Top Destinations Currently Open for Summer Travel

While the world still has a ways to go before travelers can completely give in to their wanderlust, the list of destinations travelers can visit is expanding just in time for summer. Here are some of the top places that have recently reopened to international travel.

Some of the top tourist destinations across the U.S., including national parks, Las Vegas and New Orleans have begun reopening in stages over the past few weeks, with more domestic destinations and iconic sites and attractions, including Walt Disney World Resort and other theme parks scheduled to welcome back guests in the weeks to come.

Borders between more than two dozen countries in the European Union and Schengen travel area have reopened this month but Americans and other visitors traveling from outside of the continent will have to wait until at least July or perhaps later to be permitted entry.

Cancun, Riviera Maya and the Mexican Caribbean are beginning to open up this summer while Los Cabos has begun a phased reopening of its own as it anticipates welcoming more flights from the U.S. later this month. Americans still face obstacles in terms of non-essential travel but it's clear that the destination is trending in the right direction.

Jamaica reopened its borders to international travelers on June 15. Under the initial reopening phase, travel will be limited to a "coronavirus-resilient corridor" along the island's northern coast stretching from Negril to Port Antonio. In addition to completing a travel authorization application, arrivals will undergo a temperature check and be required to follow local safety protocols.

The U.S. Virgin Islands was among the first Caribbean destinations to reopen when it began welcoming back leisure travelers on June 1. The U.S. territory reported strong demand throughout the pandemic and has developed a comprehensive health and safety guide for tourism stakeholders to follow as visitors return to the islands this summer.

Saint Lucia began reopening its tourism industry in phases on June 4. "Our people, our beaches and our mountains await you in all of their splendor," the island's tourism minister, Dominic Fedee said in a recent video message. "Now, the way we used to vibe will change just a little bit [with] responsible tourism [and] heightened protocols. There's still going to be plenty of fun in the sun."

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda began a phased reopening in early June, mandating temperature checks for all arrivals and implementing other safety protocols as it welcomes visitors back to its beautiful beaches.

Cyprus, which recently made headlines for announcing it would cover medical bills for anyone who contracts COVID-19 while visiting, recently opened up to visitors from a handful of countries mostly within Europe. However, Americans and travelers from other heavily-impacted countries will have to wait longer.