Absolute blog: July 2020

Belize opens soon, what you need to know

7 July 20

Belize Open Soon

We hope you and your close ones are staying safe and well during these extremely turbulent times. Belize recently announced that the airport will reopen to travellers on August 15th.  This is a careful and phased reopening of international travel to Belize and as such, there will also be enhanced health and safety protocols at the airport, hotels, restaurants and all public spaces.

At over 100 days since Belize announced its first case of COVID-19, there has been less than 40 cases country wide, the majority being repatriating Belizeans with almost no community transmission. In order for travellers to enjoy vacationing at minimal risk and at the same time as protecting our local communities, the Government of Belize has implemented health and safety measures including social distancing, hand sanitisation, protective hygiene and the wearing of face masks in public spaces.

Below is an overview of the new procedures and protocols for travel to Belize:

Visitor Process at Belize International Airport

Pre-Travel Arrangements 

  1. All passengers travelling to Belize will be required to download the Belize Health App and complete the required information prior to boarding the flight to Belize.  A QR code with a unique ID number will be returned to the passenger and will be used for contact tracing while in Belize.
  2. Passengers are encouraged to take a Covid PCR test within 72 hours of travel to Belize.

Entry Requirements 

  1. Passengers that provide certification of a negative test result from a Covid-19 PCR test done within 72 hours of travel, will be allowed immediate entry into Belize via a ‘fast track’ lane.
  2. Passengers that do not provide a negative Covid-19 test, must test upon arrival in Belize, at the passenger’s expense, around $50.  A negative test result will allow entry into Belize.
  3. Passengers who test positive for Covid-19 at the Belize International Airport will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum period of fourteen (14) days at the passenger’s expense and will only be released when returning 2 negative PCR tests.

All visitors to Belize will be required to:

  • Wear a mask during the entire landing, deplaning and arrival process, and while inside the airport.
  • Undergo temperature checks using non-contact digital infrared thermometers or Thermal Imaging Cameras.
  • Adhere to social distancing guidelines in all queues for health checks, immigration and customs inspections.
  • Follow and respond to the comprehensive, pro-active, contact tracing guidelines to facilitate appropriate and rapid response from health officials, should Covid-19 symptoms develop.
  • Utilise the sanitising stations to sanitise hands frequently and facilitate other health screening requirements on arrival.

Update on Hotel Openings 

Opening of hotels will be in a phased approach, and the first grouping of hotels that will be allowed to open include properties that:

  1. Have achieved the Tourism “Gold Standard Certification of Recognition” which ensures hotels are rigorously following the 9 Step recognition program with enhanced protocols with regards to cleaning, sanitising, management of inventory, distancing of staff,  regular monitoring and reporting.
  2. Provide full service to guests.  This means that these hotels are able to provide all amenities, so as to contain the guest on the property, and minimise opportunities for guest interaction within the local community. These amenities include having transportation to offer pick-up/drop-off services from the airport; access to a restaurant on property; have a pool or access to beach front; and be able to provide isolated tours, limited to guests of the property only.

 

The Coronavirus situation continues to evolve quickly and we are closely monitoring global developments and following the advice of public health authorities, medical experts and officials in our destination and will keep you informed of any changes.

An update on Booking Terms, Conditions, and Comprehensive Insurance Options

6 July 20

An update on Booking Terms & Conditions

As the entire globe and the world of travel continues to endure the ongoing storm associated with Covid-19, we’ve been working with our travel partners to clarify their updated policies on new bookings, so that you can travel safely and without uncertainty, when it is viable for you to do so.

Your safety is our number one priority, as is safeguarding your trip in the event of circumstances that mean you are unable to travel. There is no global unilateral consensus on travel terms and conditions from hotel to hotel, yacht charter to yacht charter nor airline to airline. In Belize, all of our preferred hotels, boutique retreats, private villas and all-inclusive yacht charters have relaxed cancellation terms and offered more flexibility for rebooking as a whole.

What we do for you at AB is scrutinise all policies on your behalf so we can present you with clear and simple facts for you to make an informed decision, based on your itinerary. We will only recommend itineraries that offer the most flexibility for you and will advise should we identify and red flags. We do the detail work so you can concentrate on preparing for and looking forward to your trip!

Travel Insurance – an essential part of travelling

In a time when there are so many unknowns, we wanted to give our clients an extra boost of confidence when booking their next vacation. Now more than ever we felt it was necessary to provide reliable insurance because in this new era of travel having the right level of travel insurance has become critical.

Absolute Belize has partnered with Atrio Travel Assist to provide our clients with comprehensive travel insurance coverage from full cancellation coverage including pandemics to simple travel insurance which covers medical assistance wherever you are, repatriation if you need to cut your trip short as well as additional upgrades to compensate for flight delays, missed connections and lost luggage.

Contact us for further details

 

Belize Travel Specials

6 July 20

Belize is reopening for travel soon and in addition to ensuring that you are covered with the best trip insurance, we wanted to share some enticing travel specials with you!

Chaa Creek, one of our favorite eco-lodges in the Cayo District, is offering a “double up special” where you book 2 nights and get 2 extra nights FREE!

Set along the banks of the Macal River, The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a pristine eco-lodge located along the foothills of the Maya Mountains. This private 365-acre nature reserve features miles of well-maintained trails for horseback riding, mountain biking and nature walks. You can canoe down the Macal River, go birding and exploring nearby Maya archaeological sites or simply relax with a luxurious spa treatment, kick back in a hammock or indulge in the fabulous cuisine at the award-winning restaurant

 

A stone’s throw from Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, Ray Caye s surrounded by pristine corals teeming with kaleidoscopic marine life and world class snorkeling directly from the dock! With idyllic seafront cabana, full resort amenities and warm and friendly staff, Ray Caye is an ocean lover’s paradise.

Book now for 2021 and receive a 20% discount on rooms! Rates start at US $220 per night plus taxes for room only.

 

Ka’ana, a boutique resort in the adventure capital of Belize, is a haven of understated luxury with a considered design style and distinguished culinary experiences. Experience a true luxury vacation, just steps from the many ancient Mayan ruins and adventures of the lush Belize jungle.

From January 6th to December 17th take advantage of Ka’ana’s Villa Indulgence including:

  • 20% off standard villa rates
  • Private tour for two to the ancient Maya city of Xunantunich
  • A craft cocktail class for two with a Master Mixologist
  • Daily full breakfast
  • Private one way road transfer from the airport to Ka’ana

Rates start at US $640 per night plus taxes for a One Bedroom Villa with private plunge pool and personal butler.

Nestled within a private 200-acre reserve on the Placencia Peninsula, Naïa Resort features  luxury accommodation, fine dining, adventure tours and a relaxing spa. Offering barefoot luxury, Naïa extends along a mile of palm-studded beach and is home to 35Beach Houses, each one offering breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.

Naia is encouraging travelers to “Bring your BFF to Belize” when it is viable to do so. Book a stay at Naia Resort and receive a full credit for the cost of your room to be applied to another room. So, book one room and get another room of the same category free for the same dates!

We are excited to welcome our clients back to Belize! Contact us for details on these specials and more!

Hit list

Whether you want an action packed agenda in the water and the jungle, or simply spend some quality time in a hammock, Belize has something for all tastes and tempos.

Map of Belize, showing our 4 main regions
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