Five Caribbean islands to visit this winter

Are you looking for warmer weather this winter or just need some beach time? A Caribbean island may be perfect for you. Caribbean islands are slowly re-opening their borders to international travelers. All require some form of a negative COVID-19 test result for entry. Typically, you must have the test either before traveling or upon arrival and be submitted to a health screening on arrival. All destinations have put health standards and protocols in place for ports of entry, transportation, hotels, restaurants, and other points of contact for both residents and visitors. Below are 5 Caribbean Islands that are currently open.

1. Antigua

Antigua is a known for its many sandy beaches. It boasts one beach for each day of the year. It also has historical significance as it was the perfect place for Admiral Horatio Nelson to shelter his fleet of ships in 1784 and for the British to establish a base. Antigua is quintessential Caribbean, full of candy-colored villages, a rum-infused mellowness and engaging locals who’ll greet you with wide smiles.

Entry Requirements

• Receive a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR Test within 7 days of arrival
• Keep a printed and digital copy of the negative COVID-19 PCR test with you during your travels (required in destination)
• Complete a Health Declaration Form
• For full entry protocols and further information visit: Visit Antigua

Where to Stay

Jumby Bay Island is a stunning 300-acre private island, only two miles north of Antigua. This exclusive Caribbean resort offers splendid accommodations, exquisite restaurants, a sensational spa, and world-renowned facilities. It showcases both the beauty of nature and the tradition of elegance that has long graced the private island.

2. St. Kitts

Saint Kitts is a beautiful and lush island, known for cloud-shrouded mountains and beaches. At the north end lies a chain of 3 dormant volcanoes. The largest is Mt. Liamuiga at about 3,700 feet high with a geothermal lake in its crater. The landmass narrows toward the southeast forming a flatter peninsula and a large lake called Great Salt Pond.

Entry Requirements

• Submit a negative PCR test completed within 72-hours of travel from an accredited laboratory
• Complete the entry form on the national website (www.covid19.gov.kn)
• Undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check and a health questionnaire
• Download the SKN COVID-19 contact tracing mobile app (to be used for the first 14 days of travel or less).
• 1-7 days they are free to move about the hotel property, interact with other guests, and partake in hotel activities.
• 7 -14 days visitors will undergo a PCR-test (visitors’ cost) on day 7. If the traveler tests negative on day 7, they are allowed, through the hotel’s tour desk, to book select excursions and access select destination sites (list to be announced later).
• Travelers staying 7 nights or less, are required to take a PCR-test 72 hours prior to departure. The PCR-test will be done on the hotel property, at the nurse’s station. The Ministry of Health will advise the respective hotel, of the date and time for the traveler’s PCR-test before departure. The cost of the PCR test is USD $150 for Non-Nationals/Non-Residents.
• For full entry protocols and further information visit: St. Kitts

Where to Stay

We loved our stay at the luxurious and secluded Park Hyatt St. Kitts last year. Read our review to know why you should stay here during your visit.

3. St. Lucia

St. Lucia is a beautiful island known for the dramatic mountainous volcanic plugs, The Pitons. Its coast features volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, and fishing villages. The interior’s trails pass through the rainforest leading to waterfalls, such as the 15-meter-high Toraille, which pours over a cliff into a garden. Don’t forget to soak in the volcanic mud baths and indulge in authentic island food.

Entry Requirements

• Receive a negative COVID-19 PCR Test within 7 days of arrival
• Complete a Pre-Arrival Registration Form and Health Screening Form prior to arrival
• Keep a printed confirmed travel authorization letter, results of the COVID-19 test, and the auto-response email that you received on submission of the travel authorization form with you during your travels
• Undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check
• For full entry protocols and further information visit: St. Lucia

Where to Stay

Sugar Beach Resort is without question located in one of the most spectacular sites in the world: the majestic valley of the Pitons. Once the site of an 18th Century sugar plantation, the resort spans over 100 acres of lushly landscaped grounds that sweep down to the stunning white sand Sugar Beach and the glimmering Caribbean Sea.

4. The Bahamas

The Bahamas is only 60 miles off the coast of Florida and is comprised of 700 islands, over 2000 rocks and cays, and over 100,000 square miles of ocean. The archipelago is an ecological oasis, boasting the clearest water on the planet. It also has a rich history and culture. Each of the unique islands offers something for everyone.

Entry Requirements

• Receive a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR Test within 5 days of arrival
• Apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa at travel.gov.bs
• Purchase mandatory health insurance when applying for the visa
• Undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check
• Submit a daily health questionnaire online for symptom tracking purposes
• If you’re staying for five days or longer, you’ll need to take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test on the fifth day. Any visitors departing on or before five days will not be required to obtain this test.
• For full entry protocols and further information visit: Bahamas

Where to Stay

The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons resort, is a legendary Caribbean island hideaway. It is located on a 5-mile stretch of natural, white-sand beach on Paradise Island. Connect with this Bahamian beauty in an enclave of remarkable seclusion, where intimate low-rise buildings are immersed in 35 acres of Versailles-inspired lawns and gardens. Wake up to breakfast on your private balcony. Indulge in a restorative treatment in one of the Balinese-style spa villas or head out for a round of golf at Ocean Club Golf Course.

5. Turks & Caicos

The Turks & Caicos is known for its crystalline turquoise water and white sandy beaches. Only 575 miles southeast of Miami, the Turks & Caicos Islands are made up of an archipelago of eight major islands along with many picturesque cays. The islands are relatively flat, covering 193 square miles. If you are looking to get away, you’ll be thrilled to know that only eight of the islands are inhabited. On the north side, facing the Atlantic Ocean, rests a long barrier reef which protects the islands while providing superlative vistas for scuba diving and many other water activities.

Entry Requirements

• Receive a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR Test within 5 days of arrival
• Purchase Travel insurance that covers COVID-19 medical costs and full hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescription, and air ambulance
• Complete TCI Assured Travel Authorization: Turks and Caicos Tourism within 3 days of travel
• Keep a printed Travel Authorization with you during your travels
• Undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check
• For full entry protocols and further information visit: Turks & Caicos

Where to Stay

Amanyara basks in unprecedented seclusion on the shores of an 18,000-acre nature preserve. The resort overlooks a pristine one-kilometer white sand beach and the turquoise waters of North West Point Marine National Park. It offers access to some of the finest scuba diving and snorkeling in the Turks and Caicos. Also enjoy the world-class restaurants, superb wellness facilities, and activities for the whole family.

Are you ready to plan your winter escape to the Caribbean islands? Contact us today to get going!