Welcome to Dream Vacations, a lifestyle column on traveling to amazing destinations with practical advice and my revelations about locales from years of personal experience. With the COVID pandemic limiting travel and tourism, you should learn where and how to travel safely. In this article we review the current requirements for traveling to Bahamas.
Hawaii Travel *Update*
We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to provide an update for those traveling to Hawaii…
First, Kauai has gone back into 14 day quarantine from Dec. 2-20, and we are rescheduling guests for Maui, or other locations, upon request.
As of November 24, 2020, for the rest of Hawaii, you must have a confirmed negative COVID-19 test PRIOR to arrival AND have it uploaded to your account on the SafeTravel’s website.
Or expect a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
Worried you won’t get your test results on time? Hawaiian Airlines are guaranteeing a 36-hour turnaround on all passenger COVID tests results, find out more here.
Be safe and travel smart. Now, onto the sunny isles of Bahamas.
Can I Travel to Bahamas?
Yes, Bahamas has reopened for tourism. In fact, it reopened in July 2020 and remains open, but with entry requirements much like many other destinations.
Dream Vacation clients looking to stay at Atlantis – Harborside villas should be happy to know it reopens December 10, just in time for a Holiday getaway!
Before You Travel
Like most countries during the pandemic, Bahamas is trying to curtail COVID spread while also cautiously opening up their tourist spots for visitation. Be sure to follow the procedures below before you leave and check our “COVID-19 Guide to Traveling Safely” for even more tips.
- Everyone in your party must obtain a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR no more than 5 days prior to your arrival.
- Children under 10 years old do not need this test.
- Your negative PCR test must be uploaded to complete a Bahamas Travel Health Visa available at travel.gov.bs and by clicking on the International Tab (print your negative test results for presenting upon arrival as well).
- Health Visas need to be completed 48 hours before arrival.
- Any tests older than 5 days on arrival will be denied entry.
- As part of the Travel Health Visa fee, travelers must opt in to the COVID-19 insurance coverage for their stay while in Bahamas as part of the application process.
- Before departing for the Bahamas check the status of your Travel Health Visa and ensure it is Green – Approved.
On Arrival and During Your Stay
For those clients traveling to Paradise Island and the Atlantis resort complex be sure to check out current regulations and restrictions before you travel, here.
- Masks are required in most public spaces with few exceptions.
- Physical distancing is required as much as possible.
- Daily COVID surveys are required of all visitors for the first five days.
- If you are staying longer than five days, you are also required to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test at one of these island sites.
- If you exhibit symptoms during your stay you will first be required to take a rapid COVID-19 antigen test before continuing your vacation.
- If it is positive, you will be further required to take a COVID-19 RT-PCR. If positive you may be transferred away from others for further testing, quarantine and evaluation.
- Bahamas mask policy comes with a $250 fine or one month in jail for those that do not comply. Failure to take the fifth day COVID testing could result in a $1000 fine or one month imprisonment.
- NOTE: Planning to visit a second island during your stay? A negative COVID-19 RT-PCR no less than five days prior to inter-island travel departure and a domestic Health Travel Visa are also required.
What is the State of COVID in Bahamas?
In the last 14 days (as of writing, on December 2, 2020), Bahamas has a total of 340 active cases. According to Bahamas Ministry of Health, today there were two active cases reported for all of the Bahamas.
Want to get away from the COVID blues? We currently have deals for Bahamas destinations. Feel free to call me about any of our other resorts for the end of 2020 or for the winter and spring of 2021.
Tags: covid testing, traveling during covid, Bahamas Travel Guide, Bahamas Travel Health Visa, winter getaway, family vacation, beach vacation, Bahamas, Paradise Island, Atlantis
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