NEWS
Antigua & Barbuda update entry protocols, welcome back WestJet TORONTO — Antigua and Barbuda have updated their entry requirements to include both PCR and antigen tests for fully vaccinated visitors. Visitors who are fully vaccinated can now present either a negative PCR test or an approved rapid antigen test result within three days of their flight or fewer. Prior to this new update, the destination was requiring all arriving passengers by air to present a negative PCR test result within seven days of their flight. With the updated protocols, all partially vaccinated passengers will require a negative PCR test taken within four days of their flight or fewer. Children below the age of 5 years entering Antigua do not require a PCR test. And all arriving passengers including returning nationals and residents (excluding children 18 years and younger) are required to have received at least one dose of a WHO or Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment (MOHWE) approved 2-dose COVID 19 vaccine.
“Antigua and Barbuda is every bit as beautiful as Canadians remember and we look forward to welcoming our northern friends.” The wearing of face masks in public spaces is mandatory throughout Antigua and Barbuda and social/physical distancing protocols must be adhered to. The new protocols come at the same time WestJet resumes flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport. The airline resumed weekly flights Nov. 21, marking the first time it has flown to Antigua & Barbuda since March 2020. “We are ecstatic that WestJet has decided to resume flights from Toronto to St. John’s Antigua,” said Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez. “Antigua and Barbuda is every bit as warm and beautiful as Canadians remember and we look forward to welcoming our northern friends back once again.” 12 | TRAVELWEEK | November 25, 2021
What it’s like to vacation like a star at Planet Hollywood Cancun By Gwendoline Duval COSTA MUJERES — The Riviera Maya has several hundred all-inclusive hotels competing to please vacationers seeking sun, beaches and fun. Despite an already very dense hotel offering in the area, new complexes continue to emerge, some of which feature new concepts that break with tradition. This is certainly the case with the new Planet Hollywood Cancun. It’s one of more than 20 Blue Diamond Resorts properties now part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection. Open since January 2021, this is the second Planet Hollywood resort in the south after the 2018 opening of Planet Hollywood Costa Rica. The promise: “Vacation Like a Star!” We had always wanted to experience the Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts concept. Thanks to Sunwing Travel Group’s Blue Diamond Resorts, we got to do just that at Planet Hollywood Cancun. In fact we had a ‘Hollywood’ style vacation while enjoying one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. The trip was truly an escape, in more ways than one. The federal government had lifted the blanket travel advisory against all non-essential travel just days before our departure. At the resort, bookings are strong and hitting the 80% occupancy threshold as authorized by the State of Quintana Roo under its COVID19 security protocols.
Located in Costa Mujeres, north of Cancun and about 45 minutes from the airport, Planet Hollywood Cancun offers a long sandy beach fronted by the tranquil turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea - and thankfully, no Sargassum algae. Its geographical location in front of the island of Isla Mujeres is a natural barrier that makes it one of the best-protected areas of the Riviera Maya. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE MOVIES Planet Hollywood Cancun embraces its love of cinema, classic and contemporary, with all sorts of film references from Marilyn Monroe to Captain Marvel to Romy Schneider - all over the hotel. When we arrived in the family section, there were iconic characters waiting for us, as well as the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse from the ‘Fast and the Furious’ movie franchise. Don’t forget to take your group photo in front of the magnificent stage opposite the entrance. “We brought Hollywood to Cancun and in over 50 years of tourism in the area, this had not happened. Vacationers always love new experiences, and our concept was unexpected and I believe this is one of the reasons the hotel has been so successful despite the pandemic,” says GM Jonathan Iriarte with pride. The resort caters to all types of guests looking to experience a Hollywood-influenced stay in a large resort with a plethora of experiences. This is primarily a hotel for families, but adults can also book in the ‘Adult Scene’ section which offers dedicated services and facilities including a swimming pool, a lobby and an à la carte restaurant.
