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Puerto Rico follows the lead of most US destinations and drops all COVID-19 restrictions for domestic visitors

March 09, 2022
2 min read
Palm Trees on Condado Beach in San Juan
Puerto Rico follows the lead of most US destinations and drops all COVID-19 restrictions for domestic visitors
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Beginning Thursday, travelers to Puerto Rico from within the United States will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter or enjoy the island, according to Discover Puerto Rico, the official tourism organization of the U.S. territory.

This news follows a series of loosened requirements last month, including dropping the arrival testing requirement for vaccinated travelers on domestic flights and eliminating the seven-day quarantine for unvaccinated visitors.

Starting March 10, unvaccinated and vaccinated domestic travelers will be treated the same.

The updated guidelines released by the tourism organization will apply to all visitors regardless of vaccination status. However, international travelers are still expected to adhere to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's requirement to provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within one day of departure for the U.S. and vaccination proof.

Foreign visitors to the U.S. are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or World Health Organization. At this time, a booster is not required to enter Puerto Rico.

Previous guidelines requiring businesses to cap attendance and require vaccines for entry are dropped as well, in addition to the existing indoor and outdoor mask mandate.

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However, individual businesses may choose to implement their own guidelines related to health and safety, per Discover Puerto Rico, which notes that "masks are still recommended for situations where vaccination status cannot be guaranteed."

Lastly, passengers arriving in Puerto Rico on March 10 and beyond are no longer required to fill out the Travel Declaration Form. Additional information on travel guidelines for Puerto Rico is available from Discover Puerto Rico.

Related: Puerto Rico relaxes entry requirements and expands dining capacity

Featured image by ATLANTIDE PHOTOTRAVEL/CORBIS DOCUMENTARY/GETTY IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.