Category Archives: Private Islands

According to CNN UHNWIs around the world are showing an increased interest in renting or buying private islands since the first lockdown hit.

The ultimate once-in-a-lifetime journey in utter seclusion and perfect peace, private island retreats and bubble-to-bubble holidays are higher than ever in the luxury consumers desirability scale, as they offer you copious space, safety, complete privacy and unparalleled lust.

From COMO Hotels & Resorts NEW tropical hideaway, COMO Laucala Island in Fiji, to the ethical Thanda Island Private Marine Reserve off the coast of Tanzania and the uber-luxe Velaa Private Island in the Maldives, we rounded-up exciting news from the worlds most desired destinations.

Thanda Island, TanzaniaThe Worlds Only Exclusive-Use Marine Reserve

Nestled within Tanzania's Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve, the rustic Thanda Island is the worlds only privately-owned marine reserve that operates as an exclusive-use luxury hotel. The marine counterpart of the famed Thanda Safari in South Africa, Thanda Island hosts a five-suite villa built in a breezy throwback colonial style with gym, patio, infinity pool, and library. Just a few steps away from the main villa are two authentic and recently revamped beach chalets (Tanzanian bandas) where eight more guests can reside. The island is completed with a tennis court, ocean-front yoga pavilion, helipad, helicopter, Sea Lion super yacht and a fully equipped boat house.

At Thanda Island guests are assigned their own personal marine biologist who will guide ethical whale shark excursions and conservation underwater activities - where even the diving gear is eco-friendly, as rash vests are made from recycled plastic. Epicures will savour the islands unforgettable dining experiences, such as a Swahili feast, a decadent affair that includes curries with hand-squeezed coconut milk, fresh lobster, and oysters. All is prepared in traditional fashion with locally sourced ingredients by the islands own chef. The warm community of staff will cater to any guests desire and arrange bespoke itineraries accordingly.

Committed to improve the environment and protect endangered species, Thanda Island works closely with the Tanzania Marine Parks and Sea Sense NGO to educate the local communities on sustainable fishing and marine conservation. These partnerships led to the return of fish in the coral reef and the reappearance of the reef herons, as well as sea turtle nesting on the beach. Today at Thanda there are around 300 fish species, two species of dolphin (bottlenose and humpback) and two species of sea turtle (green and hawksbill). On a community level, Thanda Island employs local Swahili staff and fosters an enterprise and entrepreneur development project and an education project that inspires kids to reach for their dreams and live a healthy life, through the recently founded NGO, Star for Life Tanzania. (Rates 33,000 per night. Minimum stay five nights; thandaisland.com)

Velaa Private Island, MaldivesThe Most Exclusive and Luxurious Resort In The World

Nestled within the constellation of islands that form theNoonuAtoll in Maldives, Velaa Private Island takes exclusivity to the next level with facilities and service that go beyond traditional resorts. Designed by award-winning Czech architect Petr Kolar as an elegant fusion of Maldivian culture with contemporary luxury, intimate with Maldivian nuances.Velaa Private Island is the realisation of a dream to create a beyond luxury exclusive boutique hideaway in the Maldives.

Velaa means Turtle in the local language named after generations of sea turtles that flock there to nest and hatch. From a broader birds eye view which greets arrivals by seaplane, the islands exclusive over-water villas are also constructed to resemble the head of a turtle, with the island forming the body.The resort comprises 47 private villas, houses and exclusive residences. While 18 of the 47 are built over water, the Romantic Pool Residence can only be reached by boat, allowing even more privacy and exclusivity.

This year Velaa Private Island is continuing to take its commitment to wellness to the next level by inviting guests to re-energise and fulfil their fitness ambitions whilst taking care of the mind, body and soul with their Visiting Practitioners programme. Mirroring Velaas passion for ultra-luxe personalised experiences, the programme works with world class athletes and practitioners to tailor exclusive workshops designed to promote inner balance, health and harmony, working in perfect synergy alongside the range of high-tech spa and fitness facilities Velaa has to offer. Joining the programme in the upcoming months is Holistic Practitioner Dr Buathon Thienarrom who will offer private alternative medicine and holistic healing sessions for guests. (Rates start from 2,200 a night in a beach pool villa with a minimum of 5 nights; http://www.velaaprivateisland.com)

COMO Laucala Island, FijiWellness-Orientated Private Island Retreat

The latest addition to COMO Hotels & Resorts exclusive private island collection, COMO Laucala Island in the remote South Pacific region is framed by turquoise-blue sea and white sandy beaches. At the heart of the island are tropical rainforests, volcanic mountains, blue lagoons, mangroves and coconut groves, fostering a unique habitat that allows for a wide range of land and water activities, such as jet-skiing, sailing, diving, game fishing, horse-riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Guests can play tennis as well as golf in the 18-hole David McLay Kidd-designed golf course - a first for the Singapore-based luxury hotel group.

Peppered across the northern side of the island, the 25 elegant residences are built with natural Fijian wood, to seamlessly blend with the surroundings while staying true to COMOs unmistakable contemporary flair. Each residence comes with their own COMO butler and private pool, providing guests with unparalleled levels of luxury and seclusion. COMO Shambhala Retreat, the islands wellness centre, is the embodiment of COMOs philosophy for holistic, healthy living. At this nurturing retreat, guests can expect physical fitness classes, yoga, and a fitness centre. Treatments make use of COMO Shambhalas signature products, as well as the islands herbs, spices, flowers, and fruits. COMO Shambhalas signature Asian-inspired massages and body treatments using the islands river stones, mineral crystals and rich volcanic soils are also provided.

To minimize its impact on the environment and in line with COMOs farm-to-table philosophy, the islands five dining options receive fresh produce from the resorts 240-acre farm, cultivating a wide range of organic crops and livestock including chickens, quail and wagyu cattle. Fresh seafood supplies are sourced exclusively from local fishermen, contributing to the islands commitment to sustainability. Menus include COMO Shambhala options, which are high in flavor, nutrition, and low in fats and refined sugars. (Rates TBC; comohotels.com)

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Sea, Sun and Seclusion on the World's Most Luxurious Private Islands - Luxury Travel Magazine

Stewart Howard, the chief executive officer of Ambergris Cay, a private island resort in the Turks and Caicos, said Canadians have been notably missing from the Caribbean since March 2020 because they faced a mandatory quarantine upon their return to Canada and were not terribly keen on traveling through the United States for connecting flights to the Caribbean. Almost all resort visitors were from America over the past two years, he said. (Fully vaccinated Canadian travelers no longer have to quarantine when they return home, though they do need to test negative to enter the country.)

Mr. Howard noted that Ambergris Cays amenities will expand in the coming year to include a clubhouse, an additional restaurant and new suites to meet what he predicts will be strong future demand. Now, what were seeing is aggressive bookings, but for stays in six to nine months, he said.

Unvaccinated city workers. New York City is expected to fire up to 3,000 municipal workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, on Feb. 11 for refusing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus possibly the largest worker reduction in the nation tied to a vaccine mandate.

Not all islands in the Caribbean saw visitor increase from 2020 to 2021. Some, like the Cayman Islands, Dominica and Barbados saw a dip in their overnight visitor arrivals for reasons, including how easy or difficult they are to reach. Before the pandemic, Dominica was reachable only by small regional aircraft or by ferry. When one of the key inter-regional airlines, L.I.A.T., suspended all its flights in March 2020, the island was hit hard and has not recovered. In December, American Airlines launched the first nonstop flight to the island from Miami, raising hopes that visitor numbers would pick up.

Anguilla also received its first nonstop flight from Miami in December, also on American Airlines. This will increase to daily flights starting in April, said Georgios Tserdakidis, Anguillas chief marketing officer, with hopes that easier travel will help drive tourism. The country plans to expand its Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, and a new $5.5 million Blowing Point Ferry terminal is under construction.

Other destinations, like Trinidad and the Cayman Islands, closed their borders to visitors at the start of the pandemic and only opened for tourist travel in late 2021.

Proximity also played a role the Bahamas is the closest island group to the United States and people wanted to be closer to the mainland for safety, according to a spokesman for the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Excerpt from:

Whats New in the Caribbean for 2022 - The New York Times

Photo: Moeava de Rosemont

Four Seasons Bora Bora, French Polynesia

There was a time when highly coveted overwater bungalows were a figment of travellers imagination. Those seeking the ultimate island paradise in places like Fiji, the Maldives, and Tahiti had only two options: a hotel room or a villa on the beach. Its almost hard to imagine now, when the plane descent into one of these destinations displays a full spectrum of bungalows lined up along long pontoons, jutting out over the crystalline cerulean waters that made these places famous.

In 1967, on the island of Raiateawhich, without a sandy beach, was proving a challenging sell for touristsa trio of Californians known as the Bali Hai Boys conceived the game-changer of a dream accommodation: the overwater bungalow. At the time they assured the government that, like traditional Tahitians fishing huts, they would not harm the coral with their pandanus leafthatched roof structures, and that edict still holds true. Their trio of bungalows at Bali Hai Hotel became a craze that spread to Bora Bora and beyond; after all, the charming stilted cottages offered immersion into the magic of the sea, sans snorkel mask or air tank. Now 50 years old, the iconic honeymoon hideaways, sought-after spots for not just romance but easy access to throngs of Technicolor sea creatures below, are looking better than ever.

In the last half-century the overwater bungalow has gone from simple to over-the-top opulent in some cases, although there are also plenty of very affordable, basic versions around the world. Its homeland, the Islands of Tahiti, lays claim to nearly 900 of them, from Moorea (where the Sofitel forbids motorised activities to protect its pristine lagoon) and Tikehau (by night, sharks swim beneath Tikehau Pearl Beach Resorts charming perches) to Rangiroa (Hotel Kia Oras ten bungalows boast some of the best views of all the islands) and Bora Bora, where Le Meridiens Mount Otemanufacing bungalows have the largest glass floors of all. Of course, other destinations have done their best to catch up, and now there are whopping numbers of thatched-roof villas standing over not just the Caribbean Sea, the South China Sea, and the Indian Ocean, but lakes, too.

Wherever they stand, the overwater bungalow tends to comprise similar elements, with design hallmarks tending to stay consistent. Thatched-roof systems made of natural, indigenous materials (which must be replaced every couple years) are standard, as is the layout of bungalows attached to a wooden pontoon walkway. Of course, its hardly worth sleeping over the water if theres no peekaboo window set in the floor. Panoramic views of the countless shades of blue outside are another requisite element. More recently, private overwater pools, jacuzzis, and suspended hammocks, have been introduced along with two-story versions that dwarf a Manhattan studio apartment.

In celebration of the revolutionary structures major birthday milestone, we look at some of the most spectacular modern overwater bungalows from around the world.

This story was first published on AD US

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The 21 most incredible overwater bungalows in the world - Architectural Digest India

Tucked away on the intriguing islands dotted around the River Thames in Surrey, you'll find a beautiful slice of paradise.

Ever since the Victorians began to sail upriver from London for a weekend retreat, people have realised these stepping stones in the landscape make for unique - and private - homes.

On a mission to explore some of the islands for My London, I headed to Sunbury Court Ait, which you access via a private footbridge.

Read more: Remains of Surrey WW2 airmen found on farm returned to their families

It's nestled between riverside bungalows, all with patios and boats moored up alongside.

I linger around for a while like some sort of lost troll, hoping someone might let me across the bridge, which has a beautiful white tower guarding it and signs stating it's private property.

With amazing luck I bump into Phil and Sally who very kindly agree to let me walk across to look around their dream island home.

We walk across the bridge, and we immediately meet a path running east-west across the middle of the island, flanked on either side by wooden panelled bungalows.

As we reach the gate to their home, at the far end of the path, I notice there's a sign on the gate staying "India Wood".

"That's because Phil used to come down to the next island and play Cowboys and Indians when we were children," Sally says.

It turns out Phil's first paper round as a teenager was delivering to the - then much more basic - homes on Sunbury Court island.

He hadn't thought much about it for years afterwards, but one day he and Sally noticed a house for sale on the island, while walking on neighbouring Rivermeade Island, and decided to check it out.

The couple invite me into their simply stunning, brightly lit bungalow that they built themselves.

Phil shows me pictures of what homes on the island originally looked like - wooden chalets used as holiday homes, complete with cement asbestos panels with no insulation at all.

The islanders have worked seriously hard on them since then, and Phil and Sally have built a spacious, comfortable home with patio doors on all sides, and light pouring in from the gleaming river.

It's elevated on piles to stop it flooding and has it's own gorgeous little garden and boat deck out the back.

It's not hard to see that they've found a little slice of heaven.

Phil explains: "We were downsizing. The kids had left home. That's a very typical story and probably how most people end up on the island.

"Some people buy houses on the coast and some buy them on the river.

"There used to be an open air swimming pool on Rivermeade Island and we used to spend everyday in the summer down here as kids," says Sally.

"It was very cold. Not like the heated lidos you get now," adds Phil. "It was 17 shillings and sixpence for a season ticket. So off we'd go!"

"We used to just get on our bikes and go out and come home again at tea time, like a lot of people in those days," muses Sally.

Phil remembers the river freezing in 1963. People actually walked and cycled across it and at Shepperton - legend has it - someone drove a mini across it.

Phil and Sally renovated the house themselves in 2013, and transported all the materials across the narrow channel on a skiff.

But their island home isn't cut off from real life.

"Everybody delivers here and Sunbury village has three pubs, two Indians, one Chinese, one Italian. You can go down on your boat if you want to of course," Phil says.

"You can go down to East Molesey where there's lots of restaurants and you can have a lovely night."

He continues: "We've got two young grandchildren who love looking out and waving at the boats and everybody's very friendly on the river.

"We know certain boats - from the man who operates the barges to the guy who does the diesel and petrol supplies. There's a lot of waving going on."

But if you're going to live on a Thames island, you've got to beware of floods.

"When this island was flooded in 2014 we had to wade down the path in chest-high waders. We used to bring the shopping back on the canoe. We went out one morning and the swans were all swimming down the garden path," says Sally.

"The rescue services were brilliant and took all the elderly people off who needed help. When we moved here there were really only three single elderly ladies living here on the island."

But doesn't it get a bit claustrophobic living on a tiny island in one of 29 homes?

"You can't avoid people on the island but everybody's very friendly," says Sally.

"At Christmas time there was a community event with a Christmas tree and fairy lights illuminating the island's bridge. It was fantastic."

These islands have some amazing stories to tell too, each with its own special character.

This weekend a traditional village rowing festival is taking place which will see 350 boats on the river.

In the summer there's a Sunbury Village regatta, which Sally and Phil used to take part in as children, following by an illuminated sail past and an incredible fireworks display.

Back in Victorian times Phil explains the river was often crammed with suited and booted ladies and gents hiring skiffs on the river for the weekend.

The islands sometimes feature in wider history too.

"We actually had Emperor Haile Selassie (The Ethiopian ruler who was deposed when the Italian forces invaded his country) living on this island," says Phil.

"In the Second World War he was evacuated and briefly lived here."

"People say it's peaceful on the Thames but you've got a lot of wildlife which can be quite noisy," laughs Phil.

"There's also loads of rowing boats. They start at crazy hours in the morning about 6am even at this time of year."

Sally explains the biggest problem on the river these days is with illegal moorings. People who, in ever-increasing numbers, are buying up old boats and just mooring up wherever they like without paying.

But it's not all bad - Phil and Sally have a decent sized motor boat they are renovating out the back and also have kayaks to use on the river.

Last year they even motored up to the source of the Thames in Lechlade.

Phil and Sally are keen to emphasise though that Sunbury Court Ait is a private island with people's private dwellings. You can't just turn up. The islanders are understandably protective of the lifestyle they've found.

But there are plenty of islands, like neighbouring Rivermeade island where you can pitch up in summer to sunbathe and try out a bit of paddleboarding.

The river is non-tidal here too so boating is pretty straightforward.

And for those who want to explore, there's a new ferry just next to the island that will take you across the river in the summer months. It's completely run by volunteers.

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The Surrey dream island home on a private paradise in the middle of the River Thames - Surrey Live

ZMR

The resumption of ferry services between Turkey and Greek islands in the Aegean Sea is expected to give a significant boost to tourism activity in the region, an official from the industry has said.

The ban on ferry services, which were halted for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was lifted on Feb. 7. The restriction also applied to private yachts sailing between Turkeys Aegean coasts and the Greek islands.

Ferries used to carry nearly 1.5 million people each year on the routes, such as Ayvalk-Lesbos, eme-Khios and Marmaris-Rhodes. With the resumption of those voyages, tourism activity will revive again, said Yusuf ztrk, from the zmir branch of the Chamber of Shipping.

Now, ferries with up to 49 passengers on board can enter 14 Greek ports, including Kavala, Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos, Limnos, Patmos and Kastellorizo.

Ferry services greatly contribute to the local economy and tourism activity, but they came to nearly a complete halt after the pandemic, ztrk noted.

Officials from the two countries discussed the resumption of those services at the Turkish-Greek Joint Commission meeting held in the Turkish western province of zmir in November last year, he said.

Following another meeting in Greece between officials from the Turkish and Greek tourism and trade ministries, ferry services resumed, ztrk added.

For the time being, ferries are allowed to carry only 49 passengers, but those vessels will gradually be able to serve more passengers, he said, noting that travelers need to provide the results of PCR tests taken within 72 hours and antibody tests.

Ferry operators suffered a great deal over the past two years, but marine tourism will see a strong rebound this year, ztrk said, adding that the resumption of those services came at a time when cruise traffic in the Mediterranean is also gaining momentum.

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Resumption of ferry services with Greek islands to boost tourism: Official - Hurriyet Daily News

Although there has been no change in alert levels this week and all Canary Islands stay at their current level for one more week, the Government has decided to relax the rules and restrictions for each level, despite the fact that the hospital pressure continues to be high.

The Government Council of the Canary Islands agreed in its meeting on Thursday to continue with relaxing the measures put in place for each alert level, so the new rules will be applicable from 00:00 on February 11, 2022 until midnight on March 10, 2022, with the possibility of extension depending on the epidemiological situation.

So what are the main changes in alert levels in the Canary Islands?

The agreement reached by the Government means the suspension of the restrictive measures that were applied on the islands in alert level 4, where the level 3 measures will go into force. In the same way, on the islands that are now in level 3, the measures applied will correspond to level 2 and when some of the islands will move to level 2, the measures from level 1 will apply.

The relaxation of measures at a level lower than that established one on each island affects all activities and establishments subject to limitations due to the pandemic.

Maximum people in a group

In this way, it is established that groups of people in spaces for public and private use, closed or outdoors, must be of a maximum of :

Closing times

The new closing times for establishments are as follows:

Maximum capacity in bars, restaurants, hotels

More here:

New measures for alert levels in the Canary Islands - updated closing times, capacity, groups - GuideToCanaryIslands

What GAO Found

The federal government controls immigration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), including administration of a foreign worker permit program that is specific to the CNMI. Under this program, the ratio of U.S. to foreign workers in the CNMI remained close to 50 percent from 2016 through 2018. U.S. workers increased to 56 percent in 2019 and 59 percent in 2020, partly because the CNMI government identified persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence (LPRs) in the total of U.S. workers. The size of the overall workforce grew from 2016 to 2017 before contracting by about 2,000 workers in 2018, and dropped by more than 5,000 workers from 2016 to 2020. The Department of Homeland Security approved about 11,600 CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) foreign worker permits for 2019 and about 5,400 for 2021, dropping from a high of 13,685 in fiscal year 2017.

Employed Workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Calendar Years 20162020

Notes: For 2016 to 2018, U.S. workers include U.S. citizens and nationals, and citizens of the FASthe Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Foreign workers include all other workers, potentially including LPRs because the data provided to GAO did not identify LPR workers. For 2019 and 2020, U.S. workers include LPRs identified by the CNMI. Foreign workers include all other workers who are not U.S. workers.

According to the Prevailing Wage Study (PWS), an annual study of employers in the CNMI, the reported number of employees earning less than $8 per hour declined by 68 percent from 2019 to 2021. The decline is largely due to economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and to lower study participation by private businesses. Because of the decline in the number of low-wage workers, 94 percent of CNMI workers in the PWS currently earn above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, an increase from 73 percent in 2019. GAO also illustrated how various hypothetical minimum wage levels would affect workers. For example, at current wage levels, a minimum wage increase to $10 per hour could directly affect 50 percent of workers included in the PWS.

The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which amended the 1976 Covenant between the U.S. and the CNMI, established federal control of CNMI immigration beginning in 2009. Under the act, the Department of Homeland Security began implementing a foreign worker permit program that was specific to the CNMI. The Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018 extended the CW-1 program for 10 additional years, through the end of 2029. In addition, as required by a 2007 law, the CNMI minimum wage was increased over time to match the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 by 2018.

The Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO to biennially examine the ratio of United States workers to other workers in the CNMI over the 5 previous calendar years. GAO was also asked to examine the structure of wages for workers in the CNMI. This report examines (1) recent trends in composition of the CNMI workforce, including the ratio of U.S. workers to foreign workers in the CNMI during the previous 5 calendar years, and (2) the distribution of wages for workers in the CNMI from 2019 through 2021. GAO analyzed CNMI government and U.S. agency data and prior GAO reports, and interviewed officials from the CNMI government and the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, and the Interior.

For more information, contact Latesha Love at (202) 512-4409 or LoveL@gao.gov.

Originally posted here:

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Recent Workforce Trends and Wage Distribution - Government Accountability Office

In early February the travel correspondent of The Independent is usually to be found on one of the private islands off the coast of Queensland. But Australias borders remain closed to tourists, business travellers and even international men of mystery for a while longer. So instead he took an hour to answer readers questions on Australia and other parts of the world...

Open down under?

Q: Ive heard that Australia is opening up to visa holders on 21 February 2022, but can I be absolutely clear: does this mean that you are able to enter Australia with a tourist visa from this date?

Julie B

A: Yes, there was surprising and welcome news on Monday from the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison. A country that has spent the past two years diligently keeping people out is now opening up (or at least significant parts of it are). The government has confirmed that this covers ordinary tourists, plus family visitors and business travellers basically, anyone entering on the standard, free eVisitor visa.

Ability to travel is entirely based on vaccination. There is no expiry date on the validity of a two-jab course, and therefore no requirement to have had a booster. The only pre-departure requirement, at least for most states, is a lateral flow test in the 24 hours before departure to Australia.

It remains to be seen how quickly travel to Australia will recover. I expect to see a surge of bookings from people desperate to see loved ones, but pure tourism may take a while longer. The announcement has come at a time corresponding to the summer peak in Australia; as autumn arrives in the southern parts of the nation, the appeal of a short-notice trip may dwindle. By Easter, Victoria and Tasmania will be distinctly cooler.

At the same time as Mr Morrison a previous managing director of Tourism Australia was making the announcement, the present incumbent. Phillipa Harris, said Australia has been a little bit ridiculed by much of the rest of around the world for its continued strict closure. Its the whole fortress Australia concept, she told an event in Sydney. People just dont understand why theyre shut out, why they cant reconnect with family and friends.

Meanwhile just because you are allowed to enter Australia, individual states still have control on who they let in particularly Western Australia, which remains closed.

Q: I want to fly to Australia around 17 March to 17 April this year to see family. My passport was issued on 11 October 2012 and is valid until 11 July 2023, ie 10 years and nine months. My travel agent says that the extra months do not count and has advised me to get a new one.

But do you think I will be allowed to use it for Australia, as well as changing flights in the UAE?

Kas

A: Yes. The extra months issue is only of relevance for Europe (and the only stipulation there is that the passport was issued in the previous 10 years). You have acres of validity left for your trip, I am glad to say.

Validity problems would only start (initially with the UAE) from January 2023. Dont forget to apply for your free eVisitor visa. Avoid scam sites and book through the official portal.

Q: Following the announcement about opening, what are the rules for UK travellers entering Western Australia? Before the pandemic began we had Christmas 2020 flights booked, to see friends and family and to return to the gorgeous Margaret River.

Jo Max

A: Western Australia remains firmly closed to citizens from other Australian states, as well as outsiders.

WAs attitude baffles me. Ninety per cent of eligible people are fully vaccinated. I assumed the strategy was: Lets get almost everyone jabbed and we can then relax.

But that has not materialised. Instead, the premier, Mark McGowan (supported widely across the political spectrum) wants to get boosters fully rolled out across the state. To do otherwise would be reckless and irresponsible, he says.

It is a huge shame for people who want to visit loved one, and for those of us who just love Australias largest state. One day I believe Western Australia will wake up and realise the world has moved on then desperately try to catch up.

Portugal bound

Q: Going to Algarve on Saturday 12 February. Is it correct that the Portuguese government no longer requires pre-flight Covid tests?

Keith

A: Yes, Portugal shrewdly removed the requirement, as did Greece, at the start of the week. Also, Morocco opened up after 16 weeks.

We are definitely in the two-steps forward, one-step back stage of things. Spain, Italy and France are looking particularly unappealing in their restrictions especially for young travellers. This is a great shame before half-term, but I predict they will all change for the better very soon.

Q: Is it right that you can enter Portugal with a Covid recovery certificate? My son is 15 and has not had a second jab yet, due to having had Covid recently.

Sanshoe

A: Yes. The exactly condition in the latest round of Portuguese rules, is that a valid vaccination or recovery certificate issued by a third country is sufficient for entry. The tricky part may be getting the NHS to certify. Travellers aged 12-15 years should now be able to access the certificate on the NHS app, at least in England. But it is also worth going online to download proof on paper as well.

New York negativity

Q: Do you think New York City will relax its rules on unvaccinated or single-vaccinated children entering venues any time soon?

Ryan B

A: Yes. I expect things to change fairly quickly, because the current situation is unsustainable. New York City has some seriously family-unfriendly rules. They are marketed as Key to NYC but they amount to some of the most draconian restrictions on children of any location I know.

For a wide range of activities, including visiting restaurants, cinemas, museums, aquariums and zoos, vaccination requirements start very young. Until late January the rule was that everyone 12 and over had to show proof of being fully jabbed to access almost all public indoor activities. Then things took a turn for the worse.

Starting January 29, 2022, children ages five to 11 must also show proof of full vaccination, the city authorities decreed. Before that the rule was just one jab. But given that the NHS policy is to vaccinate children only from the day they turn 12, the tightening of the restrictions makes no effective difference.

As with many other parts of the world, New York City has a carrot-and-stick approach to encouraging vaccination, and this is very much on the stick side (the carrot includes a $100 incentive).But it creates an awful state of affairs for visiting families.

As things stand I warn anyone with children who do not qualify not to book anything in NYC at the moment. As the perceived threat of Covid dwindles, I predict the rules will soften by Easter. But please dont book anything yet.

New York City is a metropolis with a huge tourism industry. One day it will wake up and realise the world has moved on then desperately try to catch up, with all manner of deals to lure families back.

Passport controls

Q: Could you confirm if EU passport holders need a minimum amount of months left on their passports to travel from the UK to an EU country and Switzerland please?

Celine P

A: Yes. European Union passports (and those from the wider EEA and Switzerland) are valid up to and including the expiry date within the EU and associates.

For completeness, UK passports must have been issued in the past 10 years. They must also have at least three months to run.

French farce

Q: I am planning to take my 13 and 15-year-olds to France to ski on Sunday. Both have recovered from Covid and have a jab which they can prove on the NHS App (I am fully vaccinated and have a booster). My understanding is, they are considered fully vaccinated for entry and can use their NHS pass as a health pass to access ski lifts etc. Would you put my mind at rest and confirm?

Darnton Davis

A: I am really sorry to say that my current understanding of the French rules is as follows and not at all ideal for you.

Your teenagers will be able to enter France with you. That is because for the purposes of admission to France, young people aged 12-17 can travel according to the rules that apply to their accompanying adult: if the adult is fully vaccinated, the child is regarded the same.

But for the purposes of accessing venues in France from cafs to ski lifts the position for children is more complicated. Full vaccination appears to be mandatory for those aged 12-17 unless they take daily tests (lateral flow) to access the venues.

Q: My parents (vaccinated and boosted) are off to Malaga this week and received an email from easyJet on Saturday saying they now have to do a lateral flow test in the 24 hours before departure to Spain to be able to enter.

I checked with easyJet via Twitter and they said this was correct. But both the easyJet website and the Foreign Office say you dont need a test to fly. My parents have booked tests as they dont want to be turned away at airport. Any idea who is right and what is going on?

Josie 1970

A: This is weird. I have searched through the various official Spanish health ministry and tourism agency publications and can see nothing to confirm this. I will delve more deeply into it if I can.

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Travelling to Australia from the UK and other questions answered by expert Simon Calder - The Independent

Virginia Giuffre will be interviewed by Prince Andrews lawyers in her sexual assault case against the Duke of York in April, i can reveal.

The agreement from Ms Giuffre to be deposed was struck overnight following several requests from the Dukes legal team, and follows Prince Andrews agreement to be deposed in March.

Ms Giuffre is expected to face questions about her allegations from the Dukes lawyers, Andrew Brettler and Melissa Lerner.

While a precise date in April for Ms Giuffres deposition is due to be agreed later today, a location is yet to be settled.

However, i understands Mr Brettler is willing to interview Ms Giuffre face-to-face at any location of her choosing, including in New York where her complaint against the Duke was made, or in Perth, Australia, where she lives with her family.

Mr Brettler is understood to have initially requested a deposition date from Ms Giuffre soon after her claims of three sexual assaults were submitted to a New York court last August.

A source with knowledge of the proceedings said: The Dukes legal team first asked Ms Giuffre for a date for her deposition soon after the case was filed. Her legal team said she would respond, but failed to provide a date. The same happened with half a dozen or more subsequent requests.

The US legal process permits a period of discovery, which allows both sides to collect evidence before a trial, and often includes each participant being interviewed by opposing counsel. The discovery process in this case lasts until 14 July.

Last weekend it emerged that Prince Andrew had agreed to be deposed by Ms Giuffres lawyer, David Boies, and his colleague Sigrid McCawley in a neutral London location on 10 March. The deposition is expected to last two days.

Ms Giuffre claims the Duke sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17 and being trafficked by the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

She claims Prince Andrew abused her at Ghislaine Maxwells home in London, in Epsteins mansion in New York and on Epsteins private island in the US Virgin Islands. Epstein was ruled to have taken his own life in prison in 2019 while awaiting his sex trafficking trial.

The Duke has consistently denied all the allegations, and his lawyers have said he is prepared to go before a jury to fight the claim. Any trial could take place as early as September.

Frustrated by Ms Giuffres failure to respond to requests to be interviewed, a source close to the Duke said last weekend: We agreed to voluntarily produce the Duke for a deposition on 10 March. Despite repeated requests, Ms Giuffre still hasnt committed to a date or location for her deposition.

Mr Boies and Ms McCawley were contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.

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Virginia Giuffre agrees to be interviewed by Prince Andrews lawyers in April in sexual assault case - iNews

Posted on February 4, 2022

St Vincent and the Grenadines has been voted the Caribbean World Travel and Living Awards Islands of the Year 2021.

The award was announced at the 27th International Caribbean World Awards hosted by the internationally celebrated Caribbean World Magazine, based in London, a release from the Ministry of Tourism states.

Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture, Carlos James expressing his gratitude on receiving the award said: to achieve this award in a year when we battled the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the eruption of our countrys La Soufriere volcano while ensuring the safety of our nationals and visitors alike, attest to the resilience of our country and the strength of our tourism product.

Further, the minister said: The return of international flights to our destination, including twice-weekly flights from London to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, now makes us even more accessible to the world. We are certainly one of the worlds most diverse tourism destinations.

In addition to the Islands of the Year award, St. Vincent and the Grenadines also topped the list of Best Sailing & Yachting Islands of the Year and was fourth on the list of Best Honeymoon Islands of the Year. Canouan Estate Resort & Villas won the Private Island resort of the Year.

The archipelago comprising 32 islands and cays is known for its pristine sailing and diving waters and was ranked #4 in Best Caribbean Honeymoon, and # 5 in Best places to visit in the Caribbean for 2021 by U. S News.

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SVG voted Islands of the year Searchlight - Searchlight Newspaper