Top Destinations That Received Eased Travel Recommendations by the CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently eased travel recommendations for more than 110 countries and territories around the world, lowering some of the world's top destinations to the Level 3 tier for COVID-19 risk. While the agency encourages travelers to get fully vaccinated against the coronavirus before traveling internationally, it's no longer advising against non-essential travel to these sought-after places.

"Make sure you are fully vaccinated before traveling to the Bahamas," the CDC advises in its Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the islands. Currently, fully vaccinated travelers who are passed the two-week immunity period following their final shot are exempted from COVID-19 testing requirements for entry and inter-island travel but will still need to apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa.

The CDC currently lists Canada at a Level 3 on its Travel Health Notice scale, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. Canada is still off-limits to non-essential travel from the U.S. but that could change soon as the country is reportedly considering a June 22 start date for loosening restrictions at the U.S. border.

The world's most visited country, France just recently reopened to fully vaccinated travelers from all over the world. The highly anticipated reopening coincides with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice from the CDC that asks Americans to get fully vaccinated before visiting and encourages unvaccinated individuals to continue to avoid non-essential travel.

Greece began permitting quarantine-free travel from a plethora of countries, including the United States, last month. The CDC has since changed its guidance on travel to the European hotspot famous for its archaeological sites and beaches, encouraging visitors to get vaccinated ahead of time. The U.S. State Department has also issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Greece, advising Americans to reconsider travel due to COVID-19.

Mexico continues to be one of the most accessible international destinations as visitors are not required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain entry. Arrivals also won't need to quarantine but will be subject to temperature checks and other health screening. In addition to the CDC, the State Department has lowered its travel advisory for Mexico to a Level 3, recommending Americans reconsider travel due to the pandemic.

Panama reopened to tourism earlier this year amid low rates of positive COVID-19 test results and impressive vaccination rates. As of June, the CDC continues to alert travelers to what it considers to be a high level of COVID-19 in the Central American country. Nonetheless, fully vaccinated travelers are no longer being encouraged to avoid visiting.

Puerto Rico recently waived COVID-19 testing requirements for fully vaccinated travelers visiting from the U.S. and the CDC encourages travelers to get inoculated against the virus before visiting. Americans won't need a passport to gain entry nor will they need a negative test result in order to board their return flight home to the mainland U.S. thanks to Puerto Rico's U.S. territory status.

South Africa reopened to international travelers with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result last fall but has had to wait several months to see eased travel recommendations from the CDC, which now includes the country in its crowded Level 3 tier.

Like France, Spain just reopened to vaccinated global travelers this week, a decision that was met by a lowered Travel Health Notice from the CDC and State Department. The former agency asks travelers to get fully vaccinated if they plan to visit while the latter is recommending travelers reconsider plans to visit during the pandemic. As of June 10, Spain has reported more than 3.7 million COVID-19 cases, including 80,332 deaths since the pandemic began.

Thailand recently approved a phased reopening plan that will see Phuket welcome back fully vaccinated international visitors quarantine-free starting July 1. The CDC still warns of a high level of COVID-19 in the country heading into the busy summer travel period while the State Department continues to recommend that Americans reconsider travel plans due to the pandemic.

The CDC's Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the United Kingdom matches the State Department's Level 3 travel advisory for the popular overseas destination. However, with the United States currently on the U.K.'s amber list, even fully vaccinated visitors will have to adhere to strict COVID-19 testing and quarantine restrictions ahead of and upon arrival this summer.