Covid and travel discussion

[Two Gun Bob]

For most travellers it wont be the cost of a pre departure test that deters, but more the risk of quarantine overseas for a positive result. As @bavarian blue mentioned how can you enjoy your break when you have that uncertainty hanging over you? However It is what it is and we shall book again last minute when the "temporary" restrictions are lifted.

 

[RobMCFC]

What I don’t understand is, this variant is now here and spreading so stricter travel rules won’t help and cause great inconvenience. The rules that slow the spread and cause no inconvenience like masks in crowds and all indoor settings when moving around, like vaccine passports we aren’t bothering with. Makes no sense to me.

Agree 100%. What they are doing cannot be based on science but must be more of a public relations exercise. As you say, it's here now (as it is in Belgium, Germany and most countries in Europe). Putting a mask on and not mixing in large numbers is the best thing everybody can do. But many people will ignore this and we'll see large spikes in cases in January and February.

 

[feedthegoat27]

The news yesterday evening really deflated me.
Made even worse with it being only a week since the twats in charge made the day 2 test change to a PCR requirement.

There was always going to be bumps in the recovery road but these are 2 significant changes that are a huge blow for the travel industry, and feels like a huge backwards step.
The requirement to test in resort is a hurdle too much for many, with understandable worries about testing positive abroad and everything that can potentially entail.

Using Thailand as an example, if someone were to head there this month they have to test negative before they leave the UK, and test negative again on arrival in Thailand. They then have to test negative in the 2 days before they board their flight back to the UK, and also test again within 2 days of landing home.
Yet the holidaymaker in Thailand will likely spend all their time outside, and likely not in particular close contact with people.
It just feels like total overkill and punishing those of us who wish to travel overseas.

Last night I went to a gig, I'm going to a gig on Tuesday too.
Each time to attend I only need to have proof of my double jabs.
Both gigs mean an indoor setting, crammed full of people who's only requirement to get into the venue is being double jabbed or a negative lateral flow, drinking, singing etc etc
If I wanted I could go to a gig every single night in December and be in that environment for multiple weeks.
Yet people sitting on a beach for a week are forced to face the brunt of these rule changes.

Gone off on a tangent there but I'm sure people understand what I'm getting at.
Read an article earlier where a scientist said that these new travel rules are pointless as it's already way too late.
Which of course it is; we've seen time and time again that border closures or restrictions don't keep the virus, and it's variants, out.

It's weekends like this that make me question working in the travel industry!

 

[PragueBlue]

Yet the holidaymaker in Thailand will likely spend all their time outside, and likely not in particular close contact with people.

Patpong, Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and Pattaya must have changed a lot then ;-)

 

[feedthegoat27]

Patpong, Soi Cowboy, Nana Plaza and Pattaya must have changed a lot then ;-)

Haha I realised as I was typing that up that this might not be accurate in parts of Thailand.

And that someone would likely pull me up on it ;)

What's the crack over in Prague at the moment?
I saw the festive markets had been cancelled but the Mayor wasn't too happy about it....the neighbouring countries all seem to be in either lockdown or heavy restrictions, is it inevitable in the CR too?

 

[PragueBlue]

Haha I realised as I was typing that up that this might not be accurate in parts of Thailand.

And that someone would likely pull me up on it ;)

What's the crack over in Prague at the moment?
I saw the festive markets had been cancelled but the Mayor wasn't too happy about it....the neighbouring countries all seem to be in either lockdown or heavy restrictions, is it inevitable in the CR too?

Not inevitable no.

Not much has changed over the last weeks other than closing Christmas markets, pubs/restaurants closing at 10 and tests no longer being accepted for entry to most entertainment/cultural events (only vaccination and recent recovery from Covid accepted).

There may be further measures if numbers rise more but over the last 7 days we saw 4 of the days lower than the corresponding day of the previous week (including one day at 33% lower), so there is a feeling that numbers have stabilised to some degree and also it has been noted that vaccination rates have started to pick up again.

Hopefully we're over the worst but who knows!

 

[Double R]

Gutted. Booked in 2018 to go to Lapland in 2020, but had to postpone and move to this year. We were meant to be going this Sunday for 3 nights but the new negative test before comming home rule has put us right off, especialy since me and the little one had covid 4 weeks ago.10 days quarantine abroad over christmas is not an option, and I'm starting a new job on the 20th. Will cost an extra 800 quid to move it again because its our choice, but hay ho. Im not a regular traveller, only been on a plane 5 times, so it was a big deal to us.
Edit, shifted it to the first week of December next year for an extra 500 quid, and we get an extra 4th night.

 

[blue44]

Using Thailand as an example, if someone were to head there this month they have to test negative before they leave the UK, and test negative again on arrival in Thailand. They then have to test negative in the 2 days before they board their flight back to the UK, and also test again within 2 days of landing home.
Yet the holidaymaker in Thailand will likely spend all their time outside, and likely not in particular close contact with people.
It just feels like total overkill and punishing those of us who wish to travel overseas.

I posted about this,if we do still go at the end of jan,we will have to take and pay for 12 pcr tests now between 3 of us.
What happens if one of us is positive 2 days before coming home in Thailand?, 14 days in a thai hospital or 14 days in an AQ or SHA expensive government hotel? Its a nightmare
as it stands there is no way we can currently go

 

[feedthegoat27]

Couple describe hotel quarantine after returning from honeymoon in South Africa

The pair told PA they did not book their trip until ‘the foreign travel advice was that it was safe to go.’

www.independent.co.uk

£3700 for 11 nights in a Holiday Inn and canteen style (though that might be generous) slop.
It's beyond ridiculous the costs involved for hotel quarantine and someone somewhere is getting considerably rich off this farce.
Punishing people with severe financial penalties for having the audacity to go on honeymoon.

Whilst I'm not against the hotel quarantine system for when it's really needed, as I've discussed previously it should be a nominal charge much more in line with the real costs involved.

Another huge indicator of how big a con it all is....



The airport hotels they are using, they all charge a per room rate and not per person rate. The room price is the same regardless of 1 or 2 people in there.
So the additional adult having to cough up a ''discounted'' £1430 is essentially being charged £143 a day for 3 basic daily meals and a couple of Covid tests.
Now I know London is expensive, but 3 meals even of decent quality does not cost anything close to that sort of figure.
And all accounts I've read is that the food on offer is shite.

I'm sure even the people who are adamant everyone should stay at home forever can at least acknowledge what a con this whole system is.
And no-one should be happy to see ordinary folk, travelling perfectly legally, be hammered financially like this.

It's a pandemic, things change quickly, we understand that.....but £3700 for 10 nights in a Holiday Inn? Get to fuck.

 

[shemnel]

So now you have to test out where you are BEFORE setting off to the UK as well as day 2 PCR back here? Does that mean you have to source a testing company in the country you are in?

 

[bluesmith]

So now you have to test out where you are BEFORE setting off to the UK as well as day 2 PCR back here? Does that mean you have to source a testing company in the country you are in?

No you can take tests with you and do a video link up or send a photo - which shows just how ridiculous it is.

Cheapest ive seem these for are 11.99 with NX Healthcare - not done a lot of research in to them though.

 

[feedthegoat27]

So now you have to test out where you are BEFORE setting off to the UK as well as day 2 PCR back here? Does that mean you have to source a testing company in the country you are in?

Correct.

TBH unless you're going well off the beaten track (which is unlikely at the moment) then it is quite straightforward to get a test in all the main resorts and cities.
A tricky destination is Lapland though, and obviously quite a few people are heading out that way this month.

Tui flies 3,500 pre-departure Covid tests to Lapland

Kits sent after UK government tightens entry rules

travelweekly.co.uk

I think the Gov secretly enjoy dropping their grenades on the travel industry and the ensuing chaos that follows.
Why else would they announce this latest change at 18.30 on a Saturday evening?

There is also the option to buy a lateral flow kit and take it with you, to then do the test yourself in the 2 days before you return and verify the result by video or a picture.

Understandably people are concerned about testing positive abroad, so this re-introduction of the in resort test is a huge barrier for the travel industry.
I think the cost and the general ballache/unknown involved is a secondary concern to the above.

If my Xmas plans go ahead as scheduled, I'm gonna need to find a Covid testing centre/pharmacy open in Hurghada on either Christmas day or Boxing day.....wish me luck!

 

[shemnel]

No you can take tests with you and do a video link up or send a photo - which shows just how ridiculous it is.

Cheapest ive seem these for are 11.99 with NX Healthcare - not done a lot of research in to them though.

Correct.

TBH unless you're going well off the beaten track (which is unlikely at the moment) then it is quite straightforward to get a test in all the main resorts and cities.
A tricky destination is Lapland though, and obviously quite a few people are heading out that way this month.

Tui flies 3,500 pre-departure Covid tests to Lapland

Kits sent after UK government tightens entry rules

travelweekly.co.uk

I think the Gov secretly enjoy dropping their grenades on the travel industry and the ensuing chaos that follows.
Why else would they announce this latest change at 18.30 on a Saturday evening?

There is also the option to buy a lateral flow kit and take it with you, to then do the test yourself in the 2 days before you return and verify the result by video or a picture.

Understandably people are concerned about testing positive abroad, so this re-introduction of the in resort test is a huge barrier for the travel industry.
I think the cost and the general ballache/unknown involved is a secondary concern to the above.

If my Xmas plans go ahead as scheduled, I'm gonna need to find a Covid testing centre/pharmacy open in Hurghada on either Christmas day or Boxing day.....wish me luck!

Thanks both. I'm due to Bulgaria in a couple of weeks, South of Sofia, but it's all sounding like a lot of effort and I think I'll make enquiries for vouchers.

 

[blue44]

Correct.

TBH unless you're going well off the beaten track (which is unlikely at the moment) then it is quite straightforward to get a test in all the main resorts and cities.
A tricky destination is Lapland though, and obviously quite a few people are heading out that way this month.

Tui flies 3,500 pre-departure Covid tests to Lapland

Kits sent after UK government tightens entry rules

travelweekly.co.uk

I think the Gov secretly enjoy dropping their grenades on the travel industry and the ensuing chaos that follows.
Why else would they announce this latest change at 18.30 on a Saturday evening?

There is also the option to buy a lateral flow kit and take it with you, to then do the test yourself in the 2 days before you return and verify the result by video or a picture.

Understandably people are concerned about testing positive abroad, so this re-introduction of the in resort test is a huge barrier for the travel industry.
I think the cost and the general ballache/unknown involved is a secondary concern to the above.

If my Xmas plans go ahead as scheduled, I'm gonna need to find a Covid testing centre/pharmacy open in Hurghada on either Christmas day or Boxing day.....wish me luck!

for example ,me and my lot

if when coming home from bangkok,one or more of us test positive
what happens ?
10 days to get better,14 days etc do we go in a thai hotel or hospital
who decides when we can come home ?

 

[feedthegoat27]

for example ,me and my lot

if when coming home from bangkok,one or more of us test positive
what happens ?
10 days to get better,14 days etc do we go in a thai hotel or hospital
who decides when we can come home ?

It's all down to the rules and regs in the country where you test positive in terms of processes, where you go, who foots the bill etc

Using Greece as an example (I went twice earlier this year), if you tested positive whilst over there during summer then you would be taken to Greek Gov approved hotel accommodation for a minimum 10 days, but Greece covered the costs involved.

Regardless of country, you won't be able to fly home until you can produce a negative test.
Then there is the issue of re-arranging your flight home. You'd hope airlines would be understanding and flexible but take nothing for granted.

My guess is that, because Thailand want proof of insurance covering X amount as an entry requirement, they won't put you up for free.

Stating the obvious but comprehensive insurance is more important than ever to ensure a payout (with minimal fuss....lol) if someone is unfortunate enough to test positive and is ultimately liable for the costs of the enforced hotel/hospital stay and a new flight home.

 

[blue44]

It's all down to the rules and regs in the country where you test positive in terms of processes, where you go, who foots the bill etc

Using Greece as an example (I went twice earlier this year), if you tested positive whilst over there during summer then you would be taken to Greek Gov approved hotel accommodation for a minimum 10 days, but Greece covered the costs involved.

Regardless of country, you won't be able to fly home until you can produce a negative test.
Then there is the issue of re-arranging your flight home. You'd hope airlines would be understanding and flexible but take nothing for granted.

My guess is that, because Thailand want proof of insurance covering X amount as an entry requirement, they won't put you up for free.

Stating the obvious but comprehensive insurance is more important than ever to ensure a payout (with minimal fuss....lol) if someone is unfortunate enough to test positive and is ultimately liable for the costs of the enforced hotel/hospital stay and a new flight home.

Thailand would definately not foot the bill !
I know if you land and you're positive you must go to a Thai hospital at your expense for 14 days !

So coming back,maybe its the same.

 

[feedthegoat27]

Thailand would definately not foot the bill !
I know if you land and you're positive you must go to a Thai hospital at your expense for 14 days !

So coming back,maybe its the same.

Yeah I was trying to be diplomatic about it but there's more chance of Pep picking me tomorrow than Thailand footing a bill they have no obligation to haha

 

[M18CTID]

Correct.

TBH unless you're going well off the beaten track (which is unlikely at the moment) then it is quite straightforward to get a test in all the main resorts and cities.
A tricky destination is Lapland though, and obviously quite a few people are heading out that way this month.

Tui flies 3,500 pre-departure Covid tests to Lapland

Kits sent after UK government tightens entry rules

travelweekly.co.uk

I think the Gov secretly enjoy dropping their grenades on the travel industry and the ensuing chaos that follows.
Why else would they announce this latest change at 18.30 on a Saturday evening?

There is also the option to buy a lateral flow kit and take it with you, to then do the test yourself in the 2 days before you return and verify the result by video or a picture.

Understandably people are concerned about testing positive abroad, so this re-introduction of the in resort test is a huge barrier for the travel industry.
I think the cost and the general ballache/unknown involved is a secondary concern to the above.

If my Xmas plans go ahead as scheduled, I'm gonna need to find a Covid testing centre/pharmacy open in Hurghada on either Christmas day or Boxing day.....wish me luck!

These extra rule changes - on top of the changes announced a week or so before - are a ballache for sure but I’m not sure the government (as much as I dislike this lot in charge) are doing it deliberately to cause havoc. SAGE were the ones pushing for pre-departure tests before flying home and it seems they’ve acted on that. Also, remember that last week Sturgeon and her Welsh counterpart were wanting even more prohibitive measures than that in the form of a lengthy quarantine period upon arriving home.

Anyway, I landed in Tenerife at lunchtime today and despite all the uncertainty it was a breeze coming through security. Passport shown and then another line of people beyond that scanning our QR codes relating to our Spanish passenger locator forms. Sorted in no time.

 

[feedthegoat27]

These extra rule changes - on top of the changes announced a week or so before - are a ballache for sure but I’m not sure the government (as much as I dislike this lot in charge) are doing it deliberately to cause havoc. SAGE were the ones pushing for pre-departure tests before flying home and it seems they’ve acted on that. Also, remember that last week Sturgeon and her Welsh counterpart were wanting even more prohibitive measures than that in the form of a lengthy quarantine period upon arriving home.

Anyway, I landed in Tenerife at lunchtime today and despite all the uncertainty it was a breeze coming through security. Passport shown and then another line of people beyond that scanning our QR codes relating to our Spanish passenger locator forms. Sorted in no time.

It's the timing of these announcements that really grinds my gears.

Whilst there isn't really a 'good' time to continually drop these bombshells, some times/days are better than others.

On Saturday, they released the news at 18.30.
The FCO was ready changed so it wasn't a spur of the moment call, they knew they were going to do it.
Why not do the announcement earlier in the day, in the morning?
For people like myself who run and work in high street agencies, this at least would give us all Saturday to contact impacted customers and people travelling soon.
I didn't work Saturday but my 2 colleagues who did told me it was dead all day.
Had the Government done the announcement at, say, 10am, my colleagues could have spent the rest of the day sorting all the shit out.

Instead they do it out of normal hours on Saturday evening, with very few travel businesses open on a Sunday, meaning we have to pick up the mounting slack on Monday morning.

I appreciate the above is from a purely selfish perspective of making my life easier haha but everyone in travel is just drained by these pricks in charge.

It was only a few days ago that the transport minister, Grant Shapps, ruled out the return of pre-departure testing.

Shapps rules out pre-arrival tests as new curbs risk ‘killing off’ travel sector

Vaccine passports ‘to become the norm’, according to transport secretary

travelweekly.co.uk

 

[M18CTID]

It's the timing of these announcements that really grinds my gears.

Whilst there isn't really a 'good' time to continually drop these bombshells, some times/days are better than others.

On Saturday, they released the news at 18.30.
The FCO was ready changed so it wasn't a spur of the moment call, they knew they were going to do it.
Why not do the announcement earlier in the day, in the morning?
For people like myself who run and work in high street agencies, this at least would give us all Saturday to contact impacted customers and people travelling soon.
I didn't work Saturday but my 2 colleagues who did told me it was dead all day.
Had the Government done the announcement at, say, 10am, my colleagues could have spent the rest of the day sorting all the shit out.

Instead they do it out of normal hours on Saturday evening, with very few travel businesses open on a Sunday, meaning we have to pick up the mounting slack on Monday morning.

I appreciate the above is from a purely selfish perspective of making my life easier haha but everyone in travel is just drained by these pricks in charge.

It was only a few days ago that the transport minister, Grant Shapps, ruled out the return of pre-departure testing.

Shapps rules out pre-arrival tests as new curbs risk ‘killing off’ travel sector

Vaccine passports ‘to become the norm’, according to transport secretary

travelweekly.co.uk

That must be so frustrating if you work in that industry. Clearly they’re not thinking about the impact regarding the timing of these announcements, especially as they knew hours before what they were going to do