5 warm-weather destinations accepting U.S. tourists this winter

“At the start of 2020, everyone got put in travel time-out, and now that the time-out is over for the most part, some are trying to make up for all the trips they didn’t take or that were canceled during that period,” says Jen Moyse, senior director of product at TripIt. “If we think of revenge as an eye-for-an-eye, this is ‘taking a trip—or two—for every trip COVID made me miss!’ Now that many are vaccinated and able to take trips more safely, there’s also a new appreciation for being able to visit friends or family, or new locations, without as much risk or stress for personal health and safety.”

More than two-thirds of consumers are considering or have already booked travel during the holiday season, according to a recent survey from Rakuten Advertising, and approximately half of those traveling plan to visit international destinations. Even with new surges in COVID-19 cases, a majority of travelers (56%) will not change their travel plans, regardless of their level of concern around the Delta variant.

If you’re planning to go abroad this winter, the time to book is now before it gets even more expensive as many airlines are cutting back on flights. Here are a few examples of countries open to U.S. tourists. Rules about entry for non-vaccinated and vaccinated visitors vary greatly from location to location—and can change with little notice at any time—so be sure to read up on those rules when booking and again before leaving for the airport.

Mexico

Throughout 2020, Mexico was among the few countries open by air to U.S. tourists when some restrictions came down after the initial lockdown. Tourism was still slow to recover initially but quickly picked up in spring 2021 as vaccines became widely available in the U.S. Many luxury resorts along the Riviera Maya, especially, are ideal for large families and “pandemic pods” with availability for buyouts. At this time, Mexico is open to all travelers—vaccinated and non-vaccinated—and you do not need to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter. (Note that no matter where you travel internationally, you will need a negative COVID test to reenter the United States.) But all passengers 18 years and older must complete a questionnaire before entry.

St. Barths

All travelers ages 10 and older must show a negative COVID-19 antigen test administered within 48 hours of arrival in St. Barths or a negative PCR test administered within 72 hours of arrival. Some major carriers have resumed flights from the U.S. to the island, but among the easier connection points is San Juan, Puerto Rico. Tradewind Aviation offers daily flights between San Juan and St. Barths, and passengers staying in San Juan less than 24 hours are exempt from testing requirements and pre-arrival declaration forms for Puerto Rico. Note that St. Barths is an overseas territory of France, so proof of vaccination and/or the Pass Sanitaire (Green Pass) is required for admittance to most indoor venues like restaurants, bars, and movie theaters.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica has long been a popular destination for travelers all over the world. Tourism is the country’s most lucrative industry, and there really is something for everyone here, from scuba diving, hiking through rain forests, adventure sports like extreme zip-lining courses, and of course, lounging on the beach. Most visitors from the United States can enter Costa Rica without restrictions. Americans are not required to provide a negative PCR test result or quarantine after arrival. All travelers 18 years and older—including fully vaccinated visitors—must fill out a health pass form 72 hours prior to the departure flight from the U.S. But unvaccinated tourists (and those with only one dose or a vaccine other than Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson) will need to present evidence of travel insurance covering lodging and medical expenses in case they contract COVID-19 while in the country. The insurance must be guaranteed to cover $50,000 for medical expenses and $2,000 for lodging.

Colombia

Colombia has become a hot destination for U.S. travelers in the past several years, with many more direct flights from major U.S. airports to Cartagena, Bogotá, and Medellín. Most visitors from the United States can enter Colombia without restrictions. Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test result before entry, nor are they required to quarantine. But all passengers—vaccinated and non-vaccinated—must fill out a travel form within 24 hours (and at most one hour) before a flight to or from Colombia. Mask mandates are still in place in most public places, indoors and outdoors, and some cities still have curfews left over from lockdown.

French Polynesia

There are getaways, and there are places where you can really just get away from it all. French Polynesia, also an overseas territory of France, comprises more than 100 islands in the South Pacific. Among them, the most well-known are Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Moorea. Some U.S. carriers have resumed direct flights from the West Coast, but Air Tahiti Nui, the region’s flagship airline, is still the best bet out of Los Angeles (and Paris, for European readers) with more flights throughout the week. Vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter French Polynesia with a negative COVID-19 test result and are not required to quarantine. (Non-vaccinated Americans without a negative test are not permitted to enter.)