Canaries holiday - can't get tests

[MozzchopsThirty]

What would you do??

We're booked to go to canaries on 28th dec
We need to prove a negative covid test done 72 hours before travel

Which would be Xmas day
Boxing Day is Saturday
Nowhere is offering private tests over Xmas period
Postal tests not an option due to the Xmas post, time etc

Does anyone have any ideas on how we can do this??
TIA

Ask the travel firm, and your insurers what they recommend.

What would you do??

not go on holiday

Whereabouts in the uk are you ? Could you travel to Liverpool ?

Where are you?
We got one done in north London Guaranteed result with 24 hrs but £250

My parents got one done in Manchester guaranteed 24 hrs £170

Maybe it can be done

Xxx

We are in a large city

No problem getting tests private here £120-£160
But not Boxing Day which is when we'd need it

As we booked with on the beach everyone is passing the buck

Can you move your flight back a day?
It’s bank holiday so I’m thinking a lot of places won’t be open - unless you can find a private testing place open over the weekend/ bank holiday

It doesn't matter where we move it back or forward, we're still in the same position 🙈
It's so frustrating
It's been booked since January and it's been on, off, on and now maybe off again

Move your flight. NHS won't be doing tests boxing day either, unless you're in hospital.

pinkbalconyrailing That’s great that you wouldn’t mind losing your money without trying to find a solution first.

Or do have have any helpful advice for the op?

Can’t you get one of the instant boots tests on 27th?

What the canaries actually say is you need a test if you are staying in regulated tourist accommodation.
The responsibility to check you have test results lies with the accommodation.
If you don't get a test prior to arrival you'll need to get one at an approved clinic o. The island.
You have several options.. If you are going to a villa or apt and you are getting a key code to let yourself in you could risk no one coming to check you have a test results.
You could arrive, go straight to get test there and then self isolate in your villa until results available..
You could order postal kits test at home, on Christmas eve, put them in last post, I thought results are from date they reach lab... They won't get tested privately but nhs likely will have covid tests running over that weekend
It depends on your morals and whether you feel you can conviently have a cough and order nhs tests prior to going away.
If you do, you will most likely get your result by 28 or 29.
Last post on Christmas eve into nhs testing lab likely be done on Saturday 26

Would they be done if they were couriered?

@Theredjellybean I'm pretty sure from 23rd November the rules change and its checked at the airport. This new rule covers the whole of Spain and the Canaries

From 23rd November the new Spanish rules come in.

PCR test only within 72 hours of arrival. You won't be boarding your flight unless you have the proof, along with date/time/ official lab used and passport details.

Op, I am on some Canary Islands forums. Many people due to fly around the sane time as you are having the same difficulty.

It depends on your morals and whether you feel you can conviently
have a cough and order nhs tests prior to going away
If you do, you will most likely get your result by 28 or 29
Last post on Christmas eve into nhs testing lab likely be done on Saturday 26

I really hope people do the decent thing and don’t add extra pressure and costs to the NHS so they can go on holiday.

AF
Me too
We went oct 17 for two weeks and it was fabulous
We usually go about Dec 3 for 2 weeks , I’m holding off booking till Boris decides if he’s letting us out of lockdown or not.
Soooo frustrating
I’m usually all booked up by now

Op I’d look into moving flights. Is your airline allowing you change for free.
Some are

NHS tests do not include the relevant information so don't try that route, moral issues aside

Also...if you have a "cough" then you are symptomatic and shouldn't be flying anyway

What happens if you test positive? Do you lose your money? That sounds unbelievably stressful!

They do not accept NHS tests.

@Verite1

Can’t you get one of the instant boots tests on 27th?

I believe antigen tests won’t be allowed for the canaries as of now only pcrs

Yes, my dad ran up against similar issues. He lives in the canaries and every year he comes to the UK for Christmas and flies back on boxing Day. The testing rules mean that just isn't feasible this year (and to confirm, the rules are changing later in the month so everyone arriving from the UK needs tests - even Canarian residents travelling home).

Cancel your trip, not worth the stress & hassle IMHO.

To be honest it is down to the client to consider this themselves before they book , that being said on the beach do not have the best customer service in the world .
We are advising our clients not to book the canaries for those dates and to change the bookings they already have .