Phase 2 Heightened Alert: Are staycations permitted?
For those looking forward to using their Singapore Rediscovers Vouchers for staycations this month, there are a number of factors for you to reconsider before lugging your suitcase to the hotel.
On 14 May 2021, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced the need to tighten more measures under Phase 2: Heightened Alert due to the increasing number of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and unlinked community cases in Singapore.
The strict set of measures will run from 16 May to 13 June 2021, including no dining-in at F&B restaurants and deferring the Singapore-Hong Kong air bubble.
So what does this mean for hotels and staycations? While the advice is for people to stay at home as much as possible, staycations are permitted under the Heightened Alert period.
No more than two individuals are allowed in a guest room or in any pair of adjoining guest rooms where guests may open the connecting door(s) during the stay (i.e. inter- accessible rooms), except where the individuals are all from the same household (i.e. same address).
There will also be no dine-in at the hotel's F&B establishments, so there will be no buffet breakfast.
Gyms remain closed, but swimming pools are open; however, only a group size of two individuals is allowed, and there is a 3-meter separation between each group to be respected.
With the capacity of facilities severely affected, it can be challenging to enjoy a staycation.
Klook allows for a change of date and even cancellations, but this is subjected to the terms and conditions of the package booked.
As for Trip.com, the company is providing free cancellations of hotel bookings with a stay period between 16 May and 13 June 2021, as long as the bookings were made before 2359 hours (SGT), 14 May.
