Only Beef Island will be open Dec 1

I guess I will cancel my Dec 1-15 trip to the BVI as I don't want to go thru Beef Island . Can't bring enough luggage thru Beef Island. Sucks!! Again no thought as to how people get to the BVI

My charter and two friends going on charter will also be Likely be cancelled. There is not enough capacity into EIS and airlines are unlikely to add much if any. What is the source of this info?
G

How much luggage do you need? We've almost always gone through beef and taken a bag of clothes. A bag of snorkel gear/other misc stuff and 2 bags containing our dive gear, plus 2 backpacks. Never had a problem.

Where is this news coming from...would love to verify it before I change all of our flights....

https://bvinews.com/only-beef-island-airport-will-reopen-to-visitors-on-december-1/

Why don't you fly in and ship your extra supplies down?

FYI - tonight is the meeting for your group of stakeholders. Have you registered for it? The agenda includes time for questions and answers along with stakeholder discussion. The full list of villa protocols is also attached to the invitation.

I saw on line a comment about a 4 day quarantine. Is this fact? I do not see that on anything official except 284media.com and I do not know how reliable that is.

It was discussed by the premier but has not been approved by Cabinet.

Quarantine requirements will be a key factor. I had already changed my inbound flight to EIS arrival expecting a sole point of entry for the initial period, and booked appointments for testing, but a quarantine will make a trip down much less likely for us - only have so many days to work with. Workable for residents and villa owners/long stay travelers, but not for those with limited vacation time.

Agree - quarantines will make it virtually impossible for guests to come to BVI and villa owners will not pay to enforce it - far better to have a rapid 15 min test at the airport and quarantine those that test positive - if a guest travels knowing they have Covid shame on them - whereas if a guest is confident they don't have covid and a rapid test confirms a negative result its a boon to the travel industry.

At least 200 lbs of luggage. I have to bring down lots of stuff for the villa.

Apparently it cam eout during discussions and was printed in an outline newspaper

Apparently it came out during discussions and was printed in an outline newspaper. Also think about this $150 for precovid test. Another $150 for the arrival covid test. There also seems to be another covid test after the 4 day quarantine and then there is another $150 to get the covid test to go home. Too much hassle, too much money. Not worth doing.

The full list of villa protocols is also attached to the invitation.
Where do I find this? Thanks

Phone number here

I received this flyer but I don't see any list of protocols.

Hi tpcook. Based upon our meeting this morning, entry protocols are still not official. It sounds like the Government has an idea of what they want to do, but they are getting feedback from all the industries before putting out anything official.

Frustrating, I know.

If you sign up for the meeting (yours is tonight), you'll get a link for the meeting, an agenda, and a copy of the Villa operation protocols. PM me if you want me to send you a copy via email.

Wow, you can put a fork in this year's season..

Thorsten, my husband one time traveled GVA-FRA-ORD-SJU-EIS with three 70-lb. bags. I had come days earlier with two 50-lb. bags. That's 300 lbs., plus carry-ons. If the bags can't fit on Cape Air, they shift them to Seaborne or a later flight. It's doable.

tpcook, as Jason indicated, the meeting is tonight. I called the number and was then sent a link to attend the meeting.

Yes, this is super frustrating to have to do all of the hoop jumping and planning to get to Dec 1st, but in the same breath, we knew that buying property in a foreign country could be problematic.

And yes, I know, that villa owners, as well as the entire BVI has been hit, time after time, since IRMA (and prior) with hurdle after hurdle to jump over. These are facts we can't dispute and also can't change.

I am ready and willing to do the planning necessary to keep the people of the BVI safe as well as our villa guest. So bring on the information and lets get moving.

Hope to see you on the Villa owner call tonight!

I understand there will be no audible responses only e-mails So I can listen to the blathering but cannot make a response

If anyone has the villa owners information please send to tpcook@videoautomation.com

I see our BVI charter going bye-bye again....

We will not be able to add four days to our charter trip or spend the extra money to quarantine.

Sent. Watch your email.

“
I am ready and willing to do the planning necessary to keep the people of the BVI safe as well as our villa guest. So bring on the information.”

Agree wholeheartedly - the health and safety of residents as well as visitors has to be more important than anything else like convenience for those of us who are just vacationing...
Frustrating for everyone, but the gov’t has a responsibility for public safety, and I’m sure it is a fine line between setting adequate protocols and protocols that have failed elsewhere (like just testing)...

The best public safety is a 100% lockdown. At some point however people start to starve and eventually you end up with a collapse of government. Suicides, crime and other health issues spike. There has to be a balance. Any quarantine for tourists means virtually no tourists. Can the BVI survive another year without tourism?
One other point to be considered. At the moment there are 7.8 million known covid cases worldwide. Less than 70,000 are in serious or worse condition.

That is a great question George, and one that as a villa owner I am truly concerned about. Especially after an extensive rebuild Post Irma.

Hopefully out of this abundance of caution, we will see a phased reopening that will serve both the need for safety and the need for economic recovery.

I absolutely understand protocol. But, as George says, quarantines will kill tourism dead.

Also - the other interesting quote is the one that talks about booking AFTER you've uploaded your COVID test results...."then and only then will you be able to book a ticket to the BVI"

Seriously.

Who books a ticket to the BVI - never mind the charter boat - FIVE DAYS before you leave????

um....that would be NO ONE.

Winterstale - agreed. Bizarre - all my flights are already booked. Into EIS. Are they going to cancel all existing flights? Same for my February flights and charter. Sigh.

Ahoy Captains,

Yes, the BVI will be open for Tourism on Dec 1.
Yes, the airport will be open Dec 1.

Yes, here are News reports about the Ongoing Discussions.
Yes, there are ongoing BVI Gov and 'Stakeholder' meetings this week.
No, none of this is confirmed law.
Yes, it will Change for the Better soon with Improvements in Testing and Treatments and Vaccines in the next few Weeks and Months.

https://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=32053
https://bvinews.com/govt-to-meet-with-tourism-stakeholders-to-discuss-reopening/
https://bvinews.com/only-beef-island-airport-will-reopen-to-visitors-on-december-1/
https://bvinews.com/visitors-will-have-to-test-twice-and-quarantine-for-short-period/
https://www.284media.com/local/2020...rantine-4-days-once-approved-by-cabinet/

The general consensus is Guests will need a test 5 Days ahead of arrival which is practical both logistically for the Guests and Medically for the BVI. Safe and Smart.
There may be a supplementary test for Guests on arrival. Safe and Smart.
There may be a tracing/tacking system for Guests. As there are in many other countries and businesses. Safe And Smart.
There may even be self-quarantine for a few days on your Yacht in the Caribbean … The Horror … The Horror …

Most BVI Businesses would have killed for this news a few months ago.
The more Testing and Restrictions the Safer you will be on the 'Bubble' of your Yacht. With No Masks and No Distancing.
Each day You can easily find new peaceful harbors, explore a vibrant rainbow reef every morning, indulge in a relaxing swim in the crystal clear ocean every happy hour, or just lounge on the foredeck all cheek-to-cheek from sun up to sun down.
BBQ your favorite dish and toast your favorite drinks and sing along to your favorite songs all arm-in-arm, with Security and Health.
And if You are a little tired of the virus stats and politics, you can turn the WiFi off, and listen to the ocean, until You forget what time, or, even what day it is.

As a Captain, my Priority is for the Safety and Health of my Guests during their Caribbean Escape.
The more precautions the better so that my Guests can enjoy a Charter with No Mask, No Distancing … No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems.
And as a Captain I expect the weather to change and I will change course to take advantage of better destinations, and I expect the Testing and Treatment and Vaccines to Improve and I will gladly change course to take advantage of Better Medical Options.
The BVI is opening while temporarily managing travel access. Most countries have focused flights to a minimum of (air)ports to improve their response to the Virus. There has never been any talk of excluding Guests based on having a ‘hot spot’ residency or politics or religion.
The BVI is opening after recently facing the arrival of the Virus in the BVI and in response there were curfews and limits on businesses but no Quarantine.
The BVI is opening the BVI for Tourism despite increases in Virus rates in neighboring countries

I have strongly suggested my guests fly through SJU and hack a separate ticket to the BVI. I have guests SJU – EIS RT inbound Dec 22 for $209 and inbound Sun Jan 2 for $227. There are more and cheaper and later connecting flights to SJU than STT. They are all enjoying a Free Sleepaboard.

Full Disclosure in that I have a vested interest in promoting travel to the BVI with my business – The Captains Compass.
Please correct me, sincerely, if you can suggest a vacation that offers better Physical and Mental health advantages this Winter than the ‘bubble’ of a Yacht in the BVI?
I apologize I cannot speak for land based vacations or residency.
I also understand this is all irrelevant in a few months with a Vaccine.

I had a yacht out for charter within 3 months of Cat 5 Irma, so if there is a will there is a way.
I am looking forward to sticking a fork in a 3 or 4 lb. lobster over in Anegada in a few weeks.
https://quitosbvi.com/webcam/
http://cooperisland-bvi.com/QAN_webcam.php
https://www.soggydollar.com/webcam

Fair Winds, Brent from The Captains Compass

Brent - If I am allowed to quarantine on the boat somewhere OTHER than the charter base dock? I am more than happy to do it......but sitting on a dock in Road Town is not peaceful and relaxing.....I will wait and see.....

Your optimism is refreshing, Brent. Thank you. :-)

I just received the protocols for hotels and villas and for me as a single villa this will NOT work and I will not sign up for anything like this. I also will not rent to my guests with these rules and regulations. So unless the rules change count me OUT.

Did they indicate that these protocols had yet to be approved?

I don't believe any of this has been approved by the cabinet. I believe the cabinet is not currently meeting (but could resume).
I do hope the government listens to the business owners during these stakeholder sessions. I think the business owners will have a lot of good input.

The Premier specifically said the quarantine was NOT approved yet and would be voted on by Cabinet Friday or Monday.

I didn't see any specifics about the seaport decision but that does not surprise me. I think we will have airport only for December.

I was happy to rebook my tickets -- at an added expense yet again....so we will now fly into Beef on 12/3.
I am also happy to provide a test result within days of my departure -- we have locations near us that will provide that. A test on arrival is fine too - would love to know the added expense of that so we can prepare - but a 4-day quarantine and then having to get tested yet again if we were negative on the first two? At likely an additional expense?? I'm very sorry to say that would likely end it for us -- I'm bleeding money on this trip as it is. Like I said...if they'd let me quarantine while hanging on the hook at Deadman's Bay or on a ball at the Bight or Cooper or Trellis or....anywhere but sitting on a dock in downtown Road Town.

.....and the charter boat industry "meeting" isn't until 10/14, so they won't even have a chance to weigh in on any of these issues if the cabinet decides on Friday or Monday....

Thorsten could you or someone give the cliff notes of what property owners and their guests are supposed to do ?

I don’t see anyway to quarantine on the boat even at the dock. There are far to many things that you need to take care of at the start of a charter including provisions and repairs.

Not Thorsten but.....Cliff notes:


Education/Sanitizing/Tracking

The Guest piece of the document is left blank. My understanding is that portion of the document needs to be approved by the Cabinet.

So for four days of a 6/7 day charter you can't go to any beach bar, restaurant or park? Can't see that as being very popular.

And then there is the GPS tracking wristband. For a week, maybe okay. For several months, I'm not doing that unless every resident wears one, too.

Will The only thing I have is the protocol draft issued by the government. It is so far from reality, I just don't know what to say. I have e_mailed the tourist board and asked for a single villa protocol and explained that if I don't have this then I will not sign up for this. As far as the wristband , it is only there so the government can fine you if you do not follow instructions.

Well when I chartered with CYOA in July, they did a great job of contactless entry - boat briefing was on line, etc.

With provisions being delivered, I think it would all be manageable. Just a change in how things are done.

I have chartered with most companies in the BVI. I can’t think of a single time I did not need maintenance issues addressed prior to leaving the dock. As far as having provisions delivered it would have to be done before boarding and we always find things we need that we or the provisioning company forgot. On top of that we need diving gear and water toys delivered and returned to the boat. My last two trips we had dive gear issues we had to resolve in person. How will chase calls be handled? It’s just not workable.
G

I would think a chase call could be handled like any other service interaction we are already managing here. The charterers and technician would all have to mask up while the call takes place and if possible maintain social distance. Not really much different than my normal visits to a hardware store. Nobody except maybe the captain should need to interact with the tech. I have maintenance crews working on my property over the last 2 months and they wear masks when they can't be 6 feet apart and I wear a mask if I need to interact with them. The BVI has been doing this for many months so I do think it could work.

All the grocery stores have been delivering to homes since our 24hr curfews started and have protocols in place. Same could work for water toy deliveries. Resolve any issues over the phone and they do another delivery to resolve.

Jason - if we could quarantine on the boat in an anchorage somewhere and come back into base after four days for the THIRD test? (Which I still think is excessive) We would do it. Sitting on an - I am sorry but this is true - ugly, hot dock in Road Town would truly suck. We couldn’t even swim to cool off.

At this point we are somewhat screwed either way. If the country will let us in, we almost HAVE to go. I don’t think BVIYC will let us reschedule again if the borders are “open”.

That could work but you would not really be in quarantine. Just standard precautions.