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Original poster

Traffic light system for holidays

99 replies

Butterflyfluff · 04/04/2021 11:10

If what’s in the media today is correct, even green countries will require 3 tests to / upon return

And that’s before any tests needed to enter the destination country

All those tests are going to make family holidays really expensive

There also doesn’t seem to be any benefit of being vaccinated - there were rumours that vaccinated people could avoid quarantine if they had been to amber countries but there’s no mention of that today as far as I can see

I don’t agree that being vaccinated should be the only way trial is allowed as not everyone has had a chance to be vaccinated yet, but surely it should have some benefits

OP posts:
Abraxan · 04/04/2021 20:40

I suspect the cost of PCRs will come down a lot once they aren't being needed as much as cases hopefully, continue to fall so they are less in demand.

I've seen flight approved ones for £50 recently. Much cheaper than previous ones.

Original poster
Butterflyfluff · 05/04/2021 17:24

Well Boris didn’t utter the words ‘traffic light’ today so who knows what’s going on..........

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TokyoSushi · 05/04/2021 17:31

It seems at the briefing that they're really not keen to talk about this, which I think means it's not a good sign. I do wonder if they'll end up 'letting us go' but it'll be so tied up with restrictions/tests/cost that it'll be prohibitive and people will likely not bother.

EasterIssland · 05/04/2021 17:32

@TokyoSushi

It seems at the briefing that they're really not keen to talk about this, which I think means it's not a good sign. I do wonder if they'll end up 'letting us go' but it'll be so tied up with restrictions/tests/cost that it'll be prohibitive and people will likely not bother.
Hasn’t he said more info will be revealed in coming days ?
TokyoSushi · 05/04/2021 17:33

Only in a pretty vague way, I'm not holding my breath but wait to be pleasantly surprised!

Original poster
Butterflyfluff · 05/04/2021 17:36

I reckon they’re being deliberately vague to ensure as many people as possible get the vaccine, by hinting that, without the vaccine, there may be restrictions

Which is particularly frustrating as many of us under 50’s would have our jab tomorrow if we could, but we can’t

OP posts:
Abraxan · 05/04/2021 17:41

The report on internet atonal travel isn't due til 12 April anyway so that's one of the reasons they're probably not yet willing to talk about it.

ImRealHonest · 05/04/2021 17:41

Where I live, you need a test 72 hours before your return flight, a test on arrival, a gps tracker watch fitted that limits your movement to within 50m otherwise a £10K fine, day 8 test and then released on day 10 if negative. We have so-called ‘green’ countries which don’t need quarantine or tracker watch, but tests on arrival, day 6 and day 12. This can change at any time (I got caught out earlier in the year - my destination got ‘ungreened’ whilst I was there.

I’m all for it. Yes it adds money to the holiday, but it means travel is possible, with as many tests as possible and quarantining to make sure you’re not bringing anything back.

I’m therefore traveling, knowing my risk. If I test positive whilst there, that’s a risk I’m taking. I’m taking my work laptop with me everywhere in case I get stuck, and I have the funds to pay for a reasonable hotel if necessary. The airline I use offers ‘covid insurance’ of $100 per day for quarantine costs if you test positive whilst on your trip. It’s also a ball ache arranging testing in a random place, ensuring that it’s a legit lab that will be accepted by the airline/immigration.

It’s gonna be a long time til travel is normal. If you want to travel, you’ll have to suck up the changes. It’s simple.

iamnotok · 05/04/2021 17:43

Beth Rigby, Sky, raised a very good point about Chile - mass vaccination and still having to close borders due to variants.

Don't count on your foreign holidays yet.

And it would be irresponsible to jeopardise everyone's sacrifices and vaccinations just to import a load of variants of concern into the country.

iamnotok · 05/04/2021 17:44

And seeing family has not just been impossible for those with family abroad - many in the UK with UK relatives haven't seen their family either.

EileenGC · 05/04/2021 17:47

many in the UK with UK relatives haven't seen their family either.

As of last week, not because they weren’t allowed to. Even if it takes 8 hours to drive, you have (or soon will have when accommodations open) the choice. Which shouldn’t be 3 times more expensive than it used to be - that’s what those of us abroad are facing.

Unicornflakegirl · 05/04/2021 17:52

Many of the UK PCR test websites advertise cheap tests but when you actually need the results in time for a flight then premiums are added to guarantee your results on time, or the results timeframe given is 48 hours from receipt by the lab which again could take too long to be feasible before your flight.
Some providers are charging extra for tests on a weekend, or advising not to take flights on certain days, and still charging over £200 per person.

Parker231 · 05/04/2021 17:53

The rumours we are hearing are the U.K. requirements. We’ll also need to know the requirements of the country you want to travel to. The self isolation when you get home from an amber country is also going to be very difficult for many.

CuthbertDibbleandGrubb · 05/04/2021 17:54

I think that part of the reluctance to discuss it is to placate the so-called Covid Recovery Group of Tory backbenchers, who want to end all restrictions in effect.

LizzieMacQueen · 05/04/2021 17:57

God I miss the days we moaned about long security queuing when they brought in the liquid rule. How simple travelling used to be.

LibbyL92 · 05/04/2021 17:59

I’m extremely worried about it.

Here’s why,

In October I have a holiday 5 nights to Las Vegas. (Booked feb 2019 pre pandemic, obviously moved the original date to October)

Now, if US are on the green list when I go, and 3 days into my trip the country moves to red things will be extremely sticky.

  1. I won’t be able to afford an early flight home (also long haul they aren’t as frequent)
  1. I won’t be able to afford a quarantine hotel
  1. I also won’t be able to quarantine for 10 days as I’m due back to school a day later.

Not to mention, how much will these tests cost?

I’ve been vaccinated (second due May) however it doesn’t seem to make a difference?

I’d rather they just shut travel off. I’m going to be on tenter hooks whilst I’m out there (if it goes ahead) we know from last year. They don’t give much warning!

So. Yeah I’m concerned.

toocold54 · 05/04/2021 17:59

I would rather this than having people visit here and bringing the virus with them when we have worked so hard to reduce it.

toocold54 · 05/04/2021 18:00

I’ve been vaccinated (second due May) however it doesn’t seem to make a difference?

I thought if you were vaccinated you were ok to travel? That’s why anti-vaxers are saying it’s unfair as they won’t be able to travel?

Parker231 · 05/04/2021 18:03

Being vaccinated may give you entry to other countries you want to go to but it doesn’t seem to be a requirement for leaving the U.K. and returning after your holiday.

The press are reporting of an EU vaccine passport which will give EU residents who are vaccinated the freedom to travel through EU member states.

dancinfeet · 05/04/2021 18:11

We wont even be considering travelling abroad this year. What if you take a test for the return journey home and test positive? Then you have the cost and hassle of having to isolate abroad, sort out accommodation and food, or pay for an extortionate quarantine hotel. I'm not willing to take that risk as we will have to save for a holiday, the possible additional costs are not something I could pay as well. The cost of UK holidays are through the roof already. It feels like holidays more than ever are the privilege only of the well off.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 05/04/2021 18:16

For a start, the benefit to being vaccinated is you are unlikely to get a disease that could make you seriously ill.
That it's not going to be worth the faff of a foreign holiday this year is unsurprising

toocold54 · 05/04/2021 18:41

The cost of UK holidays are through the roof already. It feels like holidays more than ever are the privilege only of the well off.

I agree.

herecomesthsun · 05/04/2021 20:02

@toocold54

I would rather this than having people visit here and bringing the virus with them when we have worked so hard to reduce it.
this
Original poster
Butterflyfluff · 06/04/2021 14:18

Interestingly I’ve just received an email from Tui outlining the traffic light system so it does seem that the media and travel companies have been briefed on it, Boris just decided not to discuss it yesterday.......

It doesn’t say what tests would be required for green and amber countries or which countries will be in which category, only that they won’t fly to red countries

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Mykittensmittens · 06/04/2021 17:36

I have to say I’m really pissed off today. We had a holiday booking Easter 20 which was banned, so we (stupidly) moved it to August 20, which was then moved to August 21. We called Tui today who said if it’s before 31/7 we can move it again to 2022 free of any charges. The same holiday on the same dates in 2022 is £1500 more (just under £400 p/p). If that in itself wasn’t frustrating enough it’s also £50 per person to move it so that’s another £200. We travel on 2/8, so we don’t fall into the ‘before the end of July it’s free’ bracket.

We don’t know what to do sensibly. We don’t know what to anticipate in terms of tests or costs if we are allowed to go. It’s all very woolly and could go one way or another.