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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:
Quartz2208 · 25/05/2022 22:35

I think you are spiralling out here.

Having had to take tests to both leave and enter the country (and being aware of people stuck abroad due to covid) it is just the price you pay

Make sure though that you get a test that is accepted (one that will give you a certificate etc) NHS isnt going to cut it

Chardonnay73 · 25/05/2022 22:35

Honestly, take a deep breath. Your post is full of ‘what ifs’.
There is a tiny chance you could test positive. And if you did, it’s what, a week in quarantine? The balance of probability says you will be fine.
The ‘surprise testing’ seems to be a thing. My parents flew off to join a cruise today. Nothing mentioned about Covid testing in the paperwork. Got to boarding the ship and discovered everyone had to have a test before they would let you on… they were very stressed about that particularly as the testing staff lost their tests and everyone had boarded and was waiting for them!
Go. Enjoy yourself. I’m sure it will all be fine

FishfingerFlinger · 25/05/2022 22:36

Your holiday isn’t ruined!!! Get a grip!

It’s very unlikely to be an issue.

anything could happen that delays your return. Don’t stress over one possibility amongst many, just go enjoy your trip.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Covid-19 Holidays
carefullycourageous · 25/05/2022 22:36

I think you are borrowing trouble here.

Try to calm down, I mean that kindly but you are spiralling.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:36

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.

OK, terrible is an exaggeration. But we lose quite a lot of money and what should have been a lovely trip will be stressful and miserable at the end. We've avoided travelling in circumstances where we'd have to test to come home precisely to avoid this situation, and I'm really annoyed that the train company has sprung it on us at the last minute.

I'm not remotely panicked about the Covid - we're all vaccinated, I'm living normally, going on the Tube and to the theatre and to the office and have been ever since restrictions were relaxed, and we've travelled a few times already - it's the prospect of quarantine that's freaking me out. The medical repatriation suggestion is really helpful and I'll look into that.

OP posts:
Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:37

Quartz2208 · 25/05/2022 22:35

I think you are spiralling out here.

Having had to take tests to both leave and enter the country (and being aware of people stuck abroad due to covid) it is just the price you pay

Make sure though that you get a test that is accepted (one that will give you a certificate etc) NHS isnt going to cut it

We have to test in Italy so NHS ones not relevant - I need to check with the hotel where to get one.

OP posts:
Discovereads · 25/05/2022 22:37

TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:31

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

Exactly. If you have covid travel insurance you won’t be stuck in a quarantine hotel in Italy for a week. They fly you back to the U.K. in your own private jet all covid safe, get you home and you go from there. If you’re really sick, they fly you back to U.K. and transport you direct to your local hospital. They can land at small city airports too, so no long journey from Heathrow or whatever.

Stompythedinosaur · 25/05/2022 22:38

Your dd having to miss a few days of school and you having to miss a few days of work is no different to what could happen if you were unwell. It isn't really that terrible a consequence.

DappledOliveGroves · 25/05/2022 22:38

Who organises the test? Is it supervised? Surely if a lateral flow you could just run it under a tap and present a negative test result?

MadMadMadamMim · 25/05/2022 22:39

F.E.A.R Future Events Aren't Real.

You are creating an imaginary situation in your head that will be terribly, terribly stressful for you - and stressing about it. But it isn't real. Stop stressing unless it actually comes to pass. And then you are allowed to find it mildly irritating.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:39

Chardonnay73 · 25/05/2022 22:35

Honestly, take a deep breath. Your post is full of ‘what ifs’.
There is a tiny chance you could test positive. And if you did, it’s what, a week in quarantine? The balance of probability says you will be fine.
The ‘surprise testing’ seems to be a thing. My parents flew off to join a cruise today. Nothing mentioned about Covid testing in the paperwork. Got to boarding the ship and discovered everyone had to have a test before they would let you on… they were very stressed about that particularly as the testing staff lost their tests and everyone had boarded and was waiting for them!
Go. Enjoy yourself. I’m sure it will all be fine

Interesting that other people are doing surprise Covid testing - I'd have been even more stressed if they'd sprung it on me on the day!

OP posts:
CHiSOCG · 25/05/2022 22:40

Slightly confused as to why you’re testing but if it’s unsupervised dip it in a drop of water and send it back! Bob’s your uncle and Fanny’s your aunt!

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:40

DappledOliveGroves · 25/05/2022 22:38

Who organises the test? Is it supervised? Surely if a lateral flow you could just run it under a tap and present a negative test result?

Don't know - it's not an Italian Government requirement, so there's nothing on any official site, and the train company's website has absolutely nothing about it. But the email does say something about needing to present a digital certificate, so I presume not as simple as a self-administered lateral flow.

OP posts:
applespearsbears · 25/05/2022 22:45

I'm
I'm itsly now traveling on the train and no covid test required?

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:46

applespearsbears · 25/05/2022 22:45

I'm
I'm itsly now traveling on the train and no covid test required?

It's not an ordinary Italian train, it's a specific one back to the UK.

OP posts:
applespearsbears · 25/05/2022 22:47

Di you mean Eurostar? Also just needed to show nhs covid status

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:48

applespearsbears · 25/05/2022 22:47

Di you mean Eurostar? Also just needed to show nhs covid status

No, it's the Orient Express.

OP posts:
LilacPoppy · 25/05/2022 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

RausageSoul · 25/05/2022 22:50

The orient express?? What if... you all collude and murder someone??

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 25/05/2022 22:51

applespearsbears · 25/05/2022 22:45

I'm
I'm itsly now traveling on the train and no covid test required?

I can’t be the only one thinking OP must be getting on the Orient Express …?

LoveMyPiano · 25/05/2022 22:51

Are people missing that it is (probably) The Orient Express?

I understand your worry; I hope it's all OK for you🤗

Bunnycat101 · 25/05/2022 22:51

Is it orient express?

LilacPoppy · 25/05/2022 22:51

And the people suggesting faking tests should be ashamed. There could well be people who are immune compromised who are only taking the train as they are confident it’s as safe as it possibly could be.

Original poster
TadlowDogIncident · 25/05/2022 22:52

LilacPoppy · 25/05/2022 22:51

And the people suggesting faking tests should be ashamed. There could well be people who are immune compromised who are only taking the train as they are confident it’s as safe as it possibly could be.

Well, you may be right, but I don't know how they'd know that given that I booked the trip a year ago and didn't find out about the testing requirement till today.

OP posts:
RausageSoul · 25/05/2022 22:53

Wait... how does a train get from Italy to London?