Bermuda to drop arrival testing and quarantine for vaccinated visitors

With less than 700 miles and 90 minutes separating it from the U.S. East Coast, Bermuda is a worthy destination for travelers to consider, especially since the pink sand paradise recently made it easier for vaccinated travelers to visit starting next month.

New COVID-19 entry requirements for vaccinated travelers

New COVID-19 protocols will take effect March 7, 2022, in a move that the Bermuda Tourism Authority hopes will "streamline the process for vaccinated travelers visiting the island by land or sea."

The new guidelines will require all visitors age 18 and older to show proof of current vaccination status. Travelers to Bermuda are considered fully vaccinated if they have received the final dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or if they are boosted with three doses.

For vaccinated travelers, no further testing will be required beyond the pre-departure test starting March 7. Until March 7, vaccinated travelers will still be required to submit a pre-arrival test, test upon arrival and quarantine until that pre-arrival test result is returned negative.

This change is welcome news for travelers, including TPG senior travel editor Melanie Lieberman, who chronicled her journey from NYC to Bermuda in June to review the new St. Regis Bermuda Resort.

"In addition to the PCR test taken prior to departure, I also needed to apply for Travel Authorization one to three days before arrival with the negative test result, which cost $75," she wrote then. "This summer, being vaccinated barely altered my experience in Bermuda since I had to quarantine at the hotel until receipt of the negative test I had taken upon landing at L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA)."

Travelers must still complete an online authorization form within 24–48 hours of arrival. Additionally, all visitors age 2 and above must still submit results of a negative COVID-19 test result within two days of arriving on the island. Both antigen and PCR tests are accepted.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) will automatically schedule and provide testing to travelers whose country of origin requires an entry test, including Americans.

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"We welcome visitors from around the world with travel guidelines that ensure their safety as well as their convenience, and our updated protocols will make visiting Bermuda even easier," said BTA CEO Charles H. Jeffers II in a statement. "Our hotels and local businesses are open with the Bermudian hospitality for which we are known. There's never been a better time to visit."

Related: A first look at the St. Regis Bermuda Resort — and why you should wait to visit

Entry requirements for unvaccinated travelers

Although things may be getting far simpler for vaccinated travelers, it's a different story for unvaccinated travelers, who are currently prohibited from entering Bermuda as of December 2021.

Bottom line

Thanks to the upcoming removal of on-arrival testing requirements and quarantine for vaccinated travelers, a quick trip to Bermuda is more plausible than ever if you've received a COVID-19 vaccine. However, travel is currently implausible for those who are unvaccinated.

The BTA is currently offering a deal for half-price stays at certain hotels on the island for reservations booked by Feb. 20, 2022.

"Due to the overwhelming response we have seen to our recent Pink Sale promotion, we are extending this special offer for savings of up to 50% if booked before February 20," said Douglas Trueblood, chief sales and marketing officer of the BTA. "People are ready to travel, and Bermuda is eager to welcome them back."

Featured deals include rooms starting at $197 per night at Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa; $251 per night at Azura Bermuda; $254 per night at Royal Palms Hotel and $281 per night at the Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa, among others. Click here for full details.

Additional reporting by Melanie Lieberman.