When the first Caribbean destinations began reopening in June, the travel world was filled with uncertainty. But in the six months since, the Caribbean has sent a message to the world that tourism reopenings can largely be done in a safe, effective manner — an important step for the future of the most tourism-dependent region on earth.
Of course, not everyone is returning to traveling, and every traveler needs to carefully consider their trip and the risks.
But a growing number of visitors are returning to the Caribbean — and that’s why we’ve brought back our monthly edition of Places to Go.
If you decide to go, make sure you do so while being conscious of everyone around you — most importantly, the people of the communities you’re visiting.
And when you travel, wear a mask, practice safe hygiene and please comply with each destination’s health protocols — each of which we’ve linked to below.
The Bahamas Last month, The Bahamas entered the newest phase of its tourism reopening, one that eliminated the quarantine requirement and opened up most of the country’s hotels (and its ever-popular boating sector). It should be noted that the reopening is country-wide, meaning all of the major islands are ready to welcome you back, with a different island for every type of traveler.
For adventure, make the journey to Andros and the Small Hope Bay Lodge; for a cosmopolitan getaway, try Nassau (where top hotels like Atlantis and the Baha Mar reopen this month, along with already-relaunched mainstays like Graycliff) for undiscovered beaches and private villas, there’s Grand Bahama. For historic charm, there’s Harbour Island. For boating, get a charter boat in Abaco.
You can find the country’s travel protocols here, headlined by negative PCR result within five days of your flight to The Bahamas.
St Croix A new digital travel portal for visitors has helped solidify the US Virgin Islands’ safe tourism reopening, and while all three of its islands are open for tourism, we strongly recommend a trip to St Croix — a destination that still remains something of a well-kept secret. St Croix has a robust dining scene, a treasure trove of cultural and historical attractions and a broad choice of hotels, from icons like The Buccaneer to sleek new getaways like The Fred. You can find the USVI travel protocols here.
St Kitts St Kitts and Nevis reopened for tourism at the end of October, a reopening that included the country’s most popular hotels, led by the sparkling Park Hyatt St Kitts. St Kitts is also an increasingly popular yachting destination, making the island a top spot for Christmas and New Year’s getaways, centered at the most beautiful new marina in the Caribbean: Christophe Harbour. Here are St Kitts’ travel protocols.
St Barth The Caribbean capital of luxury has been open for months, and now it’s made arguably the most complete reopening of any destination in the Caribbean. All of the trendies spots are open, from the Eden Rock to Nikki Beach, as is just about every luxury hotel on the island. But the ultimate St Barth vacation is still a stay in your own private villa with a company like WIMCO. And carriers like Tradewind Aviation still offer the best way to to get to the island.
St Barth has just about the simplest travel requirements of any destination: simply bring proof of a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of arrival. That’s it.
Saint Lucia In an age where privacy and seclusion are placed at a premium by travelers, Saint Lucia’s tucked-away, small hotels are the perfect recipe. Whether you’re in a three-walled suite at Ladera or Jade Mountain, enjoying rainforest breezes at Fond Doux Plantation or a Piton-view villa at Stonefield, you can find the perfect accommodation for the current realities of travel. Here’s what to know about visiting Saint Lucia.
Antigua and Barbuda One of the first Caribbean destinations to reopen, Antigua and Barbuda quickly reminded the traveling world that a tourism reopening could be done in a safe, effective manner. Now, the vast majority of the destination’s hotels are open, from all-inclusives such as Curtain Bluff and Galley Bay to classic boutique hotels like The Inn at English Harbour and the Admiral’s Inn in the heart of Nelson’s Dockyard. And no trip to the island is complete without a meal at Sheer Rocks, named number one restaurant in the Caribbean in 2020. You can find Antigua’s travel protocols here.
Bonaire The newest Caribbean island to reopen, this Dutch Caribbean gem is one of the region’s capitals for diving, thanks to a world-renowned marine park that surrounds the entire island. It’s also home to an outstanding food scene, from institutions like At Sea to the region-leading Brass Boer. For now, getting there means transiting through Curacao. Here are Bonaire’s protocols.
— CJ