TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Where to stay in SXM if fail the return to US Covid test

Assume you get a negative test in the US and visit SXM, then when you go to return you get a positive test ( false positive or real positive doesn't matter) Where will you be able to stay for the duration of the quarantine, and where will you get a letter from a health care provider allowing you to return?


The full story is that we have stayed in SXM a number of times, though not compared to many posters here, and love it . We were there last Feb, and booked our return trip for this Feb, though I did buy cancel anytime travel insurance. I have been back and forth about whether to cancel this trip, mostly concerned about the airport terminals, but just traveled domestically this past week and felt pretty safe . Everyone was wearing masks, mostly social distancing, even on the jet ramp, so by the end of that trip I was 100% go to SXM.

Then the US announced that they will not accept a return with a negative COVID test ( with some exceptions) On the other posts, real questions have been raised as to whether SXM will be administer enough tests per day and get results timely to allow us to be able to return on schedule. Since my trip isn't till the end of Feb, I hope that will be sorted out by now.

My bigger questions is what happens if when we test to return, we test positive? We are staying at an airbnb owned by an individual in Grand Case, and it is booked immediately after our stay, so staying there for 10 extra days won't work. I can't imagine it would be easy to find a hotel when I say I am staying because I tested positive - also I wonder what to do about food , etc, while trying to quarantine. Is there a designated place on SXM for tourists who test positive? I thought I read about that last year, but may be mistaken.

Also, the way I read the CDC guidance, they don't suggest another test after testing positive, though I guess if I test positive, then take a test the next day and am negative, I may be permitted to return based on the assumption that it was a false positive. According to the CDC order, you either need a negative test, or a positive test plus a letter from a health care provider or public health care officer that I have met the criteria to end isolation - which is in essence 10 days from onset of symptoms, or 10 days from the positive test. So that raises the question will there be health care providers in SXM willing to attest to that , in English?

Any input would be appreciated. I really do want to go, but this part has me pretty worried.

When you come just wear your mask and don't deal with no enclosed areas . You will be fine . Test can be easily done on the Dutch side.

That's a lot of assumptions and doesn't answer the OPs questions. Just wearing a mask isn't enough. Only protects others. Not you.

Won't you have the Sint Maarten-required $30 insurance? Won't that provide quarantine lodging?

From the Insurance site:
ISOLATION EXPENSES
Maximum sublimit of $125 per day, max. 14 days, in case of a positive Covid-19 test result. Preventive government mandated quarantines for fellow travelers and those who tested negative are NOT COVERED.

SXM Protection Plan

I would imagine there might be designated quarantine lodging facilities.

All very good concerns but until something actually happens and we see how it plays out or more information is forthcoming, it is about anyone's guess.

This is the question I asked repeatedly before our trip last month to Orient. I emailed the French prefet about where we'd quarantine if sick and never got a response. When I contacted the French side tourism office, they told me it would be handled by the Dutch side since the airport is there. I emailed the office handing the EHAS form on the Dutch side, and they said it would be handled by the French side since that's where we were staying. The person offered to find out about the policies on the French side, but I never heard anything back.

Sad but not surprising. A policy/mandate is put in place to show they are doing something but no idea how it is going to work.

Dvesc, thanks for your answer. That was part of my concern, staying on the French side, but using the Dutch side for the airport just adds another layer of complexity. JD, thanks for the info on the insurance, it looks like it would cover the extra lodging expense, though only for the person that tested positive. I assume since it says St Maarten, it applies only to lodging on the Dutch side.

barry, I wish there was more information available but this is all kind of a learn as you go situation. Part of the push for the insurance is the lodging coverage and med-evac, although the amount for evacuation is not going to get you very far.

I try to monitor several sites but will only rely on what the SXM government puts out as being reliable, and it is often changed or slow coming out. Some had trips delayed as they relied on some inaccurate information regarding the use of home testing prior to arrival. Unless it is posted on an official SXM government site or a link is provided to such, take the information for what it may be worth.

Barry--as JD said, since the insurance is required in order to travel to the Dutch side airport, one would think that it would cover you for this situation, for your lodging, at least for the person that tests positive anyway. IF the insurance covers you, they will figure out the logistics of getting provisions to you. IF the insurance covers you, they will decide where you stay, I would think. It wouldn't be up to you.

As to whether to go or not, no one can answer that question for you. Best wishes.

Room at the Travel Inn is $99 a night all taxes and fees included. I have stayed there before when needing an extra night or two. Not fancy but clean.

This doesn't answer your question about the lodging, but does about the false positive. If I were to get a positive test result that I was pretty sure was a false positive, I'd not submit that result to the airline. I'd get another test that would probably be a true negative. If that one was also positive, then it's a pretty sure bet that I am, in fact, infected. The CDC requires a negative test, and they don't have to know about the false positive.