The "Is It Time To Travel Once Again?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just received my latest HOP NEWS which is sent out monthly by my teacher's health options program.  Across the headline read "Are You Ready to Travel?  You bet!  If you are a traveler, how long ago did you take your last trip?  18 months ago? A year ago?  As for Carol and I, we missed our past three vacations and can hardly wait to enjoy the sun on the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten (SXM) in the near future.  As we age, we realize that there will eventually come a time when one of us will not physically be able to board a plane, fly a few thousand miles, de-plane, go through immigrations and customs and finally have a chance to relax on a beautiful beach in the Caribbean.  So, missing almost two years of our travel life due to COVID-19 was tough to swallow.  Sure, we could relax last summer on our rear deck in the sun, but that's not the same as listening to the waves lapping a few feet from our lounge chairs and looking out over the beautiful blue waters of the ocean.  Not even close!  So, we are hoping to be able to travel some time soon.  The article in HOP News reported that after more than a year of staying home, most people are ready to get back too the activities they enjoyed before the pandemic.  And, travel was one of those activities.  Vacations seem to be more readily available and more people are fully vaccinated, as are Carol and I.  Is it possible we will be able to vacation soon?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.  The CDC considers a person to be fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine; as if we haven't heard this before.  But, there are certain guidelines and precautions that are still recommended being: wear a mask; keep a six-foot distance; avoid crowds; wash your hands frequently; use hand sanitizer; monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms after you travel.  Yeah, yeah, yeah...we know all that already.  Who doesn't?  The article goes on to tell me that if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine, you do not need to get tested before or after domestic travel.  Ah...I immediately saw that word...domestic.  Going to the island of SXM isn't domestic travel!  The article goes on to say that you should understand the cancellation policy just in case the virus returns a few days before you are to travel and you can't make the trip.  They do suggest that you use a travel agent or purchasing travel insurance.  Having to stay at home would be tough, but not getting your money back would be even tougher.  I did some more checking on travel by pulling up another favorite website called TTOL (Travel Talk Online) which deals with travel to many world  destinations.  One section of the site deals with the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten so I opened the site and at the top of the link read: Covid travel requirements.  There are many requirements needed for both the French side of the two-country island as well as the Dutch side of the island.   But, knowing the dates of your travel, you have plenty of time to obtain the tests or at least plan a time for tests that have to be done 72 or less hours before boarding the plane to your destination.  Takes time, but at least you have the time and knowing you will be on vacation soon is a real incentive.  As for returning to the United States, that's a different story.  The following was a small part of what I found that is necessary to return to the United States.   

Information on testing on island for return to the US:
In case you have problems with getting a EHAS approval, try this number in SXM. 721-542-1570

We had stopped there to inquire about the test. They recommended us to use Sun Pharmacie or Pharmacie Soualiga in Marigot. We used Pharmacie Soualiga in Marigot…free, no questions about where you’re staying…did take a little over 2 hours, I was the 50th person tested that day…testing starts at 9, we got in line at 9:30, with like 40+ people in front of us . According to sign on door, antigen testing is done Tue & Thur, 9-10:30, Sat 9-11:30.  Not the most efficient process since just one lady does both the testing and processing of the results…she hands you a form with “negative “ checked, which you then take around the corner into the front entrance of the pharmacy (testing is done at back entrance) where after a few minutes you are then given the official test results documentInformation on testing on island for return to the US.

Now, how much time would it take to prepare to return to the United States?  Could be an entire day of your vacation...or perhaps two or three days. Are we ready to go through all this to end our vacation or would it be easier going someplace in the United States to start with in the first place!  Now, if you have ever visited a Caribbean island you know the answer immediately.  So, what you have to do is plan for at least a two week vacation or even longer.  We learned that years ago so we may have some problems getting tested before we return, but it is worth the bother.  And, what if we miss the plane ride home?  We do know a few people on the island who perhaps would enjoy visitors for a few more days if necessary.  Might be a good idea to contact them before we travel...just in case!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.