Maldives! Cancellation - Rescheduling - Preparation...

June 25, 2021

Adventure Maldives...

And why it should actually be called Adventure Portugal...

Yes, another vacation that has fallen victim to the Corona pandemic. Just like our New York trip at Easter 2020, then also Easter 2021. Will it work at Easter 2022? Questionable... but we hope for the best!

Actually, we thought it would be easier to go on vacation in 2021... Unfortunately, that was a mistake.

After last year's Easter trip to the USA and our autumn trip to Morocco had to be canceled, we were able to enjoy 3 wonderful weeks on the Azores last summer.

(Read more in my Adventure Azores Blog)

We received a voucher for our canceled Iberostar hotel in Morocco, but it had to be rebooked by the end of 2020 and redeemed in 2021.

Since we suspected that 2021 might be more difficult, we decided to have a summer vacation within Europe. The family had a great time surfing in the Azores, and there is also an Iberostar hotel in Lisbon, so the vacation in Portugal in 2021 was a done deal!

So, in October 2020, we booked 4 days at the 5***** Iberostar Lisboa in Lisbon with our voucher, then a holiday home north of Lisbon, near Peniche, and a holiday home on the West Algarve near Aljezur.

A cheap Lufthansa flight was quickly found, and we also booked the rental car directly. Luckily, because now, in June 2021, the rental car costs twice as much!!!

Perfect, everything sounded like a good plan!

After the rescheduling of the USA trip from Easter 2020 to 2021 had to be canceled again, all hopes now lie in the summer vacation.

Corona numbers are dropping everywhere in Germany and Europe, we are optimistic.

The vacation can come!!!

Portugal was one of the showcase countries in the Corona pandemic. Hardly any other European country achieved such low numbers and at the same time rapid openings for the locals.

And then it happens again:

The SARS-CoV-2 variant "B.1.617.2", also known as "Delta", has a firm grip on Lisbon!

From June 18 to June 21, Lisbon was "locked down", according to the Foreign Office, there has been a partial travel warning for the Lisbon area ever since! Damn, this can't be true...

Today I read on the internet that there may be a travel warning for the entire Portugal due to the virus variant. Our 100% cancellation option for the first holiday home expires TODAY!

What to do??? We are at a loss.

The main problem is the 14-day quarantine required upon return, which we couldn't all comply with. So stupid...

Hope? Wait? Cancel?

We don't know what to do...

However, we are quite sure about the hotel in Lisbon: we will cancel that today and instead look for a hotel or vacation rental in the Porto area.

Unfortunately, Lisbon is out ☹

June 26, 2021

"Hättste – wärste – könnste"

The day after, you're always wiser!

This morning we learn from the news that Portugal has been upgraded to a "virus variant area". Okay, just a different term for now - but what does that mean for our vacation?

Right: 14 days of quarantine - regardless of whether vaccinated or not - no "testing out" possible!

Shock! This can't be true!!!!

I look at the calendar and quickly realize: we can't possibly go into quarantine for 14 days.

How should that work? All our friends are on vacation, we can't get groceries, Grandma's 91st birthday falls into quarantine, our daughter's surf camp also falls into quarantine (and all cancellation deadlines have already passed).

No, no, no... Not again!

The variant rule is supposed to last for 2 weeks now, the numbers are rising rapidly - what happens after that? Cancel or wait?

The first house can no longer be canceled free of charge today, we would be throwing away a whopping €800, but we can still cancel the second house free of charge until July 2nd.

What to do???

We discuss all day and come to the decision that we will wait and simply sit out the whole thing. It will certainly look better in 2 weeks.

I have no fear whatsoever before the vacation in Portugal, as far as Corona is concerned. We have canceled Lisbon and instead want to find a hotel in Porto. We'll be "among ourselves" for the 2 weeks in the holiday homes, visitor flows to the beaches are monitored via an app, so we can control that as well. No problem, go to the beach now and then and otherwise relax by the pool. That's also a good plan.

So, I'm looking for a hotel in Porto and I'm relaxed. It will be fine...

June 28, 2021

There are rumors of flight cancellations on the internet regarding the journey to and from Portugal. Lufthansa writes on its website that it wants to "maintain flight operations," but the next problem is coming our way: what do we do if our flight doesn't take place? Either we don't even get into Portugal or we end up getting stranded!

Olimar & Co is currently retrieving all travelers to Portugal from the country. The situation is worsening.

Now I'm getting cold feet. The husband no longer sees the rapidly increasing Corona numbers so casually either. We have to bite the bullet – let's cancel another vacation!

I am experienced in that. Canceled New York, Paris & Morocco in 2020, canceled the rescheduled trips to New York and Paris again in 2021, now Portugal. It's frustrating...

I reach an agreement with the owner of the first house to pay compensation. However, only €320 instead of the due €860.

Annoying – but what else can we do?

July 1, 2021

It's raining outside, and we are totally frustrated. What do we do now during the summer vacation!? 6 weeks at home is really not an option with THIS weather.

I research the cost of a flight to Greece – of course in combination with a vacation home and a rental car.

Disappointment – on the one hand, there are hardly any offers, and on the other hand, it's all outrageously expensive!!!

I didn't want to buy a car, just rent one! The same goes for the vacation home! okay, the types of vacations we used to take are not an option. Too expensive and too uncertain due to Corona. So, the only option left is a package tour!

We last did something like this in 2013 – a package tour to Egypt to an all-inclusive hotel with a kids' club and all-around support...

Hm... okay... the question is: where to!?

Greece is out. What am I supposed to do for 14 days in a hotel? I want to see something of the country and not hang out in a hotel bunker with a thousand other vacationers.

Yes – years of individual traveling have influenced us.

I don't have a good idea. The few offers that are still available at such short notice don't interest us at all.

I jokingly mention to my husband that a vacation in the Maldives costs less than 2 weeks of individual vacation in Greece or some 4**** hotel in Spain.

He took the bait....

He still has a desire to go to the Maldives. We have been to the Maldives twice before. It's been a long time....

1998, we were on Kanifinolhu Island (now Club Med), and in 2003, we were on Eriyadu, also an island in the North Male Atoll.

We read through all the entry requirements, currently the Maldives are a high incidence area. The kids would have to quarantine for 5 days when returning to Germany, but we are vaccinated. Let's go!

Condition of the husband: it must be a direct flight and it must be an island that is quickly accessible by boat. He doesn't want to fly again (seaplane/domestic flight) and then sit cramped in a seaplane or domestic flight.

Oh ok, I'll have a look 😊

I quickly found the mini island "Thulagiri". In the middle of the North Male Atoll, not far from the airport island. A barefoot island, a few bungalows, and everything is "outdoors", so the ideal corona conditions. We also decide for an all-inclusive vacation and the direct flight with Condor – if you're going to do it, do it right 😊

I booked a DERTOUR offer on Holidaycheck. We are very excited!!!

15 minutes later, the information comes that the booking has been automatically canceled!

Whaaaat?????????? Oh no....

Doesn't matter, the same offer was also available from Meier's Weltreisen 😉

Booked – waited – received a cancellation!

I am really frustrated!

The replacement offer from Holidaycheck is over €1000 more expensive. That's it then ☹

Half an hour later, when I stumble across Thulagiri again in my Maldives search, I see a new offer from TUI: €200 more expensive, but otherwise identical.

I spontaneously book it and wait... and wait... And wait...

No cancellation comes, but after 45 minutes, the long-awaited booking confirmation arrives!!!

Yippie!!! We're flying to the Maldives 😉

July 12, 2021

The travel documents could slowly arrive now, couldn't they!?

In 2 weeks, we want to fly, and we still haven't received any travel documents from TUI.

We only receive the booking confirmation, information, and travel documents via email after asking TUI, but the tickets are missing!? Hm, apparently they will only come 7 days before departure, so let's wait...

July 18, 2021

Maldives - travel and safety information from the Federal Foreign Office:

Downgraded to a simple risk area!

Yes! This means no quarantine when we return 😉

July 22, 2021

In 4 days, we want to fly – but we still don't have the tickets for the flight and the voucher for the hotel!?

I contact TUI again – and now it gets embarrassing:

"With TUI package tours, you have been traveling 'without tickets' for a long time! You only need your passport!"

Uhmm... okay. We haven't booked a package tour in a very long time *grin*.

Oops – learned something new again!

July 24, 2021

At 11 am, we are at the PCR 'Gurgeltest' (throat gargle test) in Frankfurt. What a great invention! No more swabbing in the forehead and throat. And the test is cheaper too! Going well!!!

Just 6 hours later, we already receive our negative test results. Phew, another hurdle mastered!

July 25, 2021

It takes almost an hour until I finally fill out all the online 'Health Declarations' for entry into the Maldives under the sonorous name IMUGA. Wow, that was exhausting. Hopefully, we have everything done now and can finally get in the vacation mood!? A bit clouded by the prospect of wearing an FFP2 mask for 10-13 hours. Well, we'll manage. After that, we can take them off for 14 days in the fresh air :-)