TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Covid test required for return to USA from SXM?

We are in process of finalizing travel and accommodation for SXM vacation in early February 2022. We are fully vaccinated and have recently received the booster shot. I understand that a Covid test is required on island a few days before our return flight to the USA.
HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED THIS??
If this Covid test comes back positive we won’t be able to board our return flight. We need to find out how long we need to quarantine before we can board a return flight. What are the options for accommodation while we are quarantining in SXM, since we will have to check out of our existing accommodation? Who would want us to stay at their accommodation if we are Covid Positive? and how does one get food if we are required to quarantine? These are some of the questions we need to have answered before we can commit to vacation on St. Martin. Need answers by Tues.11/2.

This has been the story for a VERY LONG time.....sounds like YOU need to research your resort to get the answers to your issues

...and....it could all change by February

supposedly the 15.00 insurance covers your stay at accommodations they pick. All is explained in the policy.

All I’ve seen is the insurance covers $125 per day. I don’t know where one would stay or how it would all work. I tried to figure this out repeatedly before our trip last December, and I emailed the French and Dutch side tourist offices. I never got an answer, and I don’t recall anyone here ever really having a definitive response.

As others have said, yes, we all have considered this possibility. The (probably useless) $15 per person Covid insurance required by the SXM government supposedly covers some medical expenses and $125 per day toward accomodations. If there are two people, does that mean $250 per day?? No one knows..

My suggestion to you is that you buy additional insurance to cover you and go from there. As others have suggested, even though it is no longer required, perhaps get a Covid test before you leave home, to confirm that you are not positive before you leave home.

The required insurance only covers those who test positive. You’re on your own if you are just exposed by someone and that keeps you from boarding a flight. You’re also not covered if a travel companion, like a family member, gets sick. They’ll get $125/day, but you won’t have any coverage for whatever it may cost to stay on the island through their quarantine.

Last December, we purchased additional insurance that covered quarantine under trip delay and will provide coverage if anyone in our party couldn’t continue home. For a party ot three, we had $2,000 each, or $6,000 overall. Ideally, that would have given us plenty to pay for lodging even in the high season. The unknowns were if we would have been forced to stay somewhere specific, who’d bring meals, etc.

I’d assume someone has tested positive and been required to stay longer than planned, so these are definitely questions you’d think could be answered.

I haven't read about anyone from this forum that tested positive and had the experience...might have missed it but not filed in memory

I meant answered by the tourism offices. I haven’t seen any posts here from people stuck either. The French side office told me to contact EHAS. EHAS told me to contact the French side since that’s where we stay.

Buy your own (couple) travel insurance which covers trip interruption and includes covid as a reason. Covers price of the room which should be the same price for two as for one....and then you can choose the SXM suggestion or research your own. Ask the resort where you are staying what they would do....