Where is it Safe to Travel Right Now?

If you're anything like us, you are likely very excited to see that so many travel opportunities are opening up at this time. 2021 was a confusing year for the average traveller, with the constantly changing rules and travel advisories all the time. The pandemic is still not over, but we are at a different stage of it now, and safe travel is possible, provided that you take the necessary precautions. The Omicron variant is a concern, but its impact of it has been greatly contained. It is primarily due to our vaccination and testing efforts but also because of the different nature of the variant itself. As a result, many destinations are accessible again, so here we've compiled a list of top places you can visit this year.

Destinations in Europe

The majority of European nations have begun to loosen their travel restrictions that had been active in full force for most of 2020 and 2021. The countries that are openly welcoming visitors from the UK include Italy, Greece, Malta, Iceland, Cyprus, Portugal and Croatia, among others. These countries have set up a system of reciprocal travel, which was first tried out in 2021 and looks to be standard practice during 2022.

The openness with which travellers are being invited to these European countries does not mean that they have stopped caring about the spread of COVID-19. On the contrary, there are standard health safety practices that all visitors are expected to follow, like social distancing and wearing masks. As long as you follow these basic SOPs, you can have a great trip.

Destinations within the UK

All four of the nations within the United Kingdom keep their own version of a 'red' list, which indicates unsafe places for travel. You can find updated lists and information about which countries are on the red list at this link (at the time this was written, there are no countries that are currently on the red list).

We also advise that you get yourself up to speed about possible COVID-19 restrictions currently in place at your destination. At the present moment, people within the UK who are double vaccinated can travel to countries within the green list without being required to enter quarantine on their return to the UK. However, travellers who visit a green list destination are required to fill out a Passenger Locator Form which they have to present upon their return to the UK. In addition, before you arrive in the UK, you must have booked a PCR test (it can be a coronavirus home test kit from www.iqdoctor.co.uk or you can make an appointment to get tested at a test site) in advance of your arrival. While quarantine is not mandated for returning travellers anymore, this test should be taken within two days of arriving in England. If the test gives a positive result, or if the result is unclear, then you are required to self isolate so as not to spread the virus to anyone else. You can find updated guidelines published by the government at this link.

Double-check the testing requirements at your destination

The rules regarding testing requirements for COVID-19 are constantly being modified and updated in most countries worldwide. Before you finalise your travel plans, learn all you can about the latest and most up to date testing requirements put in place by the governments of the places where you are hoping to travel. Many countries consider a lateral flow antigen test to be good enough for testing purposes and showing that you are not currently infected with COVID-19. If you test positive on a lateral flow test, you will probably be required to take a follow-up RT-PCR test to confirm the results, and can also be required to enter self-isolation and quarantine for up to two weeks after your test result.

Regardless of the testing requirements in place at your destination, it is always going to be better to be vaccinated and comply with basic health safety measures at all times when outdoors and travelling.