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Pool in Fiji

The Safest Places to Travel Once Travel Bans Are Lifted

Top Destinations Recommended by an Ex-NATO Director and Security Expert

    Updated: February 15th, 2021

    Where are the safest places to travel when borders open up? Travel lovers everywhere are dreaming of their next destinations and hoping that 2021 will be a safe year to travel and explore the world. For travelers looking to venture outside of the United States, safety is a key concern. Which countries are safest to visit? What are the safest ways to travel? 

    In collaboration with our Head of Safety, Johann Jones, Tourlane has produced a guide to the safest places to travel once bans are lifted. By looking at key indicators such as COVID-19 cases, health regulations, population density, hours of sunlight, and flight connections to the USA, we produced a guide to help travelers assess risk factors of both countries that are currently open and countries that may open soon.

    The Safest Places to Travel Once Borders Open

    The table categories contain the original values ​​in the respective unit of measurement. In order to standardize the data, each category was assigned a numerical value from 0-10, which was added up (see column "Total") and forms the basis of the ranking list. The maximum possible number of points is 50. This data is updated on a weekly basis. Last updated: February 15th, 2021.

    Recommendations by Our Travel Experts

    Thailand

    Thailand offers something for every traveler. The mountainous north impresses visitors with its immense biodiversity, making it the perfect place for hiking and animal lovers. Further south, Thailand has more than 1,000 islands, which boast beautiful beaches as well as world-class diving. Urban foxes will love Bangkok, a pulsating metropolis teeming with opulent temples and lively markets.

    Blick auf türkisfarbenes Wasser mit Booten in Phuket in Thailand

    Vietnam

    Vietnam is a great country for first-time visitors to Asia. Enjoy everything from secluded islands to vast mountain ranges within one relatively compact country, which has impressive infrastructure, delicious food, and a great range of places to stay. Kayak in the glistening waters of Halong Bay, or spend the weekend strolling the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.

    Visit the beautiful white beaches of Phu Quoc on a Vietnam vacation

    Kenya

    If you're looking for an extraordinary safari experience, visit Kenya. This remarkable East African country is perfect for outdoorsy types with an interest in nature. You'll love off roading around the plains of the Masai Mara, spotting the Big Five as you. Kenya also has a tropical coastline with miles of heavenly beaches, which are the perfect place to unwind during your vacation.

    Giraffen in Masai Mara, Kenia

    Fiji

    Fiji enchants everyone that sets foot on its shores. If you’re looking for a secluded paradise, then Fiji is a great destination for you. Comprising more than 300 islands, Fiji is famous for its idyllic turquoise waters, velvety white beaches, and impressive coral reefs that are perfect for scuba diving. Fiji’s seclusion is part of its charm—yet there are still direct flights to the west coast of the USA.

    South Pacific Islands, Fiji,  view of Mamanuca Island from offshore surrounded by peaceful waters.

    Cambodia

    Famous for its legendary temples, colorful cities, and charming coastline, Cambodia is a great destination for travelers searching for something rustic and utterly unspoilt. Cambodia is conveniently sandwiched in between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos, making it well-suited to travelers looking to do a multi-stop tour of southeast Asia.

    Einsamer Strand auf Koh Rong Island Kambodscha

    As the coronavirus situation changes weekly, this guide is intended for guidance only and is based on data collected for each of the travel destinations as of February 15th, 2021. Please check with your Tourlane Travel Expert for the most up-to-date information for each destination. In addition to the countries listed above, we also continue to monitor popular travel destinations such as South Africa and Tanzania. For more information on the status of these countries, please contact us at service@tourlane.com .

    Discover the beauty of the Big Sur on a California tour

    Safe Travel Tips

    What are the best ways to stay safe while traveling? Our ex-NATO Head of Safety, Johann Jones, has given 10 top travel safety tips, to help you stay safe.

    More About Johann Jones

    After working for the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he advised senior executives on risk factors and scenarios, Johann Jones is now Tourlane's Head of Safety & Sustainability. He has over 15 years of international development experience with a strong focus on governance, socio-economic development, and security in high and extreme risk countries.

    Together with Tourlane’s Emergency Response Team, Johann Jones is responsible for the safety of Tourlane travelers at every step of their journey. He constantly monitors and assesses the risk factors at each Tourlane destination to ensure that travelers have up-to-date information on safety prior to their departure and also receive assistance during their trip.

    Blick auf eine bunte Häuserzeile in Havanna auf Kuba in der Karibik.

    The Future of Travel: Tourlane's Travel Survey

    In November 2020, Tourlane polled more than 1,000 travelers to learn about how travel trends have changed in light of the pandemic. The survey results suggest a wave of revenge travel is on the horizon, as more than half of American participants rated travel as a priority 8 or above for next year.

    Revenge travel is a term used to describe people’s urge to travel after a period of restricted movement. Analysts from around the world anticipate that leisure travel will rebound with a vengeance in 2021, as travelers seek to make amends for 2020.

    Infographic displaying how many Americans consider travel to be a top priority

    If you're interested in finding out more about the top trending destinations for 2021, the future of long haul travel, and how travel preferences have changed, please visit the survey results page.

    Travel Updates

    Stay Informed About Current Developments

    View of the beautiful Instagrammable waters of Bali

    Your Health and Safety Come First

    The health, safety, and wellbeing of our customers are our top priority. It has always been like this, and it will always stay that way. 

    • Dedicated team of security experts: Tourlane has a dedicated team of security experts who continuously monitor the current situation and ensure that our customers are always informed. In this way, we can anticipate changes at short notice and adapt our customers' travel plans in real time.

    • Customer service, available around the clock: Tourlane's customer service team works around the clock to find individual solutions for their travel plans, such as free rebooking, with customers who originally wanted to travel in the coming days and weeks.

    • Personal advice from Tourlane Travel Experts: Our talented Travel Experts plan dream trips according to the needs and wishes of our customers. With our network of local partners, we create the best travel experience - flexible, safe and tailored to the applicable health regulations.

    Sicher Reisen in Zeiten von Corona.

    Tourlane Travel Promise

    To make your booking even more secure, we have introduced the Tourlane Travel Promise - a new rebooking and cancellation service, so that you can rebook or cancel your trip, free of charge.

    With Tourlane, world explorers travel safely and flexibly. Even as the global situation changes, we will never let our customers down. Here are answers to the most important questions about traveling during the pandemic. If the desired information is not there, our customer service team is always there and reachable via email: service@tourlane.com.

    Der Customer Service von Tourlane ist rund um die Uhr für Sie da.

    How We Produced This Guide 

    The table categories contain the original values ​​in the respective unit of measurement. In order to standardize the data, each category was assigned a value of 0-10, which was added up (see column "Weighted Total") and forms the basis for the ranking list. The maximum possible score is 50. The following equation was used to scale the data from 0 to 10 (with 10 being the best value):

    Score (i) = 10 * (x-minimum) / (maximum / minimum).

    Covid-19 Analysis by 14-Day Case Notification Rate

    The Covid-19 Analysis by 14-Day Case Notification Rate shows the number of cases reported in this country in the last 14 days per 100,000 people. A lower value equates to fewer new infections and therefore a lower likelihood of being infected with the coronavirus. We only included destinations with a rate of less than 30. The data was updated on February 15th, 2021, based on the COVID-19 countries overview of the ECDC .

    International Health Regulations Capacity Score

    The International Health Regulations Core Capacity Index (IHR) is an annual report produced by the World Health Organization (WHO). Member States provide annual reporting data consisting of 24 indicators for the 13 IHR capacities. These are necessary in order to identify, assess, report and respond to risks to public health and acute events of national and international significance. The average capacity in the EU is 75%. Destinations needed a score of at least 30% in order to be taken into account.

    Country Population Density 

    Population density is an indicator that determines the average number of inhabitants for a particular area (country, region, district). When creating the ranking, only travel destinations were taken into account that did not exceed a population density of 650 per square kilometer. Countries with a lower population density offer a lower chance of contagion. 

    Hours of Sunlight

    Sunlight was factored into our calculation, as more sunlight hours equates to more time for outdoor activities and eating in the fresh air, instead of indoors, thus reducing the likelihood of infection.

    Flight Connections 

    We only included destinations that can be reached from the United States either with a direct flight (corresponding to a score of 10 in the ranking) or a flight with only one stopover (corresponding to a score of 5 in the ranking). By avoiding layovers at airports, queues, and large crowds, the risk of infection is significantly reduced.

    Other Requirements for Inclusion: 

    In addition to the categories stated above, the countries needed to meet the following specifications in order to be included in the ranking:

    The country has implemented minimum standards against the coronavirus

    Only countries that have tourism or government agencies that introduced minimum standards in response to the coronavirus were included in the ranking. These include hygiene regulations, distance regulations, capacity reductions, etc.

    Limited capacity of sights and attractions

    Only countries that have reduced the capacity of leading sights and attractions were included in the ranking, as this reduces crowds, queues, and the risk of infection.

    Availability of boutique hotels and B&Bs

    Only countries that offer small boutique hotels or bed and breakfasts were included in the ranking. By avoiding large gatherings of people in communal areas, shared pools, and buffets, the risk of infection to travelers is significantly reduced.

    Self-drive or private guide options available 

    Only countries that offer visitors either a self-drive option or a private guide option were included for the ranking, as these trip types pose a lesser risk of infection. 

    Secluded travel options available

    Only countries that offer remote more secluded travel options, such as national parks or larger outdoor areas, were selected. By avoiding large gatherings of people in highly frequented regions, the risk of infection is significantly reduced.

    Cashless payment options

    Cashless or contactless payment options in taxis, supermarkets, restaurants etc. were a prerequisite for the countries to be included in the ranking. Contactless payment is the most hygienic form of payment and therefore safer to travelers.