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I think we can agree that after putting up with the craziness of 2020, we all could use a vacation. We have certainly earned that tropical getaway that we have been dreaming of. But therein lies the dilemma: most countries have actually closed their borders for American tourists, leaving few places where you actually can travel to right now. So with limited places that are “open” at the moment, we’re sort of stuck.

But I have a solution for you: French Polynesia is open for tourism—even for Americans—and is welcoming guests with proof of a negative RT-PCR Covid test. You’ve never had a better excuse to get away to that stunning tropical island with lush foliage, swaying palm trees and crystal clear blue water that fills your dreams.

With nonstop flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles, a trip to French Polynesia is about as easy as it gets for international travel. While trips to other “open” island destinations like the Maldives, the Seychelles and the the Caribbean islands often require multiple flights and transfers when traveling from the west coast of the United States, a trip to French Polynesia is just one direct 8.5 hour flight from SF or LA. These flights leave late in the evening and arrive early the following morning, not only allowing you a full day at your destination, but also provide plenty of time to transfer wherever you are intending to go after landing in Tahiti.

Put simply, the travel is so, so easy, and with just one flight you can avoid multiple airports and multiple flights to potentially expose yourself to coronavirus. All airports and airlines are requiring masks to be worn throughout the duration of your time in the airport and on the flight, so you can also feel a little bit safer when you travel.

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If you're planning a trip to French Polynesia any time soon, you're in luck: I've stayed at five of their most popular properties (one in Moorea, one in Tahiti and three in Bora Bora), so you can use this page as a reference guide to check out some of French Polynesia's best properties before you go.

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If you're a Marriott Bonvoy member, read How I Snagged the St. Regis Bora Bora on Points.

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