The Best Holiday Destinations for the Winter 2020/21
Mission still Possible
In my previous story about “COVID nomads”, I explored whether it is possible to travel and enjoy a change of scenery during the pandemic. Let’s admit that we are screwed up. Nine months in, the numbers of infected are ramping up and the virus makes it clear that he is enjoying the party and is intended to stay until the end. The vaccine is imminent, but before enough people get inoculated and the virus loosens its grip, months and months will likely pass by.
While we are dreaming about the auspicious start of 2021, why not to consider the winter holidays where you can forget about the chaos and enjoy life a bit?
I have done some research and listed below the handpicked destinations for winter 2020/21.
Picking the Destination
If you are sick from staycation and workstation (the latter happens when you take a day off, but still pass it at home in from of the computer), it is possible to go on little smart holidays. With hotels and airlines desperate to get some tourists and earn an extra penny during the rainy days, you can get amazing deals.
However, you need to choose the destination carefully. Keep an eye on the infection trends. In case the trend is downward and the country does not impose entry restrictions, it is a good holiday choice. You can have a look at the official list of the third countries for which the EU plans to lift restrictions or at the list of countries included by the UK in the travel corridors, but this is a rather conservative approach. If you are ready to self-isolate after coming from holidays, you can slightly broaden your search.
Below I listed the countries that I consider as good holiday destinations for the late December-February based on a number of factors (COVID trends, entry restrictions and restrictions on return, the constraints applied within the country, deals offered). I handpicked them, as I would do for myself. I would happily go for all of them, but unfortunately, I have to choose one only — please feedback if you tried any of these, I would love to know more about your trip and how it worked for you!
Note that this summary is done mainly for UK travelers and is valid as of the end of November. Because of the unpredictable nature of the virus, the situation is evolving and rules might have changed by the time you read this article. Please check carefully before putting this information in action.
1. Maldives
The Maldives are idyllic islands floating in the Indian Ocean, south-west of Sri Lanka. They boast the best beaches with white sands, natural marvels, and unrivaled luxury that will make you feel like a prince (or a princess) from an exotic fairy tale. The slogan “isolation never looked so good” is complete to the point. Most hotels have plenty of space for social distancing and offer separate villas, where you can form your own bubble and stay away from others. This type of holidays is very virus safe.
The good news is that the Maldives is open for international tourism since 10 September. All tourists must fill out a health declaration form 24 hours before departure and present a negative PCR test for COVID-19 on arrival to the Maldives. The sample for the PCR test must be taken not more than 96 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure from the first port of embarkation en-route to the Maldives, which gives you enough time. Visitors are also encouraged to install the contact tracing app ‘Trace Ekee’. Various restrictions are still in place (like wearing facial masks in enclosed spaces), but restaurants and tourist facilities are open.
Residents and tourists will bear the costs of examination and treatment whilst in the Maldives, in the event, they are infected with COVID-19 during their stay, but the local government does its best to minimize the risk of contagion. The preventive measures include temperature checks and random Coronavirus testing at no cost to travelers. During the last months, the Maldives has proven to be one of the world’s safest destinations. You can also get some amazing deals with over 50% discount for a stay in luxury resorts compared to the usual prices.
Facts:
Place-based on the number of cases per 1M of the population: 41st.
Open for tourists: all countries.
Testing: PCR test taken 96 hours before the departure to the Maldives.
Quarantine requirements: N/A.
UK travel corridor: Yes.
Cost of tickets: LDN-Male 1 stop from £600.
2. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is another dream destination that I have been contemplating for a while. It is full of Caribbean charm and offers a variety of options from enjoying nature and wildlife to soaking in the warm Pacific Ocean and sipping a cocktail at one of its sleek resorts. Costa Rica blends authenticity and unique culture with touristic attractions. This is a perfect opportunity to slow down and experience “pura vida” by letting go of your troubles and just enjoying life as it is.
Luckily, Costa Rica adopts a very friendly and relaxed approach to tourists during the COVID times. Since the 1st of November Costa Rica is open to tourists from all over the world arriving by air. Costa-Rican government has lifted the requirements of PCR tests and self-isolation for tourists which makes life a whole lot easier. You still need to complete a passenger locator form before entering the country and purchase mandatory travel insurance, covering your accommodations in case of quarantine for a minimum amount of $2,000 and medical expenses due to COVID-19 illness for a minimum amount of $20,000.
The reasons why we had doubts about Costa-Rica were mostly related to the general level of health safety. Being an active traveler in Costa-Rica increases your exposure to viruses. The loose approach to health safety (“pura vida”!) and a relatively high number of cases means that it’s a perfect destination if you have antibodies or plan to spend most of your time on the beach without mingling too much with other people.
Facts:
Place-based on the number of cases per 1M of the population: 34th.
Open for tourists: all countries.
Testing: N/A.
Quarantine requirements: N/A.
UK travel corridor: No.
Cost of tickets: LDN-San Jose 1 stop from £450.
3. Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
NB! The UAE consists of several emirates each of which has its own entry requirements related to COVID-19. The rules below apply only to Dubai but you need to check the entry requirements to other emirates as they might be much stricter!
Dubai is a manmade paradise towering on the shore of the Gulf as a monument to wealth, opulence, and power. If you are in the mood for a cocktail with golden flakes for the New Year countdown, that’s a place to go!
Some good news on the traveling side: Dubai has lifted the requirement for self-isolation. All you need to do is to present evidence of a negative COVID‑19 PCR test taken 96 hours before departure. If you travel from the UK, you have the option to take a complimentary COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai — really nice! Note that if you take a test before arrival, you must present a printed certificate — digital certificates are not accepted, which might add up to your costs. Travelers from a number of other countries must take two COVID‑19 PCR tests: one before departure with a validity of 96 hours from the date of the test, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai. You can check the full list and all the rules applied here. As usual, you must fill in the locater form upon arrival and download the COVID-19 tracing app.
Facts:
Place-based on the number of cases per 1M of the population: no information, but a number of new cases have ramped up since the beginning of November.
Open for tourists: different rules apply to depend on which country you come from.
Testing: for UK tourists — a COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival.
Quarantine requirements: N/A.
UK travel corridor: Yes.
Cost of tickets: LDN-Dubai direct from £500.
4. Canary Islands
If you prefer to stay on a budget, the Canary Islands are a good option. They have a mild climate throughout the year with the temperature going up to 20C during the daytime in December-January. The accommodation is not expensive, and the flights are cheap (you can have a round trip from London in late December-early January for just £100). You will not indulge in swimming in the ocean, but natural beauty, quality food, and heartwarming hospitality create the best scene for a nice start to the New Year.
Unfortunately, Spain has been a hotbed of contagion during the pandemic. The government tries to keep Canary open for tourists, but restrictions are in place. If you are traveling from a high-risk country or area, you need to demonstrate a negative PCR test made within 72 hours prior to your arrival in Spain. If you stay in tourist accommodation in Canary, the certificate confirming that you have been tested negative should be presented also upon check-in. Note that Spain requires an indication of your passport number in test evidence, which means you might incur additional costs to have your test results in the form of a certificate, not just an email. On top of that, you must complete the usual Health Control Form and present the confirmation (QR code) at your arrival.
There are a number of restrictions and precautions in place, for example, obligatory facial masks in all public places, including beaches and swimming pools. Restaurants and bars are open until midnight and tourist attractions operate with limited capacity and with online booking only.
Facts:
Place-based on the number of cases per 1M of the population: 17th.
Open for tourists: the European Union and Schengen-area countries.
Testing: a COVID PCR test 72 hours before arrival.
Quarantine requirements: N/A.
UK travel corridor: No.
Cost of tickets: LDN-Tenerife direct from £100.
As much as we all need holidays, traveling during the pandemic involves a fair bit of risk and uncertainty. You might be tested positive before the trip; the flight can be canceled and the country of your destination can go into lockdown. Take all the possible measures to minimize losses in case something like this happens (e.g. choosing flexible flight tariffs and free cancellation of booking). Everything that can be postponed until the last moment (e.g. booking a car or a transfer) better to be postponed. But with some precautions, you are going to have amazing holidays that will give your strength and energy, and optimism to carry on in the new year.
Lots of love and stay safe!