JAMAICA TRAVEL ADVISORY

STAY IN YOUR RESILIENT CORRIDOR

Finally getting to travel internationally for the first time in over a year! Since the pandemic began, we’ve only traveled domestically and usually road trips by car, but now the conditions are better. Here in the United States, cases are down, vaccinations have been doled out and terms like “herd immunity” are being tossed around. Team VFH is ready to hit the road and instead of Jamaica, Queens we are going to the island nation of Jamaica!

US DOJ TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR JAMAICA

Though the United States Department of State recommends avoiding travel to Jamaica at this time, mainly because of COVID concerns, Jamaica whose economy relies heavily on tourism is open for visits, but with plenty of stipulations and rules. 

We had to first apply for a Travel Authorization Form with Jamaica at least a week prior to our departure. The form determined our health risk. We were successful and we have to take the certificate they sent to us as well as the COVID test results we had to take within 3 days of our departure to the check-in at the airport. We tested negative this morning.

We are listed under “category 2”, non-resident tourists staying in an approved “resilient corridor” facility, which means we have to stay at our resort. We are able to travel within the resilient corridor with a “Resilient Licensed Tourist Attraction” and only transportation that is licensed under the Tourist Board Act can get you there. 

South Resilient Corridor

The Resilient Corridor is basically the west coast of the island from Negril to Port Antonio for the North Coast Corridor and from Negril to the Milk River for the South Coast Corridor. The government claims that only businesses with this “corridor” that have been trained and assessed for adherence to COVID protocols are allowed to operate.

Here is Jamaica’s list of approved accommodations and attractions.

COVID COMPLIANT LISTINGS IN JAMAICA

If we were inclined to venture off the Sandals South Coast resort there is a lot available to us, but truthfully, we’ll probably just enjoy the facility. We stayed at Sandals in Antigua and The Bahamas and we never left the grounds.

NORTH RESILIENT CORRIDOR

We will be tested once we arrive in Jamaica and if we test positive for the virus, we will either be placed in isolation, either at the hotel or a government facility!!! Failure to comply in this quarantine will result in a fine up to ONE MILLION DOLLARS or imprisonment for up to 12 months! YIKES…. Thankfully though that money figure is listed in the Jamaican Dollar which today is at 0.0065 to the USD. A MILLION Jamaican Dollars is approximately $6,520. Still, that’s a hefty price to pay.

We’ve been smart though and not taking risks. We wear masks at all indoor facilities and we even took a rain check for a ‘VACCINATION PARTY” being thrown by friends this weekend to avoid any last-minute grief. This is my first trip to Jamaica and I’m staying resilient in my corridor.

Thanks for reading

Love Janet and Greg

© 2021

By Greg Dunaj.

SANDALS SOUTH COAST JAMAICA

 NAVIGATING IN THE NEW NORMAL

Travel during this time of COVID is much more difficult, especially international travel. Added to the normal preparations for a trip, like packing beachwear, suntan lotion, passports and plane tickets we now have to make sure we get tested for the virus beforehand and carry proof we are COVID-free. Currently vaccinations are not required to travel, but we’re hedging our bet and have been treated with the Pfizer vaccine.  

Our destination this time is Jamaica, a trip originally planned for last December, but delayed because of the uncertainty of the pandemic. Recently restrictions have eased for us in the United States and we have rescheduled for early May. Although currently Jamaica is not allowing people into their country who have been in the UK or certain South American countries, we are able to travel there, with or without a vaccination.

Here’s what is required: Effective March 4, 2021 Americans are able to travel to Jamaica, as long as they have a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure and a Jamaican Travel Authorization Form completed no earlier than a week before the flight. These items as well as proof of travel/health insurance will be required to board the plane to Jamaica.  

For more details and to fill out the Travel Authorization Form go to the Jamaica Cares website. The website of the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica also has some good information.

JAMAICA TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION FORM

US EMBASSY ON TRAVEL TO JAMAICA 

Helping us wade through the details of this “relaxing” trip is our destination on Jamaica, the Sandals South Coast resort. Set on a two-mile stretch of one of the best beaches in Jamaica, Sandals South Coast abuts a 500-acre nature preserve which only adds to the seclusion and serenity. Sandals has been very accommodating with the delay in this travel and we have been assured that if we are unable to travel there in early May we can reschedule again. A representative of Sandals even approached us to make sure that we were aware of all the Jamaican requirements necessary for travel to the country, which speaks to the level of attention given to the resort and her guests.

The travel insurance required by Jamaica is a part of our stay with Sandals. The generous policy provided by Sandals covers trip delay, accident & sickness medical expenses for up to $100,000 as well as medical evacuation and repatriation up to $100,000. Team VFH always purchases travel insurance through Allianz Global Assist and we have purchased our own coverage as well for this trip. Your favorite traveling tandem highly recommends travel insurance. Case in point, several years ago I endured a dental emergency while in England and it was fully covered by the policy.

ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE

For our return Sandals provides the required COVID test and if we test positive, we stay at the resort free of charge (but sequestered in our room) until we are cleared to travel. Also, for a small additional fee Sandals covers our customs for the return and bypassing the long lines at the airport.

WTF?

Right about now you’re probably muttering under your breath WTF, is this worth the effort.

Yes.

The Sandals family of resorts is a luxurious, all-inclusive, adults-only, couples-only resort catering to the whims of their patrons who will never hear the word “no”.

This will be our third time traveling to a Sandals. We had already been to Sandals Grande Antigua (for our honeymoon) and Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort (and private island) in The Bahamas (where the diving was absolutely spectacular!) They even gave us a small discount for this trip as a thank you for our repeat business.

Traveling to a Sandals is certainly not adventurous travel, but certainly indulgent. Pools abound and swim-up bars are everywhere. At Sandals South Coast there’s even a bar over the water with hammocks to laze on while celebrating the effort it took to get here. The food is great with everything from Caribbean to Calypso, Italian to Sushi on the beach! Never regulated to the menu, one can alter the surf and turf and just get a couple of lobster tails instead. Or, you can teach the bartender how to make a Zombie or at least something close! ZOMBIE RECIPE 

Everything is included at Sandals and no tipping is allowed. Some activities like tours are optional, but there is free scuba diving, the only fee is a wetsuit rental, if interested. I got PADI certified for Open Water diving while at the resort in The Bahamas. Although on this trip with the pandemic we are not quite sure if diving will be allowed when we get to Jamaica.

SANDALS SOUTH COAST, JAMAICA

Sandals is headquartered in Jamaica with 7 resorts on the island and a total of 16 resorts scattered around the Caribbean.

Thank you for reading...and wish us luck!

©2021

by Greg Dunaj