To ask if/how you would book Austria for next year?

[PumpkinPie2016]

Evening all,

Firstly, I know none of us know for sure what will happen covid wise over the next year or so, however, I just wanted other people's thoughts.

DH and I are fully vaccinated, boosters done in Nov/Dec respectively. So, all good. We have an 8 year old son and are booking his vaccine soon.

Next year (Aug 2023) we would like to book a holiday in Austria. We can either book hotel/flights separately (cheaper!) Or book through tui/first choice.

I had a look at covid entry requirements though and now I am unsure whether to go ahead😥most countries are happy if you have been fully vaccinated as we have. However, currently, Austria only deem you to be fully vaccinated if your booster is no more than 270 days before you arrive. Otherwise, you need a negative covid test. For comparison, Italy say your covid pass is valid indefinitely.

Obviously, the above as it stands means our covid pass would be invalid and we would have to test. I have no issue with testing per se, but if one of us tests positive, we obviously couldn't go and then I don't know if we would get the money back.

All this said, it may well change and just require covid vaccine passes like other places and in which case, no problem.

Any advice/wwyd? I'm tempted to book only through a tour operator as it seems 'safer' but I don't know?

I came back from Austria last week. Covid pass wasn't looked at once!

Thank you @Empra123 that makes me feel a lot better - hoping things will be less 'strict' by next year.

I think if we get another wave we'll get a new booster. If we don't get another wave most places will stop caring so it'll be ok either way. It's unlikely that one high vaccine coverage county will get another wave and the other doesn't so they'll be in the same boat.

There's no point worrying about it - countries will lengthen or drop vaccine requirements if there are no new rounds of COVID, as others have suggested. I'd only possibly worry about travelling to countries that have been ultra, ultra strict on visitors (like Israel, China or New Zealand) as they have more potential to clamp down again.

Thank you for taking time to reply.

Logically, I think it will be fine (or, as you say, everyone will be in the same boat - hopefully not and probably unlikely!).

Hoping to book so we have something to look forward to 😊

I would book via a tour operator. We had to cancel our trip as DD caught covid and it was easy with tui.

Sorry you had to cancel @Rainbowshit but glad it was easy to do.

I'm leaning towards booking with a tour operator even if it is more expensive.

I'm in Austria and the rules were recently changed to your Green Pass (full vaccination status) being valid for one whole year after the booster. This was because many passes would have expired around Aug which makes travel for Austrians out of the country even more complex. There is no official recommendation for a fourth shot so they need to ensure that the passes stay valid until further notice.

Tbh things are extremely lax everywhere. Masks are only mandatory in supermarkets/public transport/medical settings and there are no more Green Pass checks required in hotels or restaurants. The majority of people have all caught covid so it's really no big deal anymore.

When entering into the country, there are a few guys doing spot checks in the baggage claim area for the Green Pass. Otherwise nobody looks at the documents.

Thank you @CupcakeTowers again, that is very reassuring. As things stand, ours would be valid until Nov/Dec next year then, currently they would 'expire' before we go next year but looking at everything and what people are saying, I think it will either be you need a booster (should a 4th one become available to all) or your vaccine status will be valid as long as you have had 2+booster.