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

[Theredjellybean]

Some not so good news... Now just seen you will need to show certificate at airport.. Or jet2 are saying.. On arrival... And again at accomadation.
I have just tried to do boots booking and cannot get an appointment for Thursday evening anyway... The latest was 17. 00 at Heathrow landside.
We could go to Reading at 9 on Friday morning and risk the results arriving by 9 on Sunday.
They do guarentee 48 hrs.
I have found a more local clinic to us that guarentees 24 hr result and has evening slots so going Friday at 7pm after work and school and guaranteed result by midnight sat.
It is 60 more than boots.
I rang the helpline on boots covid test website.
Boots appointment obviously snapped up so I'd get onto them and check your timings and get booked ASAP.

[MozzchopsThirty]

I can't seem to book with boots online unless I make payment first
How do I find out what's available?

[Theredjellybean]

You have to register first... With passport and card details.. Then you go through to booking page but it does say you are not charged at all until you attend the clinic for your swab

[MozzchopsThirty]

How are you getting on with the test quest @Theredjellybean

[LIZS]

Gatwick are offering tests from 30th November, up to 96 hours ahead of travel with next day results. Fee is discounted for airport staff and those booked to fly.

[LIZS]

You can book at www.expresstest.co.uk/ from next Friday for 30th onwards. Says further test centres may be added in December.

[MrsSDK]

Hi OP, we're in the same position, spoke to our hotel this week to get an update and they can arrange for a local clinic to visit us at the hotel on arrival . Tests are €40 each for anyone over 6 years, they can come to the hotel within 10 min of asking (fine if takes a bit longer) and results are immediate.

This does all assume we get a negative result and the test is a formality!

We're staying in Corralejo on Fuerteventura.

[MozzchopsThirty]

@MrsSDK we are also staying in corralejo

That's good news but I'm worried that for 9 of us, waiting until we get there is too risky
Plus the hotel won't let us in until we produce a certificate
I think the rules will change shortly so you'll need one before you travel

Gatwick isn't an option for us as we'd need to travel there Xmas day or Boxing Day which is a 7 hour round trip

Will have a look at the other link for testing many thanks for that @LIZS

[Theredjellybean]

@MrsSDK
I think you need to check, I have been told we will need to show test certificate on arrival at airport and again at accommodation.
I am not sure if I'd risk nit being allowed through border control.

[Theredjellybean]

@MozzchopsThirty
We are using Midland health.. In Birmingham.. Not sure if near you?
Older daughter and her bf have got boots tests booked in Central London

[MozzchopsThirty]

Midland health are not working over Xmas

[Theredjellybean]

Oh no

[Dieffenbachia]

@SandysMam

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

If you book with TUI, they will let you change dates free of charge if you contract covid before departure (or are required to self isolate or your local area goes into a lockdown). That takes out quite a bit of the stress along with the general Covid cover automatically included with their holidays

[notangelinajolie]

Why on earth are you going on holiday during a pandemic?

[Dieffenbachia]

I am very much struggling to get a test for the 2nd half of next week. No Boots in London have any appointments for this time. I may have to try the Gatwick option

[Dieffenbachia]

@MozzchopsThirty - samedaydoctor do the PCR tests every day, including Christmas Day. They are, however, eye wateringly expensive

[lovelemoncurd]

Er... I would have checked that before booking the probably massive cheaper holiday. Have you checked trip advisor. There must be people arrive in the country and get them done at the airport. I know in Egypt they were doing them on arrival but then telling people to stay in hotel until results came through. If people positive then they were moved to a Covid hotel( lovely not!)

[Theredjellybean]

I booked this holiday before Spain introduced the test requirements.
@Dieffenbachia.. There are literally hundreds of places in London doing tests.. Boots is the cheapest by far though, hence why they have sold out.
As to why go on holiday... Why not?
The risk is no greater there than here, we will know we are negative before we travel so won't be spreading it to another country.

[MozzchopsThirty]

Just for those giving super helpful (not) comments and not reading my initial posts*
*
AGAIN ....... WE BOOKED IN JANUARY!!

[FelicityPike]

Cancel the bloody holiday.

[165EatonPlace]

Just to clarify. As from Nov 23rd everybody entering via port or airport needs a negative PCR ( not antigen ) Covid test
with certificate, regardless of where you are staying and the type of accomodation you are staying in in Canaries.
NHS tests not suitable.
Test needs to be taken within 72 hours of ARRIVAL time in Canaries (need to factor in time for any flight delays.)
The Canarian administration are trying to put pressure on the Spanish Government to accept the antigen test but this has to go back to the EU to be agreed.......
So don't get your hopes up that anything will change soon.

[165EatonPlace]

I think the Gawick Airport test must be Antigen testing because a PCR test cannot be turned around so quickly.

[froubylou]

I wouldn't panic yet OP, Christmas is a massively busy time for travel, even this year and I expect the travel industry will come up with some kind of testing solution to cover that period.

I would maybe email a few people, the holiday company, the airline, ABTA and ATOL (think OTB is with both), maybe the travel insurance company. Bring it to their attention and wait and see what happens but even if no one else takes responsibility someone will take advantage (and your cash 😒) to test over the Christmas period.

[BeakyWinder]

The anti-holiday vibe on MN is crazy. Ignore them OP. Absolutely terrible timing for you to sort a test out, I hope you can sort it and enjoy your break!

[Dieffenbachia]

@165EatonPlace

Just to clarify. As from Nov 23rd everybody entering via port or airport needs a negative PCR ( not antigen ) Covid test
with certificate, regardless of where you are staying and the type of accomodation you are staying in in Canaries.
NHS tests not suitable.
Test needs to be taken within 72 hours of ARRIVAL time in Canaries (need to factor in time for any flight delays.)
The Canarian administration are trying to put pressure on the Spanish Government to accept the antigen test but this has to go back to the EU to be agreed.......
So don't get your hopes up that anything will change soon.

Excellent summary!