Resort news: InterContinental Moorea closes, whilst Maldives ponders strict entry rules

News in brief:

InterContinental Moorea closes

InterContinental Moorea in French Polynesia has become a casualty of coronavirus.  The owners have decided that the remoteness of the resort, requiring a transfer from Tahiti, along with a 14-day quarantine requirement means that it would take far too long to return to profitable levels of occupancy.

Sister hotels (same owners) InterContinental Bora Bora and InterContinental Tahiti are not affected.  The full story is explained in a letter on the website here.

InterContinental Danang becomes a bargain

There is far better news at InterContinental Danang Resort in Vietnam.

Vietnam has had virtually no cases of coronavirus and is now reopening to tourism.  InterContinental Danang Resort – website here – is usually 70,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night but can currently be booked for 40,000 points per night.  Cash rates start at around $400 including taxes so this a decent return at around 0.75p per point.

It isn’t clear if this is a special offer or if it is part of the move to dynamic pricing on reward nights.  Every night appears to be 40,000 points irrespective of the cash rate.

Maldives ponders 14-night minimum stays and coronavirus testing

Switching from Moorea to the Maldives doesn’t look like a viable option either.

According to a report in The Telegraph yesterday, the country is planning to brand itself as a ‘safe tourism’ destination and a ‘COVID-free country’.  Unfortunately, it is planning to do this in ways which mean you won’t want to visit:

a 14-day minimum stay requirement will be implemented

visas will be required for all visitors (UK citizens are currently exempt)

travel insurance will be compulsory

a negative COVID-19 antigen test or a positive antibody test must be submitted one week before your arrival

a further antigen test must be taken on arrival in Male

you will be quarantined in your villa or bungalow until the result of your test is known

To be fair, none of this is a dealbreaker EXCEPT for the 14-day minimum stay requirement.  Five days was enough for us when we went, and I doubt anyone would want to stay beyond seven days.  You also have the not-inconsiderable issue of paying for 14 nights, given the excessively high cost of rooms and food.

Your resort may well be coronavirus-free, but that is most likely to be down to the fact that you may be the only guest ….

Please note that these are only proposals at present and, given the international feedback, they may well be amended before they go live.

PS. If you are reading this but are not a regular Head for Points visitor, please consider signing up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters. They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and deals to improve how you travel. To sign up, visit this page of the site or click any of the ‘Subscribe’ links on this page. Thank you.

IHG One Rewards update – January 2025:

Get bonus points: IHG is offering double base points on cash stays until 31st March 2025. This kicks in from your second cash stay during the offer period. Read more in our article here and click here to register.

New to IHG One Rewards?  Read our overview of IHG One Rewards here and our article on points expiry rules here. Our article on ‘What are IHG One Rewards points worth?’ is here.

Buy points: If you need additional IHG One Rewards points, you can buy them here.

IHG is offering an 80%-100% bonus when you buy points by 31st January. Click here to buy.

Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from IHG and the other major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.