Delta Variant Travel Restrictions: The Safest Countries to Visit Right Now

The emergence of the COVID-19 Delta variant has many travelers seeking out safe destinations with low case numbers to close out summer. While there's no way to eliminate risk entirely, travelers can limit their likelihood of contracting the virus and becoming severely ill by getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and exercising precautions such as testing, mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitizing when traveling. As far as where to go, here are some of the safest international destinations based on guidance from the U.S. State Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

With just 113 total COVID-19 cases and only a single infection reported in the past 14 days, Anguilla is one of the few international destinations to receive the lowest Level 1 travel advisories from both the U.S. State Department and CDC. Visitors should anticipate strict entry requirements, including proof of vaccination, COVID-19 testing and quarantine in some cases. However, the territory's vigilance has been paramount in helping it remain one of the safest places to visit.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Caribbean, the islands of Antigua and Barbuda have dramatically slowed the spread of COVID-19 since last winter, reporting just 35 cases over the past two-week period. The destination received a Level 1 travel advisory from the U.S. State Department on July 15, with officials asking visitors to exercise normal precautions. Currently, all air travelers over the age of five must secure a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result taken within seven days of their flight as part of entry protocols.

The State Department issued a Level 1 travel advisory for Bermuda on July 12, matching the CDC's Level 1 Travel Health Notice for the British island territory. After navigating a spike in cases in April, Bermuda has fared extremely well against the coronavirus, recording fewer than 40 cases in the past two weeks and fewer than 2,600 cases overall.

One of the few European countries to receive a Level 1 travel advisory from the State Department, Bulgaria is experiencing a low level of COVID-19, according to the latest CDC assessment. The country has reported some 425,000 cases since the pandemic began but has significantly slowed the spread since late March.

The Caribbean island of Dominica has seen only a dozen COVID-19 cases since July 19 and fewer than 220 overall, prompting Level 1 travel advisories from both the State Department and CDC. The destination has received the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Safe Travels stamp and is currently open to vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, though the latter group will face additional hurdles for entry. Visitors will need to submit a health questionnaire and upload negative test results as part of Dominica's entry protocols.

As of July 12, the U.S. State Department says citizens can exercise normal precautions in Grenada, with the CDC reporting a low level of COVID-19. The Spice Isle recorded just three COVID-19 cases between July 19 and August 1. As of July 31, all travelers over the age of 13 visiting Grenada must be fully vaccinated. Visitors will also need to quarantine while they await COVID-19 test results.

North of Bulgaria, Romania is another Level 1 destination travelers can visit this summer. The State Department says visitors can exercise normal precautions, and the CDC reports a low level of the virus within the country's borders. Romania has reported more than one million COVID-19 cases dating back to the start of the pandemic but has seen positive case counts dip dramatically since April. The U.S. Embassy in Romania notes that foreign citizens can visit but will be subject to quarantine requirements unless they present proof of vaccination, a negative test result or recovery.

The State Department is advising Americans to exercise normal precautions in Slovakia as of July 19. The country has also received a Level 1 Travel Health Notice from the CDC, reporting just over 600 cases between July 19 and August 1. According to the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia, travel for tourism from the United States is permitted as long as the traveler has already legally entered the Schengen zone, including as a tourist through the airport in Vienna, Austria.