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Kenya is open for US travelers, but you might not want to go just yet

Oct. 07, 2020
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4 min read
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Kenya is open for US travelers, but you might not want to go just yet
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The beautiful East African country of Kenya has been open to U.S. travelers for a few weeks now after successfully flattening the spread of COVID-19 throughout the nation. However, it isn't all smooth sailing: There is a curfew in place, as well as intercity travel restrictions.

If you've been planning a trip to the African continent, and want to stop at Giraffe Manor or on safari, here's what you need to know about visiting Kenya.

Despite the U.S. State Department's Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory on Kenya, the country has actually had significant success in quashing the coronavirus pandemic's impact across the nation. That being said, Kenya still has limited medical resources available to locals and tourists alike, particularly in rural areas, so travelers are recommended to keep a close eye on requirements for entry as well as to maintain a clean bill of health before visiting.

Related: Here's how a universal basic income (UBI) helped Kenyans minimize the impact of COVID

Entrance requirements

According to the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, U.S. travelers must meet the following travel requirements:

  • Body temperature at or below 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit
  • No persistent cough, difficulty breathing or other flu-like symptoms
  • Produce a negative PCR-based COVID-19 test result from within 96 hours of arrival time in Kenya (so plan ahead and factor in the long travel times from the U.S. to East Africa). Travelers who cannot produce a negative test within the stated parameters may be denied boarding or entry into the country
  • Travelers will still need to complete the Kenya e-visa before departure as well

Related: Some airports now offer PCR-compliant tests directly in the terminal — but you'll still need to plan ahead

Upon arrival, travelers must respect local social distancing and mask requirements in public, as well as nightly curfew hours throughout the nation, from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. each night. Furthermore, any travel between cities via public transportation requires mandatory certification from the Ministry of Health.

Related: Here's where you can book a COVID-19 test for travel

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Travelers who meet these requirements will not have to quarantine upon arrival, although any violations of requirements may be punished with a mandatory 14-day quarantine at the traveler's expense.

How to get there and where to stay

Flights to Kenya are quite affordable right now, with routes from New York (JFK) to Nairobi (NBO) beginning at just $611 round trip on KLM in November, while flights from Chicago (ORD) to Nairobi (NBO) are similarly priced at $619 round trip on Turkish Airlines around the same time.

Flights on Star Alliance metal, with round trips on United/Lufthansa from $629 round trip from Newark to Nairobi or 88,000 MileagePlus miles and $109 in taxes and fees. American Airlines flyers can book award flights from 80,000 AAdvantage miles and $350 in taxes and fees, round trip, while Qatar Airways gives travelers a chance to experience a Middle East carrier for just $719 round trip from Los Angeles, with a stop in Doha.

Hotel options are plentiful for October dates and later, with more than 1,000 hotels bookable on Hotels.com in Nairobi alone. The aforementioned Giraffe Manor is open for visitors, at an all-inclusive rate of $1,375 per night for a single room. On the more affordable end of the spectrum, Marriott's Autograph Collection Sankara Nairobi begins at $150 or 30,000 Bonvoy points per night, while the Four Points Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham begins at $86 or 15,000 points per night in December 2020.

Hilton fans can book the Hilton Nairobi from $76 or 23,000 Hilton Honors points per night, while IHG fans have the option of the Intercontinental Nairobi for $85 or 20,000 IHG points per night.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.