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Original poster

Holiday to Amber County

75 replies

Ilovedmybed1985 · 21/05/2021 09:49

My husband and I booked a family holiday to an Amber country last year. We have two young children (ages 1 and 2). I have read the guidelines about covid tests you have to do before and after your holiday. However, I cannot see if children have to do them too. Does anyone know where I can find information on this? Thank you.

OP posts:
EasterIssland · 21/05/2021 19:50

@Ilovedmybed1985

The holiday is for a wedding that we are attending whilst there... would that make any difference?
Again it’s not illegal so you can travel if you want to.
LIZS · 21/05/2021 19:50

I doubt it will go ahead.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/05/2021 19:51

@EasterIssland
*Is it illegal to visit amber or red countries for a holiday?

No. While the government is advising against holidaying in any country not on the green list, recreational international travel is no longer illegal in England. Guidance is not the same as law. The Department for Transport has advised travellers that they “should not be travelling to ‘amber’ and ‘red’ countries for leisure”, but there are no fines or penalties issued for going against this advice.

Guidance , not law. So you can go if you want as long as on return you follow the law (the tests and quarantine)*

This^^

The international travel ban is no longer in force it is not illegal and you don't have to provide a reason to go. Tourists started arriving in Greece this week and not one single person was stopped or asked why they were going.

It is guidance it is not law. If the government were that arsed they would have gone with just green and red lists. All this does is allow them to open up and then blame others for their own failings if it backfires. They want it both ways.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/05/2021 19:52

@LIZS what makes you so sure? The infection rates in Greece are falling, the government will have vaccinated the adult population of most islands by end June and entire adult population by end of July.

LIZS · 21/05/2021 19:56

If very soon it is unlikely the tour operator advise travel. Might change in a few weeks. Ultimately it is still Leisure travel for op.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/05/2021 20:00

Sorry I don't understand your post. It is not unlikely they advise leisure travel? They are literally flying out people on holiday every day. And again the travel ban has lifted it is not illegal just "strongly frowned upon" (what a govt minister recently said).
op doesn't need to provide any evidence at all for her reason to travel as it is permitted.

FusionChefGeoff · 21/05/2021 20:05

Are you going to Greece or the islands OP?

If it's mainland check your insurance as the FCO advise against all but essential travel (weddings are not essential) so normally this would invalidate most policies

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/05/2021 20:07

@FusionChefGeoff

Are you going to Greece or the islands OP?

If it's mainland check your insurance as the FCO advise against all but essential travel (weddings are not essential) so normally this would invalidate most policies

That makes sense. Invalidates my earlier question. Sorry lack of sleep.
EasterIssland · 21/05/2021 20:14

Whilst traditional ones won’t cover (I think mine wouldn’t I need to check it as I’m meant to fly to an amber country tho hoping for it to be green by the time I fly ) there are some that would
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/travel-insurance-green-red-amber-list-b1851741.html%3famp

ChelseaChop · 21/05/2021 20:14

Sorry, but you’re not allowed to visit an amber county for a non essential holiday. So you can’t go and no point checking the rules as there is no good reason for you to travel.

EasterIssland · 21/05/2021 20:17

@ChelseaChop

Sorry, but you’re not allowed to visit an amber county for a non essential holiday. So you can’t go and no point checking the rules as there is no good reason for you to travel.
Can you point at me where it says you’re not allowed ? Cuz even fco says you shouldn’t which mean we don’t advice it but you still can.
EasterIssland · 21/05/2021 20:18

If you’re not allowed then people would be checked why are they boarding the planes which they’re not

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/05/2021 20:18

Is it illegal to visit amber or red countries for a holiday?

No. While the government is advising against holidaying in any country not on the green list, recreational international travel is no longer illegal in England. Guidance is not the same as law. The Department for Transport has advised travellers that they “should not be travelling to ‘amber’ and ‘red’ countries for leisure”, but there are no fines or penalties issued for going against this advice.

Thirtyrock39 · 21/05/2021 20:22

There's a lot at stake for the Greek islands but I've read that there is a lot of reluctance to the vaccine and storage and transportation issues getting the vaccine out to them so I'm not convinced they will be green as soon as the tourism minister claims (we are booked for 12 July so I'm constantly checking what's going on out there/ I'm assuming we won't be going )

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/05/2021 20:33

Im Greek @Thirtyrock39 and have a lot of family in Greece. There was hesitancy to start with and there were issues from supply with the EU but it's definitely picking up pace with most clinics and pharmacies having booked up all their appointments going forward. People are now coming forward at pace.

Againstmachine · 21/05/2021 20:44

the holiday is for a wedding that we are attending whilst there... would that make any difference

Seeing as attending a wedding in India has have been viewed as essential travel during all this even when we couldnt travel I say fill your boots.

thoroughlyfuckedoff · 21/05/2021 20:56

"Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to Greece, except for the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Corfu and Crete, based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks."
So they are "not" advising against all but essential travel to these islands therefore if people are happy to do the required testing and quarantine then why not go.Also lots of people who perhaps rearranged from last year cant just cancel as they wont get there money back so they may feel between a rock and a hard place.

99victoria · 21/05/2021 21:20

We have a holiday booked to Greece at the end of June. We booked it in 2019 and postponed it last year to this June. We have already decided we are going if we can - if our flight leaves we intend to be on it.

I have already sourced appropriate insurance, we will do the necessary tests and isolation when we get home. We have both have 2 jabs. I don't think Boris Johnson or his government have made a single admirable decision since this whole debacle started so I'm certainly not putting his judgement above mine at this stage in the proceedings!

Original poster
Ilovedmybed1985 · 21/05/2021 21:32

@99victoria sorry to be nosey but who did you book your insurance with? And what are you covered with in terms of covid?

OP posts:
Wellbythebloodyhell · 21/05/2021 21:33

@Againstmachine

the holiday is for a wedding that we are attending whilst there... would that make any difference

Seeing as attending a wedding in India has have been viewed as essential travel during all this even when we couldnt travel I say fill your boots.

Exactly this!

It's supposedly OK to visit Red list countries for weddings so then a wedding in Amber list country is a non issue as far as I'm concerned as long as you are willing to comply with the tests and quarantine on return

99victoria · 21/05/2021 21:36

@Ilovedmybed1985

I got my insurance through Staysure - they have an extended option which covers European countries which the FCDO advise against travel to. I believe Battleface also offer cover if you're under 60 (which we aren't :) )

flower11 · 21/05/2021 21:54

Those saying holidays to amber countries are not allowed, illegal need to send that memo to the holiday companies that are still going ahead with flights and packages and refusing to refund people if they wish to cancel.

Justmuddlingalong · 21/05/2021 21:55

Update from Tui tonight.

Holiday to Amber County
Watermelon222 · 21/05/2021 22:17

@Onceuponatime1818

Green- holiday Amber- emergency/family etc Red- No go
Well looking at all the people who obviously travelled to India when it was actually illegal except in the case of emergency I’m not sure if this’ll work....
FusionChefGeoff · 21/05/2021 22:35

Just because other people have behaved like dicks (travel to India) that shouldn't give you an excuse to act like one too HmmConfused especially when the evidence of the consequences is staring us in the face.

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