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Original poster

HELP - holiday of a lifetime about to be ruined and I don't know what to do.

145 replies

TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:19

I don't expect sympathy for this one but am wondering if anyone has any advice.

Ages ago, I booked us an incredibly expensive holiday to mark a special occasion, flying out to Italy and coming home by train. We're travelling next week. I checked when I paid the balance for the train trip that we could get into Italy without Covid tests, which we can as we're fully vaccinated, and obviously there's no requirement to test to come back to the UK. When I booked, the booking conditions said it was our responsibility to make sure we had appropriate passports, visas and vaccination certificates if required. All fine, all in place.

They've emailed today with the tickets, with a covering email saying we have to have a Covid test within the 24 hours before we get on the train. Which would be fine too, except that Italy still has Covid quarantine. So if one of us tests unexpectedly positive, we have to quarantine for at least 7 days and DD will miss the start of school the following week. If I'd had the foggiest clue they were going to do this to me, I wouldn't have paid the balance, but there was no mention of it when i did that 8 weeks ago. No reference on their website either.

I don't know what to do. Insurance not relevant - it doesn't cover disinclination to travel, which I'm sure is how they'd class this. We can all take Covid tests before we go, but that doesn't mean one of us won't catch it while we're there and test positive.

I'm in a flat spin. This was meant to be a lovely celebration trip and I'm now stressed out of my head. Anyone have any suggestions?

OP posts:
Honaloulou · 25/05/2022 22:21

Chill. The chances of you getting Covid are tiny. If you do, I have no idea how strict the quarantine is but I bet no one would stop you going to the airport. And even if DD does miss some school, assuming she's not on an exam year, it's not a problem.

This wouldn't have even registered as a problem for me.

Imsittinginthekitchensink · 25/05/2022 22:23

Don't borrow trouble. No reason to think anyone will test positive, just do what needs to be done. Have a lovely time.

Paq · 25/05/2022 22:23

Chill. You are vaccinated, if the worst happens you'll deal with it at the time. Have a wonderful holiday.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Covid-19 Holidays
Discovereads · 25/05/2022 22:23

Just go. You will likely not catch covid while in Italy. If you do, you have a choice to quarantine in Italy or use a medical repatriation firm to fly you back to U.K. and quarantine at home.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:24

I'm not bothered about catching Covid - been there, done that, it was trivial for me - I'm very bothered about being stuck in quarantine.

OP posts:
MadMadMadamMim · 25/05/2022 22:24

I'm not really understanding what you are stressed about. The fact that you are going on holiday and might catch Covid whilst there? Surely that was always a possibility?

I'm assuming you're not irresponsible enough to be taking DD away if she's in an exam year, and therefore not sure why the anxiety about her 'missing the start of school'. People get ill. If she has to isolate and miss school through Covid then the school will accept this.

Dividos · 25/05/2022 22:26

I would definitely still go!

LisaSimpson77 · 25/05/2022 22:26

So, your holiday is "ruined" because if you catch Covid your dd will have to miss a couple of days of school?
Have I read that right?
If I've missed something I apologise did read it a couple of times
But if that's all you're in a "flat spin" about then stop being so dramatic.
It's not all that likely one of you will test positive and if you do, you phone the school and explain that you're stuck in Italy due to a positive Covid test.
Everything will be fine, enjoy your holiday.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:26

And yes, the odds of catching it are small, but the consequences are terrible! It's not just DD's school - she's not in an exam year, but she gets very stressy about missing it, and they were arsey about her having a week off with Covid in February - it's my job as well. I can work remotely but it means taking the bloody work laptop with me on what was meant to be a family celebration, just in case.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 25/05/2022 22:26

Yeah chill, likelihood of getting it is very very low

Delatron · 25/05/2022 22:26

Your holiday of a lifetime is not about to be ruined! This has been a similar situation for most travelling in the past few years... it’s just a tiny risk you take. Then deal with it if it happens.

It will be fine. Relax.

Cuphalffullor · 25/05/2022 22:26

I just went to Italy. Had to fill in a form before I went with proof of vaccination. No test and nothing to come back. Have rules changed?

Tapsaffweather · 25/05/2022 22:26

Is it just you and your daughter? And if one of you tests positive do you all need to isolate? I’m wondering if your daughter is negative whether one person can come home with her. Some insurance policies cover for covid isolation stays too. There’s a good chance you’ll go and be absolutely fine so I think you go and make the best of it. I understand why you’re nervous though but at the end of the day if she misses a few days off school on the slim chance she tests positive then would it be so bad? Disappointing but You’ll have such fab memories from a wonderful holiday. Easy to say but I’d go and hope for the best

Cuphalffullor · 25/05/2022 22:27

Can you fly back?

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:28

Cuphalffullor · 25/05/2022 22:26

I just went to Italy. Had to fill in a form before I went with proof of vaccination. No test and nothing to come back. Have rules changed?

This isn't an Italian rule, it's a requirement that the train operator's imposed - test within 24 hours of boarding the train.

It's all very well to say go and have a wonderful holiday, but it really won't be wonderful if the price of a short break (two nights in Venice, one on the train) is seven nights in a grotty quarantine hotel.

OP posts:
TinaYouFatLard · 25/05/2022 22:28

As a family of five who have travelled as much as possible during the last two years, we have done dozens of these bloody tests. It’ll be fine. Just go and enjoy your holiday.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:29

Tapsaffweather · 25/05/2022 22:26

Is it just you and your daughter? And if one of you tests positive do you all need to isolate? I’m wondering if your daughter is negative whether one person can come home with her. Some insurance policies cover for covid isolation stays too. There’s a good chance you’ll go and be absolutely fine so I think you go and make the best of it. I understand why you’re nervous though but at the end of the day if she misses a few days off school on the slim chance she tests positive then would it be so bad? Disappointing but You’ll have such fab memories from a wonderful holiday. Easy to say but I’d go and hope for the best

Me, DH and DD.

OP posts:
Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:30

Cuphalffullor · 25/05/2022 22:27

Can you fly back?

Only if we write off the train fare, which is by far the biggest cost of the trip.

OP posts:
ginislife · 25/05/2022 22:30

I got on a train in Italy on Sunday and no one asked me if I'd taken a covid test. We did have to wear masks though.

Discovereads · 25/05/2022 22:30

TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:24

I'm not bothered about catching Covid - been there, done that, it was trivial for me - I'm very bothered about being stuck in quarantine.

That’s what medical repatriation firms do. They fly back people with Covid or who get too sick to come back by commercial transport. All you need to do is take out Covid travel insurance
www.staysure.co.uk/coronavirus-travel-insurance/

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:31

I've got Covid travel insurance and hadn't thought about medical repatriation: I'll check the policy.

OP posts:
Aposterhasnoname · 25/05/2022 22:31

“The consequences are terrible” Your DD misses a couple of days school, and you a few days work. Hardly life threatening, and that’s assuming you catch covid, which is highly unlikely, as, given your panic, I expect you’ll be taking every precaution.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:32

ginislife · 25/05/2022 22:30

I got on a train in Italy on Sunday and no one asked me if I'd taken a covid test. We did have to wear masks though.

It's not an ordinary Italian train. Kicking myself for booking this in the first place now...

OP posts:
Happytap · 25/05/2022 22:33

Another one saying relax

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 25/05/2022 22:35

You are literally borrowing your worries from tomorrow.

  1. You need to test to return - fine
  2. The likelihood of you testing positive is slim to none
  3. If you do test positive, it's a quarantine for a week. Big deal.
  4. Worrying now won't actually change the outcome. Its a wasted emotion
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