Bliss Dhigurah COVID-19 Policy

COVID Update

UPDATED: May 2021

As we face these times of uncertainty, our priority at Bliss Dhigurah continues to be the wellbeing and safety of our guests, staff and the local community.

We are open!

The Island Council of Dhigurah has given consent for reopening of the island. Additional safety measures are taken to ensure the safety of the local community of the island: The guest bikini beach (~2 kilometers) is accessible all week! The tip of the island is accessible all week, but not considered bikini beach on Friday’s and Saturday’s out of respect for local culture. No face masks are required on the beach, as long as social distance is maintained.

Excursions and diving continue as usual, with additional safety measures.

You’ll be able to visit all the restaurants at open guest houses, though the cafes and shops in the local village remain off limits at this moment for your safety, as well as the community’s. It is allowed to walk through the village while wearing a face mask and maintaining social distance.

LATEST NEWS:

It is (remains) a mandatory requirement for all tourists (including those who have completed the prescribed dose(s) of a Covid-19 vaccine) to present a negative result for a Nucleic Acid Test (PCR test) for Covid-19 on arrival.
At the moment, people traveling from India are not allowed to visit local islands in the Maldives, including Dhigurah.

Since travel is slightly different than normal due to the pandemic, we would like to provide some more detailed information regarding your arrival. We feel that it is important to cover all relevant topics.

Current situation in the Maldives

ALL nationalities are welcome to travel to the Maldives
You can find the most recent information on the Corona virus in the Maldives here.

Visa requirements

You will be granted a 30 day visa on arrival, if you have:

A negative PCR test result <96 hours prior to departure to the Maldives
A confirmed booking at a registered tourist facility before arrival > Which Bliss Dhigurah is
An electronic Travel Health Declaration has to be submitted within 24 hours prior to departure to the Maldives > This takes ~30 minutes
An onward return flight ticket is required
If you split your holiday between guest houses and resorts, a “split stay” form needs to be submitted to the Maldivian government 2 days before you move to your 2nd accommodation > We will assist with this

Airport procedure

There is a temperature check on arrival. You might be chosen for a random, free and voluntary PCR test by the Maldivian Health Authorities. You are required to wear a face mask at the airport and during domestic travel. Social distancing guidelines are clearly marked with visible distance information and floor markings.

Onward transportation

It would be great if you could share your flight (arrival) details with us. This way we can book your onward transportation to Bliss.

An airport representative from Bliss will be at the airport to assist with onward domestic transfer. Your transfer options might slightly differ from normal. The public speedboat and domestic flight might have different timings. As soon as we receive your arrival details, we will find the best option for- and with you.

Preventive measures at Bliss

For your safety, as well as our island community’s some additional regulations are set on Dhigurah. At Bliss, we have elevated our cleaning procedures and measurements are taken to ensure social distance.

To ensure a contactless check in, we will request you to share a high quality, digital copy of your passport before arrival.

The process after testing positive

In the unlikely event that you, or a ‘close contact’ will test positive during your stay in the Maldives:
There are designated quarantine rooms on Dhigurah for $75 a night in which you are required to be quarantined for 14 days, after which a PCR test will take place. When tested negative, airlines will allow you to fly.

Even though this unlikely to happen as everyone is tested before arrival, it might be something you would like to be insured for. The Maldives’ national insurance company, Allied, provides this insurance from $25 per person per stay onward, which we advise you to take.

PCR test on departure

The resident doctor on Dhigurah has undergone HPA certified training on COVID management, procedures and sampling. Thus far, tests have been taken on the island and sent for analysis to Male’. Results are known and received within 2 days. A PDF document will be provided. The price for the PCR test will be $80 per person.

Our personal experience

We ourselves have traveled from abroad to the Maldives during the pandemic and want to assure you that the journey might seem more complicated than it will be in reality. Our journey went very smooth. The main 2 items to keep in mind:

PCR test <96 hours
Your Travel Health Declaration within 24 hours of departure to the Maldives

At Bliss we keep a flexible cancellation policy and do not require any pre payment. The only thing we would like 1-2 weeks before your arrival, we’d love to:

know your arrival details so that we can plan your domestic transportation
receive a copy of your passports to ensure a contactless check in
receive a copy of the PCR test result (just before your departure) on the Island Council’s requests

If you have any questions leading up to your arrival, please do let us know. We will keep you up to date on further developments, and look forward to seeing you soon at Bliss!

Stay safe and in good spirits.

Cancellation policy

We want to reassure you about any travel plans you may have with us. We are committed to full flexibility with booking terms and conditions and have further adjusted our policies accordingly. This means, for new direct bookings made till August 2021, we offer:

Free cancellation or the opportunity to rebook for a later date.
Book now – Pay on arrival. No need for any pre-payment of your trip.
If you did choose to pre-pay your direct booking but find yourself unable to travel based on Government travel advice, we will provide a full refund.

If you need to adjust a reservation made through another travel site (such as Booking or Expedia), please contact them directly for assistance and cancellation policies.

At Bliss Dhigurah, we remain vigilant in enforcing procedures and protocols issued by the World Health Organization and – as always – will continue our commitment to providing meaningful, memorable experiences for all who stay with us.

Payments

Online bank transfers are encouraged, though bear additional fees and might take a few days to be cleared by the bank. Therefore, it might not always be possible for the guest to pay this way
Card payments accepted at the guest house as well as in the restaurant. All extras will be added to the room bill and paid in one go at the end of the guests stay to avoid unnecessary contact
Cash payments are discouraged and only accepted if a bank transfer or card payment is not possible

Beach and palm trees of Dhigurah, Maldives

If you have any questions leading up to your arrival, please do let us know. We will keep you up to date on further developments, and look forward to seeing you soon at Bliss!

Stay safe and in good spirits,

Anne

COVID-19 POLICY