CoVid Travel

[Caboose29 173]

If you’re seriously considering Turkey then head over to the Turkey forum on Trip Advisor. You’ll get the most accurate information than anywhere else. The resident members are EXTREMELY helpful. 

[Keithn85 400]

6 hours ago, JoeJ1979 said:

I did look there first and this information is over 6 months old -since July there has been no other updates in the post.  So I thought I would ask here and get others suggestions - thank you

I met my fiancee in Turkey in September.  It was easy and I only had to get an e-visa.  We also had an excellent experience as we traveled to Kemer and stayed at a resort.  We went on plenty of excursions.  It was an excellent way to spend a full vacation for both of us.  Things might be a little more strict now with testing but once you are in, it is normal like everywhere else.

I went to Ukraine in December.  The hardest part about that was my PCR test was not accepted after I started isolation via the Vdoma app.  She had a second sim card that i put in my phone while i was there to run the app.  The test I took in Colorado 48 hours before I arrived was not completed until 1 day in Ukraine.  I ended up testing at a local facility and received results within 36 hours.  I would suggest for Ukraine to either test before leaving, guaranteeing you will have results to show border patrol, or test at the airport as the results will be within 24 hours.  We want to go somewhere else after my next visit to Ukraine in March while we wait, but we will figure that out between now and then.  

 

My suggestion would definitely be go to Turkey now and then do research on other places for future visits during the trip to Turkey.  You are spending time with each other and also planning for the future.

[pasharapov 3]

Made a list with my fiance (from Russia) based on countries we both can enter base on existing flights and entry restrictions:

- Belarus (I don't recommend based on current political/civil battles)

- Egypt (dirty but ok)

- Mexico (cheap, safe in most areas)

- Serbia (nice, but cold)

- Tanzania (unsafe, expensive to travel to)

- Turkey (went there last august, was wonderful)

- UAE (expensive)

 

The list gets much longer when you're already in one of these countries, adding places like Antigua, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, etc. Since Mexico is near many other available countries, we recently decided to temporarily move to Mexico together (up to 180 days) while we wait. If this fiasco continues another 5-6 months, then we'll simply hop to the next country and repeat. 

 

Originally applied for K1 November, 2019. Everything accepted in Moscow April 2020, have been waiting for an interview ever since.

Hope this inspires someone to move abroad! With all the work from home these days, it IS doable. Or eat into your savings like I am.

 

 

 

[Easypeasy 10]

On 2/24/2021 at 3:04 PM, Strawberrymermaid said:

Turkey and Serbia tend to be popular ones. I have done both Turkey and Mexico. Mexico was amazing and very little was needed to go there. My husband had to get an E-visa online.

What hotel or resort did you end up staying at? We're looking at going to Turkey in the next couple of weeks and I'm just trying to see if anyone whose been have any recommendations? I will also ask in Turkey forum.

[Strawberrymermaid 346]

20 hours ago, Easypeasy said:

What hotel or resort did you end up staying at? We're looking at going to Turkey in the next couple of weeks and I'm just trying to see if anyone whose been have any recommendations? I will also ask in Turkey forum.

We originally booked an AirBnB but it had NO AIRCONDITIONING and my Tennessee heart just couldn't do it. We stayed at Daru Sultan hotel near the Galata tower. I believe it was around 70 dollars a night. It was nice, clean, and stayed cold. I recommend! It was also in a beautiful, walkable area.

[pasharapov 3]

On 2/28/2021 at 1:24 PM, Easypeasy said:

What hotel or resort did you end up staying at? We're looking at going to Turkey in the next couple of weeks and I'm just trying to see if anyone whose been have any recommendations? I will also ask in Turkey forum.

First week we stayed at the Pera Palace hotel. Got a great deal on hotels dot com, it was truly magical. Great location, great staff, and most importantly, great room.
The oldest international hotel in Istanbul, it has character flowing out the windows. 

[Easypeasy 10]

On 3/1/2021 at 10:25 AM, Strawberrymermaid said:

We originally booked an AirBnB but it had NO AIRCONDITIONING and my Tennessee heart just couldn't do it. We stayed at Daru Sultan hotel near the Galata tower. I believe it was around 70 dollars a night. It was nice, clean, and stayed cold. I recommend! It was also in a beautiful, walkable area.

Lol believe me I'm from Florida so any chance I get I'm enjoying the a/c 🤣. Thank you I will look into that! Where did you fly into ? you didnt have any problems with connecting flights going through Schengen area did you? 

[Easypeasy 10]

17 hours ago, pasharapov said:

First week we stayed at the Pera Palace hotel. Got a great deal on hotels dot com, it was truly magical. Great location, great staff, and most importantly, great room.
The oldest international hotel in Istanbul, it has character flowing out the windows. 

Thank you! i will look into this as well ! If i may ask where did you fly from ? were there any difficulties? 

[Caboose29 173]

10 minutes ago, Easypeasy said:

Lol believe me I'm from Florida so any chance I get I'm enjoying the a/c 🤣. Thank you I will look into that! Where did you fly into ? you didnt have any problems with connecting flights going through Schengen area did you? 

When I went in December, I flew from DFW to Istanbul (the new airport IST). Both flights for me had layovers at London Heathrow. 

[Easypeasy 10]

2 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

When I went in December, I flew from DFW to Istanbul (the new airport IST). Both flights for me had layovers at London Heathrow. 

Ok so you don't think me flying into paris and back to the US would be a problem?

[Caboose29 173]

3 minutes ago, Easypeasy said:

Ok so you don't think me flying into paris and back to the US would be a problem?

If the Schengen Zone is still closed off to USCs then yes it would be a problem, if that's your destination.  I don't know that RCs can fly to France either.  I met my fiancee in Turkey because that was the most practical country that was open to both of us.  As I understand it, you can however "transit" through the Schengen Zone countries.

[Strawberrymermaid 346]

26 minutes ago, Easypeasy said:

Thank you! i will look into this as well ! If i may ask where did you fly from ? were there any difficulties? 

 

28 minutes ago, Easypeasy said:

Lol believe me I'm from Florida so any chance I get I'm enjoying the a/c 🤣. Thank you I will look into that! Where did you fly into ? you didnt have any problems with connecting flights going through Schengen area did you? 

I intentionally didn't transit through Schengen, I flew direct on Turkish airlines from Chicago to Istanbul!

[Caboose29 173]

8 minutes ago, Easypeasy said:

Ok so you don't think me flying into paris and back to the US would be a problem?

A place for very good information, and very up to date information are the country specific forums over at trip advisor.  You can even drill down into specific cities of each country.  Heck, I learned from locals that post there where the Covid testing facility INSIDE the airport was located before I even left the US.  I didn't need it by the way back in December.  But travel restrictions can change weekly or almost daily.

[Easypeasy 10]

3 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

If the Schengen Zone is still closed off to USCs then yes it would be a problem, if that's your destination.  I don't know that RCs can fly to France either.  I met my fiancee in Turkey because that was the most practical country that was open to both of us.  As I understand it, you can however "transit" through the Schengen Zone countries.

Yes, i would be transitioning through the Schengen Zone 

[Easypeasy 10]

8 minutes ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

 

I intentionally didn't transit through Schengen, I flew direct on Turkish airlines from Chicago to Istanbul!

Ok thanks, one last question i hope 😅 when you and your husband went to Mexico was did he fly through europe? I'm asking because I was also looking into Mexico and I see her flight would require her to fly through Amsterdam. She doesnt have her Schengen Visa anymore and I'm curious if she would need it if she's just catching a connected flight