 | | | 
16.03.2021, 09:37
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Bern
Posts: 2,288
Groaned at 429 Times in 274 Posts
Thanked 4,750 Times in 1,732 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | just....make sure you don't get the virus while in Mexico...it could be a little bit of an ordeal....  | | | | | I have a friend who is currently in Tulum - major envy at her numerous gorgeous posts on Instagram, but I continue to remind myself that there is no way in heck I would want to get sick in Mexico.
I watched a VICE piece on one of the reasons why their death rate has been quite high...many people don't want to go to the hospital (for obvious reasons) and they wait until it is too late.
| 
16.03.2021, 10:18
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Zürich
Posts: 4,015
Groaned at 18 Times in 17 Posts
Thanked 6,837 Times in 2,059 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
There are plenty of excellent private hospitals in Mexico.
| 
16.03.2021, 10:30
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,477
Groaned at 26 Times in 20 Posts
Thanked 1,107 Times in 657 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Tulum is a trendy place near cancun, which has many americans and for sure private clinics rotating around that so it must not be so bad with a good insurance and back-up money. I would suggest having a Rega Gönner card though in case it gets really bad.
| 
16.03.2021, 10:45
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Up there over the fog
Posts: 3,498
Groaned at 411 Times in 307 Posts
Thanked 3,590 Times in 1,859 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Interesting questions- but I am pretty sure that REGA would not come and pick you up from Mexico if you choose to travel out in a pandemic
| This user would like to thank JackieH for this useful post: | | 
16.03.2021, 11:19
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Lugano
Posts: 6,550
Groaned at 129 Times in 95 Posts
Thanked 7,960 Times in 3,710 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | For now- go, but stay in Switzerland. Plenty to see and huge variety, for now.
Perhaps do The Grand Tour, or go and enjoy the sun in Ticino for a while, and return with a big 'buckle' tour. Great offers for Hôtels and RbnB now. Or a spa resort as a base, like Leukerbad or Ovronnaz - and visit the Valais region. | | | | | Why is it better, assuming you meant safer, to stay in Switzerland if one is going to go to stay at spa resors or hotels, where restaurants are open?
It is possible to travel around Switzerland and stay in places which are self catering. You have a car, get a cooler and you will be all set.
| 
16.03.2021, 11:39
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Luzern
Posts: 610
Groaned at 36 Times in 26 Posts
Thanked 794 Times in 382 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | Interesting questions- but I am pretty sure that REGA would not come and pick you up from Mexico if you choose to travel out in a pandemic | | | | | Are you really sure about it? My Rega news are saying they are keeping repatriating and helping people to come back home, because of corona, and they never stated that they are leaving behind those who went somewhere as tourists.
| 
16.03.2021, 11:58
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Zurich
Posts: 1,033
Groaned at 2 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 1,310 Times in 653 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
I can fully understand and feel the same. Also have holidays left from last year. I opted to staying in Switzerland because, like you, I won't fly at the moment.
So I share some of my favorite places in Switzerland. Not all of them might be ideal for now but have a look.
If you head south to Ticino I can recommend two hotels.
My favorite one is in Brissago, directly at the lake. https://www.rivabellaaulac.ch/
Small, family run but only a "Garni" meaning there is no restaurant for lunch an d dinner. They have a fridge and several restaurant within walking distance. I am sure some will do take away. You can eat in the breakfast room. Breakfast is lovely. And the owners are very friendly. I go there at least once a year.
The other one is in Locarno. Picolo Hotel. Also really nice breakfast and very friendly owners. https://www.piccolo-hotel.ch/de/
Both will give you a Ticino Ticket to explore the area with busses and train for free.
Another hotel I can fully recommend is Auberge d'Ajoie closer to you, in Porrentruy https://aubergedajoie.ch/
Very nice breakfast. (Yes, there is a pattern ;-) )
They also have a room with a kitchen (Suite).
The hotel is very close to the center and the city of Porrentruy is lovely. Also there is a brilliant chocolaterie close by  Nora Mario https://www.facebook.com/Nora-Mario-...01445501554472
Another great place is the Berghotel Mettmen. https://berghotel-mettmen.ch/
Unfortunately they are closed at the moment because the road is blocked.
The food is great | The following 3 users would like to thank irish_temptation for this useful post: | | 
16.03.2021, 12:14
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Bern
Posts: 2,288
Groaned at 429 Times in 274 Posts
Thanked 4,750 Times in 1,732 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | I can fully understand and feel the same. Also have holidays left from last year. I opted to staying in Switzerland because, like you, I won't fly at the moment.
So I share some of my favorite places in Switzerland. Not all of them might be ideal for now but have a look.
If you head south to Ticino I can recommend two hotels.
My favorite one is in Brissago, directly at the lake. https://www.rivabellaaulac.ch/
Small, family run but only a "Garni" meaning there is no restaurant for lunch an d dinner. They have a fridge and several restaurant within walking distance. I am sure some will do take away. You can eat in the breakfast room. Breakfast is lovely. And the owners are very friendly. I go there at least once a year. 
The other one is in Locarno. Picolo Hotel. Also really nice breakfast and very friendly owners. https://www.piccolo-hotel.ch/de/
Both will give you a Ticino Ticket to explore the area with busses and train for free.
Another hotel I can fully recommend is Auberge d'Ajoie closer to you, in Porrentruy https://aubergedajoie.ch/
Very nice breakfast. (Yes, there is a pattern ;-) )
They also have a room with a kitchen (Suite).
The hotel is very close to the center and the city of Porrentruy is lovely. Also there is a brilliant chocolaterie close by Nora Mario https://www.facebook.com/Nora-Mario-...01445501554472
Another great place is the Berghotel Mettmen. https://berghotel-mettmen.ch/
Unfortunately they are closed at the moment because the road is blocked.
The food is great  | | | | | Thanks for this, these are some really lovely suggestions I might take advantage of too.
We are so lucky to be stuck in such a country...
| This user would like to thank Susie-Q for this useful post: | | 
16.03.2021, 13:09
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Work in ZH, live in SZ
Posts: 12,351
Groaned at 363 Times in 293 Posts
Thanked 23,674 Times in 8,568 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | Are you really sure about it? My Rega news are saying they are keeping repatriating and helping people to come back home, because of corona, and they never stated that they are leaving behind those who went somewhere as tourists. | | | | |
I dont know about Rega, but for all other insurances is it pretty simple: Is there an official travel warning in place? If no, the insurance pays... if yes, your problem.
Not sure about Switzerland, but Mexico is on the warning list for Germany... the other problem is that these lists change weekly at the moment... so while it might be ok on your flight out you still might have to quarantine on return.
| 
16.03.2021, 13:56
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Luzern
Posts: 610
Groaned at 36 Times in 26 Posts
Thanked 794 Times in 382 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Traveling is not banned, not even traveling for leisure. There are actually sets of rules how to behave coming back from travel, even if it is non-essential. And for essential travel there are sometimes exceptions in quarantine rules. "Der Bundesrat empfiehlt, auf nicht notwendige Reisen zu verzichten. Falls Sie dennoch eine Reise planen, beachten Sie bitte folgendes:..."
"The federal government recommends refraining from non-essential travel. If you are nevertheless planning to travel, please observe the following:..."
Do you know that insurance companies are declining support to people who got ill while traveling in corona times or you are just guessing so? I never heard about it, but of course, I could be just ignorant and wrong. Or were you talking about travel insurance, and expenses of coming home in case of canceled flights?
| 
16.03.2021, 23:09
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Basel
Posts: 59
Groaned at 4 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 99 Times in 34 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | I can fully understand and feel the same. Also have holidays left from last year. I opted to staying in Switzerland because, like you, I won't fly at the moment.
So I share some of my favorite places in Switzerland. Not all of them might be ideal for now but have a look.
If you head south to Ticino I can recommend two hotels.
My favorite one is in Brissago, directly at the lake. https://www.rivabellaaulac.ch/
Small, family run but only a "Garni" meaning there is no restaurant for lunch an d dinner. They have a fridge and several restaurant within walking distance. I am sure some will do take away. You can eat in the breakfast room. Breakfast is lovely. And the owners are very friendly. I go there at least once a year. 
The other one is in Locarno. Picolo Hotel. Also really nice breakfast and very friendly owners. https://www.piccolo-hotel.ch/de/
Both will give you a Ticino Ticket to explore the area with busses and train for free.
Another hotel I can fully recommend is Auberge d'Ajoie closer to you, in Porrentruy https://aubergedajoie.ch/
Very nice breakfast. (Yes, there is a pattern ;-) )
They also have a room with a kitchen (Suite).
The hotel is very close to the center and the city of Porrentruy is lovely. Also there is a brilliant chocolaterie close by Nora Mario https://www.facebook.com/Nora-Mario-...01445501554472
Another great place is the Berghotel Mettmen. https://berghotel-mettmen.ch/
Unfortunately they are closed at the moment because the road is blocked.
The food is great  | | | | | Thanks Irish T - appreciate the great suggestions! Just booked something for the first 2 weeks (will post separately on this) but will definitely look at these for week 3 | 
16.03.2021, 23:32
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Basel
Posts: 59
Groaned at 4 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 99 Times in 34 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
After several pints of indecision with a couple of whisky chasers last night I booked an EasyJet flight to 'take the waters' in Majorca - flying out on Saturday.
Found I had an overwhelming urge to see the sea. Plan to wander the hills, communing with clouds; then down to the lonely sea to hunt for stars and tall ships (and maybe a nice kebab if there's a stall open). Hire car is booked and next job is some serious Googling to find somewhere to stay or if indeed I made a big mistake. The Easyjet 24 hour 'cooling off' ('sobering-up'?) period where I can cancel for free ends in 40 mins.... so time for another pint before bed.
Thanks again for all the ideas and I will definitely investigate these if I make it back (always assuming they let me in in the first place).
| This user would like to thank Theoslimm for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 07:31
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pfäffikon SZ
Posts: 2,405
Groaned at 24 Times in 23 Posts
Thanked 3,234 Times in 1,376 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Are the Spanish letting tourists in at the moment?
| 
17.03.2021, 11:53
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Work in ZH, live in SZ
Posts: 12,351
Groaned at 363 Times in 293 Posts
Thanked 23,674 Times in 8,568 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | Are the Spanish letting tourists in at the moment? | | | | | Yes and no. Depends on the region/island. Canary ilands are open except of Lanzarote which I believe is in a total lock down. Balearic islands are open but have lots of curfews and rules. No idea about the rest.
| This user would like to thank Treverus for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 12:17
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Western Austria
Posts: 713
Groaned at 8 Times in 7 Posts
Thanked 1,236 Times in 532 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Theo, get thee to Deia in the northwest. It's our favorite place on Mallorca. Stay at Sa Pedrissa for wonderful food and a gorgeous view...straight-down hike to the beach. Oh, you lucky one!
| This user would like to thank bossybaby for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 13:39
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Zurich
Posts: 1,033
Groaned at 2 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 1,310 Times in 653 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Well done. I am sure it will be good for you.
Check the situation in Palma de Mallorca. Its a nice city and might be worth to stay for a night or two unless everything is shut.
Last edited by irish_temptation; 17.03.2021 at 14:35.
| This user would like to thank irish_temptation for this useful post: | | 
17.03.2021, 22:45
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Basel
Posts: 59
Groaned at 4 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 99 Times in 34 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | Theo, get thee to Deia in the northwest. It's our favorite place on Mallorca. Stay at Sa Pedrissa for wonderful food and a gorgeous view...straight-down hike to the beach. Oh, you lucky one! | | | | | Thanks for the tip. Just looked at the hotel website and thought "Yes please!!!"..... but would you believe they're fully booked  Seems I'm not the only one with this idea
Eateries close at 5pm so could be a perfect location for a detox diet or more likely to stuff down a few packets of crisps of an evening with a dodgy Rioja.
Any other tips for yomps or places to see?
| 
17.03.2021, 22:52
| Junior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Basel
Posts: 59
Groaned at 4 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 99 Times in 34 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape | Quote: | |  | | | Well done. I am sure it will be good for you.
Check the situation in Palma de Mallorca. Its a nice city and might be worth to stay for a night or two unless everything is shut. | | | | | Thanks, plan to stay there at the end to get a feel for the city (and I assume it will be the best place to get the covid test for getting back). Do you have any recommendations of things to see in the city, places for lunch or tapas? (Restaurants are open until 5)
Talking of covid tests I have mine first thing in the morning so time to turn in...
| 
17.03.2021, 23:47
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Zurich
Posts: 1,033
Groaned at 2 Times in 2 Posts
Thanked 1,310 Times in 653 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
Its been a while that I have been to Palma so unfortunately cant give you a recomendation.
But what I always do in a city is a free walking tour. They are usually very good and give you tips for bars etc. Not sure if they run at the moment but you can also see where they go to so that gives you an idea on things to look out for. There are several companies, this is one example https://www.mallorcafreetour.com/en/ | This user would like to thank irish_temptation for this useful post: | | 
18.03.2021, 00:07
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Used to be Zurich
Posts: 1,706
Groaned at 94 Times in 64 Posts
Thanked 1,989 Times in 870 Posts
| | Re: The Great Escape
If you have only been violated in your throat and nose, then I would go for the trifecta... Vacation in China!
(I visited the UK a little while ago but all the testing left me with a nose like a cocaine addict and a throat like a porn-star - likewise, the quarantine isolation at both ends really sucked)
| The following 2 users would like to thank My2pups for this useful post: | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 10:20. | |