Five Things You Need To Know About Visiting The British Virgin Islands Now

In contrast to the United States Virgin Islands, which, when they opened last June, were one of the first Caribbean destinations to do so, the British Virgin Islands didn't begin to welcome international visitors until December 2020, making the 30+-island territory one of the last. If your travel plans include a trip to Tortola, Virgin Gorda or any of the other islands in the Caribbean's sailing capital, here's what you need to know before you go.

As with all other open Caribbean countries, you'll need travel authorization. At least 48 hours before you plan to travel, go to the portal at https://bvigateway.bviaa.com to apply. As of June 15, there are varying requirements for fully, partially and non-vaccinated visitors, as well as for those arriving by air or by boat (usually from the neighboring USVI). All visitors will need to show proof of negative results from a COVID test before arrival and of health insurance that covers COVID-related care. But other requirements may (or may not) include testing on arrival at the airport, use of a tracking device and quarantine. With regulations and U.S. and Caribbean COVID numbers in flux, checking entry requirements before you go is crucial. Find the latest information at https://www.bvitourism.com.

Some Caribbean countries charge a fee for the costs associated with travel authorization and the BVI is one of them. Currently, vaccinated visitors pay $35 per person, while non- or partially-vaccinated pay $105. You'll also need to factor in the cost of the required health insurance. (The destination provides a list of providers here.)

Because there are currently no non-stop flights from the United States mainland into the BVI, travelers arriving by air will need to connect through either San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, USVI; Antigua or St. Maarten. That means you'll also need to apply for entry to your connecting country and meet their specific entry requirements on your inbound and outbound journeys. I flew to the BVI via San Juan and from the territory via St. Thomas, so I ended up having to apply for entry to three countries in total.

As of January 26, there's been a CDC requirement that all passengers (vaccinated or not) entering the U.S. show proof of a negative result from a COVID test taken within three days of arrival. The test can be either a PCR or rapid/antigen test, and in most Caribbean destinations resorts are offering guests rapid testing on-site, some at no charge. The BVI, however, only offers PCR testing for these purposes, and charges $70. Resorts here are not authorized to offer testing on-site unless guests have chosen the territory's official concierge service, which, for resort-based visitors, costs $400 for physician's fees plus a $200 transportation fee and a service charge of $75 in addition to the testing fees. Most visitors end up having to test at a nearby hospital or clinic (I did mine at Virgin Gorda's Peebles Hospital) so be sure to budget for taxis in addition to testing fees.

BVI regulations require masks in public places, on public transportation and indoors, so bring a supply of disposable or reusable masks with you. (Also consider buying resort- or island-branded ones as souvenirs, since we'll be wearing them - at least when we travel ­- for the foreseeable future.) As in North America, social distancing is also required - and don't forget, this applies when you're in line at the airport, too!