I flew to Morocco on Tuesday 23rd March looking forward to spending time in Marrakech, beautiful in the spring, warm enough to swim for 5 hours every day (a vital medical necessity for me, at my age) and intending to write an article on Morocco, having handled the Covid19 fiasco well, being the perfect alternative summer vacation venue, if Europe proves impossible.

On booking in, the Royal Air Maroc lady said “sorry; we cannot fly anyone except Moroccan passport holders” but the man next to her, seeing I had a Business Class seat, waved me through. I did hear him mutter to her, as I walked away, “Let the border police sort it out”, but went through onto the plane without a problem.

A good flight. No problems. On landing in Casablanca I went to the immigration desk. They were welcoming and fine but explained that I needed to go and see special officers before entering. Those told me they were not allowing foreigners into the country, mentioning (in French) “the UK variant”.

This took hours so there were no return flights. I was bussed to the Transit Area where I spent an uncomfortable night in a freezing dormitory with dozens of others, mainly African failed travellers.

Next day, before they flew me back to Europe, they noticed my Negative Test result had passed the 72 hours term by then. So they could not repatriate me. I would have to wait for a doctor to come and do a new test, which they only did for groups of 10-20 people; about once a week. I was prepared to pay extra for a specific visit (impossible) and eventually they found a doctor who could come later that afternoon. No hope of leaving then but the results should come through by the morning of Thursday. So another miserable Dormitory night (no sheets or blankets; no food or water or anything to drink; limited toilet facilities).

I had to buy a new ticket. Along with all the stupid Covid return tests now required to re-enter the UK, the entire four day episode cost me around £1000.

So no, Morocco is not, at the moment, welcoming tourists.

Gosh that sounds awful. From your photos I'd assumed you had managed to escape our island for a sun lounger; sorry it didn't pan out, to put it mildly.

Oh the first part of the trip, to France, was fine WYOT.

Travel isn't going to get better anytime soon. With traffic lights, covid passports, vaccination certificates, quarantines - as well as local variances - coming into play. And the unnerving prospect of roadmap changes in the mix.


www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9411071...ly-legal-AUGUST.html


Staycations are the obvious alternative, but places like Devon/Cornwall, Lake District and East Anglia are small - and can't cope with the influx of visitors and extra traffic, even during a normal summer.

And for urgent, emergency health reasons I need to swim for 5 hours a day in hot sunshine and in fresh chlorinated water, not salt water. None of which is available in the UK except for about 3 days a year.

That very realistic desire is unlikely to be covered as a 'good reason' for travel abroad - under the impending legislation, to be in place until the end of June.


www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavir...lidays-idUSL8N2LL1IF

Margrave wrote:
Travel isn't going to get better anytime soon. With traffic lights, covid passports, vaccination certificates, quarantines - as well as local variances - coming into play. And the unnerving prospect of roadmap changes in the mix.


www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9411071...ly-legal-AUGUST.html


Staycations are the obvious alternative, but places like Devon/Cornwall, Lake District and East Anglia are small - and can't cope with the influx of visitors and extra traffic, even during a normal summer.

I actually enjoy the English countryside and resorts my daughters love holiday parks like Haven and Parkdean it’s like a novelty for them because you make your own holiday. Drive around the counties, try local coffee shops and they love Cornish pasties and the beaches in Cornwall.

I hope to take them to Latvia or Slovenia for a Winter holiday in the near future. .

Margrave wrote:
Travel isn't going to get better anytime soon. With traffic lights, covid passports, vaccination certificates, quarantines - as well as local variances - coming into play. And the unnerving prospect of roadmap changes in the mix.


www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9411071...ly-legal-AUGUST.html


Staycations are the obvious alternative, but places like Devon/Cornwall, Lake District and East Anglia are small - and can't cope with the influx of visitors and extra traffic, even during a normal summer.

It will calm down once Europe and other areas sort their vaccine roll outs. You are right we have done exceptionally well
with our roll out and we need other countries to catch up . It will take another year or so then we will all - like pets with rabies - just require vaccine updates and passes. Unnecesary of course but fine by me. It's just one other tiresome aspect of the world over reaction to Covid...

Absolutely fascinating story.

Sorry to hear about that ordeal, JK. Terrible. Hope you're safe home now.

JK2006 wrote:
And for urgent, emergency health reasons I need to swim for 5 hours a day in hot sunshine and in fresh chlorinated water, not salt water. None of which is available in the UK except for about 3 days a year.

You thought the guidelines and the law didn't apply to you and you paid the price for your miscalculation. the only thing I'm surprised about is that you seem to have no shame in publicizing your exploits

Excuse me BB what are you talking about? I obey both the guidelines and the law. Full permission gained for everything.