You can't visit Europe or Asia, but how about Rwanda?
As the travel industry reopens following COVID-19 shutdowns, TPG suggests that you talk to your doctor, follow health officials' guidance and research local travel restrictions before booking that next trip. We will be here to help you prepare, whether it is next month or next year.
Rwanda is one of the few countries in the world that is now open to American visitors again. As we've reported, there aren't that many nations accepting American tourists right now as COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread in the U.S. Most of Africa, Europe, Oceania and South America is off-limits. Now might be the perfect time to plan that safari adventure you've always wanted to take if you are able to swing it. Rwanda has done a good job controlling the coronavirus outbreak with only 1,172 cases and three deaths according to Johns Hopkins University.
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Rwanda is home to three major national parks. You can even book a trip to see the endangered mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda reopened June 17
The land-locked country reopened to all nationalities back on June 17, 2020, although the international airport will not reopen to commercial flights until Aug. 1. All arriving passengers will be required to present a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) test taken within 72 hours before arriving in Rwanda.
VisitRwanda says, "For passengers entering Rwanda, a second PCR test will be conducted upon arrival, with results delivered within 24 hours, during which time they will remain in designated hotels at their own cost."
Rwanda is offering visa on arrival as well for all nationalities. There are a number of additional planning resources available at VisitRawanda.com.
The Rwanda Development Board says:
- Tourists can take the first COVID-19 RT-PCR test in the country of origin at an ISO-certified laboratory, 72 hours before departure, and the second test will be taken upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. Travelers are required to submit the results of the first test to the following address (lab@rbc.gov.rw) before departure, and also upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. They will be expected to wait eight hours for results of the second test at designated hotels in Rwanda. This is applicable to direct flights only.
- Tourists who are not able to test in their country of origin have the option to be tested twice in Rwanda: The first test will be taken upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, while the second test will be taken 48 hours after arrival. Tourists will only be allowed to visit tourist sites after two consecutive negative tests, and must wait for their results at designated hotels.
What you need to visit Rwanda
Pre-departure
- Obtain a certified negative PCR COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure
- Book approved tours
- Wear face masks when traveling to the departure airport
- Wear face masks and practice physical distancing at the departure airport
- Email negative test results to Rwanda government
On the plane
- Wear a face mask while on the plane
- Practice social distancing to the extent possible
Upon arrival
- Continue to wear face masks and practice physical distancing
- Get a health screening
- Get a second COVID-19 test and await results
- Wait between eight to 24 hours at designated hotel for second test results
Do note that you will be subject to random health checks in and around Kigali, so don't be surprised by that. The U.S. embassy reports, "The Rwanda Biomedical Centre will begin a COVID-19 street testing survey in Kigali and at the entry points to Kigali. In this testing, people will be randomly selected for testing, and escorted to a drive-through testing facility."
Related: A look inside RwandAir's A330-200
What is open?
All of Rwanda's important sites are now open. There are some very unusual caveats, though: All tourists will need to take a COVID-19 test before they visit many of the country's most important attractions.
Here's how Visit Rwanda put it: "Rwanda’s national parks are now open for guests. To ensure the safety of all people visiting Rwanda’s national parks and wildlife... tourists are required to test negative for COVID-19 48 hours prior to visiting all national parks, including Akagera National Park."
And the government lays out how much you'll need to spend for some of the most popular activities, according to the chart below. Note that international tourists pay a much higher fee for activities such as trekking with gorillas. Apparently, the costs of testing for coronavirus are being included in tour group fees.
You'll also need to get a COVID-19 test within 48 hours of visiting the country's national parks and you are required to complete a guest registration and indemnity form in advance and submit the form electronically to the park. (More information here.)
How do I get to Rwanda?
I looked for flights for between September 18 to 25, and came up with several options, even with the cuts in capacity we've seen thanks to COVID-19. From New York, you could fly Qatar with one stop in Doha for $776 round trip in coach. The same flight can be booked using American Airlines miles for 80,000 AA miles and $93 in main cabin, or 150,000 AA miles and the same $93 in business class, all on Qatar Airways.
You could also fly KLM booked via Delta, connecting in Amsterdam, for $958 in main cabin, or in Delta One to Amsterdam (the airline's business class) and on to Kigali on KLM for $3,273. The same flights would be 280,000 Delta SkyMiles for business class, plus $104 in taxes and fees.
You can fly United Airlines from Houston to Kigali, with two connections in Chicago and Brussels, and partially on Brussels Airlines metal, for just over $1,220.
Related: RwandAir flight review from Kigali
You could also fly Turkish Airlines from New York (JFK) transiting Istanbul for just over $900 for economy, or business class for just over $5,000.
Where to stay?
There are lots of places to stay in Rwanda, with everything from a guest house for $14 a night in Huye to the 3-star Gorilla Village hotel near Volcanoes National Park to the 5-star Kigali Serena Hotel for $146 a night.
I could only find one points hotels in Rwanda: The Marriott Kigali, which TPG reviewed back in 2019.
I priced a trip in September. Rates start at $151 per night, which is a decent deal. The same room would be 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Summary
Be sure to consider if you want to travel in these strange times, and book refundable airfare and hotels just in case. It takes a lot of planning and patience to travel, and you need to make sure you follow all these rules and guidelines.
And if you missed it, here’s our country-by-country guide to reopenings.
Additional resources for traveling during the coronavirus outbreak:
- How coronavirus is impacting airline award availability
- How coronavirus has left the travel industry reeling
- Airlines scale back inflight offerings due to coronavirus
- How to ward off coronavirus in your hotel room
- Guide to traveling during the coronavirus outbreak
- Extreme measures cruise lines are taking during coronavirus
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- 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.
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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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.