It goes without saying that just because you can travel right now doesn’t necessarily mean you should. But we’re all adults with unique stories and circumstances, and the best person to make a wise and informed decision is you. So in the spirit of beer commercials everywhere: travel responsibly.
Let’s face it: 2020 was a tough year, and you probably thought 2021 would get off to a better start. But so far it’s brought more of the same. You’re tired, you’re weary. And you just wanna go somewhere!
But the pandemic has put many countries out of reach for foreigners. Border closures, testing procedures, and quarantine requirements change faster and more dramatically than the voice of a teenage boy entering puberty. So you’ve resigned yourself to that disappointing thought, “Maybe next year.”
However, there are countries welcoming foreigners — even with current travel restrictions. And if you’re willing to do a little research, you might find that your options are even greater than you think.
Recently we’ve been travel planning, and it’s been no small task to wrap our heads around all of the details. But there are a few websites we constantly return to for help.
So to support you in your travel planning in the midst of current travel restrictions, here are our Top 3 Resources to Understand Current Travel Restrictions.
1. The Points Guy (for a high level overview)
Many of you know TPG because of his expert content related to all things points and miles. (Believe me, I’ve consumed plenty of that!) However, if you’re looking for a high-level overview of current travel restrictions listed by country, there are three posts worth your review (all posts are updated regularly):
A. A Country-by-Country Guide to Coronavirus Recovery
As far as I can tell, just about every single country is covered in this guide, grouped by regions of the world. The beauty of this (and other TPG guides) is that you won’t be drowning in the details.
For each country, you’ll find the following info perfectly summarized in a few paragraphs:
- Is the country accepting Americans? Foreigners?
- Is a test required to enter?
- Are there mandatory quarantines?
- What restrictions to normal life might you experience once in the country?
If you want to do some basic research on current travel restrictions, without sifting through extreme levels of detail, this guide will be a great place to start.
B. Complete List of Where Americans Can Travel
If you’re an American citizen, you might just wanna cut to the chase: where the heck am I actually welcomed?!
If that describes you, start with this list of current travel restrictions for Americans. It includes all the great info contained in the country-by-country guide above, but is limited to only the countries that Americans are currently allowed to enter.
BONUS: Maybe you’re like us, and all you really care about is getting into Europe. Well, TPG has you covered there, too! Check out this post detailing where Americans can travel in Europe.
C. Where You Can Go Once You are Vaccinated: A Country-by-Country Guide
Finally on this list of helpful TPG resources is a post that’s just what the doctor ordered for a low-stress travel experience, without the threat of testing or quarantine: if you’ve been fully vaccinated. It’s a complete guide for the current travel restrictions for those with vaccines.
There are a handful of countries on this list that Americans are still not allowed to enter. But, it could be a great place to start your research (it’s the shortest of the three posts), or a helpful complement to your research after checking out TPGs other resources.
2. U.S. Embassy Websites (for more details about a specific country)
I was surprised to discover this, but it really is one of the best resources available for researching a specific destination. In fact, it’s nearly a one-stop shop for all things COVID-19 information — even if you are not a US citizen!
To find these resources, search “Entry Requirements [insert the name of the country you want to visit]” and scroll down until you find a result titled “COVID-19 Information | U.S. Embassy & Consulates” (this link is an example for France).
You’ll find an abundance of helpful info to aid you in your current travel restrictions research, including:
- A current overview of the country’s battle against COVID-19
- The availability of COVID-19 testing for non-citizens within the country, including costs
- The availability and type(s) of COVID-19 vaccines
- Entry requirements, such as:
- Can Americans enter?
- Who can enter?
- Is a negative test required to enter (and if so, which type)?
- Is a quarantine required?
- Can quarantine be bypassed by presenting a negative test result, vaccination, or proof of antibodies/recent recovery from COVID-19?
- What movement restrictions exist inside the country, such as curfews, closures, and intercity of interstate travel?
These embassy websites are great resources for individual countries; and you will find them helpful even if you are not a United States citizen.
3. Re-Open EU (for travel to or within Europe)
If you’re currently allowed to enter and travel within the EU, there’s no better resource than this. You can use this color-coded heat map to instantly see which countries are progressing in their recovery from the pandemic. But it goes way beyond this, providing comprehensive travel restriction details for every single country.
By clicking a country on the map (or selecting it from the drop-down menu), you’ll see conveniently displayed information on its health situation, coronavirus measures, current travel restrictions, and other info.
Since most of you are here because you’re researching current travel restrictions, this is what you’ll find in the travel section:
- Can I enter the country from an EU member state or Schengen country?
- Can I enter the country from outside of the EU or Schengen Area?
- Am I allowed to transit this country?
- May I enter the country by Car? Train? Plane? Boat?
- What restrictions exist in each of these scenarios?
You’ll also find links to documents and articles put out by the governing agencies of the country you are researching.
Many of you are still unable to enter Europe (sorry Americans!), but if you’re an EU citizen or resident (or you are eligible to enter for some other reason) Re-Open EU has everything you need. (I’m embarrassed to find out just how much time I’ve spent on this site!)
Are you planning to travel internationally any time soon? Where do you hope to visit, and what resources have helped you in understanding current restrictions in the destination you’re researching? Share with us in the comments below!