The Bahamas has begun the phased reopening of its tourism industry, officially reopening its borders for international boaters, yachters and private aviation.
A COVID-19 RT-PRC negative swab test is required for entry, and must be presented upon arrival.
Results need to be no more than 10 days old, according to the government of The Bahamas.
Private pilots who do not deplane do not need to take a test, nor do children under the age of 2.
Some of Jamaica’s most prominent resorts reopened today as the country reopened its borders for international travel, and more hotel reopenings are on the near horizon along with steady increases in flights from the U.S. to Jamaica.
Crucially, Jamaica will be testing all visitors with COVID-19 nasal swab tests at the airport.
The Moon Palace resort in Ocho Rios, Sandals Montego Bay, Riu Ocho Rios, Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay and Beaches Negril all are welcoming guests back as of June 15.
Moon Palace Jamaica.
The Iberostar Grand Rose Hall, Montego Bay also reopened on 15, and several other resorts have targeted July 1 as their reopening date, including:
Couples Negril
Couples Tower Isle
Hilton Rose Hall, Montego Bay
Couples Sans Souci
Couples Swept Away
Hedonism II
Azul Beach Resort Negril
Sunset at the Palms Negril has announced July 9 as its reopen date. “Sunset at the Palms appreciates the thought and planning from the government entities in Jamaica when deciding to re-open our airports to international travelers,” said Carol Slee, senior VP sales and marketing for Sunset Resorts. “From the beginning of COVID-19, our first concern has been for the health and safety of our staff and guests. We are now prepared to open our resort with a complete array of enhanced protocols, which will help alleviate concerns and enable our guests to fully enjoy their stay with us.”
For example, Sunset at the Palms will now offer in-room check-in, dining by reservation only, and will offer guests the option to forego daily housekeeping if they are reluctant to have staff enter their rooms.
The Royalton Negril Resort & Spa, Hideaway at Royalton Negril, and Grand Lido Negril will reopen on July 15. The Island Outpost group of resorts, which includes Goldeneye, The Caves, Strawberry Hill, and Fleming Villa, will open to guests on Aug. 1, while the luxury boutique Round Hill resort has a tentative reopening date of Sept. 1.
Round Hill.
In line with Jamaica’s mandatory COVID-19 protocols, resorts have been quick to adopt cleanliness and safety as part of their branding. Couples Resorts, for example, is touting their “Good Clean Fun” program, while Royalton Resorts is touting “Safety Assured Vacations.”
The Couples program will include social distancing protocols in airport shuttles as well as in restaurants and in pool areas, for example; the resort also is including masks among its room amenities and has pledged only to work with excursion vendors who comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 safety protocols.
The clothing-optional Hedonism II’s “Party Safely” plan includes temperature checks, luggage disinfection, PPE and sanitizing stations, and frequent disinfecting of air conditioners and in room surfaces.
“In anticipation of Hedonism II’s July 1 re-opening, we have spent the last month undertaking preparations and consulting with local and international organizations to make sure our enhanced safety measures are up to the highest standards,” said Kevin Levee, general manager of Hedonism II. “We look forward to welcoming home our guests and are confident that the iconic Hedonism II experience will shine through, even if it’s with some adjustments.”
Travelers heading to Jamaica from June 15 on can choose from American Airlines and Delta Air Lines flights from several major U.S. gateways. American is flying daily between Miami and Montego Bay, Miami and Kingston, Charlotte and Montego Bay, and Dallas Fort Worth and Montego Bay. Delta has daily flights between Atlanta and Montego Bay and Monday and Tuesday flights between Atlanta and Kingston.
JetBlue is resuming Montego Bay and Kingston flights from New York/JFK and Fort Lauderdale in June, with two or three flights weekly but a plan to ramp up to daily service in July and August.
Saturday-only flights from Boston to MoBay will resume in July as well, as will flights between Orlando and Montego Bay. JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale-Kingston service will restart with three weekly flights in July and August.
Southwest Airlines intends to resume service to Montego Bay from Baltimore Washington International Airport and Orlando on July 1, and Spirit has plans to start flying again to Montego Bay and Kingston from Fort Lauderdale the same day. United Airlines’ daily service from Newark and Houston to MoBay will recommence on July 6.
Travelers returning to Jamaica will enjoy new features at several new properties, including the 57-room Eclipse at Half Moon resort enclave, a dozen new rooms (called the Marumba Studios) at the Geejam Hotel in Port Antonio, an organic restaurant at the Round Hill resort that serves uncooked vegetables and fruit, and a new beach club at the Tryall Club in Montego Bay.
… June signals the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade.
But … here.
Louis Maldonado, the Puerto Rican Day Parade Board Chairman, … Puerto Rico, and will discuss how the virus has impacted Puerto Ricans … on the island of Puerto Rico, from hurricanes to earthquakes …
The Caribbean’s most glamorous destination is reopening for tourism, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The French Caribbean island of St Barth is reopening for travel and tourism on June 22, according to Bruno Magras, president of the island’s territorial council.
“Whether you are visiting an island friend or local resident, returning to spend time in your vacation home or coming back to spend some vacation time on the island, St Barth is pleased to welcome you back,” Magras said.
Magras said life on the island has “returned to normal.”
“Island beaches are open without restriction, restaurants and boutiques are operating as usual, houses of worship are open and holding services and nautical services as well as the other services to which you are accustomed are being provided as usual,” he said.
Historic Gustavia.
That’s due to early, aggressive action to lock down the island in the early days of the pandemic’s spread, and now it means St Barth is open for business.
The island has implemented new COVID-19 protocols for incoming travelers, however.
Every visitor to the island will be asked to provide a COVID-negative RT-PCR test performed within three days prior to the visitor’s departure.
If it’s not possible to arrange a test prior to departure, visitors will be required to be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of arrival.
Until test results are known, visitors will be required to observe “strict quarantine” in their villa or hotel room “during which time interaction is limited to only those traveling in your party.”
The Rhum Room in Gustavia, the Caribbean’s leading rum bar, is open.
Test results will take less than 24 hours to be released, Magras said. For those staying on the island for more than seven days, a second RT-PCR test will be required on Day 7. (Children under the age of 10 do not require a test).
The island’s villas and resorts are beginning to reopen, most notably the Hotel Le Toiny, the first hotel on the island to announce its reopening, along with the popular Les Ilets de la Plage beachfront resort in St Jean.
Les Ilets de la Plage.
Of course, leading villa companies like WIMCO and St Barth Properties are also reopening their properties for travelers.
Tradewind Aviation flies from San Juan to St Barth.
And the best ways to get there from the United States remains flying luxury carrier Tradewind Aviation via San Juan.
The dual-resort portfolio on Grace Bay Beach will reopen July 22, Caribbean Journal has learned.
That means both the Ocean Club and Ocean Club West properties, both of which are comprised entirely of suites.
“Ocean Club Resorts has long held a commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our guests and staff,” said Ocean Club Resorts Managing Director, Wilbert Mason. “Our team has taken the necessary steps toward enhancing cleaning measures and implementing new protocols that adhere to social distancing without taking away from the overall guest experience. We look forward to our guests returning and have put in place new safety measures in order to offer a secure yet still unforgettable stay in a post-COVID-19 travel climate.”
The new health and safety protocols range from modifying all public spaces for social distancing to increased sanitization frequency of public spaces and the use of new anti-viral cleaning products, among others.
