Worried about COVID restrictions bungling your travel plans? Follow these tips to navigate regulations for each destination you plan to visit.
The longer the pandemic drags on, the harder it is to navigate COVID-19 restrictions around the world. While some countries such as the United Kingdom have dumped pre-departure testing requirements, others still require a negative test and records on file just to pass through the country.
I’ve learned this the hard way. I somehow got all the way to my departure gate at Logan International in Boston just after New Year’s before I was asked for proof of a negative COVID test. I didn’t have one. I was scheduled for a connecting flight through Portugal, which still required a negative test. This mistake easily could have cost me hundreds of dollars, but I was lucky.
I have a hundred excuses for how I failed here, but the reality is this: Health and safety restrictions can change rapidly, they may be different for every destination you visit, and they can be confusing to navigate even when you know where to look. If you’re traveling soon, here’s where you can check guidelines to make sure you’ll get on that airplane — and not have to quarantine when you get off.Some airlines have a restrictions “calculator” that lets you enter your route for a list of current entry guidelines and restrictions.
that documents entry requirements for U.S. residents and citizens from every country in the world. If you’re traveling between multiple countries, don’t forget that you need to check two types of restrictions: restrictions for your country of residence/citizenship and restrictions for your point of origin within the last 10 to 14 days.Government websites for other countries’ travel restrictions can be tricky to navigate if you don’t know where to look, especially when there’s a language barrier.