The UK introduced a new system for international travel, relaxing testing requirements for many fully vaccinated travelers and designating destinations either “red” or “green.”

Here’s what we learned in pandemic travel this week.

From October 11, England is set to remove 47 countries from its red list, leaving only seven red destinations: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

1. You might be able to start planning that Asian-Pacific vacation

Tourists on the observation deck at Kuala Lumpur Tower in Malaysia on October 1.

Several nations in the Asia-Pacific region are moving away from zero-Covid strategies toward living with the virus – and thus loosening up their borders.

On October 10, Singapore added eight new countries, including the US and the UK, to its vaccinated and quarantine-free travel lanes.

The next day, its Southeast Asian neighbor Malaysia ended its domestic and international travel restrictions for fully vaccinated residents after reaching its target of full inoculation for 90% of the adult population.

Next up were the Indonesian islands of Bali and Riau – they reopened on October 14 to visitors from 19 countries. Those lucky 19 are China, India, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway.

Over in Australia, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on October 15 that the state – including Sydney – will end its Covid-19 quarantine for fully vaccinated international travelers starting November 1.

Thailand moved a little closer to fully reopening to tourism by allowing fully vaccinated visitors from a handful of approved countries to bypass quarantine starting November 1. The 10 countries to make the cut include Singapore, Germany, China, the US and the UK. More will be added to the list on December 1.

Finally, the South Pacific island of Fiji, which has been closed to international visitors since the start of the pandemic, has announced that it will officially reopen on December 1 with the resumption of scheduled tourism flights.

2. Spain joined France and Portugal on the CDC’s ‘less risky’ list

Spain -- Palma Beach in Palma de Mallorca is pictured -- has had a drop in Covid cases.

It’s a small win – it still means up to 500 cases per 100,000 people in the past 28 days – but Spain has moved down to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s “Level 3: Covid-19 High” category on its regularly updated travel advisory.

It joins other popular European tourist destinations on the Level 3 list, including France, Germany, Italy and Portugal.

Greece, Croatia, Turkey, Cyprus and the UK are still up in the highest-risk Level 4 category, where all nonessential travel is not advised. Meanwhile, Hungary and the Madeira Islands are the only European destinations down on Level 2 (“Moderate”).

3. Fully vaccinated foreign visitors will be able to start entering the US from November 8

The US-Mexico border wall in Otay Mesa, California, on August 13, 2021.

The confusing patchwork of bans covering inbound travel to the United States through its air and land borders has started to get simpler.

Kevin Munoz, White House assistant press secretary, tweeted on October 15: “The US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on Nov 8. This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel.”

Earlier in the week, the White House announced it was planning to ease restrictions on travel for fully jabbed visitors from Canada and Mexico starting in early November.

The first phase will allow fully vaccinated visitors traveling for nonessential reasons, such as visiting friends or for tourism, to cross US land borders. The second phase, beginning January 2022, will allow entry to all fully vaccinated inbound foreign travelers.

4. The EU is providing free rail passes to 60,000 young people

Europe on zero dollars a day: In 1995, with barely more than $100 in his pocket, Barry Neild set out to travel overland from the north of England to Morocco.

On the rails: Neild had a rail ticket covering travel in France, Spain and Morocco, but only limited funds for food and accommodation. The beach at Barcelona was free.

Granada friends: A group of students kindly looked after Neild in the Spanish town of Granada, giving him a sofa to sleep on, plus food and drinks.

Alhambra Palace: One of the high spots of the journey was touring the Alhambra -- a centuries-old Moorish palace.

Positive experience: After being attacked and stolen from in Paris and Barcelona, the generosity of new friends in Granada proved to be a turning point.

Rabat: Neild stopped over in the Moroccan capital apparently long enough to photograph its lighthouse, but not long enough to recall much else from the visit.

Shared rooms: Cheap rooms in guest houses like the one pictured -- somewhere in Morocco -- were shared with other travelers to save money.

Traveling companions: A Dutch couple, Wouter and Marie-Odile, was among those who Neild tagged along with on the trip.

Letters and photos: Among old photos, Neild recently found a letter from Wouter and Marie-Odile plus some pics that they mailed him afterward.

Jemaa el-Fna square: One of the highlights of Marrackech is the main square, where snake charmers, storytellers and merchants ply their wares.

In the mountains: The end of the road for Neild was Morocco's highest mountain, Toubkal -- reached via bus and a ride in the back of a pickup shared with sheep.

Failed summit: An attempt to climb Toubkal proved too much, but the trip inspired more travel adventures and a journalism career that has spanned the globe.

Overland adventure to Morocco

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The EU Commission is giving away free travel rail passes to 60,000 European citizens form ages 18 to 20.

Youngsters who’ve been cooped up during the pandemic will be able to stretch their wings by taking off on rail adventures between March 2022 and February 2023 for up to 30 days. Applications for this round are open until October 26.

CNN Travel’s global editor Barry Neild traveled overland across Europe and down to Morocco in the 1990s, with a starting budget of barely $100. You can read his story here.

5. There was more chaos and cancellations on a US airline

Passengers wait in line at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport on October 11.

Back in August, there were days of mass cancellations on US airlines Spirit and American. This week, it was the turn of Southwest.

The world’s largest low-cost carrier canceled more than 2,000 flights over three days, blaming the crisis on air traffic control problems and limited staffing in Florida as well as bad weather.

A Chicago bride who got married in Las Vegas was even left with no family at her wedding when her relatives’ flights all got canceled.

6. The Dominican Republic had its best tourism month ever

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60-Second Vacation: Dominican Republic

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David Collado, the Dominican Republic’s tourism minister, has tweeted that in September the country enjoyed its biggest visitor numbers ever.

It’s welcomed 3.3 million visitors so far this year – more than in the pre-pandemic days of 2019 – of which more than 365,000 were in September, reports the Caribbean Journal.

The Dominican Republic is at “Level 2: Covid-19 Moderate” on the CDC’s travel advisory list.

7. Dubai had the world’s busiest international airport

Thinking of traveling to Dubai for Expo? Here's what else you can do while you're there. Go on a round trip on Ain Dubai -- The world's tallest Ferris wheel will open on October 21, when guests will finally be able to take a ride on the 250-meter (820 feet) high attraction. Ain Dubai is offering a range of tickets, including shared or private cabins, along with "social cabins" where drinks are served on the roughly 40-minute journey. Prices start at 130 AED ($36).

Marvel at the Museum of the Future -- Residents have watched the fiendishly intricate Museum of the Future take shape on the side of Sheikh Zayed Road for quite some time. Its squashed donut shape is constructed of nearly 2,400 fiberglass and stainless steel panels, adorned with Arabic calligraphy. But the museum isn't quite complete, with the opening slipping from 2020. Fingers crossed that by the end of Expo tourists will be able to get more than just an outside view.

Plunge into the world's deepest pool -- Deep Dive Dubai proves that the city of skyscrapers can build down as well as up. Home to the world's deepest dive pool, a staggering 60 meters (196 feet) in depth and holding 14 million liters of water, it is at least four times as big as any other in the world. Beneath the surface are artificial wrecks and ruins waiting to be explored. The facility offers snorkeling, SCUBA and freedive lessons and sessions. Prices start at 400 AED ($110).

Step inside a Van Gogh -- Inside Dubai Mall is a real showstopper of an exhibition. Digital art center Infinity des Lumières hosts a show projecting paintings by Van Gogh on a vast and immersive scale. See works including "Sunflowers" and "The Potato Eaters" as you've never seen them before and gain a fresh perspective on the Dutch Impressionist's work. Adult tickets 125 AED ($35).

Go old school in Al Fahidi -- Dubai's historical district Al Fahidi is the place to go if you want a glimpse of what the city was like before all the steel and glass -- in fact, before it was a city. There are dozens of traditional buildings, including wind towers, a form of ancient air conditioning which is being revived by at least one pavilion at Expo 2020. Take a tour at the winding streets and drop into Calligraphy House and the Coin Museum on the way.

Have afternoon tea on the QEII -- The Queen Elizabeth II, one of the great ocean liners, has been open for business in Dubai since 2018, when it received a new lease of life as a static hotel, restaurant and events space. Visitors can soak up the ship's distinctly period charms and hit the deck for a spot of afternoon tea from 15:00-17:30. Prices start at 145 AED ($40) (no shorts or flip-flops, thank you very much).

Look down from the world's highest infinity pool -- Address Beach Resort is the place to be if you want to cool off with one of Dubai's best views. Nearly 1,000 feet (294 meters) up, the infinity pool is nearly twice the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, but a mere 4 feet (1.2 meters) deep. There is a catch, however: the pool is only open to hotel guests 21 years old and over.

Get out of town with a trip to Hatta -- Dubai's rocky exclave to the east is a hotspot for outdoor sports. The Hajar Mountains are perfect for bikes (both road and mountain), while the lake formed by the Hatta Dam is popular with kayakers and canoeists. Many visitors go for a day trip, but if you want to stay, a range of options, from camping to glamping to lodges and the Ja Hatta Fort Hotel mountain resort have you covered.

Trot off to the races -- Situated 10 minutes from the Dubai World Trade Centre, Meydan Racecourse is the home of horseracing in the city. Racing kicks off in November and takes place on either Thursdays or Saturdays (some weeks both), culminating in the Dubai World Cup, the emirate's blue ribbon event, on March 26.

See a view as pretty as a picture from Dubai Frame -- With a golden design and proportions reflecting the golden ratio, Dubai Frame is also a golden opportunity to see a lot of the city in one go. It contains exhibitions including 3D projections of old Dubai, before taking visitors to the top for 360-degree views, before descending to another exhibition imagining Dubai in 50 years' time. Open 09:00-21:00 every day (sunset is a popular time). Prices from 50 AED ($14).

Sleep (or eat) with the fishes at Atlantis, The Palm -- Out on the artificial archipelago the Palm Jumeirah is iconic hotel and resort Atlantis, The Palm. The hotel's Underwater Suite has floor to ceiling windows into its giant aquarium. Evening diners can visit Ossiano, the hotel's restaurant with underwater views (would it be insensitive to order the fish?). If you'd just like a tour, it's open between 10:00-21:00 (book tickets online).

Escape the city without leaving it at Ras al-Khor -- The only desert wetland in Dubai, Ras al-Khor covers around 620 hectares on the banks of Dubai Creek. A peaceful idyll a stone's throw from the hubbub, the wetland is home to 450 animal species including 180 types of bird, such as the greater spotted eagle, kingfishers and, in winter, thousands of flamingos. Open 07:30-17:30 between October and March.

Dress up for a night at the opera -- Despite the name, Dubai Opera is a broad church, and within its sweeping curves you can watch all manner of live performances. There's opera, but also live stand up, ballet, musicals and stage plays, all between now and the end of the Expo (some performances require proof of vaccination for ticket holders). If you want to learn more about the building, book a tour for 75 AED ($20).

Look down on the clouds from the Burj Khalifa -- The Burj Khalifa has been the world's tallest building for over a decade, and it's still well worth a visit to the observation deck for a unique perspective on the city. The package "At the Top, Burj Khalifa Sky" includes entry to the outdoor terrace and lounge on the 148th level -- 555 meters (1,821 feet) high -- offering dizzying views, while the 125th level has a 360-degree observation deck. Prices from 379 AED ($104).

Expo 2020: Everything else to do if you're visiting Dubai

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Dubai (DXB) has overtaken Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) as the world’s busiest international airport, according to the latest report by travel data provider OAG.

Calculated using total airline capacity, there are more than 2.7 million seats on flights scheduled at the airport this month. A good chunk of that will be to do with the opening in October of Dubai Expo 2020, which was delayed by the pandemic. The six-month extravaganza will run through March 31, 2022.

8. An American woman was the only tourist allowed in Bhutan

Monks at Punakha Dzong in Bhutan.

American Fran Bak, a 70-year-old widow who got into gong meditation after her husband passed away in 2018, was granted the first tourist visa to Bhutan since the country closed in March 2020.

“Bhutan is a gift of perfect offerings,” Bak told CNN from the apartment in Thimphu where she was spending a few weeks before heading on the road to do gong workshops in rural villages.

9. New Zealand is letting people get vaccinated on a plane (but it doesn’t fly them anywhere)

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Jacinda Ardern explains why New Zealand is ending zero-Covid strategy

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October 16 is being billed as Super Saturday in New Zealand, where the government is urging eligible unvaccinated New Zealanders to get their shots.

A few lucky people will be able to get their Pfizer vaccine on board an Air New Zealand 787 aircraft at Auckland Airport. They’ll also get a tour of Air New Zealand’s hangar, complimentary snacks and drinks served by Air New Zealand crew members and a commemorative boarding pass.

10. Airbus A380s are returning to the skies

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What happened to the world's biggest passenger plane?

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Thanks to Covid-19, most of the world’s Airbus A380s were grounded. Airbus had already announced plans to cease production of the superjumbos back in 2019 and their steep operational costs had no place in the pandemic’s minimal, cost-efficient international flight schedules.

While their days are still numbered, some airlines – including Singapore Airlines and British Airways – have announced plans to get the aircraft back in the air.

Here’s the lowdown on where they’re flying.

CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Marnie Hunter, Masrur Jamaluddin, Betsy Klein, Ramishah Maruf, Lilit Marcus, Rhea Mogul, Kocha Olarn and Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.