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Covid

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Original poster

Have you been away, abroad, recently

41 replies

DancingQeeeen · 27/07/2021 18:23

What was it like? Was it worth it? How much extra did you pay for tests? And where did you go.

Really considering going with DH to mainland Spain. Both been jabbed and able to isolate/work from home if need to when return,

OP posts:

Geamhradh · 27/07/2021 18:29

There are a few threads in Holidays from people who've been to Spain. A hassle, but very much worth it seems to be the consensus. And looking at my friend (currently in Madrid and Toledo) I'm very tempted!

Original poster

DancingQeeeen · 27/07/2021 18:53

@Geamhradh thank you..I'll head over to the holiday section and have a look. We are so tempted but then wondering if it's worth the hassle

OP posts:

Anothernamechange3 · 27/07/2021 18:57

Due to fly to Alicante on Saturday. With double vaccination status, an antigen test with a video call for 2 days before we fly home has cost £40, and the same for pcr on day 2 when we’re back home. Fingers crossed it will all be okay and we don’t have to isolate, but like you we are prepared and able to if needed.

FloFlower · 27/07/2021 20:25

We went to Lanzarote at the end of June. Going was fine. We flew Ryanair and didn’t need a test or anything just a passenger locator form. There were only about 30 people on our plane.

We had a great holiday but it was a bit of a hassle getting home. We had to arrange a ore departure test and we were quizzed in detail upon landing back in Edinburgh.

Then we had ten days of being hassled by test and trace. I’m pleased we paid for the day 5 test to release with a same day result.

Because we landed in Scotland we had to use the CTM nhs tests which I think were about £150 each. We then had the T2R which was £99 pp.

Overall worth it but I wouldn’t like to quarantine again.

Littleone638 · 28/07/2021 07:21

Just come back from Portugal, testing for two of us cost about £300, but our flights were dirt cheap compared to what we usually pay at this time of year so balanced out to about the same. We had drive through PCR tests with Randox (could have had antigen but they had to be done within 48 hours which didn’t work for us). We had video antigen tests to come back with Breathe Assured and randox day 2 tests. Airports at both ends were quiet (in Portugal it took 18 mins from the plane landing to us walking out of the airport) although check in at Birmingham wasn’t very efficient and took quite a while, so I would allow plenty of time to check in if you have luggage. It was a bit of a faff but completely worth it, and I feel so much better for it!

Littleone638 · 28/07/2021 07:23

Forgot to say, immigration at Birmingham was very efficient, they could see our passenger locator forms and we didn’t need to produce any of our paperwork.

HelloMissus · 28/07/2021 08:07

Not me but my mate keeps posting pics from Portugal on our WhatsApp group and it looks bloody lovely. Sigh.

MsTSwift · 28/07/2021 08:10

My fear is a teen testing positive as neither vaccinated and lots of teens getting Covid here atm. If I didn’t have teens would consider it. Plus quarantining with resentful teens who want to see their pals would be a nightmare!

IsabellesMissingSock · 28/07/2021 08:13

I went to Mallorca early July. Definitely worth the testing etc. Airports had nowhere near the carnage/disorder/queue levels I head feared. Would def do again.

Tinseltrauma · 28/07/2021 08:24

I've just come back from Menorca. It was definitely worth it!
Testing was a bit of a faff, but we are both fully vaccinated so don't have to quarantine. Flight was empty, sailed through both airports, it was great. The resort was a bit quieter than usual, not many Brits at all which felt odd. Enough people to give atmosphere though .

youknowwhenyouknowyouknow · 28/07/2021 08:29

We've just been to Ibiza for 5 nights family of four. Had to get lft done 2 days before we came home, husband tested positive and we're still here. We were supposed to come home on Sunday. I wish we had never come.

Whitegrenache · 28/07/2021 08:35

@youknowwhenyouknowyouknow
We have just cancelled our trip to Ibiza for just that reason. The thought of being stuck in quarantine in Ibiza with a miserable DP and 2 teenaged DC filled me with horror

ilovesooty · 28/07/2021 08:56

I came back from Crete on Saturday. I paid about £140 for an Amber test package from Randox but it included a day 8 test that I didn't need and the price has come down now. I got a test to return where they visited my hotel. It was very easy.

Manchester Airport was very quiet both ways. They did test everyone on arrival in Crete though.

foxandbee · 28/07/2021 11:17

Sorry to hear that @youknowwhenyouknowyouknow. That would be my worry about going abroad at the moment.

NordicBerry · 28/07/2021 11:22

We've just been to Italy for 2 weeks, but I live in the EU and we are all vaccinated, even the teen. I had forms to fill in but we have covid passports. It was bloody lovely. Masks still have to be worn indoors, but we basically stayed outside anyway. We drove, so no airport hassle. Nobody checked on us at all.

fightingirish · 28/07/2021 11:32

Currently here in Spain, no real hassle if you have all paperwork properly done, not a lot of British/Irish here, it's full of Spanish tourists!
Weather is amazing, food is great, I'd recommend to go to anyone

TinkleTongs · 28/07/2021 13:28

@youknowwhenyouknowyouknow Oh that sounds tough , where are you having to stay , did u manage to keep a room on where you were or did they place you in an airport hotel ?

This is my worry , any of us testing positive whilst abroad and then being crammed into a tiny one room hotel room , being made to check out of our spacious apartment etc.

How long do you have to stay there ? Is your insurance covering all the costs ?

Apologies for all the questions , just that these are all my exact fears.

Darbs76 · 28/07/2021 13:45

I’m debating going end of August. We have all just had Covid so that was a big worry, getting it out there and having to stay another 10 days

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 28/07/2021 13:46

Currently in Spain, it’s lovely here. As long as your paperwork is in order it’s fine. Not in a tourist area so mainly just Spanish locals. Still wearing face masks and washing hands regularly. Brought some LF tests with us. We will be doing two each week before we have our PCR for our flight home. Already ordered our day 2 tests, lots of discounts around online.

Provencerose · 28/07/2021 22:36

We’ve got Ibiza booked for this summer but I’m seriously considering postponing now. We’re both doubly vaccinated and children are all too young to have to test, but my worry is having to quarantine whilst there. Either with someone testing positive in the hotel or plane or one of us. As tempting as it is to get away I think I’d be worried the whe
Time
I was there…

Provencerose · 28/07/2021 22:37

Does anyone know if you’d have to quarantine there should someone from your plane test positive after arriving?

youknowwhenyouknowyouknow · 29/07/2021 07:43

@TinkleTongs in same hotel but we were split into 2 rooms husband in on me and 2 kids in the other(next door) allowed to stay. Insurance only paying for Hubble we have to pay for ourselves(75pppn)
We can only order off the room service menu hoping to go home Monday

Blessex · 29/07/2021 07:46

Just about to go to Italy. Got my test later today - antigen needed within 48 hours of flying. Got that for £29. Can’t wait !!!

Pootle40 · 29/07/2021 07:50

@FloFlower

We went to Lanzarote at the end of June. Going was fine. We flew Ryanair and didn’t need a test or anything just a passenger locator form. There were only about 30 people on our plane.

We had a great holiday but it was a bit of a hassle getting home. We had to arrange a ore departure test and we were quizzed in detail upon landing back in Edinburgh.

Then we had ten days of being hassled by test and trace. I’m pleased we paid for the day 5 test to release with a same day result.

Because we landed in Scotland we had to use the CTM nhs tests which I think were about £150 each. We then had the T2R which was £99 pp.

Overall worth it but I wouldn’t like to quarantine again.

Confused, I don't think Scotland have a test to release on day 5 ?

We were in Majorca a couple of weeks ago - was fab.

Returned to Edinburgh and wasn't asked a thing or asked to show paperwork.

The day 2 test for green is £88 per person in Scotland and c £150 for two tests per person if returning from amber so is more expensive than for someone returning to an English airport.

DGFB · 29/07/2021 07:53

Placemarking

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