The Best Way to Travel Safely with Friends and Family in 2021-2022

Reconnect with your friends and family again with the best ways to travel to beautiful destinations.

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As countries reopen, travel is going to look and feel very unfamiliar to what we are used to. When you start travelling with your friends and family, you will see that there will be safety procedures in place, testing and cleaning practices available to help you feel safe when you are travelling around. Social distancing requirements will remain throughout the year, and it will be advised to make sure you wash your hands frequently.

You will notice that destinations won’t feel so compacted as they did before; they will be less crowded, and travellers are likely to opt for more of an isolated and quieter place to stay. Travel experts predict that travellers will be more mindful when it comes to the holiday travelling experience. 

Where do you want to travel in 2021? At the start of every year, we are always thinking about where to go on holiday. At the present time, it might seem unimaginable to think about traveling abroad, due to the global COVID – 19 pandemic and travel restrictions that have closed the borders of many countries. But there is light at the end of the tunnel: Things are looking up for 2021, where you can reconnect with your friends and family again, and you can select your dates your friends and family would like to travel. If you are feeling anxious about booking up experiences when you are on holiday, you can research trips that can be booked around staying with friends and family. While many places around the world will remain off-limits for quite some time, more and more countries are starting to begin to open their borders.

We have put together some top tips you should think about before travelling with loved ones, and some the best places to visit in 2021-2022.

Please Note: You should check travel restrictions for the destination you are hoping to visit. 

Top Tips:

1. Insurance – You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. It’s a good idea to visit your doctor a month or so before you travel for advice on vaccinations.

2. Documents – Check your passport, check in plenty of time in case any are about to expire. Certain countries refuse entry to tourists whose passports are less than six months from expiry. Make sure you have got your boarding passes, medication, contact details, driving licence etc. Check in advance if you need a visa for your destination. The time it takes to apply and receive a visa can vary.

3. Travel money – It’s important to have some money wherever you are going, even if you are visiting a place where you think you are not going to need much money. You never know what you might need it for. You can usually get currency at the airport.

4. Travel Itinerary – Find out your flight times, including departure time and when you will need to check in by, arrive at the airport in plenty of time just in case there are any unexpected delays. Check in online the night before and print off your boarding passes.

5. Suitcase & Hand Luggage – Create yourself a checklist for everything that you want to take away with you on holiday. Double check the weight allowance, and get yourself a set of scales to weigh your suitcase and hand luggage before you go to the airport, it is always a good idea to take your scales with you so you can check the weight again when you pack your suitcase when returning to the airport for your return flight.

6. Toiletries – Take smaller bottles, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Also remember that you can’t bring any liquids over 100ml in your hand luggage to avoid having to bin toiletries at the airport.

7. Electronics – Mobile phones, main plugs for chargers, chargers for devices, international plug adapter, portable USB charging docks, tablets, and shavers.

8. Health & Medication – Health card, prescriptions, and first aid kits. 

Also Find: Best Currency Exchange in Auckland


Where to Travel:

1. Kenya

Kenya’s one of East Africa’s major players when it comes to untouched natural beauty, and is also the home to wildlife like lions, elephants, and rhinos. This East African country has 54 national parks and reserves in total. 

Key Facts:

Capital – Nairobi
Currency – Kes: Kenyan Shilling
Language – Swahili
Population – 52.57 million (2019)
Travel Time (from Auckland) – 1d 3h duration, 2+ stops

Things to do:

1. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
2. Haller Park
3. Diani Beach
4. Fort Jesus Museum
5. Watamu National Marine Park
6. Nairobi National Park
7. Giraffe Centre
8. Nyali Beach
9. Watamu Beach
10. Mida Creek

2. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a rain forested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific, known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Experience the tranquil tropical beaches, incredible adventures, the wonders of breath taking nature, and brilliant culture. Costa Rica is one of the most visited international destinations. You will never get bored whilst soaking up all of the amazing adventures you can discover in Costa Rica, from visiting the little Amazonas, to riding a wave at one of the best places in the world to surf. 

Key Facts:

Capital – San Jose
Language – Spanish
Currency – CRC:Costa Rican Colon
Population – 5.048 million
Travel Time (from Auckland) – Direct Flight Approx 14 hours 13 minutes
Temperature: Average temperature of 70F to 81F

Things to do:

1. Teatro Nacional Costa Rica
2. La Fortuna Waterfall
3. Tamarindo Beach
4. Playa Manuel Antonio
5. Jaco Beach
6. Curi Cancha Reserve
7. Neo Fauna CR
8. Tio Leo Coffee Tour
9. Royal Butterflies
10. Ponderosa Adventure Park

3. Mexico

Mexico is a country in the southern portion of North America and is one of the most bio-diverse countries on earth. There’s no bad time to visit one of Mexico’s beaches – it’s sunny and warm year-round on both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. It’s hottest from May to September, but the short bursts of rain that come around this time tend to cool things down a bit. Mexico holidays offer all the paradise of the Caribbean, with a sprinkling of Latin fiestas and mythical Mayan sites. Beautiful beaches, superb shopping, and charming cuisine makes it the ideal place to kick back and relax. 

Key Facts:

Capital – Mexico City
Language – Spanish
Currency – MXN Mexican Peso
Population – 127.6 million
Travel Time (from Auckland) – 18 hours
Temperature – Summer 35/36 °C Winter 22 °C

Things to do:

1. The Whale Shark Festival
2. Artisan Markets of Isla Mujeres
3. Museum Hop in Mexico City
4. Playa Delfines
5. Xcaret
6. El Arco de Cabo San Lucas
7. Cenotes Dos Ojos
8. Tulum Archaeological Site
9. Museo Nacional de Antropologia
10. Parque Ecológico Chipinque

4. Maldives

Maldives is the ultimate luxury island escape with private, white sandy islands by crystal clear blue waters.

Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small archipelagic state in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometres from the Asian continent’s mainland. The average daily temperatures most times of the year are highs of 32 C (89 F) and lows of 26 C (78 F).

Key Facts:

Capital – Male
Language – Dhivehi & English
Currency – MVR:Rufiyaa
Population – 530,953
Travel Time (from Auckland) 21h 10m duration, 1+ stops
Temperature – November to April 30°C – 31°C

Things to do:

1. Atoll Transfer
2. Male Fish Market
3. Male Local Market
4. Grand Friday Mosque
5. Hukuru Miskiiy (Old Friday Mosque)
6. National Museum
7. Artificial Beach
8. Hulhumale Mosque
9. Sultan Park
10. Hulhumale Beach

5. Barbados

Barbados is famous for its stunning beaches, but there is so much more to this island. You can try your hand at kitesurfing or catamaran sailing, dance the night away in the annual Crop Over festival, or even hike the sugar cane fields and tropical forests of the island’s interior.

Visit Barbados and fall in love with Caribbean island life. Discover beautiful white-sand beaches, a cultured and historical vibe, plenty of rum and sunshine and island music wherever you go.

Key Facts: 

Capital – Bridgetown
Language: English
Currency – Barbados Dollar
Population – 287,025
Travel Time (from Auckland) 1d 10h duration, 2+ stops
Temperature: The average daily temperature is between 24°C and 32°C

Things to do:

1. Shark hole
2. Carlisle Bay
3. Pamir
4. Sky Mall
5. Miami Beach Barbados
6. Oistins Friday Night Fish Fry
7. Queen Street Beach
8. Dover Beach
9. Mount Gay Visitor Centre
10. Folkestone Marine Park & Visitor Centre

6. Italy

Italy is a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline.

Along with fantastic food, holidays to Italy present unforgettable scenery, picture perfect pretty towns, and scenic ancient sights. 

Captivating cities, amazing architecture and sandy beaches, holidays to Italy are one of a kind from beach breaks to city trips and getaways to the beautiful Italian lakes. 

Enjoy a trip to the history filled spots such as Rome and Venice, Shop till you drop at shoppers heaven at Rome and Milan, indulge yourself with the finest pizza, pasta, and ice cream, or taste some of the finest wines. 

Key Facts:

Capital – Rome
Language – Italian
Currency – Euro
Population – 60.36 million
Travel Time (from Auckland)
Temperature – Summer temperatures are the hottest around 30°C

Things to do:

1. St. Peter’s Basilica
2. Basilica of the Sagrada Familia
3. Duomo di Milano
4. Trevi Fountain
5. Doge’s Palace
6. Acropolis
7. Underground Naples
8. Museo Egizio
9. Santuario di Madonna di San Luca
10. Colosseum

7. Greece

Greece is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. And it’s not hard to realise why. The country has tons of things on offer, from spotless sands, centuries of history, to traditional towns. The biggest of the Greek islands are Crete, Corfu, Kos, and Skopelos.

The island of Zante is best known for its beaches. Thassos, Paros, and Samos like to stay out of the spotlight and are your best bet for peace and quiet. 

If you want to stay on the mainland, Halkidiki, Kalamata, or Parga are the places to stay. For a peaceful beach holiday, the island of Santorini is perfect.

Greece is one of those unique places where ancient history is still a part of modern life. Visitors are as much drawn to the country’s epic intellectual history as its beauty and charm. Make time for the iconic features of the Acropolis of Athens, which include the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike. Mythology buffs will appreciate Crete, Olympia, Samos, and Naxos for their mythological significance. 

Key Facts: 

Capital – Athens
Language – Greek
Currency – Euro 
Population – 10.72 million
Travel Time (from Auckland) – 22 hours & 12 minutes
Temperature – Summer July & August is in high 30s

Things to do:

1. Acropolis
2. Imbros Gorge
3. Hiking Trail Fira – Oia
4. Tsambika Beach
5. Paleokastritsa Monastery
6. Lake Plastira
7. Church of Saint Dimitrios – Patron of Thessaloniki
8. Heraklion Archaeological Museum
9. Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
10. Anthony Quinn Bay

8. Iceland 

The spectacular island, which hovers just below the Arctic Circle, is one of the most geologically active places in the world.

The winter months are your best bet for catching a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights.

Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital city, blends traditional charm with cosmopolitan style.

The Blue Lagoon – a huge geothermal hot tub – is a must-do. Its water temperature hovers around a toasty 37°C.

Key Facts:

Capital – Reykjavik
Language – Icelandic
Currency – ISK:Icelandic Krona
Population – 356,991
Travel Time (from Auckland) – 1d 7h duration, 2+ stops.
Temperature – The average temperature is between 1°C and 7°C

Things to do:

1. Blue Lagoon
2. Northern Lights
3. Whale Watching
4. Perlan
5. Ring Road
6. Black Sand Beach
7. Godafoss
8. Gunnuhver Hot Springs
9. Volcano Tours
10. Viking World

9. Canada

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. A massive country that stretches all the way from the Pacific in the west to the Atlantic in the east. There is skiing at Whistler, culture, and history in the cities of Quebec and Montreal, entertainment and shopping in Vancouver and Toronto, plus some of the most picture perfect scenery that you’ve never seen before which includes: the Rocky Mountains and Niagara Falls. Canada is famous for its snowy winters, making it the ideal spot for skiing.

Key Facts:

Capital – Ottawa
Language – French & English
Currency – Candian Dollar
Population – 37.59 million
Travel Time (from Auckland) – 13 hours 10 minutes
Temperature – 25 to 30 degrees Celsius

Things to do:

1. Niagara Falls Canada
2. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
3. Mount Royal Park
4. Toronto Island Park
5. Banff Gondola Ride
6. Notre-Dame Basilica
7. Queen Elizabeth Park
8. Horseshoe Falls Waterfalls
9. Museum of Anthropology
10. Bowen Island Trip, Hiking & Photography

10. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s position close to the equator means that temperatures are pretty constant throughout the year. Along the coast, average daily highs often climb into the thirties. Monsoon season hits this side of the country in the summer, which means the winter months are lovely and dry. If you’re planning on venturing inland to Kandy or tea plantation territory, it’s a good idea to pack a jumper – the higher altitude brings cooler weather. January is generally the coldest month in Sri Lanka. 

Sri Lanka has two names that it’s also known as, Pearl of the Indian Ocean & Teardrop of India. The first is named after its incredible beauty and one of its main exports being precious gemstones, and secondly is known from being a large tea producer. Sri Lanka is also famous for its cinnamon. 

Key Facts:

Capital – Colombo
Language – Sinhala and Tamil
Currency – LKR – Sri Lankeen Rupee
Population – 21.8 million
Travel Time (from Auckland) – 15h 55m duration, 1+ stops
Temperature – daytime temperatures of around 26–30°C.

Things to do:

1. Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple
2. Mount Lavinia Beach
3. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
4. Udawattekele Sanctuary
5. Sea Turtle Farm Galle Mahamodara
6. Galle Fort
7. St. Mary’s Church
8. Sita Temple
9. Nine Arches Bridge
10. Ravana Ella Falls