Where to find answers when travel protocols can change on the fly

For the near future, trip planning will be more challenging — and confounding — than ever. But with the right approach and resources, you can avoid tumbling down the rabbit hole. Evan Jordan, an assistant professor at Indiana University at Bloomington's School of Public Health who specializes in the intersection of tourism and health, suggests a three-part process. The first step: Is the country open to foreign tourists, and what are the entry requirements?

If you have a specific destination in mind, you can find the pertinent details on the State Department's covid-19 country-specific information page. (Be aware that the agency recently expanded its "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning to 80% of the world's nations.) Click on a country — or countries, if you are transiting — and you will arrive at the U.S. Embassy or consulate's website, which clearly outlines the requirements. Skip down to "Entry and Exit Requirements." The format is standardized, which simplifies multi-destination searches, and the text is unvarnished.