Most Americans believe that Europe is closed to them, thanks to the failure of this country to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another widely held belief: Travel spreads the coronavirus.

Both these beliefs are false, and we'll tell you why. The truth is that you CAN visit Europe without delay, and you CAN do this safely and without spreading or contracting Covid-19,

How to fly to Europe

Europe is famously closed to American travelers, but there are cracks in that wall, for two reasons: 1) there are European countries that welcome Americans; and 2) there are countries that will welcome Americans without quarantines as long as they arrive on specific airlines with specific testing programs.

The most welcoming country in Europe right now is Croatia. Americans are welcome, as long as they either self-isolate for 14 days before travel or have received a negative Covid-19 test within the 48 hours before travel. Not only is Croatia in Europe, it's part of the European Union.

There are a few other cracks in the Great Wall of Europe.

American Airlines will sell you at-home covid tests for $129 each for international travelers to London from New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. (This week they announced tests for domestic travelers in the US starting Dec. 12.). Travelers will need to quarantine for 14 days in London after arrival, unless they get a negative test on day 5 of the quarantine, at which point they're free to leave quarantine. (The airline is partnering with home testing company LetsGetChecked. The test kids include a nasal swab, which you send through the mail. Results are sent to you within a few days.)

You can also travel to Europe without going into quarantine.

Delta Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are partnering to offer passengers a way to skip Amsterdam's current 10-day quarantine requirement and Rome's 14-day requirement, through testing. They'll have to take three tests. One a few days before flying, one at the Atlanta Airport before flying, and a third upon arrival in Amsterdam or Rome. If their three-week trial works out, they'll extend it to other destinations.

Other airlines are working on similar trials that will result in Americans flying to Europe.

How to travel safely

All these ways to travel to Europe involve extensive testing, which is fantastic. This not only assures that Americans arrive in Europe virus-free, but it also makes the flight itself virus-free.

Testing is one of the steps on our Save Travels pledge.

Beyond our pledge, it's true that "tourism" is irresponsible in the age of covid. But living like a Gastronomad is not. The idea is to shelter in place in another place, observing all the coronavirus protocols like mask wearing, social distancing and extreme hygiene.

In other words, going to indoor restaurants, concerts and bars; shopping in crowded cities like Barcelona; and failing to wear a mask are wrong.

Going to and staying at a farmhouse, keeping your distance, cooking at home, shopping at outdoor markets and exploring outdoor sites without getting within 10 feet of other humans is great.

Travel does not spread the coronavirus. Failing to observe anti-virus protocols (whether traveling or not) is what spreads the coronavirus.

It's time to think about traveling to Europe again.