For the past 3 months, taking a vacation was pretty much limited to your home, or if you were lucky, your own vacation property.  But now there are some signs that some of the world is ready to welcome back tourists.

The beach at Hermitage Bay, Antigua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Caribbean, some recent announcements:

  • The US Virgin Islands reopened on June 1
  • Antigua and Barbuda welcomed it’s first international flight on June 4
  • Saint Lucia began a phased re-opening starting on June 4
  • Jamaica will be reopening borders on June 15
  • Aruba reopens sometime between June 15 and July 1

Great news for French Polynesia:

  • French Polynesia has had no active cases of COVID-19 since May 29th. The country’s authorities announced today the borders will be re-opening to international tourism in French Polynesia starting on July 15th, 2020.  Quarantine measures will be completely lifted and French Polynesia’s borders will re-open to international tourism from all countries.

In Europe, the latest announcements were according to a July 5, 2020 article in Travel Pulse magazine online:

Several countries within Europe are beginning to ease travel restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, and European Union officials are hoping to have the 26-nation Schengen travel zone fully reopened by the end of June.

“I personally believe that we will return to a full functioning of the Schengen area and freedom of movement of citizens no later than the end of the month of June,” said European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, via the Associated Press.

It’s unlikely that Americans and other international tourists traveling from outside of Europe will be allowed entry before July. According to Seehofer, most of the EU’s interior ministers want to extend the current entry ban on outside travelers “by 14 days until July 1.”

Travelers from the U.S. and some other countries could be delayed in visiting Europe based on the number of COVID-19 cases, however.

Some exceptions are:

  • Spain and Portugal, which already opened their borders.
  • Greece will allow international flights to begin on Jul 1 but tourists from outside the Schengen travel zone will subject to Covid testing or quarantines.
  • Iceland is welcoming tourists on June 15 who agree to a covid test or documentation of a clean bill of health from their home country or are willing to quarantine for 2 weeks.

Around the rest of the world:

  • South Africa will not welcome tourists until Feb 2021
  • Hawaii hasn’t reopened yet but may welcome Japanese and Korean tourists before those from Mainland USA
  • Some nations in the South Pacific (Australia and New Zealand) may open travel between the 2 island nations in September
  • Bali (Indonesia) is hoping to welcome visitors by October

With protocols and travel bans changing daily, the team at My Vacation Lady is working hard to help our clients figure out where the best destination is for their vacation or honeymoon.    We’ll help you plan MORE than a trip.  We’ll help you plan your vacation or honeymoon experience!