Holiday Travel Information for National, International Destinations

Travel is ramping up around the country this holiday season. No matter where you go, stay safe and follow COVID-19 safety recommendations. Many Monterey County residents travel to South America for the holidays. No matter your destination, it is important for all travelers to know the restrictions for your destination state or country as well as what will be required to reenter the United States (if any) if your travel is international. Many destinations require proof of COVID-19 vaccination and there may be testing requirements. There are also travel advisories being posted for certain destinations. Travelers are encouraged to contact their airlines before leaving for specific information and they may also want to check information for the country they are visiting at the State Department Travel website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html. For example, Mexico is a popular international destination but the State Department today announced that travelers should reconsider plans to visit Mexico due to high COVID-19 transmission levels. If you do decide to travel to Mexico, experts recommend taking these actions before and during your travels: ● Travelers are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. ● US citizens can contact the state department with emergencies: 1 202-501-4444 ● Check the Mexican Embassy website for Do Not Travel to states within this country ● Get vaccinated/boosted before traveling. ● Due to very high COVID-19 case rates, if you do visit, follow all safety protocols such as mask wearing, distancing and hand washing. ● Get the information you need before leaving for Mexico. Effective December 6, 2021, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within one calendar day of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Non-citizen travelers returning and entering the United State via land or ferry will be permitted to enter for a non-essential reason (i.e., tourism), provided they are fully vaccinated and can present proof of COVID-19 vaccination status. Until January 2022, unvaccinated travelers may continue to cross the land border for essential travel only, including lawful trade, emergency response, and public health purposes.