As of today, Anguilla is one of the safest island destinations in the world!
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has classified Anguilla “No Travel Health Notice: Very Low Risk for COVID-19”.
Starting 1st November 2020, Anguilla will enter Phase 2 of its reopening to tourism. During this second phase, many of the island's hotels, resorts, and villas will be added to a list of certified accommodations approved for visitor-stay on the island. And while many see this as a step in the right direction, it does come at a cost.
Anguilla Coronavirus Travel
Anguilla is one of the few island nations taking steps to see international travel return to its shores. However, to safeguard island inhabitants and ensure its borders stay open, visitors to Anguilla will need to comply with a number of conditions before being granted entry. Feel free to visit our Corona News page to learn more about the Anguilla coronavirus travel requirements.
“Entry to Anguilla must be pre-approved. Luckily, the application form is clear, straightforward, and simple to fill in. The Anguilla Tourist Board has made it as easy as possible for travellers to apply.”
Soon, when travelling to Anguilla, one of the strictest conditions that must be complied with is having to stay in your resort for the first 10-14 days*, or your entire stay if less than 10 days. Thankfully, these 10-14 days will be far from boring as the government is introducing the Bubble Concept, whereby properties are authorized to safely offer their guests access to a range of approved amenities, services, and activities during their restricted stay. These can include water sports, select indoor and outdoor games, beach yoga and other activities. So if staying in a luxury resort and taking part in a variety of activities seems fun to you, then Anguilla is your place to be!
Entry to Paradise comes at a price
Major components of the new travel requirements are for each visitor to be tested twice during their time on the island, and to remain under surveillance. To cover the cost of these procedures, a fee is being levied for all visitors. And it’s a pretty hefty one! You can find the full fee schedule on our Corona News page but to give you an idea: visitors staying at a pre-approved property for a week will need to pay a fee of US$400 (US$600 for a couple). Anguilla has always been an expensive island to visit, but with this fee, it seems the island is now exclusively reserved for the wealthy. Some might say it will add to its prestige... others will be exasperated by it.
Experience a world far from the Pandemic
Whatever the opinions on the matter may be, one has to agree this is better than nothing. If nothing else, it demonstrates that the Anguilla government, together with its Tourism Board, are doing whatever they can to save their tourism industry. And while these measures may seem overly strict, they do allow for a surprisingly unique possibility: To experience Anguilla the way it was before the pandemic.
“After spending the 10-14 days at your resort, and when your second Corona Test comes back negative, you will be free to explore the island to your heart’s content, without face masks and other restrictive measures. Life will be, for as far as it can be considered, ‘normal’, just as it was before the pandemic.”
In these times of lockdowns and restrictions, the prospect of enjoying a normal vacation is exceedingly rare. I sincerely hope this simple pleasure will be enough to entice visitors back to the island. Anyone willing to take advantage of this opportunity, albeit at some cost, will be rewarded with an island at its most pristine, and the knowledge that they can travel as safely as possible while supporting the local communities and businesses that rely so heavily on tourism.
Anguilla is reopening soon. Will you be one of the first to visit?
Anguilla is reopening soon. Will you be one of the first to visit?
* 10 days for visitors coming from areas of a low prevalence of COVID-19 cases (less than 0.2%) and 14 days from areas of high prevalence (more than 0.2%)
About the author
Hi! I'm Axelle, the StMartinbookings.com
writer of this blog post.
If you have questions or feedback, feel free to contact me on:
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