By Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse
The doors are gradually reopening for Americans in terms of the international destinations they can travel to amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While a majority of the world's countries remain closed to U.S. travelers, some of the planet's most coveted settings have given the green light just in time for shoulder season. Here are some of the most coveted places that Americans can visit right now.
Aruba is requiring visitors from nearly two dozen U.S. states to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival, while travelers from states with lower infection rates can opt to be tested upon arrival and quarantine while awaiting their results. Travelers will also need insurance. For travelers aged 15 to 75, the Aruba Visitors Insurance starts at $10 per day for the first seven days and begins to decrease after that.
Visitors to Barbados will need to complete an online Immigration and Customs Form. What's more, travelers from countries deemed high risk, including the U.S., must take a COVID-19 PCR test and produce a negative result within 72 hours prior to arrival in order to gain entry into the country.
Costa Rica is open to Americans from select states this fall, including residents of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Visitors will need a valid driver's license for proof in addition to completing a "health pass" form and providing a negative result on a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of travel. Eligible visitors also need proof of travel insurance covering potential medical expenses.
While most of Europe remains off-limits to Americans, Croatia rolled out the welcome mat to U.S. travelers back in July. Keep in mind that visitors will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no longer than 48 hours prior to arrival.
As of September 15, officials in the Dominican Republic are randomly administering brief breath tests to 3-10 percent of passengers aged five and older upon arrival. The DR government is also testing those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
Dubai is open to tourism, but visitors will need to complete several steps, including providing proof of travel insurance that covers medical and a negative COVID-19 PCR test result produced within 96 hours of arrival. The destination is also requiring the completion of a health declaration form and registration on the COVID-19 DXB app.
Culture-rich Egypt is open to Americans, but those older than the age of five will need to present paper copy proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a test taken at least within 72 hours before arrival.
French Polynesia, best known for beloved tourist-friendly places such as Bora Bora and Tahiti, is among the places Americans can visit if they can produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of arrival. Visitors will also need to complete a health registration and agree to additional testing based on the length of their stay.
Americans aged 12 and older heading to Jamaica this fall will need to upload a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that's fewer than 10 days old for travel authorization approval. Travelers can use Jamaica's Test Date Calculator to avoid any confusion.
The lovely Maldives is hosting travelers this fall, but visitors will need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an exam taken within 72 hours of arrival in order to gain entry to the islands.
Americans can fly to Mexico's beloved tourist hotspots this fall hassle-free so long as they are prepared to undergo screening for COVID-19 symptoms such as temperature checks upon arrival at their airport or hotel or resort.
U.S. travelers to the beautiful island of Saint Lucia will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within seven days of arrival as well as a completed travel registration form. Visitors are also required to stay in a COVID-certified property during their trip.
Americans visiting South Korea this fall should be prepared to quarantine for at least two weeks. "Generally speaking, U.S. citizens traveling to Korea from the United States as tourists on the 90-day visa-waiver program do not need a COVID-19 test prior to travel but will be tested upon arrival in Korea and may be subject to quarantine in government facilities at their own expense," the U.S. Embassy and Consulate states.
Turkey is among the most accessible international destinations for Americans this fall as U.S. citizens will only need to provide some background information and have proof of return travel to the U.S. Arrivals should also prepare to undergo screening for coronavirus symptoms.
The sunny islands of Turks and Caicos are open for business, but travelers are required to complete an online health questionnaire and possess medical insurance in addition to providing a negative COVID-19 test result taken within five days of arrival if they are over the age of nine.
The United Kingdom is open to tourism, but the U.S. has yet to make the list of approved countries whose citizens are permitted to bypass the 14-day quarantine. Therefore, Americans traveling to England, Scotland and Wales will need to be prepared to self-isolate for at least two weeks. Nearby Ireland is also an option, but Americans will need to quarantine for at least two weeks.
See more at: TravelPulse
Autumn Abroad
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| © Los Cabos |
The doors are gradually reopening for Americans in terms of the international destinations they can travel to amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While a majority of the world's countries remain closed to U.S. travelers, some of the planet's most coveted settings have given the green light just in time for shoulder season. Here are some of the most coveted places that Americans can visit right now.
Aruba
 |
| © Jan-Otto/iStock Unreleased |
Aruba is requiring visitors from nearly two dozen U.S. states to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival, while travelers from states with lower infection rates can opt to be tested upon arrival and quarantine while awaiting their results. Travelers will also need insurance. For travelers aged 15 to 75, the Aruba Visitors Insurance starts at $10 per day for the first seven days and begins to decrease after that.
Barbados
 |
| © Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. |
Visitors to Barbados will need to complete an online Immigration and Customs Form. What's more, travelers from countries deemed high risk, including the U.S., must take a COVID-19 PCR test and produce a negative result within 72 hours prior to arrival in order to gain entry into the country.
Costa Rica
 |
| © Hans Brunk |
Costa Rica is open to Americans from select states this fall, including residents of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Visitors will need a valid driver's license for proof in addition to completing a "health pass" form and providing a negative result on a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours of travel. Eligible visitors also need proof of travel insurance covering potential medical expenses.
Croatia
 |
| © Hans Brunk |
While most of Europe remains off-limits to Americans, Croatia rolled out the welcome mat to U.S. travelers back in July. Keep in mind that visitors will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no longer than 48 hours prior to arrival.
Dominican Republic
 |
| © Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism |
As of September 15, officials in the Dominican Republic are randomly administering brief breath tests to 3-10 percent of passengers aged five and older upon arrival. The DR government is also testing those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
 |
| © Nikada / Getty Images / iStock Unreleased |
Dubai is open to tourism, but visitors will need to complete several steps, including providing proof of travel insurance that covers medical and a negative COVID-19 PCR test result produced within 96 hours of arrival. The destination is also requiring the completion of a health declaration form and registration on the COVID-19 DXB app.
Egypt
 |
| © sculpies / iStock / Getty Images Plus |
Culture-rich Egypt is open to Americans, but those older than the age of five will need to present paper copy proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a test taken at least within 72 hours before arrival.
French Polynesia
 |
| © Ed-Ni-Photo / iStock / Getty Images Plus |
French Polynesia, best known for beloved tourist-friendly places such as Bora Bora and Tahiti, is among the places Americans can visit if they can produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of arrival. Visitors will also need to complete a health registration and agree to additional testing based on the length of their stay.
Jamaica
 |
| © lucky-photographer/iStock/Getty Images Plus |
Americans aged 12 and older heading to Jamaica this fall will need to upload a negative COVID-19 PCR test result that's fewer than 10 days old for travel authorization approval. Travelers can use Jamaica's Test Date Calculator to avoid any confusion.
The Maldives
 |
| © photoaliona/iStock/Getty Images Plus |
The lovely Maldives is hosting travelers this fall, but visitors will need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an exam taken within 72 hours of arrival in order to gain entry to the islands.
Mexico
 |
| © pawel.gaul/iStock/Getty Images Plus |
Americans can fly to Mexico's beloved tourist hotspots this fall hassle-free so long as they are prepared to undergo screening for COVID-19 symptoms such as temperature checks upon arrival at their airport or hotel or resort.
Saint Lucia
 |
| © Saint Lucia Tourist Board |
U.S. travelers to the beautiful island of Saint Lucia will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within seven days of arrival as well as a completed travel registration form. Visitors are also required to stay in a COVID-certified property during their trip.
South Korea
 |
| © Reabirdna / iStock / Getty Images Plus |
Americans visiting South Korea this fall should be prepared to quarantine for at least two weeks. "Generally speaking, U.S. citizens traveling to Korea from the United States as tourists on the 90-day visa-waiver program do not need a COVID-19 test prior to travel but will be tested upon arrival in Korea and may be subject to quarantine in government facilities at their own expense," the U.S. Embassy and Consulate states.
Turkey
 |
| © tolgaildun / iStock / Getty Images Plus |
Turkey is among the most accessible international destinations for Americans this fall as U.S. citizens will only need to provide some background information and have proof of return travel to the U.S. Arrivals should also prepare to undergo screening for coronavirus symptoms.
Turks and Caicos
 |
| © travnikovstudio / iStock / Getty Images Plus |
The sunny islands of Turks and Caicos are open for business, but travelers are required to complete an online health questionnaire and possess medical insurance in addition to providing a negative COVID-19 test result taken within five days of arrival if they are over the age of nine.
United Kingdom
 |
| © Songquan Deng/Dreamstime |
The United Kingdom is open to tourism, but the U.S. has yet to make the list of approved countries whose citizens are permitted to bypass the 14-day quarantine. Therefore, Americans traveling to England, Scotland and Wales will need to be prepared to self-isolate for at least two weeks. Nearby Ireland is also an option, but Americans will need to quarantine for at least two weeks.
See more at: TravelPulse
