Covid and travel discussion

Jetting off to Punta Cana 2 weeks tomorrow, for the first (of many!) trips away this year.
Looks like that might be the final time I have to complete the unnecessary PLF, with rumours it will be finally done away with by Easter (not sure why they need to wait until then, just get rid now ffs)

Dare I say things are starting to return to something like normal in some countries and within some aspects of travel?

Jet2 have done away with masks.
Greece are removing their arrival form.
Dom Rep have reverted back to how things used to be pre-Covid.
More and more countries removing testing if you can show a full vaccination course (Sri Lanka, Dubai, Maldives)
Other countries/destinations that have previously been closed or highly restrictive for entry requirements are starting to loosen up (Vietnam, Bali)

After a very long 2 years for the industry, and not to get carried away as we've had false dawns before, this does now feel like we're on the home straight. Could be a few more bumps in the road (Covid based or otherwise) but we have to be well over the worst of it now.

I've not heard anyone claim 'everyone should holiday at home' for a while, so I guess thats a decent yardstick for how close to normal we are.
 
Anyone travelled to the US from the U.K. recently? If so what were the requirements? Will obviously check online but interested to hear if anyone has any first hand experience of travelling there recently
 
vincent said:
Anyone travelled to the US from the U.K. recently? If so what were the requirements? Will obviously check online but interested to hear if anyone has any first hand experience of travelling there recently
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My mate is in Vegas now.

Proof of vaccination.
A negative Covid test in the day before you fly (can be antigen, but needs to be supervised or done in a clinic)
A form to complete which can be printed off and done in advance or done at the airport.
Valid ESTA as normal.

I think there is a recommendation to do an additional test on day 3 but this isn't enforced.

Note some States will have individual rules, above is the general stuff for entry to America.
 
Buenos Aires a week today, bucket list trip. All depending on Covid test on Friday, won't relax until I have the result.
 
Going to Krakow for the first time next week, Sunday to Thursday.

Amongst the usual sites/activities, definitely want to 'do' Auschwitz and the salt mines.
Seen a very good value combo tour that does both in the same day trip; is this advisable?
I appreciate it will be quite an intense and long day (mentally and physically), wondering if it's perhaps taking on too much?

Obviously I have enough time to do both tours across separate days, but I must admit it does appeal to tick both off in the same day and keep my other days spare.

If anyone has done above on the same day and can advise on their experience that would be grand.
Or people who have done separate days on said activities and can pass on their thoughts would also be appreciated.

TIA :)
 
feedthegoat27 said:
Going to Krakow for the first time next week, Sunday to Thursday.

Amongst the usual sites/activities, definitely want to 'do' Auschwitz and the salt mines.
Seen a very good value combo tour that does both in the same day trip; is this advisable?
I appreciate it will be quite an intense and long day (mentally and physically), wondering if it's perhaps taking on too much?

Obviously I have enough time to do both tours across separate days, but I must admit it does appeal to tick both off in the same day and keep my other days spare.

If anyone has done above on the same day and can advise on their experience that would be grand.
Or people who have done separate days on said activities and can pass on their thoughts would also be appreciated.

TIA :)
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I can't advise but I would love to do the salt mines and feel it would be an obligation to visit Auschwitz, harrowing as that may be. Let us know how your trip goes.
 
feedthegoat27 said:
Going to Krakow for the first time next week, Sunday to Thursday.

Amongst the usual sites/activities, definitely want to 'do' Auschwitz and the salt mines.
Seen a very good value combo tour that does both in the same day trip; is this advisable?
I appreciate it will be quite an intense and long day (mentally and physically), wondering if it's perhaps taking on too much?

Obviously I have enough time to do both tours across separate days, but I must admit it does appeal to tick both off in the same day and keep my other days spare.

If anyone has done above on the same day and can advise on their experience that would be grand.
Or people who have done separate days on said activities and can pass on their thoughts would also be appreciated.

TIA :)
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I have done both tours on separate days and can't imagine trying to do them on the same day.

If it means you only do one tour, you must do the Auschwitz visit.

The salt mines were really interesting but the trip went on too long for my liking and there was a lot of waiting around due to some rules about the separate parties not being allowed to get near each other or some such issue.
 
feedthegoat27 said:
Going to Krakow for the first time next week, Sunday to Thursday.

Amongst the usual sites/activities, definitely want to 'do' Auschwitz and the salt mines.
Seen a very good value combo tour that does both in the same day trip; is this advisable?
I appreciate it will be quite an intense and long day (mentally and physically), wondering if it's perhaps taking on too much?

Obviously I have enough time to do both tours across separate days, but I must admit it does appeal to tick both off in the same day and keep my other days spare.

If anyone has done above on the same day and can advise on their experience that would be grand.
Or people who have done separate days on said activities and can pass on their thoughts would also be appreciated.

TIA :)
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Don't do them in the same day. Krakow is a fair distance from auschwitz, the drives lengthy, the place is huge, both sites aren't next to each other either. Its a long journey in terms of time and the amount of walking involved and that's before the emotional drain it will have on you. You kind of need time to process it. I didn't do the salt mines myself when I went, so can't say how long they are, I would have liked to but it wouldn't have given us any real time to explore ourselves so we skipped it, can't imagine doing them the same day as auschwitz.
 
Thanks for the comments gents.

I did end up doing the combo tour of the Salt Mines and Auschwitz/Birkenau on Tuesday.
Read contrasting reports of if it was a good idea or not to do both on the same day, but decided to go with my instincts and tick them both off at the same time, very pleased I did.

Undoubtedly a long day, close to 11 hours start to finish, but actually quite manageable.
The drives inbetween sort of act as a break effectively and a chance to rest the legs.
I'm not particularly fit but I would say you need to have a bit of stamina as it is a lot of walking.

The Salt Mines were interesting and Auschwitz is......Auschwitz.
Stayed dry all day until Birkenau where it pissed it down, very apt for the occasion.
Found Auschwitz to be the more immersive of the 2 camps; I consider myself to be a bit of an emotional robot but the kids shoes piled up and the gear/aids of the disabled people in particular was very grim.

Krakow is a fantastic place, loads to see and do, very cheap, easy city centre to navigate, thoroughly enjoyed my 4 days there and will certainly return in the future.

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In the words of the Manic Street Preachers; ''Libraries gave us power.....''

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Sorry if this has already been asked. Does your covid pass work when going to Spain, or do you have to fill in the Spanish locator form before you go?
 
any recent travellers to Turkey? do you still need to complete a passenger locator form? (im going in June) there use to be a link for it on our GOV website and its seems to have gone now.
 
I flew to Denver 4 days ago for a couple weeks. No restrictions at any point from Newcastle to Denver via London. Jumped through all the hoops which were get a test within 24hrs of flying and upload vacccine status with said test result onto a BA app which didn’t work. We got to the airport 3 hours early so we could show the documents etc. No one was interested. Same when we landed in the US. There’s a few masks dotted around Denver but nothing is mandatory.
 
Pedestrian said:
I flew to Denver 4 days ago for a couple weeks. No restrictions at any point from Newcastle to Denver via London. Jumped through all the hoops which were get a test within 24hrs of flying and upload vacccine status with said test result onto a BA app which didn’t work. We got to the airport 3 hours early so we could show the documents etc. No one was interested. Same when we landed in the US. There’s a few masks dotted around Denver but nothing is mandatory.
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I went through Denver Airport a couple of times in the last few weeks. On the way down there, most people masked and public announcements about wearing them. Ten days later and not a mask in sight even on the flight
 
idahoblues said:
I went through Denver Airport a couple of times in the last few weeks. On the way down there, most people masked and public announcements about wearing them. Ten days later and not a mask in sight even on the flight
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Went to the state capital building yesterday and it seemed the logistics staff were masked but the elected types were maskless. No expectation to put a mask on when we entered as visitors. Considering how few people there’s seems to be here and how huge everything is it’s not difficult to socially distance. On a side note do you have any advice on blue friendly bars in Denver for the match.
 
Pedestrian said:
Went to the state capital building yesterday and it seemed the logistics staff were masked but the elected types were maskless. No expectation to put a mask on when we entered as visitors. Considering how few people there’s seems to be here and how huge everything is it’s not difficult to socially distance. On a side note do you have any advice on blue friendly bars in Denver for the match.
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All the Capital buildings I’ve been to have been very impressive, I rarely go to Denver other than the odd concert, it’s still a good ten hour drive from my place so can’t help. Just go in any bar and tell them to put the game on, you won’t have any problems

Have a look at who’s playing Red Rocks while you’re there, a great venue for a concert

looks like Billy Strings is playing next week, if you can get a ticket I recommend it
 
idahoblues said:
All the Capital buildings I’ve been to have been very impressive, I rarely go to Denver other than the odd concert, it’s still a good ten hour drive from my place so can’t help. Just go in any bar and tell them to put the game on, you won’t have any problems

Have a look at who’s playing Red Rocks while you’re there, a great venue for a concert

looks like Billy Strings is playing next week, if you can get a ticket I recommend it
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We came for a gig at the bluebird. The fruit bats are playing Fri/sat and it’s my birthday sat. We saw interpol last night which was ok but not really my bag. Off to Golden on Sunday then a few nights in Boulder. Red rocks is part of the plan. I saw the black angels there in 2013 which was mint. Our lass hasn’t been so we’re prob just gonna go and have a look this time.
 
Pedestrian said:
Went to the state capital building yesterday and it seemed the logistics staff were masked but the elected types were maskless. No expectation to put a mask on when we entered as visitors. Considering how few people there’s seems to be here and how huge everything is it’s not difficult to socially distance. On a side note do you have any advice on blue friendly bars in Denver for the match.
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I *think* the Denver blues watch at CelticonMarket https://www.celticonmarket.com/sports-and-soccer-bar/
 
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