The pandemic has closed some international border borders and restricted travel elsewhere.
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Not sure where to go and where not? You’re not alone.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some nations keeping travelers away from certain destinations and others closing their borders entirely. Many passports, including American passports, have lost their currency due to rising infection and hospitalization rates in the countries where they were issued.
With the spread of the virus decreasing and decreasing from place to place, it is difficult to keep up with the changing travel restrictions. The patchwork of different rules and requirements – which can even vary from region to region – is usually fluid and fluctuates with changing circumstances and political whims.
There is no such thing as a “master list” per se, so many travelers call airlines (endure long waits) or call embassies or consulates (report them as closed or fail to provide precise information). However, having access to accurate, up-to-date information is vital before planning any trips or booking flights or hotel reservations.
Resources for travelers
Here are some useful websites and apps that can save you time and make the task easier:
- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Center offers an interactive website with personalized passport, visa and other document requirements, health advice and transit restrictions for specific travel destinations. The site also has an interactive one Travel regulations card. The information is updated regularly and comes mainly from the TIM / Timatic database, which is used by most international airlines and travel agencies.
- For U.S. travelers, the U.S. Department of State website is listed COVID-19 country-specific information This includes entry and exit information, quarantine rules, treatment information and links to local websites.
- Reopen the EU, an official, interactive website of the European Union, provides the latest available data from EU member states on border information, travel requirements and quarantines.
- sherpa, a company that helps travelers and agents access visas and other travel documents, has a free tool Cataloging state border and health restrictions; It also tracks upcoming rule changes that have been publicly announced but not yet implemented.
- TripIt, A popular Concur tour operator and flight tracking app recently launched a free, comprehensive website (which can also be viewed on mobile devices). TripIt’s Traveler Resource Center provides a virtual one-stop-shopping approach that provides travelers with links to information on public health and safety issues (including the IATA and State Department websites listed above); Policies for travel providers (from airports, airlines, major hotel and accommodation brands, OTAs, and more); and other useful information and travel, including contact information for foreign embassies and consulates. (Users don’t need to download the app to access the Resource Center.) A feature in the TripIt app, Neighborhood safety valuesenables travelers to assess the health and safety risk of various destinations using a rating that takes COVID-19 data into account.
- App in the air (AITA), a mobile travel app, has launched a new web-based app Landing page (updated weekly) that allows travelers to search for coronavirus travel restrictions by country or airline. Within the free app, a booking tab provides instant notification of prohibited flights, changes and cancellations while searching, as well as notifications of changes in transit, including suggested alternative itineraries.
Before you go: be sure to check twice (or more)
Even the most authoritative resources have disclaimers informing users that the accuracy of the information is subject to change and is not guaranteed.
“Once a traveler has determined where they want to go, they should check the current restrictions,” says the travel expert Michelle Gonzalez. It urges travelers to actively monitor changes in rules and dates and to check this information with the local authorities or tourism authorities. “For example, the Bahamas and Hawaii are perfect examples of destinations whose restrictions are constantly shifting,” she says. Before traveling domestically to the United States, travelers should check city and state websites.
“As general advice, now is the time to invest in booking through a travel agent,” said Megan Kelly, a public relations professional with the Israel Ministry of Tourism in Los Angeles. Part of her job is managing changing and complex information, she says. “Plus, they serve as just one more person to fight on your behalf when you need a refund or get stuck behind a closed border.”
