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- Oct 2, 2006
And so it goes in the seemingly never-ending saga of our quest to get to the Maldives on points......
With the entry requirements to Singapore being announced, it seems very, very unlikely that I will be able to secure seats on points on 1 of the 2 approved flights from Vancouver to Singapore (there aren't any VTL-approved flights from Toronto -- meaning flights that avoid mandatory quarantine). Add to the fact that the Maldives isn't on Singapore's list of VTL-approved countries, and our trip collapses like a house of cards. Could we fly direct to Singapore and skip the Maldives? Yep, but there are currently only 2 VTL-approved flights from Canada (arriving flights have to be on an approved list), so there is close to zero percent chance that I will be able to get seats on points. Then add to this the fact that we would require no less then 6 rapid PCR tests along the way and suddenly this trip becomes extremely unattractive.
Dd was home for reading week last week and she and I discussed the pros and cons ad nauseum of hoping that this trip goes despite the current restrictions. She doesn't want to endure 6 PCR tests (I don't either); I am worried that some of the restrictions may stay in place (like the VTL-approved flights to Singapore). Which leads me to the likely conclusion that this trip will most likely be cancelled in late spring . Everything booked can easily be cancelled without penalty, except for the 2 bedroom Fullerton Suite at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore that I pre-paid for on a rate that can't be cancelled (and I do know better , but such was my confidence / stupidity when I booked this trip).
We decided that a trip to London / Scotland would be a nice substitute, so I have gone ahead and booked seats in first class from JFK to LHR for 74k points per person. We will stay at either the Conrad or Biltmore (both Hilton properties and would be booked on points). I'm not sure where we would stay in Edinburgh (maybe the WA Caledonian). We would definitely be taking 2 day trips -- to the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the Harry Potter train and Alnwick Castle (the real life Hogwarts).
Given the time and effort it took to book this trip to say I am disappointed is an understatement. Perhaps the 4th time will be the charm (2023)? Or maybe it's a sign that the Maldives just isn't meant to be. Of course there is still a chance that this trip could still go; I guess time will tell. But we will have a (much less complicated) backup plan just in case.
With the entry requirements to Singapore being announced, it seems very, very unlikely that I will be able to secure seats on points on 1 of the 2 approved flights from Vancouver to Singapore (there aren't any VTL-approved flights from Toronto -- meaning flights that avoid mandatory quarantine). Add to the fact that the Maldives isn't on Singapore's list of VTL-approved countries, and our trip collapses like a house of cards. Could we fly direct to Singapore and skip the Maldives? Yep, but there are currently only 2 VTL-approved flights from Canada (arriving flights have to be on an approved list), so there is close to zero percent chance that I will be able to get seats on points. Then add to this the fact that we would require no less then 6 rapid PCR tests along the way and suddenly this trip becomes extremely unattractive.
Dd was home for reading week last week and she and I discussed the pros and cons ad nauseum of hoping that this trip goes despite the current restrictions. She doesn't want to endure 6 PCR tests (I don't either); I am worried that some of the restrictions may stay in place (like the VTL-approved flights to Singapore). Which leads me to the likely conclusion that this trip will most likely be cancelled in late spring . Everything booked can easily be cancelled without penalty, except for the 2 bedroom Fullerton Suite at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore that I pre-paid for on a rate that can't be cancelled (and I do know better , but such was my confidence / stupidity when I booked this trip).
We decided that a trip to London / Scotland would be a nice substitute, so I have gone ahead and booked seats in first class from JFK to LHR for 74k points per person. We will stay at either the Conrad or Biltmore (both Hilton properties and would be booked on points). I'm not sure where we would stay in Edinburgh (maybe the WA Caledonian). We would definitely be taking 2 day trips -- to the Glenfinnan Viaduct on the Harry Potter train and Alnwick Castle (the real life Hogwarts).
Given the time and effort it took to book this trip to say I am disappointed is an understatement. Perhaps the 4th time will be the charm (2023)? Or maybe it's a sign that the Maldives just isn't meant to be. Of course there is still a chance that this trip could still go; I guess time will tell. But we will have a (much less complicated) backup plan just in case.