Mauritius at Christmas

[Nateismine]

Hi
Is anyone travelling to Mauritius this Christmas? I'm getting nervous about the Covid situation there. I'd like to change our booking but cannot get through to BA which is completely unacceptable and extremely frustrating.

We have hotel booked but waiting till last min to book flights. Hotel we can cancel till 2 days before travel so hopefully we'll know.
I'm not worried about travel there, just more worried that it'll be on red list by the time we go home.

Mauritius is lovely. A big step up from say the Caribbean but both BA and Virgin are a disgrace with regard to answering the phone. I needed to speak to BA and couldn’t even find the number which was buried in the website.

I was due to go to South Africa in a few months. Not cancelled but I am sure it will be in the end. My worst nightmare is not being able to get back and having to isolate in a airport hotel.

@Franklin12 out of interest what makes you say it's a big step up? We are going as a large group of 9 adults and 5 kids so the quarantine hotel is a big worry.

@Meadowbreeze

We have hotel booked but waiting till last min to book flights. Hotel we can cancel till 2 days before travel so hopefully we'll know. I'm not worried about travel there, just more worried that it'll be on red list by the time we go home.

This is my fear. I think Germany have put Mauritius on their red list. I think it's criminal that I cannot contact BA in any form to discuss the situation. Plan C is to try and test positive for Covid within 10d of travel so we can claim on insurance. Any tips on how to fake a positive PCR?

Don't attempt plan C! It's fraud and you'll probably get caught. I do hope that you get to go/get through to BA and get something sorted. Have you tried tweeting them, usually gets a reaction (they don't like being publicly shamed )

I assume that BA are over run with people calling because of yesterdays announcement about people needing a PCR before returning to the UK, I'd give it a couple of days to settle down (before the next announcement is made!)

We are due to fly to Mauritius next weekend but going to postpone our trip. Since they reopened their borders covid numbers have risen massively so they are already on a mini lockdown. You have to wear a mask everywhere in public, coupled with the heat it's put us off.
Apparently from the 20th Dec they are going to put in more restrictions.
There is a good chance the UK will put Mauritius on the red list like France and Germany have. Really don't want to quarantine in a hotel on our return with young children so would rather not go. Too much uncertainty!

BA have always had issues with answering the phone in a timely fashion. They want you to book online and have no questions WHATSOEVER!

Virgin were advertising a 2.5 hour wait a few weeks ago...2.5 hours and last week it was saying 1 hour.... you can fill in a form though and ‘someone’ will get back to you.

Blimey. Mauritius off my list!!

We're due to go in mid January, waiting for 18th to hear a decision.
To the travellers cancelling, are you deferring? Our insurance only kicks in if FCO make it Red or the flights are cancelled.

We're due to fly on 17th Dec. Mauritius is on Germany's red list.... I cannot get a refund or change the dates (expensive lesson learned). Our only get out clause is if one of us gets a positive PCR......
The cases and hospitalisations seem quite bad in Mauritius so we are thinking of taking the financial hit.

Goodness me. We've just cancelled the hotel. I don't fancy walking around in masks in that heat.
@Nateismine I hope you are at least able to rebook.

This is so sad to read, I always fancied Mauritius for Christmas or new year is it amazing? In normal times that is? Or is somewhere like Maldives better?

I’m amazed anyone has booked something they can’t cancel. Why do you need to speak to BA, you can do it all online? I’ve just had a trip cancelled (we chose to cancel as too risky to not be back got Christmas) but we could cancel everything-including our BA flights.

@superram

I’m amazed anyone has booked something they can’t cancel. Why do you need to speak to BA, you can do it all online? I’ve just had a trip cancelled (we chose to cancel as too risky to not be back got Christmas) but we could cancel everything-including our BA flights.

I was under the impression that if I cancel within 3 weeks of departure I would lose all my money. Am I wrong? That's why I would like to speak to someone as I don't want to make an expensive mistake. I would love to change the booking to a more Covid safe country but I cannot do this unless I can speak to someone at BA.

@superram If you didn't book flexible tickets than its really not easy. The airlines have got sneaky when you buy flights now. In a package holiday I guess it's different but the same flights for us to Mauritius in the 'flexible' tier are nearly 1k more per person. This would allow us to cancel or rebook.
Obviously there are consumer rights which is why there are some situations where flights can be refunded but you need to go through customer service which by the sound of things, is impossible.

@Nateismine have you found a more COVID safe country out of interest? We've got a 12 and 13 year old with single jab only which makes it trickier.

Ours are Reward Flights so I can cancel without penalty. The hotel is none refundable although I can move the dates, but then I may not be able to find more Reward Flights.

[quote Meadowbreeze]@Nateismine have you found a more COVID safe country out of interest? We've got a 12 and 13 year old with single jab only which makes it trickier.[/quote]
Unfortunately Dubai! It's not a place I want to go to but I'd prefer to go there than lose my money.....

Tweet them - repeatedly complaining. It usually works

The airlines are drowning in the rapid changes different governments are making to their covid travel conditions atm. Combine that with the number of people they made redundant in order to survive no travel at all in 2020 and there are good reasons why they are difficult to get through to on the phone - more people than ever wanting to talk to someone and less staff to deal with them.

Wrt 'covid secure countries,' I don't think such a thing exists. I have travelled a lot during the last 2 years (both for work and holidays) and the things you cannot predict include how covid is going to spread in a country, or how the UK government will react to any trends. Booking any travel atm is a gamble, and one that should be done with the ability to unhook what you've just booked. Having said that, when you are able to travel, I've found the world very welcoming of visitors - it is almost as though the fact that a foreigner is able to visit is a symbol of normality being just around the corner, and many holiday destinations have been desperate for tourist recently, and as such make you feel very wanted there.

We are supposed to be going to Thailand next weekend. Gutted but I've convinced myself we are not going.

I got a travel voucher from BA within 10 minutes valid until sept 2023 - yesterday Easyjet replied on the phone within 10 minutes and were so helpful with tricky alterations. maybe I was lucky !

@Borisjohnsonshairbrush Can you walk me through their restrictions? I've just been researching this as an alternative to Mauritius but can't find anything about teens with one jab. Adults all fully vaxxed.

@Meadowbreeze
You apply for a health clearance which Inc proof of vaccs, health insurance and hotel you are staying at. I think teen would have to iso for 7days if one vacc. None and Fully vacc'd require PCR before and on arrival then clearance to leave hotel when neg.