Starting on July 1, Thailand plans to re-open its doors to international tourists – with a few caveats.

Although currently experiencing its highest rate of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic, the country plans to move ahead with its previously announced plans to reopen tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that from next month, the country will allow quarantine-free entry to vaccinated tourists from "low-risk" countries who enter Thailand via the island of Phuket.

While more details still need to be confirmed, including what countries are deemed "low risk", for now the TAT says arrivals must be fully vaccinated or have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and must have tested negative not more than 72 hours before arrival.

Upon arriving in Phuket – which by July Thai authorities say will have reached herd immunity – visitors must stay in a hotel approved by the country’s Safety & Health Administration for the first seven nights. While on Phuket, visitors are not required to quarantine and are free to leave their accommodation and travel around the island with few, if any, restrictions, visiting beaches, restaurants and entertainment venues as per normal. Visitors will be required to register at a government website and use an app that tracks their movements. After seven nights on Phuket, visitors are free to leave the island to travel to other points in Thailand.

In preparation for tourists, many of Phuket’s pandemic restrictions have been lifted, and the island’s tourist-oriented businesses have been allowed to operate more or less normally.

Until recently, Thailand seemed virtually pandemic proof, with very few infections and even fewer deaths due to COVID-19. But a recent surge has caused authorities to put the country into semi-lockdown. However, the tourism-dependent country is reeling from an almost total lack of visitors over the previous year, and the government is keen to reverse the country’s economic stagnation.

The government’s registration portal, www.gophuget.com, is still a work in progress, and some key details of the proposed plan, such as whether or not visitors will be allowed to transfer to Phuket via Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, or if children will be required to be vaccinated, have yet to be determined. For updates, stay tuned to the TAT’s news feed on Twitter.

This article was first published on April 2, 2021 and updated on June 2, 2021.

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A week after Malta became the first EU country to reach herd immunity, according to its officials, the pretty archipelago is reopening its borders today and offering financial incentives for visitors.

Malta is one of the most vaccinated destinations in Europe, with 70% of its adult population now vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 42% of the population fully vaccinated. As it gradually reopens to tourism from June 1, the Maltese government has launched its "Incentives for Free Independent Travellers" scheme. It is designed to encourage independent travelers who are visiting for a minimum of three nights to directly book their holiday stays in five-, four- and three-star hotels to receive discounts.

Visitors staying at participating five-star hotels will get €100 ($120) per person towards the cost of their stay, and those staying at four-star hotels will be allocated €75 ($90) per person. Guests at three-star hotels will receive €50 ($60) per person off every booking. Participating hotels are expected to match the incentive amount granted by Malta Tourism Authority, and must allocate the same amount to the traveler to be spent on accommodation, food and beverages and other services within the hotel property, effectively doubling the discounts.

You can view the list of participating properties here. When booking a hotel, travelers will receive a promotion code that can be used to redeem discounts. Most of the promotions will be valid for stays in June and July, though offers may be extended. As an added incentive, visitors to hotel properties on the island of Gozo will receive an additional 10% value on these incentives.

But it's not just hotels that are offering discounts. Visitors can also redeem a €100 voucher at a diving school in Malta; while English-language students that spend between 15 and 30 nights in Malta will be given a €10 allowance per day for food and drink. From October, visitors over the age of 65 who travel to Malta will also receive a €10 per day food and drink allowance if they spend up to 30 nights on any Maltese island.

Malta uses its own traffic light system to categorize countries based on their COVID-19 situation and a number of entry restrictions remain in place. Travelers coming from 'green' or 'safe' countries will only be subjected to thermal screening at the airport and must fill in a passenger locator form. Currently no countries are on the 'green' list.

Travelers coming from 'amber' countries, including most European countries, the UK, and Canada, are required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate before boarding flights to Malta. Travelers from 'red' countries are not permitted to travel to Malta. At present, travelers coming from the US are banned.

Read more: Malta and Gozo's best beaches

As Malta reopens to tourists, it's worth noting the use of masks on beaches and at pools is still recommended. From June 7, more restrictions will ease: bars will open again; restaurants will allow up to six people per table, and groups of up to six people will be allowed to mix outdoors.

Malta will participate in the EU COVID Certificate program when it is up and running in July, and is looking at ways to safely allow more non-EU residents to enter. Meanwhile, further information on both travel restrictions and the Incentives for Free Independent Travellers scheme can be found on Malta Tourism Authority's website here.

This article was originally published on April 26, 2021 and updated on June 1, 2021.

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A new luxury hotel opens today on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, one of France 's most visited attractions and the former residence of Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette.

The site of royal decadence and debaucheries before the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles – now a grand museum – is one of the most visited attractions in France, second only to the Eiffel Tower. With its chandelier-laden Hall of Mirrors and roughly 2300 rooms filled with paintings, tapestries and other treasures, it's a sight to behold. Even the landscaped gardens are a masterpiece.

From today, it's the setting of a new attraction: one of the most anticipated hotel openings of the year. The Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle is a new 14-room hotel, led by architect and designer Christopher Tollemer, who teamed up with the Airelles brand before in the development of their flagship hotel, the five-star Alpine Les Airelles Courchevel. Designed in 18th-century style, with inspiration drawn from Louis XVI’s personal style, the hotel has a private spa by Valmont, and a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse (of Le Jules Verne fame).

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The luxury hotel is located on the grounds of the palace and will grant guests exclusive access to the famous château 'after hours' with private tours, including Marie Antoinette’s much-loved English Gardens and Louis XIV’s Grand Trianon. Each room has its own dedicated butler, and among the experiences on offer are secret dinners in The Orangery Gardens and private concerts in The Royal Opera Theatre.

The hotel was due to welcome guests in 2020 but the grand opening was pushed back with the pandemic. Now it's opening a week before France welcomes international visitors back on June 9.

Naturally, a royal sleepover on the grounds of Versailles doesn't come cheap. Prices start from about €1700 (US$$2070) per two adults per night. For more information, see here.

Those of us whose budgets can't stretch that far can still visit the palace and wander its magnificent 18th-century rooms as Château de Versailles has finally reopened to the public after months of closure. Social distancing guidelines apply and protective masks must be worn inside. Tickets can be booked online.

This article was first published on October 12, 2019 and updated on June 1, 2021.

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Visitors to Colorado can once again take a scenic train journey up Pikes Peak, after a famous cog railway service reopened after a three-year renovation period.

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway began operating in June 1891. It is the world’s highest and longest cog railroad at 14,115 feet, and is the highest railroad in the US and Northern Hemisphere. The new upgrades include the addition of new trains, tracks and a depot, and the establishment of the Pikes Peak Visitor Center, which has an elevated pathway and overlook. The new visitor centre is opening in June.

The train's trip to the top of Pikes Peak begins and ends at the Manitou Depot, and takes one hour and ten minutes to reach the summit. After 40 minutes spent on top to take in the views, it's back to the depot, making it a round trip of approximately three hours. The views are what draw in eager visitors, as the Collegiate and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges are visible from the top, as is the Continental Divide, and Denver can even be seen on a clear day.

Along the way, guests get to learn about the history and geology of the mountains, and hear the stories of historical points and significant people who shaped the region. The train enters Pike National Forest and travels within the steep, rocky walls of Englemann Canyon, traveling past stacked boulder formations, a striking waterfall and through Deer Park.

Further information on the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway can be found here.

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Starting on June 1, travelers to Alaska will be offered free COVID-19 vaccines at airports, as part of the US state's initiative to restart its tourism industry.

Travelers ages 12 and over arriving at four airports — Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Fairbanks International Airport, Juneau International Airport and Ketchikan International Airport — can receive a free vaccine upon arrival.

The Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna vaccines will be available. However, while Pfizer has been approved for people ages 12 and up, the Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines have only been approved for ages 18 and up. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require a second dose several weeks after the first, and those who stay for a longer period can also get their second shot in Alaska.

Alaska does not require COVID-19 testing for those entering the state, but travelers are encouraged to read the state’s safe travel information, and complete the Safe Travel Travels Form on the Alaska Travel Portal. The travel portal is also where travelers can request a free COVID-19 test on arrive and request their free COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, the US-Canada border remains closed to all non-essential travel. Many international travelers — including those from the UK, Ireland, the European Schengen area, China, Brazil, South Africa and more — are still barred from entering the US. More information can be found at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services' website.

This article was originally published on April 22, 2021 and updated on May 31, 2021.

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Ireland is gradually emerging from one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, with the government approving plans on Friday for the return of foreign travel in July, as well as a wider reopening of the hospitality sector.

Ireland's taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin today approved plans to resume non-essential international travel from July 19. Under the recommendation of the EU, Ireland will participate in the union's COVID travel certificate system, which shows the holder's proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or negative test results, and allows them to travel across the EU without COVID restrictions. At a government press conference on Friday, Mr Martin stressed the need to "get this right" and ensure travel resumes in a "safe and sustainable way."

Ireland's transport minister Eamon Ryan said travel between Ireland and the US and UK will also resume on July 19. While the EU travel certificate does not apply to the US or the UK, Mr Ryan told national broadcaster RTE that a "similar broad approach" will be taken. More details are expected soon, though it's likely there will be additional restrictions in place for travel with the UK due to the prevalence of B.1.617.2, a more transmissible COVID-19 variant first detected in India.

Despite early concerns about Ireland's vaccine rollout, Ireland's health minister Stephen Donnelly said 50% of the adult population will have received at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of this week. Ireland has been under rolling nationwide lockdowns since March 2020, operating under the strictest level of restrictions from last December to this May with measures that shut down hospitality and retail, banned indoor household mixing, and prohibited people traveling more than 5km from their homes.

But as the vaccine rollout gathers speed, restrictions have begun to ease. Domestic travel is now permitted and hotels will open on June 2. Restaurants and bars can currently only offer takeout or delivery services, but outdoor dining will resume from June 7, and indoor hospitality for pubs and restaurants will be permitted from July 5.

Museums, galleries and cultural attractions opened in mid-May with social distancing and face mask guidelines in place. Theaters are permitted to follow in June, and pilot outdoor events will be trialed in Dublin's Phoenix Park and Iveagh Gardens later this summer to facilitate the return of festivals and live music gigs. Plans are also in place to allow fans to attend sporting events from June.

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Many travelers head to California’s ancient redwood forests to see the giant trees tower over them. But now there’s a chance to explore a bit closer to their lofty canopies on a new ‘sky walk’.

The Redwood SkyWalk at Sequoia Park Zoo will host its grand opening the weekend of June 4 to 6, allowing visitors to explore the forest from 100-feet above the ground.

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Located in Eureka, California, the sky walk is a series of connected elevated bridges that take visitors to the raised platforms, where they can see this old-growth redwood grove from a new perspective. At nearly one-quarter mile long, the zoo says it will be the longest sky walk in the Western US. According to the zoo, as there are no stairs the entire place is ADA-accessible, except for an optional adventure portion.

The Redwood SkyWalk is within Sequoia Park, a 67-acre grove in the city of Eureka. Eureka is located within Humboldt County, which is also home to Redwood National Park, where more than 45 percent of California’s remaining protected old-growth redwoods forests grow.

Read more: Roaming among the redwoods in California’s Humboldt County

According to the zoo, the platforms are suspended from the trees, and therefore do not impact the forest floor below. They are designed to “ensure negligible impact" on the trees and allow them to continue to grow. While the platforms bring visitors much closer to the trees, guests are advised not to touch their delicate bark.

The grand opening will adhere to current COVID-19 guidelines, but California is poised to remove many of its restrictions on capacity and social distancing by June 15.

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Exploring the USA by rail will get easier once again, as long-distance Amtrak routes begin to return to daily service after the COVID-19 pandemic caused schedule reductions in 2020.

The first phase of the plan launched this week, with the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Empire Builder and Texas Eagle returning to daily trips. This will be followed by the restoration of the Capitol Limited, City of New Orleans, Lake Shore Limited and Southwest Chief on May 31. The Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star services will be restored in the third phase, on June 7.

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All destinations and scheduled departure/arrival times served by the long distance network will be maintained, and it will continue to operate the Auto Train daily and the Cardinal and Sunset Limited trains tri-weekly.

This is not the only welcome news for travelers who love Amtrak—on April 30, during the celebrations for Amtrak's 50th anniversary— US President Joe Biden pledged to ask for an $80-billion investment in rail as part of his infrastructure proposal. Having earned the nickname “Amtrak Joe” as a young senator for his frequent trips between Washington DC and his home in Delaware, the current president has been a long-time supporter of rail travel.

Read more: How can I explore the US by Amtrak?

Both federal law and Amtrak policy require all customers and employees to wear a mask at all times when on trains and in stations—regardless of vaccination status or the state or local laws. Amtrak is no longer limiting the capacity on trains, but offers real-time information of seats sold, and customers are able to change their ticket if the "capacity exceeds comfort levels". Find out more about the company's COVID-19 policies here.

This article was originally published on March 12, 2021 and updated on May 26, 2021.

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Puerto Rico will today remove testing requirements for fully vaccinated American travelers. The move aims to facilitate travel from the US to Puerto Rico as the Caribbean island gradually eases some restrictions.

Puerto Rico has laid out plans for reducing COVID-era restrictions as new infection rates begin to decline across the country. From May 25, fully vaccinated US tourists do not have to be tested for COVID-19 to enter Puerto Rico. However, travelers coming from any other international destination must present a negative PCR test result, or risk a fine of US $300. All travelers are required to fill out a Traveler Declaration Form.

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Fully vaccinated travelers who are planning to visit Puerto Rico (more than two weeks after their final jab) must upload their COVID-19 vaccination card to Puerto Rico Health Department's online portal. Once uploaded, they'll receive a QR code, which will be scanned when they arrive at the airport.

Across Puerto Rico bars and nightclubs remain closed, but some non-essential businesses are open. A spokesperson for the tourism board, Discover Puerto Rico, confirmed to Lonely Planet that additional reduced restrictions have come into effect this week. They include an increased capacity to 50% (from 30%) for non-essential bussiness such as museums, hotel pools, restaurants and retail; the removal of the mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals in parks and beaches; and permission to consume alcohol in parks and beaches.

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Social distancing guidelines, specific entry requirements and capacity limits have been introduced at tourist attractions. For example, visitors must present a negative test result to enter the island of Vieques, and access to Old San Juan between midnight and 5am is limited to residents and tourists staying in the area. Puerto Rico's coliseums (entertainment venues) have reopened at 30% capacity, with all attendees required to present either a vaccination card, or negative antigen test to gain admission. Travelers are advised to check guidelines online before booking any tours or visits to tourist attractions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently lists Puerto Rico at Level 4: Very High Level of COVID-19, recommending that visitors take precautions such as mask wearing (over nose and mouth) and social distancing, and follow all local requirements when in Puerto Rico.

For more information on Puerto Rico's travel guidelines, see here.

This article was first published on June 22, 2020 and updated on May 25, 2021

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Travel News Stories

Vaccinated? Phuket wants to welcome you next month

Malta is offering deals to lure visitors as it reopens to travel

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It's now easier for vaccinated US travelers to go to Puerto Rico

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