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How to Spend the Summer Vacations at Nice Destinations in Spite of it All

So, the summer holidays are coming up and there is no place to go? Actually, some nice countries are opening up again as tourist destinations. In many cases, you will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if you want to spend a nice vacation there.

Berlin, April 27th, 2021 (The Berlin Spectator) — So, you want to tan at the beach in Delaware, and visit museums run by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.? Is it your intention to take selfies on Times Square and experience stunning musicals on Broadway? Or do you want to rent a camper van in Newark and sleep in the back, while your spouse drives you all the way to Los Angeles? Forget all of that. First of all, all Broadway plays are “suspended” until the end of May or further notice, thanks to the damned virus. Secondly, you are not even allowed to enter the United States.

Grizzlies and Flowers

In order to get into the country, you will either have to take a bath in invisible paint or be a U.S. citizen. You can also enter with your Greencard, or if you have close relatives who are Americans. Or try to become ambassador of any country to the U.S.. Oh, you are a U.N. official? No problem. They will gladly welcome you to the United States when you get to the passport control counter at J.F.K. Airport. But if you are the typical European individual, kiss your American summer holiday dreams goodbye.

No, you cannot even travel through the U.S. if you stayed in any Schengen country, including Germany, up to two weeks prior to your trip. If you intend to come in from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil or South Africa, you are screwed as well. Forget about looking at the Space Needle, meeting grizzlies in the Rocky Mountains or driving through tunnels that were built into giant trees at Yosemite National Park. Chicago and the Great Lakes? No. Death Valley? No. San Francisco? No. Not even with flowers in your hair.

Barbados and Ecuador

Luckily, the United States are not the only nice travel destination in the world. More and more countries are opening up for tourists, especially those who are already vaccinated against COVID-19. One of them is Barbados. Vaccinated visitors are welcome, as long as they bring a negative PCR test as well, and agree to be tested again upon arrival. This rule will apply from May 8th, 2021.

Or try Ecuador. European tourists who have been vaccinated will just have to agree to a quick Corona test upon arrival. Thailand? No problem, as long as you are happy with going to Phuket. Starting on July 1st, this is possible, but you do need both a vaccination and a negative PCR test. Israel is yet another option. From May 23rd, small tourist groups are welcome as long as all members have been vaccinated. At some point in summer, vaccinated persons travelling on their own may enter too.

Nice Continent

So, you would rather stay in Europe? Sure, this is a nice continent. With the new, uniform European proof of vaccination, some kind of a vaccination passport the European Union states intend to issue soon, the Spanish island of Mallorca will welcome you in summer. Corona tests will not be required, according to several media reports. But there is no date yet. It is unclear whether this rule will also apply to the rest of Spain, at some point during the upcoming summer season.

Cyprus is an option too, as long as you have a complete Corona vaccination and a negative PCR test that was done up to 72 hours prior to your arrival. In Denmark, you will not need to go into quarantine either as long as you have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The flip side of the coin is the fact that you may not enter from high-risk countries. One of those is the Federal Republic of Germany.

Croatia and Slovenia

Too complicated? Try San Marino or Madeira. In Poland, Greece and Romania things are easy as long as you have been fully vaccinated. Croatia? No problem. Hvala liepa. Estonia, Lithuania or Slovenia? Go there. But do not forget to get vaccinated first. And do check the details before you go. The Foreign Ministry in Berlin compiled a comprehensive list of travel warnings which includes information about the rules in most countries in the world, and links to national websites with details. The downside: The German webpage is not being translated German only).

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