Last month I traveled to Barbados from London to report on the country's pioneering remote work visa, just a couple of weeks after the UK had been added to the high-risk list, alongside the US, Canada, France, Russia, South Africa, and more.
The Caribbean island has had remarkably low coronavirus rates, with 7 deaths and 238 cases since the pandemic began. But with an estimated 60-80% of nationwide revenue coming from tourism, Barbados has been worse hit economically than most countries due to lockdown.
It's now trying to strike the right balance of enticing back visitors while still managing the coronavirus and minimizing the spread.
Quarantining in paradise sounded excellent in theory, but logistically, planning the trip was stressful. If you don't take your pre-travel coronavirus test until nearer your flight, you'd then have to wait longer to do your second test after arrival and thus be in quarantine for longer. I took a coronavirus test 72 hours before arriving and ended up quarantining for two days in a hotel room with a balcony and kitchenette, with the ability to wander and swim in a designated pool.
Of course, travel of any kind should be done safely, adhering to all necessary protocol at the moment. Not everyone is traveling safely right now, as the Cut reported, but as I found out, it's possible to do so.