While you don’t hear much anymore about Zika in the news, it is still very much a problem in certain countries. The virus gained media attention in May 2015. Since then, many couples looking to have children have become wary about travelling to destinations known to have mosquitos which carry the disease.
Before you jump to conclusions, no we are not pregnant or trying for a baby but as a young married woman, I’m not not thinking about having children. Which has led me to write this post, as we start to research our trips for the next year or so (let’s be honest we’re always planning 2 years ahead), finding Zika-free countries has become important.
According to the World Health Organization, there are several levels of classifications. For the purpose of this post, we are basing this off of their most recent publication in March 2018. Of course, we haven’t listed every Zika-free country but we’ve picked the ones that would be high on our travel list!
So where should you be travelling to if you’re concerned with finding Zika-free countries? Read on:
| Canada |
You didn’t think I wouldn’t name my home country first, would you? Of the 500 odd cases (to date) that Canada has reported, all of them have been travel related, making Canada a Zika-free country according to the World Health Organization.
There are so many different spots in Canada to visit I could write a whole post about it. Plus, embarrassingly I’ve only really explored a small portion of my own country. Either way, we make a great place to visit. Some of my personal favourites so far? Quebec City, Kelowna, Lunenburg and Toronto.
Click here for hotels in Canada
| Japan |
Very high on my bucket list and now reaching nearer to the top, is Japan. With so many amazing cities and natural landscapes to visit it’s not hard to make Japan your next travel destination. While you could spend months on end touring Japan and its temples, you could also see the best of Japan in one week.
Some of the most popular cities include Kyoto, Tokyo, Okaka, Nara and Hiroshima. For those travelling internationally, Tokyo is likely the best option. I’ve heard mixed reviews about how expensive Japan is but a good friend recently told me that the convenient stores have some of the most amazing (and cheap) food.
Click here for hotels in Japan
| Bermuda |
Contrary to what you might think, Bermuda is among the Zika-free countries. The small island boasts many beautiful beaches where you can sit and relax. Their unofficial timezone is ‘island time’. I love that. As a country with lots of influences from England, Portugal and the Caribbean they have an interesting way of speaking. They call Bermuda “Bermy” and for saying what’s going on they’ll say “wopnin.”
If you’re looking for things to do besides sitting on a beach relaxing, Bermuda has tons of fun activities. Whether it’s snorkelling or exploring the crystal caves Bermuda makes a great place for a beach trip.
Click here for hotels in Bermuda
| Iceland |
No travel roundup would be complete without mentioning one of our favourite countries, which also happens to be on the Zika-free list. The most popular way to see the country is to travel around the Ring Road. We did this easily in 10 days and honestly could have likely done it in less time. While it’s an expensive country to travel around, I would say looking back it was worth every penny.
If you only have a few days then you should see Reykjavik and the Golden Circle but I would strongly encourage you to visit the most visited cities. We visited in May and found the weather a little cooler especially in the Northern parts of the country but otherwise enjoyable.
Click here for hotels in Iceland
| Morocco |
Known for its stunning architecture Morocco would make for a fantastic vacation spot. We’ve flirted with the idea of hearing here a number of times and definitely hope to get there sooner than later. As one of the more popular countries in the African continent, you’ll be greeted with hot, beautiful weather for your next visit.
From what I know, there are a number of things you should know before taking your trip. World Nomads put together a pretty detailed list of the things you should know before going.
Click here for hotels in Morocco
| Chile |
There, unfortunately, aren’t too many countries in South America on the Zika-free list but Chile is one of them! Located in the southern part of the continent, there is so much to discover in terms of nature and beautiful landscapes.
The most popular city to visit and where you’ll likely fly into is Santiago. Spend some time exploring nearby cities like Valparaiso and Atacama. The country is also known for it’s wine country so if you’re anything like me, you won’t visit without checking out some infamous vineyards or better yet, the ski hills!
Click here for hotels in Chile
| Malta |
On the list of Zika-free countries, this is one I’m more excited about because we are actually going here in October! As a small country, you can easily see what you need to see within a week. Whether it’s exploring the historical cities like Valletta or enjoying the water at the Blue Grotto, there’s something for everyone.
One of the things I’m most excited for is travelling to the island of Gozo and biking around the area. Even though you have to take a ferry to get there, it definitely looks like it’s worth it!
Click here for hotels in Malta
| New Zealand |
New Zealand looks like an unbelievable country. There are so many different kinds of activities that you could fill up months living in New Zealand. I mean really, how amazing of a trip would it be to road trip through a country with so many varying landscapes.
I just can’t even imagine going somewhere as epic like Hobbiton. Talking about this country makes me want to book a trip to visit now!
Click here for hotels in New Zealand
| United Arab Emirates |
If you’re looking for a Zika-free country with luxury, warmth and beautiful beaches than the UAE is a spot you definitely want to consider. Dubai, the most popular city in the UAE, has grown in popularity especially as a major airport hub between Europe and Asia.
While the laws and rules are very strict, from my knowledge if you’re conservative and respectful you should be completely fine. I just couldn’t imagine staying at some of the amazing hotels they have there, the most amount of luxury you could imagine in one place.
Click here for hotels in United Arab Emirates
| Italy |
There’s no place in the world like Italy if you ask me. From the South to the North there’s not one place you’ll want to miss as you travel through the country. A couple of years ago we travelled to Rome and the Amalfi coast and I honestly would go back in a heartbeat.
Whether it’s tasting wine in Tuscany, enjoying the beaches of the Amalfi coast or learning history in Rome, Italy is a great vacation spot for those looking for Zika-free countries.
Click here for hotels in Italy
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