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.

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IHG One Rewards update – April 2024:

Get bonus points: IHG One Rewards is offering 2,000 bonus points for every two cash nights you stay (not necessarily consecutive) between 1st April and 31st May 2024. You can read our full article here and you can register here.

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