The coronavirus seems determined to take away any pleasurable activity from us.
Since travelling abroad was not possible, many of us made do with a staycation. The promise of a luxurious stay away from the chaos of everyday life in a city certainly soothed our nerves and satiated a little of our wanderlust.
But it seems that once COVID-19 got the memo that many residents here had booked staycations with their families, it quickly got to work.
As a result, many had to put their staycation plans on hold.
People Are Cancelling Their Staycations Due to New COVID-19 Rules
After the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) announcement last week, booking cancellations in some hotels have risen.
On 14 May, two days before the tighter measures kicked in, STB announced that hotels should only allow up to two people to stay in a room.
The only exception to the rule is for individuals who are from the same household. Even if this is the case, they should split into groups of two when outside the room.
In response to the new measures, some hotels that CNA spoke to said their guests have cancelled or modified bookings which included more than two people from different households.
This isn’t exactly unexpected, as the guests would be breaking the law if they went ahead with their plans.
A spokesman for Millennium Hotels and Resorts, which operates several hotels including Grand Copthorne Waterfront, said the new COVID-19 measures are “disappointing”, but “not unexpected”.
He added that most couples are going ahead with their bookings, however, presumably, so they can have a quiet game of Monopoly.
On the other hand, family bookings have mostly been postponed to later in the year.
As for those who’ve made bookings in mid-June, they’re adopting “a wait-and-see attitude” as the threat of a circuit breaker looms large if infections in the community don’t decrease.
STB said that guests who made hotel bookings between 16 May and 13 June may change their booking dates or ask for a refund (subject to terms and conditions).
Those who used their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers for such hotel bookings will be granted a refund.
Safety Measures
Even if you’re staying at a hotel with your partner, you’ll still have to adhere to the new measures in place once you’re outside your room.
For one, dining in at hotel restaurants will not be permitted, and staycation guests will have to take away their food or have it delivered to their rooms.
Spas and gyms will also remain closed till 13 June.
The total occupancy in the common area should also be limited to 1 individual per 16sqm, excluding hotel staff.
Hopefully, things will improve once Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) ends, and families can go ahead with their staycation plans.
Yes, in 2020 we dreamed of travelling abroad.
In 2021, we’re dreaming of having a staycation.
I don’t even want to know what we’ll be dreaming of next year.
Featured Image: Kanyapak Lim/ Shutterstock.com
Watch this for a complete summary of what REALLY happened to Qoo10, and why it's like a K-drama:
Read Also:
- 21YO Stabbed Actor Ryan Lian in The Face At Least 3 Times
- Summary of What Really Happened to Qoo10, Simplified for You
- 62-Year-Old Tampines Man Found Dead After Missing Daily “Good Morning” Messages
- 5 Places In S’pore To Get Christmas-Themed Cakes Under S$80
- Mister Donut Launching Pikachu & Poké Ball Donuts From 1 Dec 2024 To 19 Jan 2025
- Vietnamese Married S’porean to Get Long-Term Pass, But Wanted a Divorce When Pass Was Not Approved
- Summary of the Places to Count Down to 2025 in S’pore
Advertisements
