

michaelangelo's la pietà statue at st peter's basilica

Restoration Works at St. Peter’s Basilica

Michelangelo’s Pietà and the Baldocchino are undergoing restoration and preservation works

In preparation for next year's Jubilee, St. Peter’s Basilica has announced the restoration work on the famous Michelangelo's Pietà and the Baldacchino. The restoration began on May 27th and will continue until the end of September. During the entire duration of the restoration, the Pieta of Saint Peter will not be visible to the public. The Baldacchino will be surrounded by scaffolding, may be taken apart or covered in some areas, and will likely not be visible during this restoration. 


Our Client Experience team has reached out to all clients that are impacted by this situation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@contexttravel.com.

Carrying Identification While on Tour

Be prepared for ID checks, especially at major venues

Context's Client Experience team frequently receives the question, "Do I need to bring my passport with me on tour?" If you are travelling to Europe, the simple answer is yes. Police and other security personnel can carry out security and identification checks at their discretion. We highly recommend that you always carry a copy of your passport while on tour. 

While it's unlikely that you'll be asked for ID while exploring a neighbourhood or casually walking down the street, there are specific situations where you may need to present legal identification. This includes entering major venues, cultural heritage sites, or areas near highly guarded buildings. Venues such as the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Last Supper Museum in Italy all require proof of legal ID. In Paris, where the Olympics and Paralympics are taking place in July and August, venues such as Sainte Chapelle, the Louvre, and Versailles may also require legal ID to enter.  

The safety of our clients and experts is Context's highest priority. As such, we abide by all local laws and venue requirements to deliver our tours and cannot provide refunds or credits if a client is denied entry to a venue due to a lack of proper ID. Your confirmation email will indicate whether a valid ID is required for the tour. Please reach out to us at info@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming tour.
two hands holding american passports with a European plaza in the background
Image of Sagrada Familia from the front looking upwards

Sagrada Familia Ticket Shortages

Sagrada Familia tickets are particularly difficult to secure this season

Once a tour is purchased by a client, our fulfillment teams work right away to secure tickets. In some cases, as with the Sagrada Familia, tickets are not released for a certain month until a specific date in advance. This 2024 season, due to incredibly high demand, some time slots are sold out within seconds of becoming available.

Our team is working as hard as possible to ensure every tour is fulfilled. If your tour is impacted by limited ticket availability our Client Experience team will be in touch as soon as possible to offer different options or solutions, such as a reschedule to a new date or an alternative tour in its place.

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this difficult situation with this venue. Please reach out to us at info@contexttravel.com if you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming tour.

Olympic Preparations in Paris

Rolling Disruptions Expected

Context is expecting that there will be rolling disruptions related to road closures, venue closures, construction and safety testing in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. We are actively monitoring the situation, but given the nature of the testing carried out by the Police and the Olympic Committee, the situation is constantly evolving. Advance notice may not always be provided, and some tours may be impacted on the ground. Context's Client Experience team will always contact clients ahead of time with alternative options when and where possible. 

It is very important that you always carry a copy of your passport or legal ID with you while travelling and touring in France. The security protocols for the Olympics may include randomized ID checks in areas near sporting events and cultural heritage sites. 

Paris as a city will be a living venue with many events taking place outdoors along the Seine, in everyday neighborhoods, and at Versailles. Context is proud to see one of our iconic destinations celebrated in this way and supportive of the Olympic Committee's goal to connect the city's unique geography and history to the games. We also acknowledge that this poses new challenges to our operations and are working diligently to foresee impacts before they arise. 

Please email info@contexttravel.com or write to our chat if you have any questions or concerns. 
view of the Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background