Since March, the majority of everything has been unknown. Whether it’s if there will be school tomorrow, wondering if our state or country will go into lock down, if our families and friends will remain healthy, everything is uncertain. For some, what they miss the most during this time is vacationing - the break from their regular routine, allowing them to relax and spend time with their families. At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. closed its borders and banned all international travel. They were trying to stop the spread of the virus and felt this was the best way to achieve this. On August 6, they lifted the travel ban and are now just recommending that citizens do not travel outside of the country's borders. They created a system where each country is labeled a level between one and four, describing whether it is safe to travel to each specific location or if the travelers should reconsider.
As more countries allow travel, citizens are realizing that even if you can travel somewhere, you might not want to. Some countries have an extreme number of precautions needed to be taken while visiting. These precautions include country-wide curfews, cancellations of activities and services, requiring quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the country, and many more. While the list of countries that are open for travel is getting longer and longer, that doesn’t mean that it’s actually becoming safer. Many countries rely on tourists for their economy and they will struggle greatly if they don’t start opening back up. Their restrictions and safety precautions may help, but they definitely don’t eliminate the chances of you getting the virus.
For most travelers, this information is enough to keep them and their families in the country and only visiting places within the U.S. Their concerns not only include the country going into lock down where they are unable to go home, but also the likelihood of them getting the virus and not being able to receive the best medical care possible. The real debate though, is whether or not all of the stress and preparation for international travel is worth the risk.
https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-can-americans-travel-right-now