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Original poster

Travelling abroad for a holiday

212 replies

kleew1 · 22/08/2021 22:38

Has anyone done it?

Was the holiday different as a result of covid? How was airport etc and where did you go?

We are going to canaries in September so curious to know.

OP posts:
Downtown36 · 23/08/2021 09:10

@Immybee Coverwise 👍

Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 23/08/2021 09:12

We've not long come come back from Greece.
At first the forms and timings of the test all seem daunting but honestly they're not at bad as you first thing. Quite straight forward.

I found the airport in the UK and Greece easier than in pre covid times. They seem super organised so there is a lot less hanging around.

It was a fantastic, much needed holiday and I wouldn't hesitate to go again. Especially now I know how relatively easy it is to do the paperwork.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 23/08/2021 09:14

Am in Corfu now.

Was a bit stressed about the testing and about one of catching Covid before we went.

Gatwick was calm and quiet. Felt safe on the plane as everyone was wearing masks. Compared to stopping at some motorway services on the M4 last week when I couldn't get out quick enough!

Arrival in Corfu was extremely smooth.

Shops - people are wearing masks

Restaurants - all waiting staff in masks even though we are mainly eating in outside terraces.

Beaches feel safe as sun beds are spaced out.

I'm happy because we are in a private villa with own pool - I wouldn't consider an all inc resort as the moment( don't like them anyway but the thought of being in a crowded resort in Covid times is too much for me )

It feels amazing to be back somewhere we love enjoying the warm weather and we feel safer here than at home.

Bordois · 23/08/2021 09:23

Came back from Greece last week. Not too much more hassle than going normally. Masks on the plane was the only real difference.

Whammyyammy · 23/08/2021 09:46

Travelling abroad doing this pandemic is actually more pleasant than normal if I'm honest. OK you have got to fill out a few extra forms, but the aircrafts are half empty , airport's quiet, beaches not busy.... its actually bliss.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 23/08/2021 11:14

The other thing that I should mention is how flipping cheap the holiday was because Greece is an Amber country still.

We are in accommodation that we would never usually get for the budget we set for a week in Greece. We usually pay about £3k for four of us in May for EasyJet flights , car hire and a two or three bed apartment booked though booking.com or similar. We had to cancel our May half term arrangements and luckily got all money back less £250 which we can use if and when we rebook that accommodation again.

This time we've booked a package with Tui and got a massive four bedroom villa with private pool. Each room has its own en suite bathroom too. The kids can't believe it compared to previous places we've booked. The holiday came to £2400 including the flights and car hire. I can't imagine we will get a deal like this ever again.

Marni83 · 23/08/2021 11:30

@AngelsWithSilverWings

How come you lost £250?
I too had to cancel mine but 100% back

NaturalBlondeYeahRight · 23/08/2021 11:53

Yes went to Balearics a few weeks ago. Was amazing but annoyingly half of our group had only managed to get the first vaccine in time so we had to pay for extra tests and there was more of a worry/stress that something might go wrong as well as the expense.
I would definitely do it again with fully jabbed people. Gatwick was quiet, plane half full and we were in a Villa. Resort was a bit quiet for my young adults but they enjoyed it and Im so glad I did it after this awful summer- I swear they keep promising a heatwave to convince people to stay in uk.

AngelsWithSilverWings · 23/08/2021 11:54

@Marni83 we booked independently to go to a lovely family run place that we love. We knew when we booked that the deposit was non cancelable but we had a gentleman's agreement when we booked that if Covid prevented travel we could use the deposit towards a future booking. I'm fine with that - these people running small establishments have had a rough time.

When we decided to try again to get away to Greece we decided a Tui holiday with their Covid guarantee would be a better option. We don't ever usually do package holidays but the uncertainty is so great at the moment.

CBB2021 · 23/08/2021 12:12

Hi - for those that went to Greece do you have to have an LFT on arrival? DH will only be single jabbed?

My fear is getting covid before we go or testing positive on arrival and being stuck in hotel quarantine?

IsabellesMissingSock · 23/08/2021 12:17

@CBB2021

Hi - for those that went to Greece do you have to have an LFT on arrival? DH will only be single jabbed?

My fear is getting covid before we go or testing positive on arrival and being stuck in hotel quarantine?

If you haven't had both jabs you have to test before you leave the U.K.

They also do random LFTs for some on arrival

Quail15 · 23/08/2021 12:18

Just back from Tenerife. Well worth it. Brilliant to get away. Everything was normal. Restaurants, swimming pools, zoos etc all open. No masks except when in a crowded indoor space.

Just a few extra forms to fill out and those without a vaccine had to do a quick test before departure. Everyone had to do a test before flying home ( lots of test centres in Tenerife that you can just walk into).

Ticksallboxes · 23/08/2021 12:25

You should be fine OP!

We're in Kos currently on a two week all-inclusive. We normally drive to Spain and rent an Airbnb, but chose an AI as they supply all the tests required at a quarter of the price of arranging it ourselves.

It's been hassle-free, although we had to wait about 45 minutes to get through customs at Kos and had the added worry in the run up that we could be randomly tested on arrival and spend the whole holiday in a quarantine hotel with no pool access (certain countries do this).

All our pre-flight LFTs were negative yesterday so that's a relief.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 23/08/2021 13:54

Have also realised all flights are on time. In a normal summer, so many planes are delayed. Now they run to schedule - assume fewer flights. A pleasure.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 23/08/2021 14:07

Sssshhhh, stop telling everyone it's easy - everywhere will be packed out again!!

Whammyyammy · 23/08/2021 14:47

@chocolatesaltyballs22

Sssshhhh, stop telling everyone it's easy - everywhere will be packed out again!!
Lol. Agree with this
igelkott2021 · 23/08/2021 15:01

@squashyhat

No. Not worth the hassle IMO.
I agree, Two tests to get back into the country despite being double jabbed and then overseas having to show a vaccine passport just to get into a cafe (Germany, France, Portugal)? Not worth it.

And then if you were vaccinated early in the cycle you can't go to Austria or Croatia as your immunity has allegedly waned already.

And then you have the lovely massive passport queues courtesy of Brexit.

Yep, sounds wonderful. I'll wait.

Tal45 · 23/08/2021 15:17

Yes. Organising all the tests and filling out the PLF's was a bit of a hassle but it was totally worth it. What's the alternative, an overpriced week of questionable weather, horrendous traffic, and hordes of people in Cornwall.

BunsyGirl · 23/08/2021 15:29

@igelkott2021 The passport queue was no longer than usual on arrival. We’re in Malta and no vaccine passports are required to enter restaurants etc. Weather is perfect and so lovely for the kids to be able to splash in the pool all day.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 23/08/2021 15:48

I love how the OP asked for the experience of those who have actually travelled, and there are people piling in with their anti-foreign travel moans!

Sallycinnamum · 23/08/2021 15:54

Just got back from Majorca. Both flights from Gatwick were full and the resort was busy.

Had glorious weather and I'd do it again in a heartbeat despite the eye watering costs of testing.

Gatwick was very quiet when we flew out a few weeks ago but it was heaving yesterday and it took a while to get through passport control.

ConnectedToSandsview · 23/08/2021 16:23

I don’t live in the UK. I have travelled to 11 countries so far this year for a mix of work and holidays.

My home airport is lovely and quiet.

Everywhere it takes longer to get through because of additional PCR/vaccine paperwork checks. Check in queues are longer too, especially if flying on traditionally ‘super connector’ airlines like Turkish or Emirates, as they’re having to do PCR timing calculations for many peoples final destination.

I realize that’s not relevant for the OP, but might help someone else reading this.

I’ve been to a couple of holiday destinations and a few have made me nervous because of the lack of mask wearing or restrictions in general. I had a wonderful mask-tan from one trip, however my nose burns so easily it’s been great to protect it with a mask!

IcedPurple · 23/08/2021 16:45

@Watapalava

Yes

An hour of hassle pre departure for a week in Spain

Normality over there

All these people saying it’s not worth it are kidding themselves! It’s anaxing

There's 'normality' in Spain?

As in no masks, no pre-booking, no vaccination certs, everything up and running as it was 2 summers ago?

Much as I'd love to believe this, I'm not sure I can.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 23/08/2021 16:48

@IcedPurple there is still mask wearing. But no pre-booking, at least not where I went. Vaccination certs only have to be shown at the airport, nowhere else.

Sallycinnamum · 23/08/2021 16:56

I can assure you @IcedPurple it is very 'normal' in Spain.

The only mask wearing was in shops and there was no pre booking of anything unless it was a popular restaurant, which you'd have to book pre-covid anyway.

The only change I noticed was the resort wasn't as busy as it would normally be and that was about it.