UPDATE: A TPG reader tested positive while vacationing in St. Lucia; here’s what transpired next

This story has been revised with updated information.

Spending the latter part of our Caribbean Christmas vacation in strict COVID-19 lockdown was not how we envisioned our trip.

We made a calculated decision to travel internationally to an all-inclusive resort on the island of St. Lucia.

Despite St. Lucia's low vaccination rate, both the country and the resort we selected enforce stringent COVID-19 protocols. My wife, son, and I are fully vaccinated, with my wife and I also having received booster shots. Additionally, I had traveled extensively abroad in 2021 without contracting the virus.

This gave us the confidence to move forward, although looking back, I realize I was overly hopeful about international travel during the omicron phase.

Here’s my account of testing positive while overseas — and the quarantine experience that followed.

COVID-19 measures in St. Lucia

To enter St. Lucia, every traveler must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within five days before arrival, and to leave a resort, full vaccination is required.

Upon arrival at Saint Lucia Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), all travelers undergo secondary temperature screenings. While on the island, visitors must wear white bracelets to indicate their vaccination status.

Upon our arrival at the resort, we were monitored for contact tracing and asked to use hand sanitizer. All hotel personnel are fully vaccinated and wear appropriate masks. As guests, we were required to wear masks when interacting with staff at the bar, check-in, restaurants, and other areas.

Additionally, temperatures are taken at each restaurant entrance before allowing guests inside. While social distancing is encouraged, in a true island spirit, it's suggested to maintain a distance of "nine coconuts" instead of the usual six feet.

COVID-19 symptoms and testing protocols

A slight cold

A day into our vacation, I came down with a very mild cold, experiencing only a few sniffles but no fever. I thought (or hoped) that I had caught it from my son, who had also developed a cold after our arrival.

The symptoms faded away, and I didn't think much of it. We enjoyed a wonderful week at the resort. Although there were some service hiccups due to staffing shortages affecting the industry, the helpful team ensured we had a pleasant experience.

Testing prior to returning to the U.S.

The day before our departure, we all underwent the required antigen tests to be allowed back into the United States.

The wait for the results cast a shadow over the day. After returning from the beach, where I had soaked up the last rays of tropical sun, my son informed me that the hotel manager had called with an urgent message. I still hadn't received my results via email, while my family members had already been notified.

I didn’t need to be a psychic to anticipate what was coming. My heart sank as the manager gently confirmed that my results were positive.

Thankfully, my wife and son tested negative. However, the manager firmly stated that my family and I needed to quarantine immediately in our rooms. I would take a PCR test in the morning to verify if I had indeed contracted COVID-19.

It goes without saying that we would not be returning to the U.S. the following day.

What transpired after my positive test result

The following morning, a government nurse, fully equipped in protective gear and a face shield, arrived at our door to administer our PCR tests.

The lab expedited the results, and within two hours, we received the news we dreaded. The PCR test confirmed my positive COVID-19 status.

We were instructed to wait for further guidance from the health authorities. In the meantime, we were required to stay in our room and were not allowed to go outside.

Quarantine protocols

St. Lucia adheres to the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization. The newly released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines from the U.S. do not apply here. We learned that my wife and son, even after testing negative twice, would need to quarantine for seven days from their last test due to their close contact with me.

In contrast, I would be quarantined for up to 13 days following the onset of my initial symptoms. This indicated that we could potentially depart on January 3 and January 4, respectively. However, we must also ensure our pre-departure tests return negative before leaving.

Guests are responsible for their hotel and medical expenses, although there is a specific "COVID-19 package rate" available. If we chose not to accept the resort's offer, we had the alternative of staying at government housing (a repurposed hospital).

A glimpse into quarantine

A folder containing room service menus was delivered. Shortly after, a bag with linens, towels, and cleaning supplies arrived. We were tasked with managing our own housekeeping, for obvious reasons.

It didn't take long for us to adapt to our confinement routine.

Every day started and ended with a nurse visiting to monitor our vital signs, check temperatures, and inquire about any symptoms. We kept ourselves entertained with board games, binge-watching TV shows, reading, audiobooks, writing, and even doing makeshift calisthenics and exercise in the room. A friend had generously offered to share his Peloton online membership with me.

I started calling our resort "Papillon": a prison in paradise. With our stunning view and mild symptoms, we shouldn’t be pitied. However, we are certainly not free. We rely on a foreign government and are guests at the hotel. We feel grateful; our situation is much easier compared to what many others have experienced.

Fortunately, our request to move from a beachfront room to a more secluded minisuite with a separate living area on a higher floor was approved. This arrangement provided us with extra space to avoid being on top of each other and allowed us to semi-isolate.

The real advantage was the balcony—not just for its stunning views but because it finally allowed us to step outside for exercise and fresh air. However, we still had to wear masks even in our secluded spot. Although no other guests were visible, the resort and government were taking no chances.

Meals, which usually aren’t the highlight of our vacations, transformed into the most anticipated moments of the day. The hotel staff was exceptional, treating us like royalty. Each evening, they even delivered a bottle of pinot noir and cognac to our room.

The resort's fireworks show was called off due to COVID-19, just like many New Year's Eve festivities worldwide. Fortunately, we could still catch an impressive display in the distance. Below our balcony, the celebrations continued late into the night. It served as a reminder that we were confined indoors, but honestly, we typically stay in on New Year's Eve at home anyway.

I’m also thankful we overpacked with COVID-19 precautions in mind. This meant we had extra clothes, medications, books, and more to keep us entertained if the need arose. The hotel even boosted our internet bandwidth so all our devices could stream without issues.

Considerations if you find yourself in quarantine

Our quarantine routine started to resemble the movie "Groundhog Day." We woke up, had breakfast, exercised, cleaned the room, worked, posted on social media, had lunch, read, filmed videos, streamed TV, played board games, toasted the sunset with both adult and kid-friendly drinks, had dinner, chatted with friends back home, then went to bed. Rinse and repeat.

If you ever find yourself in a similar predicament, here are a few things to remember.

Extend patience to the resort staff

Our resort was proactive in implementing their COVID-19 protocols, ahead of the curve.

Meal orders occasionally took two to three hours to arrive and were often incorrect or misplaced. Requests for garbage pickup and deliveries of fresh linens and towels, which were supposed to be automatic, needed to be made several times.

Without exception, the staff were exceptionally friendly, but it was evident that the resort was short-staffed due to COVID-19-related sick leave and ongoing recruitment challenges affecting the entire industry.

I reached out to management to suggest enhancements in service. Travel expectations must be adjusted in the COVID-19 era, but my family and I were feeling quite frustrated. We didn't wish to cause anyone trouble, and it felt somewhat privileged to send the note, yet we were paying for our isolation vacation.

Their response was honest and filled with apologies.

"Thank you very much for your positive feedback about your stay; I will share your sentiments with the team," the duty manager wrote back. "I am, however, disheartened by the aspects that did not meet your expectations and sincerely apologize for any shortcomings on our part."

They explained that the property was doing its utmost to accommodate us, but serving guests during quarantine posed challenges, including constant room service, concerns about cross-contamination, and a modified housekeeping protocol.

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, keep in mind that the resort might not be equipped to provide the uninterrupted and seamless service you’d expect while in quarantine. Most properties are doing their utmost under the guidance of local authorities.

Quarantining in paradise has its price

The most frequent remark we encountered was, "There are definitely worse places than paradise to be stuck in." This is entirely true—there’s no need for anyone to feel sorry for us.

We enjoyed stunning views and pleasant weather instead of being in a hospital room. Room service at an all-inclusive resort is certainly a step up from DoorDash. More importantly, my symptoms were mild and my family stayed healthy.

We are thankful, but this experience did come with a hefty price tag.

Fortunately, the resort offered a 50% discount on their usual high-season rates for the COVID-19 package, but we still ended up paying for significantly more nights than we had anticipated. The costs for PCR and antigen tests were $200 and $75 each, respectively, though nurse visits were thankfully complimentary.

We are currently exploring reimbursement options for our testing through our health care provider. Fortunately, booking our flights with American Airlines using award points allowed for flexibility at no extra charge.

When we included tips, extra transportation, incidentals, and our dog sitter back home, the total cost impacted our budget by $4,500.

Complicated quarantine timelines when traveling with family

My wife and son never tested positive for COVID-19, yet due to our close contact, they were still required to quarantine for seven days. I had to quarantine for 13 days, leading to potential complications from the differing timelines.

After seven days, they were eligible for release. The day before their travel, both underwent PCR testing. If either test returned positive, their quarantine would reset to 10 days since they were asymptomatic.

The situation presented numerous unfortunate scenarios. My son could miss nearly two weeks of school, necessitating that one of us stay with him. If my wife tested positive, would she have to isolate alone?

The day was filled with anxiety as we awaited the results. With the rush of New Year's departures, test results were delayed. It wasn’t until around 10 p.m. that we received good news — both tested negative.

They were officially released from quarantine at 12:01 a.m. local time. To celebrate, they stepped out just after midnight for their first taste of freedom in a week with a walk on the beach. The next day, they headed to the airport, but I didn’t feel relieved until I received a text confirming they were on the plane.

A recovery letter allows you to reenter the US.

My quarantine concluded 13 days after symptoms began. Despite a final antigen test returning positive, the World Health Organization and St. Lucian authorities declared me no longer infectious after the designated 13 days.

The airline and U.S. government accepted my recovery letter from the Health Ministry instead of a negative COVID-19 test for reentry.

I received my recovery letter on the morning of my departure back to the U.S., and I was finally free to leave my room. After nearly eight days in isolation, I felt an exhilarating joy to walk on the beach and enjoy breakfast in a public setting, knowing I would soon be heading home.

I decided to indulge myself with a scenic helicopter shuttle to St. Lucia's main airport, skipping the 90-minute drive along winding roads. This allowed me to arrive three hours early in case of any issues.

I worried that my positive COVID-19 antigen results might complicate things. However, the recovery letter was enough for check-in and immigration. Everything went smoothly, and I was in the air a couple of hours later. St. Lucia is a stunning island with wonderful people, though I must admit it looked much better in my rearview mirror.

Bottom line

I’m an adventurous traveler, while my wife and son are less so. We had our share of disagreements, but they were real troopers throughout this whole experience.

When we were planning this vacation, it seemed low risk compared to other destinations we considered. However, with the surge of omicron, I now realize I underestimated the danger. Despite being up to date with our vaccinations and boosters, plus having antibodies from COVID-19, I would think twice about international travel until this surge is firmly behind us.

Quarantining at home is one thing, but doing so in a foreign country with a confusing mix of rules is a whole different story. The shorter CDC guidelines suggesting a five-day quarantine after symptoms and a negative test don’t apply in St. Lucia, which follows the 10-to-13-day standard set by the WHO.

We were lucky to manage the extra costs and time away, but not everyone can do that. Next time, I'll pay closer attention to COVID-19 insurance policies. While they can be pricey and not fully comprehensive, they are definitely worth considering.

Our upcoming spring break trip was initially planned for Iceland to witness the northern lights. Instead, we’ve opted for a domestic (but still thrilling) adventure. We’ll be hunting for the aurora borealis in Alaska. My advice from this experience is to stay flexible, prepare for surprises, and make the most of unexpected situations.