Ireland is gearing up to reopen its borders to international travelers, including those from the U.S.

Next week marks the return of tourists to Ireland, as the country lifts its restrictions on non-essential travel starting Monday.

The Irish government had previously announced July 19 as the expected date for easing stringent testing and quarantine measures that made visiting challenging for many.

This is particularly great news for fully vaccinated travelers, who can now skip pre-travel testing and quarantine, including American visitors. However, unvaccinated travelers will still need to present a negative PCR test before entering and will have to quarantine for five days.

Furthermore, all travelers are required to fill out a Passenger Locator Form online at least 48 hours before arriving in Ireland, according to Aer Lingus, the country’s national airline.

Who is allowed entry into Ireland?

As of July 19, Ireland is open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers, including those from the United States.

Children aged 12 to 17 must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arriving, unless they provide proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19, according to the Irish authorities.

Children of any age traveling with vaccinated or recently recovered adults do not need to self-quarantine upon arrival. However, if one adult is self-quarantining, all accompanying children must also do so.

For travelers coming from outside the European Union/European Economic Area (excluding EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway), it's important to note that Ireland is part of a coordinated EU response to new variants, implementing an 'emergency brake mechanism' in those countries.

If your departure country has issued an "emergency brake" at the time of your journey to Ireland, there are additional entry requirements you must meet.

Travelers who are vaccinated and leaving from an "emergency brake country" must:

• Provide a negative PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival
• Self-quarantine upon arrival
• Complete post-arrival testing facilitated by Ireland's Health Services

Travelers who are unvaccinated and departing from an "emergency brake country" must:

• Present a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours before arrival
• Undergo mandatory hotel quarantine
• Complete post-arrival testing

Vaccinated travelers arriving from non-emergency brake countries are exempt from the aforementioned travel testing and quarantine requirements. For further details, please visit the Irish government's website.

Passengers arriving from within the EU/EEA must upload their travel details to the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

Travelers coming from specific high-risk countries will be required to undergo a mandatory hotel quarantine.

The pre-travel requirements also apply to passengers who are transiting through Dublin.

What steps should Americans take to visit? 

As previously stated, international travelers, regardless of their vaccination status, may enter the country but must complete a COVID-19 passenger locator form at least 48 hours prior to departure.

Prior to departure, unvaccinated travelers must:

• Obtain proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival, which must be shown to Irish immigration upon entry, and retain written confirmation of this test for a minimum of two weeks, as required by the government.

Upon arrival, unvaccinated travelers are required to:

• Self-quarantine for a specified number of days, after which they will take a second PCR test through the Irish Health Service. If the result is negative, they may exit quarantine.

How to Get There 

Aer Lingus is currently offering daily flights from Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), and New York (JFK) to Dublin (DUB), and will resume three weekly flights from Washington D.C. (IAD) to Ireland starting August 14, 2021.

Aer Lingus stated, "We are eager to welcome back US travelers on-board, reuniting families and friends while making long-awaited vacations possible." To celebrate the easing of travel restrictions, they are offering a flash sale of $100 off round-trip flights on select US routes, available from July 15 until 6:59 PM ET on July 21, 2021.

To take advantage of these discounted Aer Lingus round-trip fares to Ireland from New York, Chicago, and D.C., you need to book your tickets by July 21. All economy fares include one carry-on bag, while checked baggage incurs a fee of $55. The lowest fare I found among these cities was from Chicago, where an economy round-trip ticket is priced at $435, as detailed below.

Flights from D.C. are priced moderately, remaining below $500 for a round-trip economy ticket to Dublin.

You'll notice the $100 discount for bookings made today, which also applies to non-economy fares such as Plus, Smart, Advantage, Flex, Business, and Business Flex.

Flying from New York City to Dublin was the priciest option among the three cities, yet still a great deal at around $550.

The airline has eliminated change fees for all fare types through the end of this year, providing flexibility in case COVID-19 impacts your travel plans.

Avios, the rewards currency for Aer Lingus and its partners, allows you to redeem your Avios credits for any Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus Regional flight booked directly through the airline, as well as flights with Aer Club partners like British Airways and Iberia. The 4-tier credit program enables you to earn travel rewards over time, including lounge access and complimentary upgrades.

Off-peak economy flights from Dublin, Shannon, or Manchester to select North American cities, such as Boston, Chicago, Hartford, New York, and Toronto, are priced at 13,000 points, while peak economy fares will cost you 20,000 points.

"Travelers can fly with Aer Lingus knowing that numerous safety measures have been put in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey for everyone. These measures include mask mandates, enhanced cleaning protocols, and revised boarding and deplaning procedures," the airline stated. "Due to the onboard air filtration systems and airflow management, it has been shown that the only indoor space with comparable air quality is an operating theatre."

Alongside Aer Lingus, American Airlines and United Airlines are also offering flights to the U.S. from Ireland, with routes from Dublin to several cities, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Newark, and New York.

I discovered an even more affordable option for November on TAP Portugal from Newark (EWR) to Dublin for $372 round-trip, though it includes a stop in Lisbon (LIS) each way.

Lastly, if you're traveling to Ireland from within Europe, be cautious of Ryanair, the ultra-low-cost airline based in Dublin and London Stansted (STN). My own experience with Ryanair dates back to 2013 when I was a college student in London. Upon boarding, I felt as though the plane was constructed from plastic and seemed designed for children—my head nearly brushed the ceiling at 5'10''. I'll spare you the details of the turbulence-induced sickness that followed.

Where to Stay 

Just last month, TPG writer Lori Zaino put together a list of some of the finest hotels across the country, seven of which are located in Dublin:

• The Shelbourne (part of the Autograph Collection), a self-proclaimed "national treasure," boasts over 200 years of history, is a five-star establishment, and is known for hosting the Rolling Stones at its Horseshoe Bar (currently closed).
• The Westbury Hotel (Doyle Collection Hotels) features canopy beds adorned with Lissadell sheets and luxurious marble bathrooms.
• The Hyatt Centric is situated in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods near St. Patrick's Cathedral.
• The Conrad Dublin offers views of the National Concert Hall and the nearby St. Stephen's Green park.
• The stylish Marker Hotel (NH Hotel Group) includes an award-winning spa and designer-furnished guest rooms.
• The InterContinental Dublin (IHG), located in the affluent Ballsbridge area, features a suite dedicated to poet and playwright W.B. Yeats, available for a cool €6040.00 ($7135.78).
• The Clontarf Castle (Tifco Hotel Group) lies just outside Dublin but compensates with its stunning location beside the Irish Sea and its castle-like architecture.

Of course, there's plenty more to explore beyond Dublin, especially in Western Ireland, such as the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher in County Clare (a personal favorite) and the Dingle Peninsula along the southwest Atlantic coast, known for its beaches, cliffs, and charming towns like Dingle in County Kerry.

Bottom Line 

While Americans have technically been permitted entry to Ireland since June 2021, the government's easing of restrictions on nonessential international travel, coupled with the removal of quarantine and pre-travel testing for vaccinated travelers, makes Ireland a compelling destination.

As of July 2021, there have been around 280,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and just over 5,000 deaths in Ireland, according to data from the World Health Organization. Nearly 45 percent of the Irish population is fully vaccinated.

Ireland measures about 300 miles in length and just over 170 miles from east to west, allowing you to traverse the country from one side to the other in just half a day. From my experience, the Irish are some of the friendliest locals I've encountered abroad, and there's an abundance of pubs, soda bread, and Irish stew to enjoy.