Holiday advice

[feedthegoat27]

When I landed in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, they were checking everyone's QR codes there (I had 7xxxxx so got tested, thankfully not the test up your conk)

Very nice few days in Halkidiki, made all the sweeter by not having to return home Friday even though we were prepared for that eventuality.

Weather was fantastic during the day, plenty of food and drink consumed, a very chilled out 5 nights doing nothing more than camping on a sunbed.

Landed back into Manchester earlier in rain and grey skies, back down to earth in more ways than one.

 

[bluesmith]

When I landed in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, they were checking everyone's QR codes there (I had 7xxxxx so got tested, thankfully not the test up your conk)

Very nice few days in Halkidiki, made all the sweeter by not having to return home Friday even though we were prepared for that eventuality.

Weather was fantastic during the day, plenty of food and drink consumed, a very chilled out 5 nights doing nothing more than camping on a sunbed.

Landed back into Manchester earlier in rain and grey skies, back down to earth in more ways than one.

View attachment 3753View attachment 3752

I recognise that place!

Italy added to the list this week. Crete taken off it. Toying with Cyprus next week but might hold off until next weeks announcement.

Interestingly they have changed the must quarantine day to the sunday at 4am from the saturday.

 

[BLUEMATT23]

2021 will be a write off too

 

[feedthegoat27]

I recognise that place!

Italy added to the list this week. Crete taken off it. Toying with Cyprus next week but might hold off until next weeks announcement.

Interestingly they have changed the must quarantine day to the sunday at 4am from the saturday.

Really enjoyed it there, was perfect for a fly and flop. Shame they don't have at least one heated pool but loved not having to lift a finger to get a drink all day.

It's all very arbitrary but I did think it was unfair to announce at 5pm Thursday (which is 6/7pm in Europe) and have people clamber for flights to beat the 4am Saturday deadline, only really giving people Friday to try and get back if they wanted to.

Does it really matter if someone arrives back at 4am Saturday or 4am Monday?

Cyprus cases are rising pretty quickly despite their fairly rigid entry requirements (though still way below our levels)

 

[bluesmith]

Really enjoyed it there, was perfect for a fly and flop. Shame they don't have at least one heated pool but loved not having to lift a finger to get a drink all day.

It's all very arbitrary but I did think it was unfair to announce at 5pm Thursday (which is 6/7pm in Europe) and have people clamber for flights to beat the 4am Saturday deadline, only really giving people Friday to try and get back if they wanted to.

Does it really matter if someone arrives back at 4am Saturday or 4am Monday?

Cyprus cases are rising pretty quickly despite their fairly rigid entry requirements (though still way below our levels)

They have a sister hotel down the road which is adult only and has a heated pool, shame that was closed. Yes the sunbed service was a bonus. We managed to eat in the ala carte restaurants 5 out of the 6 nights so found the food to be really good too.

I think I'm going to wait on Cyprus until next week's announcement, we are looking at Saturday to Saturday so should be fine if it avoids the list next Thursday.

 

[ell]

Really enjoyed it there, was perfect for a fly and flop. Shame they don't have at least one heated pool but loved not having to lift a finger to get a drink all day.

It's all very arbitrary but I did think it was unfair to announce at 5pm Thursday (which is 6/7pm in Europe) and have people clamber for flights to beat the 4am Saturday deadline, only really giving people Friday to try and get back if they wanted to.

Does it really matter if someone arrives back at 4am Saturday or 4am Monday?

Cyprus cases are rising pretty quickly despite their fairly rigid entry requirements (though still way below our levels)

Does it not defeat the point of the quarantine if we give people time to come home? To be honest I don't know why it doesn't come into place immediately

 

[bluesmith]

Does it not defeat the point of the quarantine if we give people time to come home? To be honest I don't know why it doesn't come into place immediately

Shouldn't have to quarantine at all if you live in an area with a higher rate than you have come back from in my opinion.

 

[shackattack]

Shouldn't have to quarantine at all if you live in an area with a higher rate than you have come back from in my opinion.

I fail to see the logic in this also. Fly out to tenerife on Tuesday for week and have to quarantine for 2 weeks on return. Feel much safer going out there than I will travelling in the uk.

 

[feedthegoat27]

Does it not defeat the point of the quarantine if we give people time to come home? To be honest I don't know why it doesn't come into place immediately

As people have said, generally you're returning from a place that is much safer than the UK.

When they removed those Greek Islands back in September, most of them had single digit cases a day. Mykonos hadn't recorded a case in the days before the decision, yet it was deemed as a threat to UK public health to be there.

I think it's more introduced as a deterrent to stop people travelling there in the near future, hence giving people a (small) window to get back.

I'm sure if a country suddenly had a crazy outbreak then the Gov would insist on an immediate quarantine for anyone returning, but most countries have this under much better control than we do.

 

[ell]

As people have said, generally you're returning from a place that is much safer than the UK.

When they removed those Greek Islands back in September, most of them had single digit cases a day. Mykonos hadn't recorded a case in the days before the decision, yet it was deemed as a threat to UK public health to be there.

I think it's more introduced as a deterrent to stop people travelling there in the near future, hence giving people a (small) window to get back.

I'm sure if a country suddenly had a crazy outbreak then the Gov would insist on an immediate quarantine for anyone returning, but most countries have this under much better control than we do.

I agree with you on that, I came back from the Algarve when it was seeing about 10cases per 100k to Oldham that was about 200 per 100k. Was I shielding to protect other people or was I protecting myself for those two weeks!

 

[LongsightM13]

I fail to see the logic in this also. Fly out to tenerife on Tuesday for week and have to quarantine for 2 weeks on return. Feel much safer going out there than I will travelling in the uk.

I’m in Tenerife now for a couple of weeks, its great. Brilliant weather and feels safe. Proper Covid protocols in place and being properly policed. Safer than the UK imo and plenty of people about in the Los Cristianos end as a lot of Canarian locals and UK/Irish ex-pats live there. less so in Costa Adeje and Las Americas is dead, as those resorts are more dependent on hotels, package deals and airlines like Jet2.
My flight from Manchester was full of Scousers so you’ll be in good company

 

[we are the east stand]

Anyone been all inclusive in the last few months or know what the deal is with all inclusive resorts at the minute?

Do you still have the ability to help yourself to food and drinks throughout the day or are places operating a table service now?

found a cracking deal to the all inclusive we been to a few times in Lanzarote so just wondering what everyone’s recent experiences are?

 

[shackattack]

I’m in Tenerife now for a couple of weeks, its great. Brilliant weather and feels safe. Proper Covid protocols in place and being properly policed. Safer than the UK imo and plenty of people about in the Los Cristianos end as a lot of Canarian locals and UK/Irish ex-pats live there. less so in Costa Adeje and Las Americas is dead, as those resorts are more dependent on hotels, package deals and airlines like Jet2.
My flight from Manchester was full of Scousers so you’ll be in good company

I’m in Tenerife now for a couple of weeks, its great. Brilliant weather and feels safe. Proper Covid protocols in place and being properly policed. Safer than the UK imo and plenty of people about in the Los Cristianos end as a lot of Canarian locals and UK/Irish ex-pats live there. less so in Costa Adeje and Las Americas is dead, as those resorts are more dependent on hotels, package deals and airlines like Jet2.
My flight from Manchester was full of Scousers so you’ll be in good company

i'm staying in los cristianos as normal, only got week due to quarantine on return. looking forward to a week in sun and just chilling out. i quite like the idea of less tourists, means bars hopefully are quieter and it looks really safe on what i have heard or seen. enjoy your break away

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Anyone been all inclusive in the last few months or know what the deal is with all inclusive resorts at the minute?

Do you still have the ability to help yourself to food and drinks throughout the day or are places operating a table service now?

found a cracking deal to the all inclusive we been to a few times in Lanzarote so just wondering what everyone’s recent experiences are?

Just back from a Rhodes AI.

All staff in masks as guests, we had to wear masks and disposable plastic gloves in the buffet until sat down. The a la carts on-site just had a bit of larger spacing around the tables. The only other differences were rooms being deep cleaned after guests had left and tea/coffee & minibar weren't filled unless you requested them.

All in all we felt pretty safe at the hotel 75% limited capacity and out and about in local villages. We kept clear of Rhodes town this time.

It was a gamble flying but hopefully worth it.

 

[we are the east stand]

Just back from a Rhodes AI.

All staff in masks as guests, we had to wear masks and disposable plastic gloves in the buffet until sat down. The a la carts on-site just had a bit of larger spacing around the tables. The only other differences were rooms being deep cleaned after guests had left and tea/coffee & minibar weren't filled unless you requested them.

All in all we felt pretty safe at the hotel 75% limited capacity and out and about in local villages. We kept clear of Rhodes town this time.

It was a gamble flying but hopefully worth it.

Cheers mate, appreciate that info

 

[feedthegoat27]

Anyone been all inclusive in the last few months or know what the deal is with all inclusive resorts at the minute?

Do you still have the ability to help yourself to food and drinks throughout the day or are places operating a table service now?

found a cracking deal to the all inclusive we been to a few times in Lanzarote so just wondering what everyone’s recent experiences are?

I've done 2 all inclusives since July.

Both occasions you couldn't serve yourself food at the buffet; you'd go up and basically point or ask what you wanted and the staff dished it up for you.

Think self service drinks are mostly a no-no too but this could vary from hotel to hotel.

No issue for me and certainly wouldn't put me off booking an all inclusive, especially if you've found a good deal.

 

[we are the east stand]

I've done 2 all inclusives since July.

Both occasions you couldn't serve yourself food at the buffet; you'd go up and basically point or ask what you wanted and the staff dished it up for you.

Think self service drinks are mostly a no-no too but this could vary from hotel to hotel.

No issue for me and certainly wouldn't put me off booking an all inclusive, especially if you've found a good deal.

Cheers mate, sounds fair enough that.

 

[bluesmith]

Canaries and Denmark added to safe list.

Fuerteventura booked for 8 nights for half term on Saturday.

 

[AlgarveBlu]

I’d finally managed to convince the mrs that we should go to Berlin for the kids for the Christmas markets this December and then this is just announced. its A bit dicey this holiday booking business ;-(

Berlin has cancelled one of its most popular Christmas markets - which normally attracts almost a million visitors each year - as Germany registered a record 11,827 new Covid-19 infections within 24 hours, the Times (paywall) reports, as the city steels itself for a second lockdown.

 

[feedthegoat27]

We've just changed our Madeira flights for November back to the Canaries again, only had to pay £25 total to move them.

Paired it up with another bargain TUI hotel only deal....£20pppn all inclusive from 21st to 28th Nov.

Still seems to work across various dates but as ever it's at your own risk ;)