Ringing in the new year with Hodges bay Antigua was exactly how I would envision it: surrounded by inspiring people with good intentions, dancing nonstop with my best friend and goals set in place for a fresh start to 2021. Having this one-of-a-kind New Years experience, especially considering the times, was unbeatable. The beginning of 2021 was lit up with fireworks, fire dancers and hope for this next chapter.

What is required?

Listen UP! When I tell you they require a PCR test within 72 hours, I am not kidding. Michelle and I landed in Antigua after a grueling 12 hours of travel from LAX- and upon arrival were screened, temperature checked and brought to a plexiglass covered counter. Behind it sat a
Antiguan doctor who glanced at Michelles test, then mine, and said we are not allowed to enter the country. We will be taking the next flight out in 20 minutes back to New York. Stunned, we looked at eachother, knowing we both had the correct tests. I got my PCR test in Salt Lake City over Christmas and the nurses wrote on my test “PCR” which was flagged as not official. Michelles test was an antigen nasal swab test, and we were forced onto a plane back to New York City to take a new PCR test. 20 hours into travel, $800 later for new PCR tests, and $1400 later for new flights, we were negative and made our 4 hour journey back to Antigua. Learn from us and DON’T mess that up! 

-Negative PCR COVID-19 test (nasal swab)

-Forms provided by the airport upon arrival (don’t forget your pen)

What are the regulations?

Just like Jamaica, Antigua has restrictions on exploring the island and wants to keep it safe. You must stay on your hotel/villa/resort premises and can only leave if you have a dedicated reservation for an activity (such as taking out a boat or helicopter). Luckily, Hodges Bay has a variety of activities to keep you entertained, so we had no problems with this! Pool day, taking out a yacht, Turtle Bay, Sting Ray City were all highlights of activities on site.

What is open?

We were able to visit Turtle Bay, the adorable island only 40 minutes away littered in giant hungry turtles. We were given vegetables to feed them and free to explore the island. There are also exotic birds, but they are in cages so I wouldn’t recommend this. Sting Ray city was a highlight because the sting rays are all wild. I loved that the way locals make this an attraction is by bringing the sting rays food, but they are free to leave whenever. 

Spending a week at Hodges Bay was nothing short of perfect. Our ocean front villa was a perfect way to begin each day and watching the sunset from White Sands was a perfect way to end it.