Without a doubt, one of the places we've fantasized most about visiting during these strange times is Hawaii. Yet since March, Hawaii has been pretty much closed to visitors from outside the islands. Any person who did arrive in Hawaii had (and still has) to undergo a strict 14-day quarantine. Which sort of defeats the purpose of visiting Hawaii in the first place since you'll want to be outside swimming, exploring, eating and more.
But there's a small rainbow poking out of the skies right now.
Hawaii is going to begin implementing pre-trip testing on October 15. What this means is that travelers headed to Hawaii who test negative on a Covid-19 test 72 hours before their flight, may bypass the 14-day quarantine. Here are the full details (as sourced from Travel Weekly)
To skip quarantine, the traveler must take a Food and Drug Administration-approved nucleic acid amplification test, a molecular test requiring a nasal swab sample or saliva, no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in Hawaii. The test must be processed by a certified laboratory, and if results are not available when the traveler lands in Hawaii, they will be required to quarantine until a verified negative test result is delivered. The cost of the test will fall on the traveler, with state officials saying the tests range from $120 to $140. Details are at hawaiicovid19.com.
Yes, this means an extra $120 to $140 to add to your trip—per traveler—but to bask in Hawaii's natural beauty and interact with its warm, friendly people is worth it.
Below are some of our hotel reviews and tips on things to do in Hawaii. As always, consult the hotel's website to be sure of their operating dates and what is open and what's not as so much has changed on the islands in the past six months. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Remember, as a luxury travel advisor with Beyond Travel, a Virtuoso agency, I can sweeten your Hawaiian vacation with extra goodies such as resort credit, daily breakfast, welcome amenities and if available, room upgrades. For more about my travel services, go here. Ready to start planning? Email me your dates and I'll start checking rates right away.
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