What’s the best way to travel to the US in August?
Q We are trying to get to the US as soon as possible. We have been exploring different options and thinking one way – now the “air bridges” are in place – is that we could fly to Aruba, stay there for 14 days and then fly on to the US.
Do you think that would work? We are planning to try and get there in August. Is it still likely the US won’t open up until November do you think?
Name supplied
A Since mid-March the US has been inaccessible for anyone who has been in Europe, including the UK and Ireland, within the past 14 days of wanting to travel there.
The idea is to protect Americans from Europeans – even though the US now has the highest number of deaths from coronavirus, and an alarming prevalence of new cases of Covid-19.
I see no early easing of this rule, because it appears now to be purely political ahead of the presidential election in November. Donald Trump claims on Twitter: “We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World. The Fake News should be reporting these most important of facts, but they don’t!” Easing restrictions on Europeans would not play to the narrative of being tough on foreigners. Already Tui, Britain’s biggest holiday company, has cancelled all Florida trips up to December rather than take a chance on presidential whims.
I would not advise you to go to a Caribbean island, just in case the trip goes awry (eg a local flare-up scuppers your plan to continue to the US). The obvious place to pause for the requisite two weeks, it seems to me, is Canada – which has a lower incidence of coronavirus, is lovely in August, and has a range of fine cities and resorts in which to park yourselves. For the west coast, just fly out to Vancouver. Besides the city, you can explore Vancouver Island or the British Columbia hinterland.
If your US destination is in the Midwest, then make it Toronto; there are plenty of lakeshore escapes, and Niagara Falls is not too far away. And Montreal is a good place to be for Boston, New York and the east coast, though Nova Scotia provides more of the great outdoors.
The US-Canada border is closed until 21 July for non-essential travel. While it is possible that this barrier could be extended still further, I would be very surprised if it were still in place beyond mid-August. And if I am wrong, then a quick Caribbean hop from Canada (probably to a larger island with more flights, such as Dominican Republic or Jamaica) could get you to the US without further delay.