Christmas Holiday - Mauritius/St Lucia/Antigua

[bendmeoverbackwards]

Where would you recommend?

We’ve been to Barbados and loved it. Want to try somewhere new this time but worried it won’t be as nice as Barbados!

We stayed at the Heritage Awali in Mauritus and it is beautiful! Gorgeous hotel and a great beach, would stay here again when we go back.
As per a PP the Seychelles are stunning, we stayed at the Constance Ephelia, again stunning hotel, 2 beaches.
Both island we did private island tours and some excursions such as hikes/boat trips.
I loved St Lucia but we stayed in a family friendly hotel as our daughter was 2 at the time, it was on the Atlantic side so the beach was not great, great place to explore on excursions though

It looks like the under 18 exemption disappeared on 1st October. There’s no longer any mention of it on the Mauritius Now health protocols page. Maybe Emirates/Kuoni etc just haven’t updated their advice yet?

mauritiusnow.com/mauritius-travel-advice/

You could contact them directly to get it in writing and see if it still applies or if there’s any way around it.

Yes that’s what I was looking at @TakeYourFinalPosition Just tried to phone Emirates but couldn’t get through.

We did Mauritius a few years ago with a 6 &12 Yr old. It was our favourite holiday ever and we have travelled a lot. I recommend hiring a car . The island is very compact and easy to explore. Loads of stuff for kids . I really hope you can go. We are off to Barbados in January so will be interesting to see how that fairs to some of the other Caribbean islands we've been to . God I love travelling

Thanks @bert3400 I love Barbados! But don’t the same rules apply there ie no unvaccinated travellers?

I've been to St Lucia and Mauritius and would recommend Mauritius. We usually fly direct with BA on overnight flights, we have flown with Emirates stopping in Dubai and would never do it again, the plane and service was brilliant but the connections were awful.

The page I screenshot earlier is from the Mauritius now health website, the info is still on there I have just looked again.

The quarantine doesn't apply to under 18's in Mauritius.

mauritiusnow.com/faqs/

Thank you, that is good news! Just read it through and found this

That's the screenshot I shared earlier! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣
Just been on live chat and they confirmed that "currently" under 18's don't need to be vaccinated.

Oh sorry @FluffyDavis I was getting confused!

God what a blooming nightmare!

Its so difficult to get to grips with all of this isnt it (I have been abroad three times this year but not long haul). Travelling is stressful enough without all of this flip flopping around.

We are hopefully looking for something in the New Year.

@Franklin12 I think it’s much easier if everyone is fully vaxxed. Seems much clearer. It’s the under 16s that cause a headache. I wonder if they will roll out a second dose for under 16s next year?

We are both fully vaxxed and even then I got a horrible feeling I had missed some form!

I got a COVID test done by video and so many things can go wrong especially when you are abroad. The testing company took 10 days to send the test before we left the UK (luckily I had booked well in advance). Then they cancelled the order and I had to start all over again...

Needless to say we werent asked ONCE for confirmation of the test result. Someone told me maybe it was in the system but I bet it wasnt.

Did my Day 2 test on return but by then the worst thing that can happen is that Royal Mail lose your sample so by then I was past caring!

Remember going via another country can mean you need to do additional tests and forms. I'd personally want to choose a direct flights in the current climate. I'd be very surprised if any airline or travel agent will give you definitive advice on what docs and tests are required for travel. Gov.uk plus the countries you are traveliing through and to government websites are the official sources. Travel agents and airlines have no extra training or knowledge of the rules and are actively discouraged from advising in case of come backs. I would trust no one but myself to look them up and then keep checking in case of changes.

@shrugshrug

I always wanted to visit Mauritius but won't go now because of the police handling of the Michaela Harte-Mc Areavey murder case there. She was on her honeymoon in 2011 and was murdered in her hotel room in Legends hotel now renamed Luxe Grand Gaube. The men charged were all acquitted. The body of the star witness was found two days ago. It was utterly heartbreaking for her family and friends and was big news here in Ireland as her father was hugely involved in Irish football and very popular. By not visiting it's my way of protesting against an injustice - no one was ever charged with her murder. Sorry for the derail. I've been to Antigua and it was very nice. I've not been to St Lucia.

I remember that. It was awful, the hotel and police tried to cover it up, and when they realised they couldn't due to her family being very public about Michaela's murder, the police then completely bungled the investigation, and lots of corruption was exposed. Such a sad event and awful that the family never got justice for her and unlikely to now.

Been to Mauritius and Antigua, I prefer Mauritius over Antigua. Definitely prefer Barbados over Antigua, so I think you might be disappointed in Antigua if you love Barbados.

It can be a nightmare travelling now, so many things can change at the last minute.

I can confirm that the Preskil island Resort in Mauritius is as beautiful as it looks.

I arrived on weds. I found the build up to the holiday to be really stressful.

PCR test before we left the uk and a lateral flow test when we got to the hotel. Huge queue at arrivals to check all paperwork and 2 different passenger locator forms.

At the time I really didn't think it was worth it. But now I'm here it really is lovely.

Amazing staff. Very helpful. Great food and drinks. Free water sports including sunset cruises, glass bottom boat tours and the all day cruise.

Travel has been such a nightmare. I had have 11 holiday cancellations, this one was cancelled 3 times. But I works now say it's worth it.

Thank you so much @uggmum that’s really great to hear. Thanks for posting when you’re on holiday! Did you fly direct or change at Dubai?

@bendmeoverbackwards
We flew from Manchester to Dubai. Then Dubai to Mauritius.

The first flight was very quiet. I would say about half full. The second one was very busy. Emirates flights. The service and food was very good.

@thesootherfairy

Just seen you’ve been to a lot of the hotels we’re looking at booking for Jan. Do you mind if I ask which was your favourite? We’re esp looking at Le Telfair and Lux Le Morne. I’d appreciate your thoughts on Le Telfair.

I've been to Le Telfair and Lux Le Morne. The beach and snorkelling at Lux are far better and safer. The restaurants at Le Telfair are brilliant and the rooms are larger the major drawback at Le Telfair is the beach, whilst it is beautiful the current is very strong.
We have just booked to go back to Le Telfair next year, but then again we love food.