Bienvenido: Why Colombia is one of the easiest places to travel right now
If you are looking for an international destination you can visit right now with ease, I highly recommend Colombia. I just arrived Thursday night, and Colombia has some the easiest entry rules you will find.
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Colombia entry requirements
Current requirements only call for all visitors to complete the online pre-travel registration form "Check-Mig" within one to 24 hours before their flight departure time, wear a mask at all times in public and wash their hands on a consistent basis.
You may be able to fill out the forms as early as 48 hours before your flight, but I'd wait to 24 hours just to be safe.
Further details are available here.
Related: Country-by-country guide to coronavirus reopening
Booking
Colombia is one of my favorite countries in the world. I've been to Medellin several times over the years because one of my best friends is half Colombian, and I've spent weeks with her and her family there. Yet, I'd still never been to Bogota or Cartagena. When a deal popped up to fly to Bogota in Delta One Suites during the height of the pandemic for November 2021, I jumped on it.
Related: The best times to visit Colombia
At the time, I thought that I'd surely be back in New York by the time of the flight — ha. In the months since the trip was booked from New York, it became clear I'd have to position from my temporary home base in Montana to make it happen. Fortunately, doing that offered me the chance to visit our reopened TPG New York offices, so I decided to keep the trip.
Registering 24 hours before your flight
The process to register before your flight is pretty simple, but here are the step-by-step directions. You simply go to "colombia.travel/en/covid-19-information" and click on the "migracioncolombia.gov.co" link.
Then, click on the "Check-Mig" banner and follow the screens. You can see the process below.
It's pretty self-explanatory. The only thing that tripped me up for a moment was that I couldn't find United States in the drop-down menu. Be aware it shows up in Spanish as "Estados Unidos."
You will get a printed copy of the form, but I never needed to show that document.
Checking in
Talk about drama-free. I was able to check-in for my flight the day before with zero issues. When I got to the Sky Priority check-in area at Terminal 4 at JFK, the agent told me I didn't even need to check in with an agent.
I showed my boarding pass as normal at the Clear lane and was through security in about 15 minutes without even having to take out my passport.
Frankly, it made me nervous how easy it was, so I went to the service desk in the Delta lounge. The agent verified I was good to go with no document checks necessary.
At the gate
There were no document checks at the gate, either. When I double-checked with the agent at the gate, I was told she didn't need to see anything more from me.
Interestingly, there were also no document checks (or even any information given out about entry requirements) on the flight.
Related: A review of the W Bogota
Arrival into Colombia
I expected a cursory interview about COVID-19 when I arrived, but my experience was more like pre-COVID-19 times when you just walked up to immigration and showed your passport.
The immigration agent asked me where I was staying and for how long — that was it. My passport was stamped, and I was welcomed to Colombia. I even asked her if she wanted to see the form I had filled out, but she said she didn't need it.
Related: Reasons Bogota should be on your bucket list
Customs did ask if I had anything to declare, but when I said no, I was free to leave the terminal.
There were no other hoops. It was so easy and totally drama-free.
Bottom line
Related: What it's like visiting French Polynesia right now
If you'd like to visit a country where you don't need to worry about COVID-19 entry requirements, then Colombia is the one for you. Traveling there was easier than visiting some states I've been to during the coronavirus pandemic.
Related: Best South American cities to use your points
Do note, the U.S. State Department’s advisory for Colombia is Level 3: Reconsider Travel and the CDC’s advisory for the country is Level 2: Moderate Level of COVID-19.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6x points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
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- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
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- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 11/2/22.
- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees