As the travel industry makes a sharp pivot towards the re-opening of airports and the resumption of international travel, we take a close look at Providenciales International Airport (PLS). In this blog post, we’ll share our experience going through PLS in a post COVID19 world.
Social distancing, the use of masks, and thorough disinfection remain our first line of defense against COVID19. Fortunately, this is now common practice across the travel & vacation industries. Having said that, be ready to wear your mask in public, keep 6 feet distance from people outside your group, and wash your hands as often as possible.
Make sure you understand the pre-arrival protocols before planning your vacation to Turks & Caicos.
Insurance
Planning a trip to Turks & Caicos? TCIsafe.com offers travelers insurance endorsed by the Department of Tourism. With a guaranteed turnaround of 48 hours and results automatically uploaded to the TCI Assured portal -it doesn’t get any easier!
The plane
The boarding process is now more rigorous than before; long gone are the days where you would queue to board row 4 whilst row 1 was being called. This is now a more orderly process with a strict 6 feet distance rule until you make it to your seat.
The first thing we noticed once on the plane was the number of passengers -roughly 70% at capacity. This was a pleasant surprise as it made it easy for us to keep our distance as we looked for our seats.
Arrival at PLS
Once we arrived on Provo, disembarking was just as orderly as the boarding process. Everyone remained 6 feet apart and we calmly picked up our bags from the overhead compartment and made our way towards the exit. Once outside, we were told to “follow the crowd” in a single file, following the markings on the floor. The first filter we encountered was a quick temperature check. Once cleared, you’ll be handed a laminated card with emergency information and instructions to call a doctor if any symptoms should arise.
Post COVID19 travel: Vacation in isolation
After the temperature check, you are sent to a specific line where you will need to show proof of your TCI Assured Badge. It’s important to note that even though all your TCI Assured documentation should be uploaded to a digital portal, we wouldn’t have been able to get in if not for having all our documentation in printed form. Having said that, make sure to print all your documents as well as upload them to the portal.
Lastly, we made our way to the third line -Customs & Immigration. All and all, the process was very orderly and easy to follow -it took us about 30 minutes in total!
Transportation
Once outside the airport, there is another line with an employee helping travelers with their transportation. Whether you have a rental car waiting for pick up or are in need of a taxi, this employee will contact the respective service providers to help smooth the process.
Check-in
Our villa managers are not allowed to meet & greet guests at the villa as they typically would, because of this you will have directions to the villa and a contact number to reach the villa manager. Instructions for access will be sent to you prior to your arrival.
Click this link for more useful blogs on all things Turks & Caicos