The United States State Department has currently issued a total of 15 Level 4 “Do Not Travel” travel advisories to countries in the Caribbean. Whilst they may not be a legal hurdle that will prevent many from traveling, it could have repercussions for tourists looking to purchase insurance before heading to one of these destinations, with many providers not offering coverage to those planning to visit a Level 4 country.
As well as the 15 Level 4 travel advisory warnings, several other Caribbean nations have been handed the slightly level severe Level 3 warnings, while others the low Level 2 travel advisory notice. Here’s a look at which Caribbean destinations have been assigned with warning levels, the impact that it could have on travelers, and why travelers shouldn’t go canceling their travel plans just yet.
caribbean snorkling
The Caribbean’s Travel Advisory Levels – What Travelers Should Know
The Caribbean is a region that is home to a lot of countries that have been deemed to be Level 4. These countries are:
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Sint Maarten, Saint Kitts, and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.
The Caribbean is also home to a number of Level 3 countries, such as Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines, Turks, and Caicos, and Trinidad and Tobago, whilst the Dominican Republic is only a Level 2 country. Those heading to Level 3 countries are told to “reconsider travel,” whilst Level 2 destinations come with an “exercise increased caution” warning.
Travel advisory warning levels are determined by taking into consideration a number of factors that could place travelers in danger. Such factors include crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, health, natural disaster, serious weather concerns, and current events.
At present, Covid-19 is a major factor in deciding the warning level of a country, with Level 4 countries typically having a large number of cases or a lack of adequate facilities and infrastructure to deal with a significant outbreak. Whilst warnings cannot legally prevent a traveling from booking a flight and heading to a location, they can pose other problems.
What Does This Mean For Travelers?
Level 4 travel warnings are bad news for travelers who’ve already booked pre-planned and prebooked winter vacations to some of these Caribbean destinations. This is because many American-based travel insurance companies will not cover travel to countries currently under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory. Thankfully, some insurance providers still offer beefy insurance policies that cover countries with a Level 4 warning, with policies that also ensure you’re covered for both cruising and Covid-19.
Global travel insurance provider HeyMondo has a range of policies that cover medical expenses to due illness resulting from a Covid-19 infection, and they even cover accommodation costs if the policy holder is ordered to quarantine. Not only that, but they also offer Covid-19 coverage for medical care on board a cruise ship – which is a very common request for many Caribbean travelers this year, given that so many ships are departing from Caribbean ports once more.
Whilst visiting a Level 4 country is bound to have its risks, following good hygiene and health and safety practices can help mitigate these risks and having a solid travel insurance plan can take the stress out of it and allow travelers to enjoy their vacation, with one less thing to worry about. Travelers should ensure they read the travel advisory pages for each destination before they visit in order to be aware of the situation in the country.
