Venice in Amsterdam

For months, American travelers have been banned from entering Europe, except for a few countries like Croatia. But as the pandemic barrels on, some airlines and select European cities are teaming up to create new programs that will allow Americans traveling for “essential reasons” to visit without quarantining.

Starting Dec. 15, trans-Atlantic airline partners Delta and KLM will launch COVID-tested flights to Amsterdam, allowing U.S. passengers to bypass quarantine requirements, Lonely Planet reports.

Delta and KLM collaborate with the Dutch government and airports in Amsterdam and Atlanta to create a rapid COVID-19 testing program. For passengers on select flights, the program will allow those with a negative test result to avoid quarantining upon arrival in Amsterdam.

“This is a significant and great step forward. Until an approved working vaccine is available worldwide, this testing program represents the first step towards the international travel industry’s recovery,” Pieter Elbers, president and CEO of KLM told Lonely Planet.

Delta and KLM will host a three-week trial run of the testing program, and if successful, the program could be rolled out to other destinations. When booking flights between Atlanta and Amsterdam, customers will have the option to book a COVID-tested flight or a regular, non-tested flight that would require them to quarantine for 10 days in the Netherlands. The COVID-tested flights will operate four times per week.

Americans traveling purely for tourism purposes are still not permitted to enter the Netherlands. For that reason, this COVID-tested flight option will only be available to those headed to the country for“ essential reasons” as outlined by the Dutch government. To take the COVID-tested flight, passengers must take a COVID-19 PCR test five days before traveling to Amsterdam, then take a rapid antigen test before boarding the plane in Atlanta, and then take a final PCR test upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

Delta also recently announced that it would launch a trial run of COVID-tested flights between Atlanta and Rome, starting Dec. 19

Show ‘Em That You Care: Timely Gifts.

With only ten days left until Christmas, time is running out to buy those last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers. 2020 hasn’t been the best year for travel lovers, but with some of these stocking stuffers, you can get them ready for all the jet setting they’ll hopefully be able to do next year.

Here are some of the best stocking stuffers for travelers in 2020.

Mini Wireless Speaker

For travelers who want to enjoy their music on the go, a mini wireless speaker is a perfect gift. It’s light, portable, and it’s small size doesn’t sacrifice the sound quality.

Travel Scarf With Hidden Pocket

Part stylish, part utilitarian, a travel scarf with a hidden zipper pocket allows travelers to stay warm while keeping their belongings safe from pickpockets.

Universal Travel Adaptor

Never worry about having the right plug for outlets worldwide with this universal travel adaptor that can take you from the UK to Australia and everywhere in between. Just plug your appliance into the adaptor, and it’s ready for any outlet!

Smartphone Waterproof Case

Whether they’re headed to their own pool or some far-flung beach destination, any traveler could use this handy smartphone waterproof case to keep their precious device safe while snapping some photos near the water.

Travel Jewelry Case

Organizing small items like jewelry can be a hassle when packing a suitcase. Not to mention, more delicate jewelry can get damaged in transit. With a travel jewelry case, all those problems are solved, and they come in many different versions that can be rolled up or folded to be compact.

Digital Luggage Scale

Never pay for overweight packages ever again. Using this digital luggage scale, you’ll know exactly what to expect at the airport.

Passport Holder

A passport holder, especially a travel themed one, is the perfect stocking stuffer for the traveler who loves to explore internationally. Passports are a prized possession, and these holders will protect them from damage.

Let’s Do It!

While several destinations remain closed off to American tourists—most notably nearly all Europe—others are slowly but surely welcoming them again under new rules and regulations. Costa Rica first reopened to American travelers from only six states before expanding to residents of 11 states. And on Nov. 1, they officially reopened to all U.S. tourists.

As the country looks forward to next year, it has launched a new campaign designed to bring more visitors to its idyllic beaches and lush forests. Visit Costa Rica, the country’s tourism agency is inviting people to nominate someone who has made a meaningful difference in their lives to win a free trip to Costa Rica.

Fifteen winners will be selected for the “Who is Essential to You” campaign, which is open to people from all across the U.S. The lucky winners will be awarded a 7-day trip for two to Costa Rica, including roundtrip coach airfare to Costa Rica. The prize also comes with six nights in hotel accommodations, a $200 meal voucher, ground transportation, and travel insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage—a new requirement for all visitors to this Central American nation.

Nominations for this free trip to Costa Rica are open now and close on January 31, 2021, at 11:59 PM EST. Those submitting a nomination must share the story of why the person they’re describing deserves this trip and how they made such an impact on their life. Winners who may be uncomfortable with venturing so far from home during the pandemic have nothing to worry about as they’ll be given a year to redeem their free trip. All trips must be taken by February 28, 2022, hoping that all will return to normal well before then.

For more information on the campaign or to nominate someone, click here.

The Hawaiian Island chain of Kauai Maui, Oahu, the Big Island, and Honolulu are calling.

Hawaii only reopened its doors to tourism about a month and a half ago, but the Aloha State is already launching new initiatives to attract more tourists. The latest campaign encourages visitors to complete volunteer work as they vacation by offering a free night at a hotel in return for their efforts.

The initiative, called Mālama Hawai’i—or care for Hawaii—allows visitors to earn that free hotel stay when they do a wide variety of volunteer work from beach cleanups and ocean reef preservation to tree planting and making quilts for the elderly, Travel+Leisure reports.

“Our goal is to attract mindful visitors who will leave Hawai‘i better than when they arrived,” John Monahan, the president and CEO of the visitor and convention bureau, told Travel+Leisure in a statement. “By doing so, visitors will experience a deeper connection and a vacation that really becomes more meaningful to them.”

Dozens of hotels are participating in the campaign with properties spread across Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Island of Hawaii. Alaska Airlines also announced that it would join the initiative, pledging to plant a tree for every flight to the islands of Hawaii through the end of the year. The carrier estimates they will plant nearly 900 trees in partnership with the Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative.

“As we welcome visitors back to Hawaii, we want to support awareness of mindful travel to the Islands — both in the air and on the ground,” Daniel Chun, Alaska’s director of sales, community and public relations for Hawaii, said in a statement. “Alaska has always taken great pride in being responsible stewards of the places we fly, and we hope our guests take pride in this, too.”

Visitors to Hawaii have the option to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival or can bypass this requirement by providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken at one of the approved laboratories within 72 hours of departure. At some Hawaiian airports, a free COVID test will also be administered upon arrival.

For more information on the volunteer work initiative, click here.

A White Christmas that is safe and warm

With about a month left to go before Christmas, it’s time to start drafting those shopping lists instead of leaving it all to the last minute. If you’re stumped on what to buy the jet setters in your life, here are a few ideas they’re sure to enjoy. The pandemic may have left them with few opportunities to travel, but these gifts will help ease their wanderlust as they experience the world from the comfort of their homes.

Atlas Coffee Club

For the travel lover who can’t imagine starting their day without a cup of coffee, this monthly subscription club will start their day highly caffeinated yet dreaming of travel. At Atlas Coffee Club, members receive a new coffee bag from a different country each month, along with a postcard explaining interesting information about the country. Members can expect to try coffee from all corners of the earth, from Indonesia to Guatemala and beyond. ($60-240)

Universal Yums

Send your loved ones on a global snack adventure with treats from around the world delivered to them monthly. Every month, Universal Yums highlights a different country and curates a snack box filled with both salty and sweet treats from there. Each box also comes with a booklet explaining fun facts about the country and their snacks, plus some trivia and recipes to try. Countries featured in the past include Thailand, Colombia, Russia, and Italy! ($14-36)

The Wordy Traveler

Books are the perfect way to travel with the mind when the body cannot. For the bookworm traveler in your life, this quarterly subscription will transport them to new worlds with books and other goodies that set the reading mood like tea, cozy socks, bookmarks, and other trinkets from the featured destination. With this subscription, you can choose how many books you’d like to receive each quarter, as well as your preference for fiction or nonfiction. The best part of this subscription is that each box gives back to help girls and women worldwide have access to education. It’s a gift that keeps giving. ($50-594)

‘Its the season

Alaska Airlines is making some extra room in their budget for travelers planning to hit the slopes during this year’s ski season by providing complimentary lift passes when they book flights to certain destinations.

With the airline’s “Ski Free” promotion coming back for the 2020-2021 winter season, skiers and snowboarders can head to select resorts in the U.S. and Canada and receive a free lift pass when they present their Alaska Airlines boarding pass.

Travelers flying to Anchorage, Alaska from Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Spokane will enjoy the slopes of Alyeska Resort. Those headed to Boise, Idaho, from Seattle will be welcomed with free passes at Bogus Basin. In contrast, Eaglecrest Ski Area passes are available with flights from Anchorage, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Seattle, Sitka, and Yakutat to Juneau. Flights from Seattle and Portland to Billings, Montana come free passes to Red Lodge Mountain, and passes to RED Mountain Resort are available with flights from Anchorage, Boise, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle Spokane.

Meanwhile, passengers flying to Kelowna, Canada, can get 25% off lift tickets at Big White Ski Resort. And those traveling to Steamboat Springs from Seattle or San Diego can receive free ski passes for kids at Steamboat Ski Resort.

As with most great deals in life, there’s a small catch.

Most resorts will only allow a free ski pass on the same day of a flight, and many promotions require passengers to travel on a specific flight route. Travelers receive one free ski pass per boarding pass presented, and it cannot be combined with any other offers. Some resorts will only honor the boarding pass only during specific promotional periods.

To book a flight and get more information on the other resorts participating in the “Ski Free” promotion, visit Alaska Airlines’ official website.