To think travel wouldn't be that bad?

[lockitdown]

We would like to go abroad for Christmas but are so confused. Despite what seems to be a few warnings here and there, friends flights being cancelled, the apparent hassle of testing and "beverley goldberging" by people we know (i.e "I knew of a party of 9 golfers who went to portugal, they all got covid and 2 died") ......according to my social media, everyone seems to be travelling freely.

I find it really confusing. I know social media isn't always telling me the truth but why does it look like people from other parts of the world are travelling happily and easily? Destinations are supposed to be shut but travel companies are still selling holiday packages (e,g Morocco).

AIBU to think the whole travel thing is being purposefully made to be confusing? Has anyone gone anywhere and is it worth it and just how easy is it?

@toomuchlaundry

Does travel insurance cover the cost of quarantine hotel if your destination is suddenly put on the red list?

No. There was a couple on BBC this morning from a quarantine hotel. They'd been visiting family in S Africa and got caught by the change in rules. They said their insurance didn't cover it and they'd put it on credit card and would have to sort out how to pay the £4,000 in the new year. So a huge consideration is could you afford the quarantine Hotel and endure 10 days stuck in one room.

I think you should only travel if you take all the below into consideration

Travel insurance
Have access to savings incase you get stuck in a foreign country for a long time
Can afford quarantine & testing at short notice, due to rule changes
If you get stuck in a country will your employer pay you ?
Are vaccinated

We wanted to travel to the UK for a 4 day weekend to see family. Technically allowed but 2 of the 4 days would be isolated waiting for PCR results in a hotel (family dont live in city we were planning to visit).

So basically, it all depends on where you are going, their individual rules, and what the UK rules are when you get home...

Add the worry that if you test positive you get stranded and it could cost a fortune.

@DazedandConcerned

It is easy to some destinations. My friends have decamped to Egypt for example. Anyone double vaccinated can just enter the country with a health declaration. To return you need to test 48 hours before return and before day 2 after arrival. I did this in July and August when travelling. You can take an lft with you and upload results to get your fit to fly certificate.

Just one example of how easy it can be.

Can I ask where you got the test whilst away?

We have travelled extensively. It depends on your personal situation. Make sure the holiday will be fully covered if cancelled. Book it last minute so you know how the situation might go. Egypt is open since May. Only need your confirmation of Covid vaccination. Morocco closed last week. For 2 weeks, but that will likely be extended to January to cover Christmas travellers. You need to know what each country requires and as these change all the time you need to do it last minute. All those going into UK hotel quarantine, they should have flown first to a green country, had another holiday there instead of being in a prison hotel at Heathrow. It's very difficult to holiday if you have children, work commitments, cannot work from home if needed. The people we meet travelling are the retired, the self employed, those without children, those who can work from home (civil servants) on return. During the summer it was easier, then travelling with children was pretty much ok. We have done a load of PCR tests etc. Not a big deal. But an extra cost. If booking a last minute right now I wouldn't pick any part of Africa. The Canaries are your best bet for current winter sun in a reasonable destination especially as it' spart of Europe. Otherwise you need to go long haul.

@lockitdown when I went to Ibiza in July I took it with me. Was chronomics.

In august our hotel in Greece was Doing them for €20.

I’d recommend chronomics or randox for their return lft and day 2 PCR bundles.

[quote DazedandConcerned]@lockitdown when I went to Ibiza in July I took it with me. Was chronomics.

In august our hotel in Greece was Doing them for €20.

I’d recommend chronomics or randox for their return lft and day 2 PCR bundles.[/quote]
I dont think they are accepting chronomics anymore?

You really need to do your homework about UK listing of the country you're planning on visiting and also the requirements of the country you want to travel to.
We just got back from Dubai. Had to have PCR within 48hrs of going, Dubai requirement and then PCR within 48 hrs of return in Dubai, they don't do LFTs.
Then another PCR test within 48hrs back in UK.
So three PCR tests for a seven day trip.
The result of the one in Dubai...or any other country has to go on your passenger locator form, which you have to fill in before returning to the UK.
DS going skiing in France on Friday this week and the entry requirements are different.
It's all a bit of a faff and extra expense plus I had to take an extra day off work but I guess worth it if you really want to travel.

I travelled in November and came back just this week.

The only thing I regret was ordering our day 2 tests in advance due to the rule change (although I take heart in knowing I wasted money on the cheapest test at the time!) In future, I'll just order them a few days before I'm due to return.

I'm not sure If I would travel now with the big fuss regarding Omicron. When the rules changed recently and in the run-up to coming back to the UK my heart jumped at any alert from FCDO, hoping that the country I was in would not end up on the red list.

Other than that, as long as you follow the rules both for the UK and the country you're travelling too... all should be well. Testing is not that much of a hassle IMO, although I do empathise with those who have had poor experiences with companies... although it can be expensive!

It's definitely a lot more hassle and extra cost. I think international travel is currently inaccessible for a lot of people for whom it was not previously. Having said that, if you've got the extra money and you're willing to jump through the extra hoops, it is not that bad. Once you're actually at the airport with all your evidence and documents sorted, it's easy enough. You just need to prep more.

My main concern is that many of these extra hoops will not be temporary.

I went to Ibiza in September and Cape Verde last week.

Not really any hassle if you research what is needed. The rules changed whilst we were in Cape Verde which added an extra £40 pp for the PCR test, but you have to expect these things.

No airport delays just a little extra paperwork, fill in your passenger locator form before you go, show your covid passport at the airport, fill in your passenger locator form before your return (plus PCR test if needed).

The plus side is the hotels are very quiet.

As someone who works overseas and tries to get back to the UK every so often the biggest issue at the moment is the uncertainty. Yes, cost of the PCRs is a bit of a nightmare (I'll be paying about £150...gulp) but it's not knowing if flights will be cancelled, borders will close etc.
Since originally booking I've gone from 48 hour pcr before coming back to country I'm in to that plus 2 day LFT on arrival in UK to 0-2 day pcr in UK to pcr before leaving country I'm in to all of that plus 7 days self-isolation after UK visit.
In Aug 2020 I faced an even more stressful time trying to get back from Algeria.

So if you can handle the cost and the uncertainty then check out where woukd be feasible..just don't make any plans for the week after you're meant to fly home.

Just been abroad (popular European destination) this weekend and it was the most stressful trip ever. We’re very, very experienced travellers and there were tears.

Rules ever changing is a nightmare, expensive order and reorder of tests when rules change, stress of waiting for results, Covid recovered statuses etc. everywhere we went abroad wanted to see our vax status, restaurants, bars, tourist attractions.

Our flight carrier were uncontactable prior to the trip, they switched their phone and chat lines off presumably due to being overwhelmed with questions re: the new rule changes.

We got home just before the new rule of a test prior to entry to uk, but the thought of having to source a PCR in a foreign country and the stresses of 1. Will it come back in time and 2. What if it’s positive, where do we isolate for 10days?? is enough to ensure I won’t be travelling again til May at the earliest.

Super easy. Just do your research. Those of us that aren't brits in the UK always find it funny how much a couple of pieces in admin seem to put brits off travel or make make thing it's big drama. Enjoy!

@Play8063

Super easy. Just do your research. Those of us that aren't brits in the UK always find it funny how much a couple of pieces in admin seem to put brits off travel or make make thing it's big drama. Enjoy!

I am not a Brit! *awkward

@Play8063
I'm not a 'brit' either but to say to @lockitdown that it is super easy is a little dramatic in itself, when we all know that that is not the case at the mo.

I’m a Brit and I’ve been on 2 foreign holidays in the last 2 months, including one where the rules changed whilst I was out there.
No drama and not put off

@ArcherDog

I’m a Brit and I’ve been on 2 foreign holidays in the last 2 months, including one where the rules changed whilst I was out there. No drama and not put off

How did the rules change while you were there?

I've travelled a little bit throughout the pandemic (most recently at October half term), but I'm not sure I could be bothered with things as they are currently.

HOWEVER, if you want to travel, you'll find a way, so make sure you do sufficient research (don't rely on MN - I've seen some excellent, but also some very outdated advice), both on the UK's requirements, and the country you'll be travelling to's requirements. Be prepared it can change relatively quickly, so if you can make last minute plans, I'd do that. And don't pin too much on it in case it can't happen for whatever reason.

Regarding the double vaxxed teen - just check on whether they've got the necessary documentation as required by the other country - I could well be wrong, but I don't think they can upload the QR Covid pass for their details yet? Check very carefully to see what the country will need.

But as someone who's managed it 3 times during Covid (and with many more cancellations), it's all worth it once you set foot in a new environment

Travel is easy within the EU if you're double vaccinated. Not many countries are demanding tests and quarantines.
Obviously travel from the UK to the EU and vice versa is more complicated.
I'm planning to travel from the continent to the UK, but it involved 3 tests and two short bouts of quarantine. I don't think I'd bother if I didn't have family to see and I may still cancel if further restrictions come in.

"My DS had covid in September and still tested positive on a PCR end of November even though he recovered nearly three months before that."

In some countries you can get a doctor's note stating that you are no longer contagious even if you're still testing positive after a few months. Not sure to what extent these are accepted for travel.

I really do appreciate everyone's input, I am learning a lot.

@lockitdown I’d recommend randox anyway. They were fab. £72 for return lft and day 2 PCR. Their results are back quick as well. Chronomics are still on the government provider list. And if you go TUI they may still offer discounts on the testing packages.

@Gwenhwyfar

"My DS had covid in September and still tested positive on a PCR end of November even though he recovered nearly three months before that."

In some countries you can get a doctor's note stating that you are no longer contagious even if you're still testing positive after a few months. Not sure to what extent these are accepted for travel.

That's true. UK isn't one of them though. So if you test positive on your day 2 test once back in the UK you have to isolate for another 10 days even though there is nothing wrong with you and you are only testing positive because you have recently recovered.

@Play8063

Super easy. Just do your research. Those of us that aren't brits in the UK always find it funny how much a couple of pieces in admin seem to put brits off travel or make make thing it's big drama. Enjoy!

I'm not British and I don't think us non-Brits collectively think that at all. Some people handle uncertaintly better than others, that's across the globe. Not just Brits.