Covid and travel discussion

Two Gun Bob said:
So as I understand it you will need to take a test no later than 72 hours before you travel home. Then when you arrive back home from a green country you will need a pcp test after a few days. If it's an amber country then one test 72 hours before travel home and then two tests back home staggered 2 and 8 days apart. Also on an amber jollies you will have to isolate for 10 days unless you opt into the test to release scheme they are running.

Dependent on what country you are traveling to some will also require a test on entry (see fcdo web site for country entry requirements). Up to press you do not have to have a vaccine shot to travel. I forgot you also need a passenger locator form filling out 48 before travel which is not a problem and are easy enough to complete. For countries that require a pcp test before departure you could effectively have to take 4 tests for an amber level or three for a green.

Imagine the cost implication for a family of four and could have serious knock on implications for the travel industry. We have decided we will not be paying for 3 or 4 tests whether lateral or pcp owing to cost restraint. I am happy to pay for one test at a sensible price of £60 a person.
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Then there will be differing requirements for quarantine on arrival in the European countries open for business.
There is also a tacit assumption on here that the govt announcement on travel on May 17 will agree with the FCO travel advice.
This is by no means certain.
So you could be permitted to travel to a holiday destination by the govt yet have no insurance because the FCO advise against it.
This happened in 2020.
 
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doots said:
It was booked way back before all the mither started through sailing holidays as a package and we've moved dates from last August to next but the Mrs doesn't want to go now for various reasons, uncertainty,restrictions,extra cost, lock down belly (don't tell her I said that) etc.
If we cancel then the deposits gone,hoping they do and the 500 quid will back will be very welcome.
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Good luck mate, deffo just hold out as long as you can without having to fork over more cash and see what happens.
With a bit of fortune they might just knock it on the head.
 
denislawsbackheel said:
Then there will be differing requirements for quarantine on arrival in the European countries open for business.
There is also a tacit assumption on here that the govt announce the on travel on May 17 will agree with the FCO travel advice.
This is by no means certain.
So you could be permitted to travel to a holiday destination by the govt yet have no insurance because the FCO advise against it.
This happened in 2020.
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This is a genuine potential problem.

The DFT/Gov and the FCDO are not in sync; the former only cares about COVID cases/vaccination rates whereas the latter takes everything into consideration including the Covid risk (and both will view the Covid risk level differently)

I'd like to think that of the obvious short haul feasible tourist spots (Spain, Portugal, Greece etc) then both the above bodies will be mostly aligned but no doubt there will be a couple of countries they don't agree on.

It's not so bad when the FCDO advises against travel but the DFT doesn't, it's when it's the opposite is when problems arise as Tour Ops will almost exclusively go with FCDO advice (that's their bible)
We saw this problem arise for the Canary Islands back end of last year....DFT said don't go, FCDO said fine to travel and it caused problems for people on packages due to depart.
 
doots said:
It was booked way back before all the mither started through sailing holidays as a package and we've moved dates from last August to next but the Mrs doesn't want to go now for various reasons, uncertainty,restrictions,extra cost, lock down belly (don't tell her I said that) etc.
If we cancel then the deposits gone,hoping they do and the 500 quid will back will be very welcome.
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Hi, If this is Sailing Holidays registered out of Mount Pleasant Road in London then im pretty sure they will let you carry your deposit over to another year. We have done this before with them and so have some friends of ours. Shouldnt be an issue.
 
Going to try Canaries in Sept/Oct

already got a high vaccine uptake so hopefully be ok

not where i’d usually go for but needs must
 
Churchlawtonblue said:
Hi, If this is Sailing Holidays registered out of Mount Pleasant Road in London then im pretty sure they will let you carry your deposit over to another year. We have done this before with them and so have some friends of ours. Shouldnt be an issue.
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Yes it is pal,they've been pretty good so far with letting us move it from last August to this one and even upgraded the boat at no charge!
 
doots said:
Yes it is pal,they've been pretty good so far with letting us move it from last August to this one and even upgraded the boat at no charge!
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I take it you have been with them before. where are you hoping to go? We are heading to the sporades again this year in August.
 
Churchlawtonblue said:
I take it you have been with them before. where are you hoping to go? We are heading to the sporades again this year in August.
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North Ionian sailing from Paxos and hopefully including Parga,our favourite place.
First time bud,were meant to be having lessons but some dope in China eating bat put the brakes on it.
Was really looking forward to it,have you done a few?
 
doots said:
North Ionian sailing from Paxos and hopefully including Parga,our favourite place.
First time bud,were meant to be having lessons but some dope in China eating bat put the brakes on it.
Was really looking forward to it,have you done a few?
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haha yes i know how you feel

Yes weve been about 6 times North and South Ionian, Saronic and Sporades. Parga and Paxos are lovely. Im also going on a lads sailing trip to the north Ionian planned for late Sep, postponed from early may. SH are a really good company. you will have a great time whenever you go. Personally covid wise Im most concerned about the airport and planes, but once out there you have your own boat and so can stay well clear of crowded places in the evening if you want and all restaurants are basically out in the open as you know.
 
We won't even consider anything until we both have both our jabs. Looking like early July may work, but then we won't go for less than 3 weeks in case the rules change whilst we're away and we have to isolate on return. it happene dto us in the Autumn and we extended from a fortnight to 6 weeks in Cyprus, but then had to isolate for 2 weeks on our return.
 
Hopefully, the skies over the UK will open up for vaccinated travelers very soon.

Others may well have to jump through hoops, like negative tests and self-isolation upon return, etc.

By summer (June-Aug), I’m hoping things will be getting back to some level of normalcy, with only hot spots, like India, on any restricted lists.
 
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cyberblue said:
When I came back from Turkey the cost of the test over there was equivalent of £25
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That's affordable with a further test upon return at £60 but it still puts a £170 load on top of the holiday for a couple or £340 for a family of four. I like Turkey but the traveling is dire with gash flight options from the big two tour operators and getting into resort ten and a half hours after leaving home is not to be taken lightly. The next time I travel there we shall be using taxi transfers and paying for an extra days digs to accommodate the night flights back.
 
hampshireblue said:
We won't even consider anything until we both have both our jabs. Looking like early July may work, but then we won't go for less than 3 weeks in case the rules change whilst we're away and we have to isolate on return. it happene dto us in the Autumn and we extended from a fortnight to 6 weeks in Cyprus, but then had to isolate for 2 weeks on our return.
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2 jabs until I look at taking a break anywhere..
 
we have a family place halfway between Barcelona and Valencia - which would be our normal holiday destination in August flying Manchester to Reus. I'm considering getting the Plymouth-Santander ferry and driving at either end this year to avoid any airport shenanigans!
 
Looks like my 4 timed booked cycling trip to Majorca might actually might be on now for late July, probably going to have to get out early doors on long rides for fear of heat exhaustion but that just offers more time in the afternoon for liquid refuelling. I get my second AZ Jab in 3/4 weeks so will be good to go.

I do wonder if the government are bringing this in to boost vaccine uptake in the younger age groups.
 
Two Gun Bob said:
That's affordable with a further test upon return at £60 but it still puts a £170 load on top of the holiday for a couple or £340 for a family of four. I like Turkey but the traveling is dire with gash flight options from the big two tour operators and getting into resort ten and a half hours after leaving home is not to be taken lightly. The next time I travel there we shall be using taxi transfers and paying for an extra days digs to accommodate the night flights back.
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Yes private transfers much better & quicker
If you don't mind a hour and half stopover in Istanbul Pegasus or Turkish airlines have pretty good fight times
Stopping over in Munich can get a good flight with Luthansa
Also if you rent an apartment or villa,you don't get kicked out at daft o'clock
Loads of good deals if you book acomadation & flights seperate
 
What’s the deal with kids? My mrs has had her second jab due to working for the NHS and I am due my second on 17th May, also work related. My daughter will be 5 in the summer and we have a holiday booked for 2nd August, will she be able to go? Are children “excluded” from the vaccinated travelers stuff?
 
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