What we learned about global travel this week

Maureen O'Hare
By Maureen O'Hare, CNN
Updated 9:38 AM EST, Sat November 27, 2021
<strong>Fiji: </strong>Following a successful nationwide vaccine rollout, Fiji reopened on December 1.
Fiji: Following a successful nationwide vaccine rollout, Fiji reopened on December 1.
AILEEN TORRES-BENNETT/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Dubai: </strong>Set at a height of 200 meters, the new Aura Skypool is the world's first and highest 360-degree infinity pool.
Dubai: Set at a height of 200 meters, the new Aura Skypool is the world's first and highest 360-degree infinity pool.
AURA Skypool Lounge
<strong>Egypt:</strong> On November 25, Egypt celebrated the reopening of the 3,400-year-old Avenue of the Sphinxes in a lavish ceremony.
Egypt: On November 25, Egypt celebrated the reopening of the 3,400-year-old Avenue of the Sphinxes in a lavish ceremony.
Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Austria: </strong>The Alpine nation<strong> </strong>went back into national lockdown on November 22. Innsbruck is pictured.
Austria: The Alpine nation went back into national lockdown on November 22. Innsbruck is pictured.
Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images
<strong>The United States: </strong>On November 8, the United States opened its borders to vaccinated international travelers. New York City, seen here, is a top destination for incoming visitors.
The United States: On November 8, the United States opened its borders to vaccinated international travelers. New York City, seen here, is a top destination for incoming visitors.
Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images
<strong>Uruguay: </strong>Uruguay has been closed to everyone but citizens and residents since the start of the pandemic, but reopened to vaccinated travelers on November 1. The peninsula of Punta Ballena, in the southeast, is pictured.
Uruguay: Uruguay has been closed to everyone but citizens and residents since the start of the pandemic, but reopened to vaccinated travelers on November 1. The peninsula of Punta Ballena, in the southeast, is pictured.
Shutterstock
<strong>Melbourne, Australia: </strong>Thanks to a high vaccination total, the state of Victoria reopened its borders on November 1.
Melbourne, Australia: Thanks to a high vaccination total, the state of Victoria reopened its borders on November 1.
Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
<strong>Patong Beach, Thailand: </strong>The popular southeast Asian country is now allowing quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travelers from more than 40 countries.
Patong Beach, Thailand: The popular southeast Asian country is now allowing quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travelers from more than 40 countries.
Paul Lakatos/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/AP
<strong>Cambodia:</strong> Cambodia has announced plans to reopen Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat temple complex to foreign visitors in January 2022.
Cambodia: Cambodia has announced plans to reopen Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat temple complex to foreign visitors in January 2022.
Shutterstock
<strong>Valparaiso:</strong> This artistic city full of colorful murals opened along with the rest of Chile on October 1.
Valparaiso: This artistic city full of colorful murals opened along with the rest of Chile on October 1.
Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Oman: </strong>The sultanate reopened its borders on September 1, meaning travelers can now visit the forts, castles and mosques on offer.
Oman: The sultanate reopened its borders on September 1, meaning travelers can now visit the forts, castles and mosques on offer.
Haitham Al-Shukairi/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>New York City:</strong> Amid a thrashing from Hurricane Ida, New York City's Broadway theaters reopened on September 2. Here, the cast of Tony-winning musical "Hadestown" take a curtain call.
New York City: Amid a thrashing from Hurricane Ida, New York City's Broadway theaters reopened on September 2. Here, the cast of Tony-winning musical "Hadestown" take a curtain call.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
<strong>Canada:</strong> Canada -- including Niagara Falls -- reopened its border to the US in August for people who are fully vaccinated.
Canada: Canada -- including Niagara Falls -- reopened its border to the US in August for people who are fully vaccinated.
Peter Power/The Canadian Press/AP
<strong>San Francisco, California:</strong> San Francisco's famous cable cars returned to service in August. The city has a vaccination requirement for indoor public spaces.
San Francisco, California: San Francisco's famous cable cars returned to service in August. The city has a vaccination requirement for indoor public spaces.
Olga Rodriguez/AP
<strong>Saudi Arabia: </strong>Saudi Arabia -- home to the Kaaba in the Muslim holy city of Mecca -- opened to international tourists on August 1.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia -- home to the Kaaba in the Muslim holy city of Mecca -- opened to international tourists on August 1.
Amr Nabil/AP
<strong>Italy:</strong> A woman stands in a lavender field in June 2021 in Sale San Giovanni, northwest Italy. Find out about current travel restrictions and the Covid situation in our <a href="https://cnn.com/travel/article/italy-travel-covid-19/index.html" target="_blank">Italy guide</a>.
Italy: A woman stands in a lavender field in June 2021 in Sale San Giovanni, northwest Italy. Find out about current travel restrictions and the Covid situation in our Italy guide.
Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Washington DC: </strong>The Washington Monument, a memorial to George Washington, first President of the United States, reopened to the public in July.
Washington DC: The Washington Monument, a memorial to George Washington, first President of the United States, reopened to the public in July.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
<strong>Venice: </strong>In July, the Italian city of Venice once again <a href="https://cnn.com/travel/article/venice-cruise-ship-ban-government/index.html" target="_blank">moved to ban cruise ships</a> from the city center.
Venice: In July, the Italian city of Venice once again moved to ban cruise ships from the city center.
Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Sri Lanka:</strong> If you think your current workmates are catty, check out this guy. Sri Lanka has a new remote working visa aimed at digital nomads.
Sri Lanka: If you think your current workmates are catty, check out this guy. Sri Lanka has a new remote working visa aimed at digital nomads.
Courtesy Sri Lanka Tourism
<strong>Celebrity Edge:</strong> On June 26, the Celebrity Edge cruise ship took off from Fort Lauderdale in the first revenue-earning US cruise since the pandemic began. <br />
Celebrity Edge: On June 26, the Celebrity Edge cruise ship took off from Fort Lauderdale in the first revenue-earning US cruise since the pandemic began.
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images
<strong>Indoor dining:</strong> Eating indoors is permitted in the UK, including at Wildflower, a new fine dining restaurant in a shipping container in Camden, London. It first opened in March 2020, weeks before lockdown.
Indoor dining: Eating indoors is permitted in the UK, including at Wildflower, a new fine dining restaurant in a shipping container in Camden, London. It first opened in March 2020, weeks before lockdown.
Courtesy Wildflower
Unlocking the world: The places reopening to tourists
CNN  — 

Countries around the world imposed travel restrictions after the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant in South Africa, more than 2.3 million Americans traveled by air on a single day for Thanksgiving, and in Asia-Pacific, New Zealand and the Phili