Can some one talk me through the steps you have do to go Spain and back.

[notacooldad]

I have the opportunity to see a relative in Spain over the next couple if weeks.
I'll just be booking a flight.
I am double vaccinated and waiting for my letter to arrive.
I'm getting confused by different people about what to do, where to buy tests from etc.
Could someone talk me through the steps please.
I'm not normally anxious but I'll be going by myself.
If you respond, thank you in advance.
I've been to Spain so many times by myself over the last 40 years but I'm getting quite wound up now!

The requirements for going out and coming back are all on the government pages. It's reasonably straightforward.

I think there's a Facebook travel advice page too.

It's not so bad... You can download the NHS app and you'll get your vaccine certificate on that. You have to fill in a passenger locator form before you go (you'll get a link to this once you book). That's all you need to go out.

Coming back you need to find somewhere to do an antigen test in the 3 days before you return (there are posters and flyers everywhere, you can have it done at the airport too), a passenger locator form for your return to UK and book a Pcr test for day 2 of your return (you need to book this before you do your locator form, we used randox)

That's it, sounds complicated but it was all good. Have fun!

The requirements for going out and coming back are all on the government pages. It's reasonably straightforward.
I know that but I'm wondering about getting official testing kits etc, where to present them etc.

You don't have to have a letter, if you go on the NHS app you can get a travel certificate there. You need to fill out a Spain passenger locator form before you go. 48 hours before you come back you need to do a LFT test (nobody even bothered to check ours) and you need to do a UK passenger locator form which will ask for the details of your day 2 PCR test that you have to do when you get back. The day AFTER you land is day one.

Bywayofanupdate
Thanks
I've been listening to someone who has come back from Sosin and someone has just come back from Portugal and they made it sound like a huge faff.

Sorry antigen test 48 hours before you come back, think that's what they call it rather than lateral flow (we went to Spain in Aug). It's much easier not having kids with you as you have to get them tested before you go out as well as all the rest.

The test you do before coming back can be one you take with you so you don’t need to spend part of your holiday at a clinic. We used c19 testing which was very efficient.

I know I am being hard work here, but where do you get the testing done before you go out and how do you prove it.
I do the lat flow 3 x a week for work but we have been issued kits to at home.
If you cant guess, I'm getting myself worked up over this!!🤣

We're going next Saturday. I'm assuming you're all double jabbed:-

You need to fill out the Spanish health form on their website approx 48 hours prior to travelling. www.spth.gob.es/create

Then 48 hours before flying back to UK you need an antigen test (gov website recommends PCR but it is not compulsory). In Spain there seem to be loads of clinics offering this for approx 30 euro.

Then when you get back you do a Day 2 test. Your day of arrival in UK is Day 0.

That being said I've been reading a lot of people aren't doing the Day 2 PCR test and the government don't seem to be following up on it much - but I may be wrong! I am going to do it.

If you're double jabbed you don't need a test before you go.

If you don't or can't find a clinic in Spain for your test before coming home you can order a test to take with you here:-

www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test/

It's £35.

You need the PCR day 2 code for the UK passenger locator form for coming back. I used a code for a previously bought test and it worked. It was checked Spain side, wasn't checked UK side. It's a big con as I didn't take it, and no one has checked.

It's not a huge faff if you're travelling alone. I came back from Greece last month and I'm flying home from Malta tomorrow.

Day 2 tests purchased from Randox. In Greece the tester came to the hotel. In Malta I booked at the pharmacy round the corner from the hotel and was told the result straightaway. Advised it would be emailed within an hour. It took just over half an hour. Saved to my phone and the hotel has also printed it off along with a copy of my PLF which took 5 minutes yesterday to complete.

Someone on here posted a link to a really useful FB group.
www.facebook.com/groups/192439932359902/?ref=share
Very informative also about airports, test companies etc.

Thanks for the advice eveybody. I really appreciate it and feel less apprehensive now.

It's super simple

1. Get your covid vaccine cert on your phone
2. Fill in your passenger locator for Spain (there's a Spanish health app)
3. Order your day 2 test for your return

In Spain:

1. There is usually testing in hotels or local clinics, ours was just round the corner. They email you your results within 20 mins
2. Fill in your passenger locator for UK online

Enjoy!

If it's easier you can buy a test to take with you to Spain which you do before you fly home. You upload the results and they email you a certificate. There are several companies which offer this and it saves a trip to the pharmacy.

One thing to double check - your name must be the same on your travel documents and your covid certificates.