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

[TadlowDogIncident]

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?

I was really expecting an un-fixable dilemma here, but I can’t even see the problem, a million things could ruin a holiday, booking while covid is still around is just the part you suck up and hope for the best atm.

I think op is projecting all stresses on this what if situations possibly out of anxiety. Best you can do now is say, oh well im sure it’ll be fine and if it’s not we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Nothing is actually ruined yet and chances are they won’t be either, so you’re just robbing yourself of joy today over something that may not happen tomorrow!

Stressing this much over something that may or may not happen is really not worth it.

I know it’s hard, anxiety can be a pain in the arse and ‘not worrying’ is easier said than done. Try and rationalise the situation. It hasn’t happened. It probably won’t. Know that there’s a small risk, sure. Take precautions if it helps settle your mind. But deal with the bigger problems if and when they come up - because it’s very unlikely that they will. Don’t waste a trip of a lifetime!

Sounds fun! You won't get it. Wear the decent masks (the white ones you need on the plane) around and about if that helps. The penalty isn't too dire to risk going. Have fun and don't borrow trouble!

Really?

Honestly just do what you can to fake the tests. Who actually gives a shit anymore!

If it's LFT's just tickle the inside of your nose. If it's a spit one use water, if it's a proper swab one just use water.

If they are supervised just lightly scrape the inside of your cheek and tickle your nose.

Really, nobody cares. Stop stressing.

OP relax!!!!

OP if your anxiety is about quarantine you don't need to worry.

As you've said there's no testing requirement for Italy or returning to the UK - its just to board the train.

If (slim chance) when you do the pre-departure test one of you is positive, worst case scenario you can't board the train. There is no need to quarantine in Italy you simply book flights to return home.

Your train tickets will be refunded or covered by insurance in this case as you can't travel based on the positive test and train policy. Their rules rather than you not wanting to travel.

If you're that bothered buy some ffp3 masks. We use them in the hospital and I've never caught covid wearing them despite working right in peoples faces on ICU with the whole unit covid positive. They're less comfortable but we wore them on a 12.5 hour flight to Mauritius last November when there was the threat of us being quarantined when we arrived. It was fine. Chill, your holiday is most certainly NOT ruined.

I've been to Italy 3 times in the past 6 months. Holiday and business.

EVERY SINGLE TIME they insist of tons of paperwork and PCR tests. Not once have they looked at them or even asked to see them!!

Italian immigration is very hit and Miss.

Enjoy your holiday. Do not stress!!

This is travel now. You might have to take a Covid test and you might have to quarantine. These rules might be sprung on you at no notice. it’s especially true if you cross a border, you have to be prepared for an indefinite stay abroad even if the odds are unlikely.

i just got the news of added testing for an upcoming trip. It’s an extra logistical headache, but we will deal with it. It wouldn’t surprise me if the rules change again between now and then even and we will adapt..

I don’t think a trip wearing an FFP3 mask, eating in the hotel room and avoiding other people was quite the point of this trip…

It's your stress and anxiety that's going to ruin this trip, not the tests.
Seriously, you need to calm down.

I had to have a PCR to go on my holiday three weeks ago, and another to leave to come home. It's disconcerting, and there were consequences far more distressing than yours had I tested positive at the end of the trip. But I had insurance and just crossed my fingers. It was fine.

@Pookymalooky I mean the orient express? Does it go through the Chunnel?

Crikey , you are just creating a drama and being a bit of a doom monger - enjoy your holiday it will all be fine and if it isn’t then deal with it at the time .

Get a bunch of the FFP masks with the filters and wear them if/when you can in busy indoor places - that'll reduce your (already very small) risk by loads.

When you're outdoors your risk is tiny anyway (unless you're taking part in the face-licking contests).

You're worrying about something that probably won't happen. And I say this as someone who's been hugely concerned about Covid in the last couple of years and had looked into travel insurance to cover various unlikely covid-related isolation periods!

If you booked the trip a year ago, rules were very different then, so of course things will be a bit different. This is truly a case of first world problems. Get a grip.

Anyone who books a holiday abroad should really be aware of any travel mandates.

Sure you’ll be fine…but it’s your responsibility to abide by rules / restrictions!

You're not being daft, I just had to google this. Venice to Calais = actual Orient Express, then on to fancy coach which goes on the train through the tunnel, then onto British Pullman train. So actually 3 trains and Orient Express is only up to Calais. Who knew? (hopefully the OP!)

@TadlowDogIncident I did not mention anywhere in my post the suggestion to eat in one's room and avoid others so I'm unsure where you've got that from. I merely offered a simple solution that alleviates some exposure to covid in some high risk situations. On a plane out to your destination for example, it's easy to wear and that where you're most likely to catch it.

I agree with that but this isn’t a travel mandate, it’s the travel provider changing their own rules (nothing to do with the law) after they’ve got the money. I checked the Italian rules and our own before paying the balance, and they haven’t changed.

No point stressing over something that “might not happen”. And it probably won’t happen.

Go. Have the test. Enjoy your holiday.

No one cares?? 🙄 No, just those who are intent on travelling with various viruses…which all seem to be popping up recently!

Do the right thing, test and if positive - SI and keep everyone else safe. It’s not about you…it’s about everyone else.

@MrsRyan15 , are you sure? The government website says Italy has a quarantine requirement until at least 15th June.

This is the biggest non problem I’ve read on here in a while, and that’s saying something!

My DD who us not fully vaccinated had to take a lateral flow at the airport to allow her return. It had to be done at an official centre who take the swab for you so there's no faking it (like an earlier poster suggested).

But I think you should still go. Why wouldn't you? Just be careful. You have to wear proper PPE masks indoors in Italy. Try to wash your hands carefully etc.

Have a lovely trip. You are very unlikely to not be able to make the train trip back.