How to Have a Safe Trip to Miami!

Miami is the best year-round destination for all travelers! Its breathtaking beaches, succulent foods, incredible culture, and amazing people make it a prime vacation place. And during these uncertain times, the municipality, county, and tourism bureaus do their best to keep both locals and visitors safe. Safety during the ongoing pandemic is of the utmost importance to support and produce a secure and enjoyable environment. If you’re planning to travel to the Miami area, we offer these up-to-date guidelines for your next grand adventure! 

Greater Miami & Miami Beach Travel Info

Following the CDC Safety Guidelines, all locals and tourists are asked to maintain appropriate social distancing to protect themselves and their loved ones. Effective November 8th, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the USA are required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status before boarding a plane to the U.S.

People excepted from this policy are:

– Children under 18 years old
– People medically unable to receive the vaccine
– Emergency travelers who don’t have timely access to a vaccine

Humanitarian exemptions to this order will be granted on an extremely limited basis.

U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents who are eligible to travel but aren’t fully vaccinated are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test one (1) day before their plane’s departure. U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents who are fully vaccinated need to present their airline with proof of vaccination, plus a negative COVID-19 test three (3) days before their departure time.  

There is a COVID-19 testing and vaccine site near City Hall, on the first floor of the Pennsylvania Garage on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. It operates seven (7) days a week from 8 AM to 5 PM with no appointment necessary. 

For additional information, please visit the U.S. Department of State and the CDC Guidance for Travel as guidelines and safety protocols are continuously evolving.

Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Guidelines

There are currently no curfews in Miami-Dade County. Local businesses and government buildings are no longer mandated to require COVID-19 safety precautions including masks. And there are currently no mask mandates in Miami-Dade County, still, experts recommend that you be safe! Experts encourage you to use a mask or mouth covering and practice social distancing when you’re in crowded spaces, indoor spaces, or anywhere you deem necessary. 

However, it is federally required that you use a mask when transporting yourself in Miami-Dade County public transit, Miami International Airport, and PortMiami. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. 

Beach Guidelines and Safety Procedures

The Miami Beach Convention Center has pledged to commit to the highest standards of public sanitation. These procedures include: increased cleaning and disinfecting high-touch settings, touch-free surfaces in restrooms, additional staff training on proper prevention techniques, various hand sanitizer dispensers, and Food and Beverage service providers also taking recommended sanitary measures.

Guidelines for Local Attractions, Transportation & Travel, & Dining Establishments

Hotels:

– Minimized shared touch surfaces such as kiosks, tablets, pens, payment cards, and keys.
– Contactless pick-up and delivery for room service, laundry, and dry-cleaning services, and amenities. 
– Digitized reading materials to limit paper amenities and instructions.
– Valets will sanitize hands at a higher frequency. 

Restaurants:

– No more than six (6) people per table or up to ten (10) from the same household.
– Offered takeout and delivery services.
– Offered QR codes to view digital menus and touchless payment options.

Banquet, Meeting & Convention Spaces:

– These spaces are fully open and indoor consumption of food and beverages is allowed.

Entertainment Venues:

– Movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades, and indoor amusement facilities are open.
– Indoor consumption of food and beverages and live performances at these venues are allowed. It is recommended you call in advance to see if there are any restrictions present in your desired venue. 

Malls, Stores & Retail Shops:

– Hand sanitizing stations are available at entrances and common areas.
– Spaced out cashiers with standing floor markers.
– Offered home delivery, curbside pick-up, and “appointment only shopping.”
– Potential special store hours for seniors and vulnerable guests.

Spa’s, Gyms, & Wellness Facilities:

– Availability of sign-up classes.
– Additional staff for sanitizing, cleaning, and health supervision.
– Sanitizing wipes near lockers and in the locker rooms. 

Public Transportation:

– Masks are always mandatory and are to be worn on all public transportation.

Cruise Travel:

Contact your cruise line for the most up-to-date information. For the following cruise lines:
– Royal Caribbean Travel Update
– Carnival Cruise Lines Update
– MSC Cruise Lines Travel Update
– NCL Cruise Lines Travel Update

Additional Resources

For COVID-19 testing Sited in Miami-Dade County, click here. For COVID-19 vaccination in Miami-Dade County, click here

Gray Line Miami Policy

– All passengers over 3 years old are required to wear masks while in our vehicles.
– Hand sanitizers stations will be provided onboard the buses and in the parks and museums. 
– Staff will clean, sanitize, and encourage social distancing amongst visitors. 
– Buses and vessels will be cleared between each tour. 

For the Bimini Day Trip, The Bahamas Government mandates the following: 

– Vaccinated passengers: Every passenger that is fully vaccinated is required by The Bahamas government, to obtain a negative Rapid Antigen Test or negative RT-PCR Test no more than 3 days prior to the embarkation date. Passengers will be required to bring Covid test results, proof of vaccinations (original vaccination card), and the approved Travel Health Visa, on travel day. All travelers will need to apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa at travel.gov.bs This is a mandatory request by The Bahamas government. The embarkation may be denied due to failure of facilitating the proper travel documents.

– Unvaccinated passengers: Every unvaccinated passenger 12 and older need to have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than 3 days prior to the embarkation date. Passengers will be required to bring the negative COVID test result and approved Travel Health Visa on travel day. This is a mandatory request by The Bahamas government. The embarkation may be denied due to failure of facilitating the proper travel documents.
Children between the ages of 2 and 11 are required to obtain a negative Rapid Antigen Test or negative RT-PCR Test no more than 3 days prior to the embarkation date. Children under the age of 2 are exempt from testing requirements.

All travelers, including infants and children (no matter the age), will need to apply for a Bahamas Health Travel Visa at travel.gov.bs (Does not apply to Bahamian citizens or residents).

*Currently, no Covid test or vaccination is required to enter the state of Florida when traveling by ferry.

Want to explore Miami’s most popular destinations? With us at Gray Line Miami, book your very own Best of Miami Day Trip, and embark on a wonderful trip that will take you across the Magic City’s most famous locations! Explore everything from Star Island to Venetian Causeway, Wynwood, and Little Havana, as you uncover the greatness that Miami embodies. Reserve today!