Relaxing Restrictions… Ahhh!
It’s been an exciting week in the world of travel. The European Union has agreed that they will be allowing vaccinated travellers to return this summer. Lately I’ve been watching flight deals pop up for Italy, Greece, France, and the United Kingdom in anticipation of future travel.
Closer to home, many states that are still on the road to re-opening have announced dates when they hope to be back to fully-operational. Here in Washington state, that date is set for June 30th. One of those exceptions is Hawaii, which is very much marching to the beat of it’s own drum in terms of re-opening procedure. This is understandable, considering the number of outside visitors the islands usually host throughout the year, but the ever-changing landscape of rules and restrictions can definitely be difficult for travellers to follow.
At this time, Hawaii is still requiring all visitors to provide COVID test results taken within 72 hours of the last leg of travel -this means if you have a layover in L.A., for example, that test needs to fall in a 72 hour window from the time you get on to the plane in Los Angeles, NOT when you left your house. You can read more about the Safe Travels program and testing requirements in a blog post I wrote about Hawaii’s return to travel.
At this time, travellers with a direct flight to Maui may have the chance to be selected for a random COVID test upon arrival (ooh, winner!!). However, if you have a vaccination card showing you have been fully vaccinated, you can bypass this additional test. Reminder, even if you’re fully vaccinated, you still have to be tested prior to departure to Hawaii.
Inter-county travellers must participate in the same 72 hour Safe Travels program to move between Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island, unless you’re headed to Oahu, in which case you do not need to be re-tested between islands.
AND as of last week, Hawaiian residents are now able to move seamlessly between islands with proof of vaccination. The anticipation is that sometime this summer this vaccine passport will be rolled out to use for visitors traveling between islands as well. Whew!
One other thing worth noting at this time is that rules and restrictions are a little different between each island, and that masks are still mandated in Hawaii in all public places -including parks and beaches. The best way to know exactly what rules you need to follow is to check out the state’s COVID-19 portal, and click through to see which mandates apply to you based on the island(s) you are planning to visit.
Watching the states’ re-opening feels really promising and exciting. Slowly, slowly, travel is getting back to normal. This summer I’ll be traveling to Las Vegas for a conference, a couple of my favorite Pacific Northwest towns for weekend getaways with family and friends, and a classic family road trip to Yellowstone National Park. I can’t wait to share some of these adventures with you here on the blog, and as you decide where you’d like to explore this summer, I’d be delighted to help you put together the summer vacation you’ve been waiting two summers for!
Make sure to wear your sunscreen!
Hannah