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Travelling from Switzerland: Five websites that help you plan your holidays abroad

The Local Switzerland
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Travelling from Switzerland: Five websites that help you plan your holidays abroad
Do your research before travelling abroad. Photo by Zurich Airport

There are encouraging signs that foreign travel may resume this summer. Planning a holiday? Here's what you need to know.

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With the announcement that the long-awaited Covid-19 passport (also known as the “immunity card”) will be ready by summer, foreign travel is expected to pick up for the first time since the pandemic began more than a year ago.

But planning a trip abroad is still fraught with challenges due to different travel rules and health restrictions that are still in force in many places, including Switzerland.

Even if you do manage to go abroad, returning to Switzerland may mean a 10-day quarantine.

Problem is, it is impossible to know in advance which countries will be on the high-risk list at the time of your travel.

And even if your destination is not on the list when you leave, it may be added to it while you’re away.

UPDATE: Which countries are currently on Switzerland’s quarantine list?

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Here are some websites that will help you navigate the still-bumpy road to international travel:

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Even in the non-pandemic times, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has a long list of various travel guidelines.

But since the beginning of the outbreak, FDFA has published a new set of travel recommendations, which are important to know even if the epidemiological situation at your destination improves.

The site is in German and French.

READ MORE: UPDATED: Everything you need to know about the ‘green pass’, Switzerland’s coronavirus immunity card

For European travel: Re-open UE

This website has lots of useful information, including a possibility to see what the latest regulations are at your destination. The site is continuously updated and right now it looks like this:

 

Travel beyond Europe: IATA

The website of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has a tool which aggregates all the regulations across the world.

On the map, you can click the link to the official travel agency of the selected country so you can stay abreast of all the travel-related developments.

IATA also has an app, the Travel Pass, that informs passengers of different measures and requirements in force in the destination country, including testing and quarantine requirements.

It also shows where the nearest test locations are.

Still in the testing phase, Travel Pass is currently only available by invitation, but IATA said it would be accessible more widely in the coming weeks.

IATA app

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Travel agency

The map on the Kayak.ch site shows what travel regulations are in place in each country for people coming from Switzerland (or any other nation, for that matter).

 

Embassies / health authorities of individual countries

It’s always a good thing to check out travel advisories directly on the website of the embassy or public health office in your country of destination.

They have the latest and most reliable information about all aspects of international travel, including quarantine and testing requirements, as well as the entry rules in force.

READ MORE: Travel: Where can Swiss residents travel to without quarantine?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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