Aruba has made several significant updates to its travel protocols in August, including the implementation of a curfew this week. 

The biggest change for the Dutch Caribbean island was the recent decision to re-implement pre-testing requirements even for fully vaccinated travelers from high-risk countries. 

That means that even if you are coming from the United States, even if you’re fully vaccinated, you still have to complete the 72-hour PCR testing requirement before traveling to Aruba. 

Aruba’s other travel rules haven’t changed: that means all visitors still have to complete the online ED card (you can find it here) and purchase Aruba Visitors Insurance, among other requirements.

So what about the curfew? 

The curfew, which begins Aug. 25, will be in effect from 10 PM to 5 AM each night, with all establishments required to close by 9 PM at the latest — with the exception of establishments at hotel properties. 

The island has also temporarily put in place an alcohol ban in certain public places in Aruba; hotel guests can order alcoholic beverages on the beach, as long as they stay on property, and can bring their beverages to their palapa or beach chair as long as they order from the hotel bar. 

Alcoholic drinks can also be enjoyed at beach bars or restaurants, so long as patrons stay on the grounds of the establishments. 

No groups over four people are allowed to form in public spaces unless from within the same family and household, including on the beach. 

Seating at restaurants is at a maximum of four people per table (excluding children under 12), with tables 1.5 meters apart. 

You can find all of Aruba’s travel requirements here. 

— CJ

The post Aruba Has New Travel Rules appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Travel has changed. 

Increasingly, travelers don’t just want to stay in a destination – they want to live there, even if just for a few days. 

They want to understand the destination in an authentic way. 

That’s turned travelers toward a different kind of luxury. 

Since the pandemic, the trend towards so-called “residential resorts” has only strengthened, as more and more travelers demand the independence and security of residential living at their Caribbean resorts. 

That means being able to make dinner one night; to have the space for multiple generations; to have the seclusion of a residence with the quality and amenities of a traditional resort. 

And that’s exactly what you get at Grand Isle, the residential resort on Great Exuma that’s the island’s best place to stay. 

The resort, set on Emerald Bay, has a mix of 78 villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms. 

All of them are wonderfully appointed: think Sub Zero refrigerators, whirlpool spa baths; Wi-Fi and a pervasive tropical vibe. 

And while it’s a residential community, the amenities are vast: that means a pair of pools, including the spectacular, 30,000-square-foot 23° North Beach Club, set right on the sand’s edge. 

That’s along with the excellent poolside Palapa restaurant, with an international menu featuring a focus on fresh Bahamian catches.

And then there’s the Seastar Spa, home to Elemis-branded treatments and even “mini mani” and pedi treatments for younger guests. 

The party piece, though, is the Greg Norman-designed Emerald Reef, managed by shared with the adjacent Sandals Emerald Bay all-inclusive resort. 

It’s the back, which wraps around the villas at Grand Isle, which is the star, a remarkable stretch of windy, cliffside, links-style golf with dramatic ocean views.

Of course, Grand Isle is also a jumping-off point, a place from which to discover the marvels of Great Exuma, whether you’re bone fishing in White Bay off the southwestern coast of the island or finding tucked-away beaches like Coco Plum and Jolly Hall. 

It all adds up to a rather special place to stay, one that marries the amenities of a traditional resort with the comforts of your temporary Bahamian home. 

For more, visit Grand Isle. And see more in the latest CJ Video at the top of the page.

— CJ

The post The Best Resort in Great Exuma, The Bahamas appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Turks and Caicos Islands recently announced that, beginning Sept. 1, the destination would require all visitors 16 years and older to show proof of vaccination. 

And in an update to that protocol, the destination has announced that it will accept both digital and paper vaccine records. 

That includes the typical vaccine cards issued by the CDC, either handwritten or otherwise. 

Turk sand Caicos accepts vaccines including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Comirnaty, Spikevax, and Vaxzevria. 

In its initial announcement, Turks and Caicos had suggested only digital vaccine cards would be accepted; that has now changed, in a significant boost for the vast majority of the vaccinated who have only paper records. 

All travelers must also show proof of a negative PCR, NAA, RNA or Antigen test taken within three days of travel to Turn and Caicos. 

That’s along with a requirement for medical or travel insurance that covers medevac and a completed health screening form. 

You can find the relevant TCI Assured health protocols here. 

Since July 2020, Turks and Caicos has embarked on what has been one of the Caribbean’s model tourism reopenings. 

The summer of 2021 has seen a full-fledged tourism boom in the British overseas territory. 

For more, visit Turks and Caicos. 

— CJ

The post Turks and Caicos to Accept Both Digital and Paper Vaccination Cards appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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One of the Caribbean’s leading resort companies has announced a significant update to its travel rules: all guests over the age of 12 will be required to show proof of Covid vaccination upon arrival. 

Elite Island Resorts has a broad portfolio of some the most popular all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, with nine hotels across destinations including Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Grenadines, Barbados and Panama. 

The new rule will take effect Sept. 1, according to a statement from the company. 

“With hospitality at the core of what we do, compassion lives deep within our souls, so it has always been our duty to protect the health and safety of our guests and our employees, first and foremost. Further, we have a commitment to our communities and the destinations in which we operate,” said Elite Island Resorts Founder and CEO Robert A. Barrett. “Current science tells us that if you’re vaccinated, you are less likely to become seriously ill, or end up taking up a hospital bed in a fragile medical environment such as the Caribbean where local resources cannot afford to be overburdened. It’s imperative for us to protect the hospitals of these smaller island nations, and while they have had a good track record so far with COVID-19, we must remain vigilant, and all do our part to become part of the solution.”

It’s the first move by a major resort company to add the protocol.

“While we understand that news of our vaccine mandate may be disappointing to select travelers, it will be uplifting and encouraging to others. Travel breeds tolerance and with this decision, we don’t seek to divide, because as hoteliers, we bring cultures and people together. Yet, in today’s world, we must consider so many more variables to do that, all while respecting the integrity of these beautiful islands and the people who work in them,” Barrett said. “After weighing all the choices, issues, and concerns, mandating vaccines was the wisest option in protecting the critical tourism industry of these beloved destinations which are so crucial to the survival of so many employees, and the only way we will be able to keep travel and tourism going strong throughout the fall and winter. People rely on us for work—to support their families and their livelihood—so in making this choice, we work for them, too.”

The company’s Caribbean resorts include Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Hammock Cove, St. James’s Club & Villas, Pineapple Beach Club and The Verandah Resort; St. James’s Club Morgan Bay in St. Lucia, The Club Barbados, Palm Island, The Grenadines, and Los Establos Boutique Inn, Panama. 

The celebrated portfolio includes Hammock Cove, named this year as the number one all-inclusive in the Caribbean by Caribbean Journal. 

For more, visit Elite Island Resorts. 

— CJ

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