Puerto Rico is set for a major update to its travel requirements — requiring vaccinations for all guests of hotels, guest houses and short-term rentals on the island. 

Beginning Aug. 16, vaccinations will be required for both employees and guests of all such properties. 

Those not vaccinated must present a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of the beginning of their visit. 

For unvaccinated travelers staying longer than one week, they must continue to present negative tests on a weekly basis. 

Those not vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons must show documentation confirming their exemption — and must still present weekly negative tests. 

The move applies to those eligible for vaccination – not travelers under 12. 

Puerto Rico recently amended its entry protocols to the island, waiving the testing requirement for vaccinated travelers. 

Unvaccinated travelers from within the United States must show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours before arrival in Puerto Rico. 

Unvaccinated travelers who arrive without a test must upload a PCR or antigen test taken within 48 hours after arriving on the island — or they will receive a $300 fine. 

No matter whether they’re vaccinated or unvaccinated, all travelers must visit the TravelSafe PR health portal to upload all relevant documents and information. 

Once you upload the info and get approved, you’ll receive a QR code that will expedite your arrival once you land in Puerto Rico. 

For more, visit TravelSafe. 

— CJ

The post Puerto Rico to Require All Hotel Guests to Be Vaccinated appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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One of Saint Lucia’s leading resorts is joining the Zoëtry brand. 

The Marigot Bay Resort will soon relaunch as an all-inclusive under AMResorts’ wellness-focused Zoëtry brand. 

The rebranded Zoëtry Marigot Bay St Lucia will be the first AMResorts property on the island. 

It will feature 124 rooms and suites, with a spa, four eateries, four bars and a pair of infinity pools. 

The property, set on what has long been considered the most beautiful bay in Saint Lucia, is also home to the island’s leading marina.

The resort opening date has not yet been announced. 

Zoëtry also announced the addition of a new resort in Mexico, the Zoëtry Casa Del Mar Los Cabos, a similar conversion that is slated to open in November. 

“Demand for boutique resorts is at a high, as travelers crave more intimate experiences in a setting that prioritizes luxury, personalization and safety. Understanding how to optimize this segment for profitability can be a challenge, especially in a volatile market,” said Javier Coll, Group President of Global Business Development at AMResorts. For more than 13 years, AMResorts has provided successful brand-management services through the Zoëtry brand for resorts that are truly unique, while offering guests a consistent, reliable stay from property to property.”

Zoëtry’s other Caribbean resorts include properties in Jamaica, Punta Cana and the Riviera Maya. 

For more, visit Zoëtry.

— CJ

The post Zoëtry Is Opening a New All-Inclusive in Saint Lucia appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The all-inclusive Verandah Resort and Spa in Antigua is reopening next month, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The popular family-friendly property is set to welcome back guests on Sept. 1, parent company Elite Island Resorts confirmed. 

The Green Globe-certified, recently-upgraded resort, which is set on 30 beachfront acres, has a total of 180 villa-style suites, with a mix of one and two-bedroom units. 

That’s along with a collection of six full-fledged villas, all of which have two bedrooms and sweeping views of the bay. 

Dining concepts include the signature Seabreeze restaurant; Nicole’s a fine-dining eatery with a fusion of French and Italian cuisine; The Buccaneer, an a la carte, Caribbean-inspired restaurant; The Beach Bar and Grill; and the Wadadli Snack Shack right on the beach. 

That’s along with four bars and lounges, including the beachside Rasta Bar. 

The property’s Tranquility Body and Soul Spa has a variety of treatment options, along with salon services. 

That’s along with amenities ranging from an 18-hole mini-golf course to two white-sand beaches. 

The resort is adjacent to the new Hammock Cove Resort, a spectacular adults-only property.

The reopening of The Verandah will mean that all of Elite Island Resorts’ properties in Antigua are open, joining Hammock Cove; Galley Bay and St James’s Club and Villas.  

Here’s what you need to know before visiting Antigua and Barbuda. 

For more, visit The Verandah. 

— CJ

The post Antigua’s Verandah All-Inclusive Resort Is Reopening Next Month appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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