22 Apr 2021 Travel Inspirations

Where Can You Travel This Summer?

After a long, arduous winter, spring has brought with it renewed hope. The vaccine rollout has been a success, and the UK etches ever closer to returning to some kind of normality. That’s great news for travellers, who look like they will get the green light to head off to international destinations this summer.

So where will you be able to go? Travel won’t be completely back to normal in 2021, which means following country guidelines if you do head abroad. But the picture looks more promising than it did a few months ago.

Holidays are a reality again, whether you’re looking for a socially distanced adventure, somewhere to go in Europe or are after a beach break. And we’ve put together a list of countries that you can visit this summer.

Europe

Croatia 🇭🇷

Croatia is a tourist hotspot and an Eastern European gem. The good news is that you can start planning a getaway to this Baltics destination because from April anyone presenting a Covid vaccine certificate can enter Croatia. You can also take a trip if you produce a negative test result taken within 48 hours prior to arriving in the country. Travellers visiting with a negative rapid test and staying longer than 10 days will need to take a further test in that 10-day time period.

Cyprus 🇨🇾

A favourite with UK holidaymakers, Cyprus announced that British tourists who have been fully vaccinated against Covid can enter the country without restrictions from May. That means you can travel freely and soak up some sun, sea and sand in the Mediterranean if you’ve received the vaccination.

Estonia 🇪🇪

One of the first countries to waive quarantine for vaccinated arrivals, Estonia is ready to welcome back tourists with open arms. If you’ve tested positive for Covid within the last six months and were declared “cured” or have received the vaccination, you won’t need to quarantine upon arrival. So gear up for a trip to the capital of Tallinn (or elsewhere) in Estonia to discover the country’s history and culture.

France 🇫🇷

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has suggested that he’s open to the idea of vaccine passport travel from May. In a press conference, he said, “ideally, France would open for travellers who are vaccinated, with a special pass”. That could be a vaccine certificate or even a negative PRC test. Is it time to book a post-Covid city break to Paris?

Greece 🇬🇷

Greece is ready to welcome back tourists who have been vaccinated. The country with thousands of islands on the Aegean and Ionian seas is ready to open its doors and already has a travel corridor in place with Israel, following the Middle Eastern country’s successful vaccination rollout. The Greek Prime Minister is quoted as saying, “Greece is ready with a complete protocol for summer 2021.”

Iceland 🇮🇸

The city of Reykjavik is a surprisingly pleasant place to visit during the summer months. Therefore, it’s a bonus that the country of Iceland is ready to open its doors to visitors who have been fully vaccinated. You can also visit if you’re able to show a certificate of previous Covid infection.

Portugal 🇵🇹

Portugal is getting ready to allow restriction-free travel for people who are vaccinated, immune or have tested negative for Covid. From May, the country is planning on allowing British tourists, which means trips to Lisbon and the Madeira Islands could be a reality over the summer.

Spain 🇪🇸

Spain is a mega-favourite with Brits, so the idea of travelling there during the summer is bound to generate excitement. May is likely to be the month when digital passports come into effect. This would allow vaccinated people to holiday in Spain this summer – though the Minister of Tourism did state that it was dependent on infection rates in the country.

Beyond Europe

Barbados 🇧🇧

Barbados isn’t a bad place to head off on holiday if we do say so ourselves. From May, the Caribbean island will relax its entry requirements for anyone who has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. However, you will still need to take a PCR test three days prior to travel and complete another PCR test upon arrival. Unvaccinated arrivals will need to take a second test five days after arriving and self isolate why they wait.

Hawaii 🇺🇸

The US has been quiet over when it will allow travellers back into the country, but the state of Hawaii looks like it’s ready to open its doors. Holidaymakers who have been vaccinated against Covid could be free to travel to the country after Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Joshua Green said that authorities were looking at how a vaccine passport could work for travellers. Currently, visitors need to spend 10 days in isolation unless they provide a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of arrival.

Seychelles 🇸🇨

Since March, travellers have been free to visit the Seychelles, regardless of their vaccination status. However, quarantine rules will be dropped for anyone who has received both doses of the vaccine. You will also need evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

Phuket, Thailand 🇹🇭

From July, Vaccinated visitors will be able to enter Phuket in Thailand without undergoing quarantine. Anyone who can prove they’ve received both doses of the vaccine will be permitted entry to the island. On arrival, you will be transported from the airport to the hotel and then tested for Covid. If it’s negative, you can travel around Phuket and then the rest of the country after a week.

The summer is here

As you can see, there are plenty of places ready to open their doors to travellers this summer. You can also expect more destinations to welcome back vaccinated holidaymakers as the vaccine rollout ramps up. After what seems like forever, international travel looks like it’s back on the agenda, and that means a summer of sun, fun and safe trips abroad.