Forget Maldives, Hawaii’s Kauai Is Now Open For Tourists; Here’s How To Visit

by Suchismita Pal
Forget Maldives, Hawaii’s Kauai Is Now Open For Tourists; Here’s How To Visit

One of the most magical beach destinations, Kauai in Hawaii is now welcoming foreign travellers to their resort bubbles. Kauai is the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and is nicknamed as ‘the Garden Isle’. Covered by tropical rain forests and ringed by rolling cliffs, the island aptly fits into the definition of a ‘slice of heaven’.  Visitors staying in the approved resort bubbles will have to take a pre-arrival COVID-19 test 72 hours before the scheduled arrival time in Hawaii. Three days after reaching the Kauai island, they need to take another test. If the test result comes out to be negative, the tourists can end their quarantine and leave the resort bubble. Read on to know more.

Resort Bubbles In Kauai To Shorten Quarantine Time Of Foreign Travellers

One of the most idyllic islands in the world, Hawaii’s Kauai has launched resort bubbles for quarantined travellers. This concept aims to shorten the quarantine time of travellers who test negative for COVID-19. It is the first country to get the approval of Governor Ige on the resort bubble concept. The website hawaii-guide.com states, “On December 30, 2020, Governor Ige approved Kauai Mayor Kawakami’s request to implement a pre-and-post-travel testing program for visitors who stay in ‘resort bubble’ hotels, effective January 5, 2021. It will allow travellers who participate in the program to enjoy the resort amenities for the first three days of their vacation until they are eligible to take their post-COVID travel test. Once the post-travel test shows they are COVID-free, they will be released from quarantine and can leave the resort bubble.” Earlier, Hawaii was paying tourists to leave who were not following quarantine rules. 

Hawaii Kauai
Picture Credits: Unsplash

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How The Resort Bubble Concept Works

The resort bubble hotels in the island are The Cliffs at Princeville, The Club at Kukuiula, Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences at Hokuala, Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Koa Kea Hotel & Resort at Poipu and Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay. In the resort bubbles, quarantine can end in three days after reaching the island, if the visitor tests negative. To avail these benefits, the visitors will have to make a Safe Travels account, provide the details in the form and undergo a pre-travel COVID test 72 hours before the scheduled arrival in Hawaii. After three days of reaching the Kauai island, they need to take another test. If the results are negative, they are free to leave the approved properties.

Hawaii Kauai
Picture Credits: Time Out

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The Kauai island has non-approved accommodations as well, but they are not allowed to provide the benefits of the resort bubbles. At these properties, visitors need to complete the mandatory quarantine of 10 days. Meanwhile, here’s a virtual tour of Yas Islands, Abu Dhabi: