Which destinations are the safest to travel in a pandemic?

How to travel in a period of pandemic in a safe and convenient way? 

Air travel is undoubtedly a great experience, especially if you plan out carefully your travel. If you are a frequent flyer, then you are probably interested in the topic about Covid-19  and is it safe to travel during these times.

As you know in the end of 2019 the world was caught by Covid-19 virus attack. The air travel industry has experienced some changes due to this pandemic.

 

All travel lovers watch with a close eye the tourism industry’s steps. Countries around the world have started opening their borders, and this encouraged a certain number of people to travel again. 

Vaccinations offer an option for stopping the virus, but it can’t be gone quickly. Until then we need to take all the necessary precautions to protect ourselves. 

So, it’s good to know some of the travel rules for safe and efficient air travel that different countries have. To ensure your safety and well-being during times of a virus attack,  you need to follow some useful advice for keeping yourself safe.

We will show you below what are destinations which are safe to travel to, and which are with elevated positivity. These destinations are considered to be safe by the European Union and United Kingdom.

Let’s check out what are the safest  countries to travel to during Covid-19:

Europe

• Iceland
• Norway
• Finland
• Denmark
• Cyprus
• Madeira

(considered some of the safest destinations in Europe)

America

• Caribbean – Trinidad and Tobago
• Central America-Guatemala, El Salvador

Asia Pacific

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• India
• Thailand
• Mongolia
• Japan
• Philippines
• Bhutan
• Sri Lanka

Middle East

Saudi Arabia, Iraq

Africa

Rwanda, Morocco

Let’s see some of the top safest destinations to fly to during Covid-19 and their current Covid-19 travel rules:

Canada

Due to the virus there are restrictions to Canada’s borders. Canada imposed cross-border travel restrictions concerning travelers from the United States.

After 21st of January access is again granted to the country for all arriving international air passengers. And after 21st of February foreign passengers from other countries are allowed access to Canada. Foreign passengers are restricted to enter the US border until 31st August.

After January 2021 the Canadian government requires all passengers from another country who are over five years to pass a Covid-19 PCR test before traveling to Canada. 

The virus test should be done within 72 hours before flying to Canada. Those passengers who aren’t tested for Covid-19 won’t be allowed to board their flight.

Passengers are currently required to undergo a quarantine period prior departure.

France

The borders of the country are closed. Travel from France to the UK is not allowed from 20st of December 2020. The only exception is for travelers who are under special circumstances.

Passengers who are arriving from a country that is not among the approved countries as well as passengers who visited such a country a month before arriving in France need to go through a quarantine period.

All UK passengers (including kids that are 11-years old or older) coming to France are required to show a negative result from Covid-19 test. The test should be completed 72 hours before departure. Besides PCR tests, antigen tests are also accepted for entering the country.

Australia

Australia’s borders are closed. The country’s authorities allow only returning permanent citizens and their families to enter the country without an exemption.

All passengers who go to Australia are obliged to spend  a 14-day quarantine in a dedicated facility (usually a hotel) upon entering the country.

These rules are set by each state and territory governments and they tend to vary depending on the state. Territory governments in fact set charges for quarantine in certain states (they are already in power in the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland).

Australia’s authorities require a negative Covid-19 test before departure from all returning passengers with Australian nationality and other passengers who aren’t living in Australia. Exceptions to this rule are available only for seasonal workers who work at a place where there is no access to Covid-19 tests.

Those passengers who want to make a transit through Australia should do this within 72 hours or less and show evidence of onward arrangements for international travel. 

And if you want to spend more than 72 hours in Australia, for example if you are waiting for a connecting flight, then you aren’t categorized as a transiting passenger. In this case you should ask the Australian Border Force Commissioner for an exemption. 

If your transit is between 8 and 72 hours, you are required to spend a state quarantine. Passengers with a transit lasting up to 8 hours won’t need to go into a quarantine. 

Abu Dhabi

There are border restrictions for Abu Dhabi. The country gives entry to all passengers who have an entry permit issued by the authorities of UAE (United Arab Emirates).

Arriving passengers in Abu Dhabi are required to be in isolation for 14 days and they also need to wear a medically approved wristband during the entire period of their quarantine.

The authorities of Abu Dhabi require from all tourists, returning residents, transit travelers to show a certificate for a negative Covid-19 PCR test that is completed 96 hours prior to catching a flight to UAE. This rule has some exceptions for tourists to Dubai.

Dubai

Dubai’s borders are open. All passengers who own an entry permit by UAE can enter the country. Arriving passengers are required to spend a quarantine of 10 days.

All people who live in Dubai, tourists, transit passengers and returning citizens need to show a certificate for a negative result from  Covid-19 PCR test. The test should be done within 96 hours before flying to UAE.

Mexico

Mexico’s borders are opened. The US land border was opened after 21st of February 2021. Currently, there are no limitations in power for international air arrivals. Passengers are  required to fill the form “Cuestionario de identificación de factores de riesgo en viajeros” and show it upon arrival to the immigration authorities. 

Travelers should also pass health screening measures upon arrival and depending on the result they will be either required to spend a quarantine or allowed to continue with their travel.

All passengers who have symptoms of Covid-19 when arriving in one of Mexico’s airports will be cared for by an International Health Team.

Japan

Japan’s borders are closed and entry for tourism purposes is not allowed to non-Japanese passengers who have been to the UK or several other countries in the past 14 days. Exceptions can be applied for unique circumstances.

Every passenger who wants to go to Japan must own a written evidence of a negative result from Covid-19 up to 72 hours before departure. Japan authorities require travelers to undergo another Covid-19 test at the airport and after the results are ready, the travelers can continue on their trip to the country.

Passengers who are traveling from South Africa or the UK are required to spend a 3-day isolation period in a facility chosen by the government. They need to undergo a Covid-19 test on the third day and given that they show a negative result, they will be allowed to continue with the self-isolation for 14 days.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s borders are closed. The country’s government restricts the access of passengers who have been to the UK or Africa for more than two hours in the past 21 days.

All passengers and citizens of Hong Kong who are arriving in the country are required to undergo a Covid-19 medical test. After that they need to spend a 21-day quarantine. 

Those passengers who are arriving at Hong Kong International Airport need to offer a confirmation of a hotel booking in Hong Kong for a period of at least 21 days (starts from the arrival date). This doesn’t apply for travelers who are coming from China, Taiwan or Macau. 

Another rule is that every traveler who is arriving in Hong Kong must show a negative result for the nuclear acid Covid-19 test which should be done within 72 hours before travel.

On 15th of June Hong Kong International Airport resumed its transit services for passengers who are checked before their originating flight and at their end destination. 

You are not allowed to transit between flights that aren’t operated by one and the same airline. 

Singapore

The borders of Singapore are closed. All passengers who have visited the UK or South Africa in the past 14 days are not allowed access to the country. The only exception is for returning residents of Singapore and people with a permanent citizenship in the country.

All passengers who are coming to Singapore need to show a negative result from a Covid-19 test that is done 72 hours before departure.

Travelers who are allowed to enter the country are required to be in a quarantine for a 14-day period. They will receive a SHN (Stay At Home Notice) and after that they are required to spend their quarantine in a designated hotel. 

Those travelers who are in a home quarantine and older than 12 years are obliged to wear an electronic tag on the wrist until the end of their quarantine.

If you are flying with an authorised airline, you are allowed to transit by Singapore’s Changi Airport. But it’s recommended to first check the specific conditions of your airline before making a transit through Singapore.

Bali

The borders of Bali are closed and foreign travelers who want to visit Bali as tourists aren’t allowed to enter Indonesia. The country’s visa services are currently stopped.

All passengers who enter Bali need to pass a Covid-19 swab test (PCR test) upon arrival. After doing this they also need to submit a health certificate in English that confirms a negative result from Covid-19 PCR test. This certificate should be issued within 48 hours prior departure to Indonesia.

After doing this they should also spend a quarantine lasting five days in a hotel and after the five days are over they are required to undergo a PCR test for a third time. If the result of the test is again negative, then the passengers are allowed to continue on their journey.

When is it appropriate to book a summer holiday in 2021? 

When talking about booking a holiday for summer 2021, it may seem too early to be sure how long  the period of lockdown will last for each destination and which countries will reopen or close their borders for international travel in the near future. But in fact, making plans for a summer holiday well in advance can pay off. 

If you are one of those who want to book their summer holiday for 2021 in advance, it’s okay to continue with your holiday travel planning despite the current situation.

That’s because many air companies and hotels are beginning to recognize the passengers’ increasing need for flexibility when it comes to air travel arrangements. 

The companies in the travel industry sphere have started to direct their efforts in attracting new customers by offering more flexible air travel options. Passengers can use different convenient options depending on the policy of the chosen airline, hotel or other accommodation facility. 

Some of the flexible options are for refundable bookings which include free cancelation of booked airline tickets, hotel reservations in a period of a couple of days before the reservation date. 

In this way by booking your holiday in advance and by paying an extra price, you can secure your ticket and accommodation arrangements and also receive best available rates. In this way you will get some advantages which you won’t get, if you choose to book your summer holiday on a later date.

On the other hand, standard non-refundable bookings don’t involve an extra price, but they involve a certain risk and they are not recommended in times of Covid-19 pandemics.

General travel safety precautions for Covid-19

Wear mask

Wearing a mask while traveling is one of the most important things you should do to protect yourself and the others around you from Covid-19.

• Keep your hands clean as much as possible
• Sneeze or cough in your bent elbow
• Don’t touch your mouth, nose and eyes
• Keep safe distance ( Covid-19 is spread primarily from person to person)
• Avoid social events and crowded spots
• Give touched surfaces and objects regular disinfection