Germany - should we stay or should we go

[BigFiveMama]

Have booked a long weekend in Berlin very soon and I'm stuck as whether to go or not. We've not been away since March and could really do with a break but the cases are rising and rules change all the time. At the moment we wouldn't have to quarantine on return. Also would not be able to get all the money from accommodation but can reschedule flights. I'm just stuck and it feels like it would be safer to stay home.

At the moment travellers from England don't have to quarantine in Germany (Wales and NI do I think) but it could change at short notice, I wouldn't risk it at the moment. Unless you are able to quarantine on return. Berlin is an amazing city!! Hope you get to go asap. I was supposed to be going to Munich in May but have postponed until Easter next year. Such a pain!!

There’s been a big new ride open at a theme park in Germany in the last couple of weeks, loads of people o know from the enthusiast community have been. I would go as long as you are able to quarantine afterwards as this can change quickly. The only thing stopping me is the kids having to quarantine if the rules change as I don’t want them missing two weeks of school, otherwise we d have been on a flight last weekend. Go and have a fab time just be prepared for things to change.

I feel like the trip would make huge difference to my mental health. We live in an are where there's not been many cases and everyone is quite good at obeying the rules, which is great but it also means that we've hardly left the house in the past few months. Think we'll wait till Monday evening to make the decision. Maybe there will be some sort of indication as to what might happen by then.

Go. I am a complete advocate of following the rules re Covid but there is no harm in being scientific about it. I have just spent a few weeks in France and Italy. I was incredibly scientific about the risks. No indoors etc. The virus won't "magically" get you as long as you think about your behavior. Air travel if you look at the studies is safe, the riskiest area is the connecting tunnel apparently so be late or early!

There are many carrying out far riskier behaviour in the UK. It's perfectly possible to travel at present without risking yourselves or others if you think about how you are doing it and how you behave once there, although Germany is obviously doing quite well.

Check the gov website if you are coming from high risk areas of UK you may be required to isolate for 14 days on arrival in Germany.
Sorry only came into force yesterday

There seems to be airport testing available or a negative test taken 48 hours before flight.
It's only if you have been to high risk areas 14 days before you fly. You're OK at the moment from London etc.
Wondered why the ryanair flights from Manchester were so cheap today.

Yes, most areas of the UK have over the past week been added to the 'risk' list in Germany. They (rightly) don't want people from high risk areas.

And it's difficult to get a uk negative test result (doctor signed) within 48 hours of arriving. If you get tested at German airport, it takes a couple of days to get the results. So not ideal for a short break, as you're not welcome at hotels until proven negative.

At the moment we wouldn't have to quarantine on return.

No, but you'd have to quarantine on arrival in Berlin. Most UK regions are now deemed 'high risk' areas. Shame, but understandably the Germans want to avoid importing the virus.

Go but check you do t gave to quarantine yourself over there. We had wonderful summer in Germany and Italy SO glad we went when we could now things getting worse

Oh go, we did go to Athens last weekend after me getting blasted on MN for daring to take a trip during pandemic!
It was blissful

if you are coming from high risk areas of UK you may be required to isolate for 14 days on arrival in Germany.

This. And regions are added at very short notice. I wouldn't risk it - you may be required to quarantine in Germany on arrival until you receive a negative test result (which can take several days).

The individual 'Bundesländer' have their own rules regarding hotels and apartments. In some areas they are very strict and don't allow any visitors from high risk areas, even from within Germany!

Also no quarantine entering Greece or returning at the moment were considering going back on 21st October

Those of you saying 'go' - the op may not have the choice as Germany won't let people from high risk areas in without self isolation for 14 days in a 'private home'!

The Greeks are heavily reliant on tourism so may well be more lenient in letting people from high risk areas in!

FCO says not everyone from UK has to quarantine upon arrival to Germany right now.

I would plan to go but that's easy to say hypothetically. Hope you make decision you feel confident in soon, OP.

Definitely go if you can! We just got back from Mexico and it has done wonders for my mental health. I have worked throughout the whole thing and my job has been very stressful and the industry I work on has been heavily affected with lots of redundancies and companies going bust.

I am so glad we went. Flying in a mask was uncomfortable but it was worth it for the change of scenery and relaxation.

I just can't believe the number of people who can't make a decision about their own lives.

So, if more people on MN say to go will you go, and if more people say stay, will you stay? I hope you don't do a job where your decisions impact on others.

There will be new rules in Berlin from Monday onwards.

And whatever you do, get proper masks and wear them!

I live in Berlin, as a city we've really worked hard to keep our infection rate low(ish). Visitors from Northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland now have to get a test on arrival and then stay in quarantine until the results come through, which could easily be 48 hours. Honestly, we really don't want tourists coming from high-risk areas and potentially infecting us. Even being on the flight over here is a risk. Why don't you cancel and go somewhere nice in the UK instead. Berlin will still be here next year. You're welcome to come then.

Germany has worked hard to reduce the spread of coronavirus. They don't want foreigners from high risk areas (which most of the UK has become recently) to bring the virus.

So I'd cancel and visit another time.

We would be flying from Scotland, so the trip is off now I suppose. There's been no positive case in our health board for weeks but it is what it is. I'm happy to stick to the rules but the fact that we could easily travel to Liverpool for example, possibly bringing the virus home but not Germany (without quarantine and testing anyway) just does not make sense to me. Thank you all. Maybe more luck come spring.

Hopefully if you can't go due to quarantine regulations the hotel may give you a voucher for a future date.
We have one that lasts for 2 years from a hotel we booked in Spain before the virus struck.

As others have said the biggest risk is (understandably) Germany might not let you in, because of us being a more infected country.

Having said that, from a purely selfish point of view you're better off catching it whilst in Germany than here. You'd have access to fast early and very good treatment over there.

Having said that, from a purely selfish point of view you're better off catching it whilst in Germany than here. You'd have access to fast early and very good treatment over there.

The incubation period is at least 5 days so the op is unlikely to develop symptoms during a long weekend.

But yes, Germany is rightly protecting its citizens by keeping people from high risk areas (most of UK) out.