TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Draft Motion re Rapid Testing

I'm pretty sure they'll require you to test using their system, even if you already have tested at home. But again, that's just a guess.

That would be my guess as well. Another layer of "protection" and also some $$ for the island government.

So sort of what Anguilla is doing too. You have to have a negative test to even go, but on arrival you have to have another test...

Correct and I see nothing wrong with that. Would take out having to look at the different individual test result forms from passengers. More efficient having all tested on arrival rather than sifting through which ones to do.

Honestly it would make more sense to be tested before you board the flight to SXM. Results uploaded and attached to your passport or how ever that works, then upon arrival the system would be updated. Not really sure how immigration works, but there must be an interface between arriving and departing airports and the airlines.

I agreed with you .

Another here who agrees with you, Kim. That sounds like a far more sensible approach to meeting the needs of everyone concerned.

But then SXm would not get the test revenue....and it sounds like it's a package deal with the insurance also....so buy your own insurance and get tested before you leave but pointless when you arrive since all will be repeated....

I guess we will see what the final decision is.....

It should NOT be my way or the highway...negative test prior to travel and your own insurance should be all that's needed.....again, we will see

At this point, I'd really just like to know what's going to be required and how much it will cost. We're scheduled to arrive in mid-December. As long as it's reasonable, I assume we'll do whatever they ask, but it's hard to plan financially if there may be an additional few hundred dollars (three of us are traveling) added on to the trip cost over the next six or seven weeks. At least the flights were more affordable than normal.

I think we would all like to KNOW what to expect but at this point, it is still the 5 days and original test requirement. Anything else is just speculation. At least there is something in the works from how it appears.

Everybody traveling needs to be aware of the regulations and know they can change quickly. It has been posted and implied (erroneously) on some SXM facebook groups that the rapid test is now in effect. This is NOT accurate. People need to read more than the headline of any article. I would continue to monitor the SXM government website for updates.

TRAVEL AND HEALTH INFORMATION

SXM GOVERNMENT SITE

well said Rural, spot on

Absolutely, JD. I'm always amazed at the folks that post a question on the Facebook sites, saying that they're traveling next week, and want to know if there are any travel restrictions and/or requirements!

GaKaye, it does make for some interesting reading!

I guess because of my association here and long time travel to SXM, I stay up on what is going on more than a lot of people. But, I still learn things almost every day as I am sure others do as well. While we strive for accurate information here that can be backed by facts or a link to the origin, I don't get how some think asking a perfect stranger is the best solution for an answer. Often the answer may be accurate but I much prefer some substantiation of the facts from an "official" source

Lots of long time visitors here that are a resource for valuable and accurate information. And, we get some "locals" that are a very valuable source of information as well.

I am getting a new watch band for a watch through a jeweler in SXM (bought it there), and he told me the same thing - the Rapid Test is now approved for everyone coming in. I told him I would wait to get that information from the SXM health department website, but also that even if they do have the test there, I think most would still pre-test, they don't want to get into a plane without knowing if they have it or not. I suspect soon the airlines will also require a pre-test. Hopefully this will all be behind us in six or seven months.

It may be a done deal, but there certainly have been no official announcements to that effect. The official SXM website is still the same as it has been since September 15, and there has been no story in the Daily Herald either. I agree, I definitely would still get tested at home, if I were going soon.

So if you test positive at SXM, what do they do? Can't imagine an airline allowing you back on a jet to get off the island if positive.

very valid point Todd

I have to assume that one would have to quarantine themselves on island until you were no longer positive..

and who would decide where you would be quarantined? would your resort have to isolate you with other positives????

There in lines the problem. If testing is changed the only change that makes sense is to test upon boarding for last leg of flight to SXM.

I agree that is an issue, BUT how does SXM do that without having their people at all those ports of embarkation? No way that SXM could afford to do that.. The only way to do that would be for them to accept testing run by the AIRLINES, which I guess AA has started such a program.

And that was my thought back in March when I had to quickly leave the island. I booked a trip for Nov. 2020 in May, it is now cancelled, thanks to Delta. I currently have a trip booked for March 2021, a full 12 months after this started. Six or seven months has not put this behind us, although things may be looking a little brighter, but we may be in the exact same situation six or seven months from now.

Exactly.

All the uncertainties about everything are why we're not going this Nov. No worries.

I doubt you'd be getting on the plane without that EHAS approval form, which you're not going to get if you don't have the correct test. I'm still planning on getting the brain-tickler test in two weeks. While I hope that will change, I don't have a lot of confidence in that. And as Todd said, what do they do with you if you test positive once you arrive?

RI Bob, interesting post. Wondering where you got your test done - free and the results back in plenty of time. Thankns