At Perfect Travel Group, your safety is our first concern. Our specific protocols and safety analysis procedures, in conjunction with updates provided by our local partners and Government Travel warnings, allow us to carefully assess the stability of each region we visit and plan our operations accordingly. Our staff frequently review all aspects of our experiences to ensure we are providing you with the best possible travel experience.

Firstly, you can be confident you are booking with experts. Perfect Travel Group (TPTG) have been assisting surf travellers with their plans, bookings and emergencies for over 13 years. We’ve dealt with tsunamis, earthquakes, epidemics, terrorism, health issues, injuries and much more. Of course we have also run hundreds of thousands of perfect trips with stoked travellers, seamless arrangements and no issues whatsoever!

Any advice on this page is supplementary to official advice. For up to date information on health please check the World Health Organisation website or your local government foreign office. Quick links: Australia, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand.

For updates on specific events and regions, please see our most recent travel warnings and advice below.

 

CURRENT UPDATES

Updated 18 Jan 2022
For Frequently Asked questions, see this helpful guide

FAQ – what if Questions in the age of Coronavirus

For arrival into the Maldives, vaccinated travellers are no longer required to show a negative PCR test on arrival. 

However unvaccinated travellers including children >1 year will still be required to show negative PCR test, preferably within 48 hours of departing flight. Although the Maldives allow a window of up to 3 days. Singapore asks for 2 days so it’s best to keep inside this window.  

All international visitors must complete a travel declaration prior to arrival in Maldives

https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create

To make declaration click +New Declaration on this page https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd

The Maldives has updated it requirements for Quarantine and Isolation for international arrivals.

  1. Individuals who test positive for Covid 19 but are without symptoms will be required to isolate for 7 days from the date of sample collection. However those with symptoms must continue to isolate until 24 hours after symptoms have cleared
  2. At the end of 7 days isolation a negative Rapid Antigen Test will be required.
  3. Isolation will end when assessed by the resort Doctor and a release summary form is submitted to Dept of Health

Close contacts of positive cases will be required to isolate for up to 10 days. This can be reduced to release on day 5 of isolation if vaccinated and on submission of a negative PCR test. Unvaccinated Close Contact will be required to isolate for a full88 PS CIR 2022 5 14 days 

Fore more info see circular here

 

Australians can finally travel internationally from 1 November 2021 when border closures officially ended. However travel is not as simple and straightforward as was prior to the pandemic. There are a number of rules and restrictions to take in to consideration – but fully vaccinated Australians are free to depart Australia and travel to any country. Travellers will need to consider the issues are around entry to their destination and return to Australia.

Firstly, advice is constantly changing so Australian should check with current official advice on the Smart Traveller site

The step by step advice for planning a trip during Covid times is very helpful in making informed choices about your travel.

If you haven’t travelled for the last couple of years, it’s a good idea to check validity on your passport, ensure you have minimum of 6 months validity from your scheduled date of return.

The first new requirement for departing travellers is that they will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid 19 or obtain exemption. So make sure you have printed and digital copies of your documentation.

The international airlines and most destinations will also require a negative PCR test taken with 72 hours of first boarding a flight. The test must be certified, an official document to travel which is in PDF format – these can only be secure from commercial labs. The free covid testing provided by health authorities will not provide the documentation required. Some people have tried that, thinking they have dodged the fee only to find out at check in they are unable to fly. Governments around Australia have made it quite clear that travel testing is not covered under Medicare.

Fore more information on commercial testing and providers see:
https://covidtravel.clinicallabs.com.au/collection-centre

Sydney based travel should check out this local provider:

Home JUN2022

FIJI

TEST REQUIRED FOR ENTRY: Negative COVID-19 PCR or RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 prior to departing your country of origin for all travellers over 12 years.
CONNECTING FLIGHTS: The test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your first international departure.
TRANSITING: If transiting through Fiji, you will still require proof of negative test
OTHER INFO: All travellers who stay in Fiji will need to stay at a Care Fiji Committed accommodation. Make sure you have documented proof of a confirmed 3-night CFC booking before your flight.

INDONESIA

TEST REQUIRED FOR ENTRY: Negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure flight to Indonesia and be presented as a printed document. Quarantine may be required (7 days at 19 Jan 2022)
CONNECTING FLIGHTS: The test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your last direct flight to Indonesia. You may need to schedule the test in your transit city.
TRANSITING: If you are transiting through Indonesia, all passengers are required to get a Covid-19 PCR Test no more than 3 days before their departure flight.
OTHER INFO: You must pre-register your trip via the Air Suvidha portal including uploading your negative test certificate. Please check the latest information regarding whether you are permitted to travel to Indonesia from Australia.

NEW ZEALAND

TEST REQUIRED FOR ENTRY: Negative COVID-19 PCR or RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 prior to departing your country of origin. Children under 2 are not required to be tested.
CONNECTING FLIGHTS: The test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your first international departure.
TRANSITING: If transiting through New Zealand, you will still require proof of negative test
OTHER INFO: If Norfolk Island is the only place in Australia in the 14 days before your scheduled departure to New Zealand, you do not need a pre-departure test.

SINGAPORE

TEST REQUIRED FOR ENTRY: Negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 48 hours prior to departing your country of origin. Children aged 3 and over in the calendar year are required to be tested ( ie if travelling in 2021, anyone born in 2018 or earlier).
CONNECTING FLIGHTS: For passengers who are taking a connecting flight to Singapore, the 48 hours will be counted from the scheduled departure of his flight from his first embarkation point of his journey to Singapore. For example, if the passenger’s flight itinerary is LAX-NRT-SIN, the COVID-19 PCR test must be taken within 48 hours before the scheduled departure of his flight from LAX.
TRANSITING: If transiting through Singapore, you will still require proof of negative test unless coming from a Category I country. See the link below for further information
OTHER INFO: All travellers are required to take a Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival in Singapore which costs SGD$160 and can be booked in advance via the link below.

MALDIVES

You must present a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test report in English when checking in for your flight to the Maldives. The test must be conducted within 96 hours of your departure or you’ll be unable to board your flight. Use of masks is mandatory while travelling by air, sea and in enclosed public places. Monitor media and follow the advice of local authorities.
CONNECTING FLIGHTS: The test must be conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of your first international departure.
TRANSITING: If transiting through Maldives, you will still require proof of negative test
OTHER INFO: The Maldives does not require proof of vaccination on arrival. All travellers must complete a health declaration. Arrivals under tourist visas will not be required to quarantine unless positive or showing symptoms

Travel related “Quarantine Period” for both travelling to Maldives from abroad and to those travelling internally, has been extended to 14 (fourteen) days.

“Quarantine Exemption”, formally eligible for those who have completed vaccination 14 days prior to, and to those who were positive and recovered within 90 days of travel to the destination, HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED and therefore, travelers falling into these categories would also need to undergo mandatory travel quarantine and testing, till further notice.

However, the quarantine exemptions provided to tourists if tested positive or identified as a direct contact in the Maldives, will still be granted, and continued allowing them to be released for departure from Maldives upon submission and verification of records showing positivity for Covid-19 during the past 90 days.

All travelling to local islands, that require quarantine as above, must complete the approval process through “Haalubelun portal” before they commence the travel and this should be ensured by the tourist facilities.

All travelling to resorts that require quarantine as above, must complete the approval process through “FAAS portal” (requested on behalf of the clients by the tourist facility) and approved by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).

The Maldives wil permit split stay between resort, as long as both properties remain Covid Safe and there are no suspected or reported cases in either.

However, guests are not permitted to travel from a resort to a charter boat or from boat to a resort

For more info see circular

Procedure for tourist split stay

 

The Maldives have updated arrival requirements for all travellers arriving after 3 May 2021

Travellers must present a certificate for negative PCR Test for Covid 19 for sample taken with 72 hours prior to boarding flight to the Maldives

The negative PCR test certificate is required for all arrivals, regardless of vaccination status

For more info see Ministry of Tourism Circular, Maldives Negative Test circular

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism have announced plans to reopen for international tourism visitors.

There is sensible procedures to protect visitors and locals while avoiding mandatory quarantine.  

You can read the announcement and procedures below

Maldives Tourism July 2020 Reopening Announcement

Maldives Tourism July 2020 Reopening Proceedures

 

the-facts-on-refunds-for-travel-agent-customers-final

Read the factsheet for a simple understanding of how refunds work

Jayson Westbury, Chief Executive AFTA

We continue to work hard with media, to showcase the fact that travel agents right around Australia are going above and beyond to support clients and non-clients.

Read the facts here   the-facts-on-travel-agents-and-refunds-final-29-april-20

 

Most could have never imagined a time where governments apply a global ban on leisure travel – yet we are now living in these unprecedented times. With most of the planet now having borders closed and airlines grounding their fleets, the whole world is doing its utmost to deal with COVID-19. For weeks now The Perfect Travel Group have been managing the effects of rapidly changing travel situation across the globe. We have devoted all our efforts to our current priority – travellers booked to depart over next few months of March to May. Most of these early season travellers have had to postpone until later dates. We have also now postponed our events in April, “Surf Music In Paradise” in the Maldives and Barton Lynch Blast Off event in Bali to alternate dates. 

I would like to give a huge thanks to all our clients, staff and partners across the globe for handling the initial challenges of this global shut down with patience and good will. Its really encouraging when we see best of people in the most challenging of circumstances.
Our team of Surf Specialists and Travel Gurus will continue to manage forward bookings, working together with our operators to get the best result for our mutual clients. Please continue to share your patience and understanding with us as we manage this process on a month by month basis.

Our team are they centre of everything we do and we are taking action to protect them and public health through social distancing. For this reason we have temporarily closed our Sydney HQ and sub offices around the globe. All team members are now working remotely from home and will be available to answer any questions, make alternate arrangements to existing bookings and facilitate new bookings for later in the year and 2021. The best way to contact us during this time will be email your consultant. If you want to talk, let them know best number and time and they will call you. Keep talking to us, we love talking about travel and at times like this we all need holidays to look forward to. 

Our Maldives operations have been temporarily put on hold until 31 May 2020 due to travel bans in place all over the world and we have forced to move all bookings from this time to alternate dates. We have also done the same for our Indonesian operations and closed S Resort Bali until 31 May to protect the health of our guests and people which will always be paramount. These are all massive actions that we could never have dreamed we would have to even consider but decisive action is what is required to see us all through this.  

Although the spread of COVID-19 is causing massive financial strain across the world, The Perfect Travel Group is in a solid financial position to withstand the challenges presented to us at this time. We have had to make some large decisions to protect the future of the company our clients and staff, but we believe having done this now has given us the best chance to minimise impact to the business later in the year and in to the future. 

On a personal level, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to our wonderful surf travel community. We stand together with you as we make our way through our greatest ever challenge. This global crisis will have a long-standing effect to many of our clients, our staff, our partners, and our friends around the world. We are all in this together and it will end eventually. Then we can all get back to what it is that we love to do, creating trips of a lifetime. Until then, know we are here to support and assist you in way we can with existing bookings and new bookings for later in the year and next year. We will continue to communicate with updates as well as continuing to inspire the stoke of surf travel.

Jamie Gray

CEO – Chief Experience Officer, The Perfect Wave

The Perfect Travel Group (TPTG) including  The Perfect Wave and Surf Music in Paradise wishes to advise that due to the rapidly changing global situation regarding Government Travel Advice, quarantine and entry restrictions urgent changes are required to some travel arrangements departing before 30 April 2020

Charters operated by The Perfect Wave and Surf Music in Paradise Events

All charters and events departing between 16 March an 30 April 2020 are postponed for travel within 2 years. This is postponement only – not cancellation This includes the following:

Maldives Charter Boats – Hamathi, Surf Sojourn, Handy Cruiser

Mentawai Charter Boats –  Kai Satu Kai Dua

Surf Music in Paradise Darryl Braithwaite and Richard Clapton Kandooma Maldives 28 Mar – 4 April 2020

Barton Lynch’s Bali Blast Off

 

Travel Agency Booking – all other travel

The Perfect Wave acts as a travel agency, booking arrangements with a range of quality operators and airlines. If you have booked arrangements through our Agency, they remain valid bookings unless advised. This means that you can continue with your travel plans if Govt Advice remains less than “Do No Travel”.

If you have a booking for travel in March and April 2020, if you have not already been contacted by The Perfect Wave please get in touch to discuss your arrangements.

If your travel is booked for travel after 1 May 2020, please be patient as we attend to our currently departing clients first.

As there is multiple suppliers and operators involved in each booking, the terms and flexibility of each may vary. The Perfect Wave as your agency acts in your best interests and will work with you to secure the best possible arrangements in the situation.

The Ministry of Health have published a page with detailed information on local situation and any Travel Updates

 

https://covid19.health.gov.mv/

Check out what the travel community at Adventure.com are saying

Look, this whole Coronavirus thing is making us a bit tired and anxious, and we’re sure you’re feeling the same. Ultimately, we’re not sure what’s going to happen over the coming months.

Most of us will be OK, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be stressful and difficult. Here, we’ve collated some advice and information for anyone who has travel planned, or might be planning on traveling, over the next few months.

Many surf travellers will transit through Singapore on their way to Maldives, Sumatra and beyond. Not only is it the worlds best airport, Changi has set incredibly high standards in hygiene and transmission prevention.

LONELY PLANET – Should I Cancel My Travel Plans In Light of the Coronavirus Outbreak?

The worlds most trusted brand for independent travel advice has published a recent update on how traveller should consider their plans. You can read some frank and independent advice here.

UPDATE 18 February 2020

Coronavirus and Surf Travel

Since early January 2020, the world has become increasingly aware of a severe outbreak of a new virus, COVID 19, now known as Coronavirus. This Coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan China in December 2019 and has grown steadily in the past couple of months. In that time there has been an impressive response by both Chinese and Worldwide health authorities to control the spread. This has included shutting down travel from affected areas and quarantine of suspected an diagnosed patients.

At the current time Coronavirus remains prominent in the media, however this does not mean that that surf travellers should change their plans.

To put the outbreak in context:

1. The level of Government Travel advice has not changed for surf destinations such as Indonesia, The Maldives, PNG or Fiji. Only Mainland China has a Do Not Travel level of warning relating to risk from the outbreak
2. General Government Advice for The Maldives – Green Exercise Normal Safety Precautions, Indonesia – Yellow Exercise Caution Fiji – Green Exercise Normal Precautions
3. Many Countries have blocked entry or transit of travellers from mainland China since the early stages of the outbreak.
4. The COVID 19 virus causes only mild illness in vast majority (>80%) of cases
5. The COVID 19 virus is transmissible only through close contact with an infected person. Travellers to unaffected areas do not need face masks however regular washing of hands is good advice at all times
6. Most Countries have set up enhanced health screening of travellers. There may also be restrictions on anyone who has travelled in China in the last 14 days. Some countries now require an Electronic Visa (eg PNG) prior to travel so as to certify travellers have not recently been in China
7. Transit Hubs such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore remain at Green Normal Precautions, Hong Kong remains unchanged level, Yellow Exercise Caution

Perfect Travel Group (TPTG) understands that concerns about this disease may affect your planning for trips. For this reason TPTG will make every effort to accommodate changing situations. All our resorts, boats and events are in consideration. Please note that Terms and Conditions still apply and deposits while not refundable, may be transferable to different dates or destinations, depending on timing. Please contact your Perfect Travel Group consultant should you require any further information.

As the situation with the Coronavirus evolves, decisions around passengers travelling are being made. 

The situation with this health warning is fluid. Authorities in China and in consultation with world health authorities are working hard to contain the virus to minimise its spread. Services within China, particularly from Wuhan in the Hubei Province, have been curtailed. Some of the major tourism spots within China have been closed for visitation as a further precautionary measure. Vaccines are being developed to counter its spread also.

All destinations outside of China remain operational.

We will continue to monitor the situation with the Coronavirus closely and decisions around our travellers safety in line with official travel advices, will be made accordingly. Please contact your Perfect Travel Group consultant should you require any further information.

UPDATE: Maldives Dept. of Health Publishes Comprehensive Response Guideline for COVID 19 Passenger Management

The Department of Health have developed a national guidelines for the prevention of, detection and management of COVID 19 should there be suspected cases. The guideline also provides detail for tracing of potential contacts and quarantine where necessary. These 62 page and 24 page policy documents are available in draft form here:
Response Guideline
Contact Tracing

 

Coronavirus: 23 Jan 2020

There has been an outbreak of a Coronavirus in China. This was first identified in mid-December in Wuhan City, in central China’s Hubei Province. The source of this new strain of coronavirus is thought to be a large seafood and live animal market in Wuhan City. The vast majority of the 500 or so reported cases have been in Wuhan, a city with a population of over 11 million, and the immediate surrounding area. There have now been cases reported in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the United States and suspected cases in Australia. However, these individuals had all travelled to these destinations from Wuhan. This new virus is a coronavirus, which is a family of viruses which includes the common cold. Symptoms include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. Severe cases can lead to developing pneumonia. On the 22nd Jan., authorities restricted movement into and out of Wuhan. Airports across Asia have initiated temperature screening of incoming passengers, as have several major hubs around the world, in order to monitor this situation and identify any cases.

Advice for forthcoming travellers in respect of precautionary measures, namely careful adherence to personal hygiene and awareness of risk factors, is important to note. Stringent hand-washing hygiene and monitoring of personal health, avoiding animals (alive or dead), including wild birds and poultry and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat and eggs) and seeking medical attention if respiratory symptoms develop are all measures to be taken. 

Perfect Travel Group do not have any trips which visit Wuhan or the immediate region. It should be noted that the UK, Australian, USA, Canadian and New Zealand governments are not advising against travel to China.

Smartraveller.gov.ausafetravel.govt.nz, and gov.uk have revised their travel advice for China, and recommend reconsidering the need to travel to Wuhan (Australian & New Zealand governments), while the UK Government now advise against all but essential travel to Wuhan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working closely with the Chinese authorities in monitoring the situation and providing up to date information to the general public.

As always the safety of our travellers is our foremost priority and this will not be compromised.