Travelling abroad for a holiday

[kleew1]

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.

@IcedPurple

Why struggling to believe that pretty much normality over in Spain when it’s pretty much normality here
I’ve not worn a mask since Independence Day!

Went to Ireland to see family for the first time in nearly 2 years. It felt depressingly like time travelling back to June 2020.

I went to the Canaries last November.

The main difference were the masks.

It was also pretty quiet. We often had all the pools to ourselves.

Other than that it was awesome. That holiday set me up for the winter and then the coming lockdown.

Best 2 weeks of the entire last 18 months.

[quote Marni83]@IcedPurple

Why struggling to believe that pretty much normality over in Spain when it’s pretty much normality here
I’ve not worn a mask since Independence Day![/quote]
Like I say, I'm very happy to be proved wrong on this. I have a brother who lives in Spain and he tells me mask rules are still pretty strict there, but if that's not the case, then great!

@Sallycinnamum

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.

Thanks. But what I need to know is this: were the breakfast buffets back?

Because a holiday without a good breakfust buffet just isn't a real holiday for me!

Anyone been in the last few weeks to either Greece or Canaries, Minorca or Tenerife ?

We have a 13 year old so I know we can't go to Malta as he isn't jabbed - am looking into other places just for a week in Sun e d Aug / first week of September - it would be lovely to get away after ill health and family bereavement

Also wondered what costs are for the various tests

If you go with tui then tests for return to uk and day 2 are £20 pp which is a bargain for a lft and pcr combined
If buying separate - not tui - it’s approx €30pp for lft to return and £45 pp for day 2 pcr

Unvaccinated need pre travel pcr for Spain (lft Greece) -£45-99 each

Spain do have masks indoors but think about it - who spends their holiday indoors? Most bars and restaurants are outside so no masks
Beach, boat trips, cafes all mask free

@Sallycinnamum @chocolatesaltyballs22

Is there a curfew at all in Spain in terms of what time bars and restaurants close?

I'm quite happy to wear a mask walking around a shop or anywhere else busy indoors - as long as you don't have to wear outside .

We’ve just got back from Spain. It was great. Airport on the way out was dead and the flight was only half full. We ended up departing and arriving early! Arrival in Spain was also quick and easy.
Spanish airport was busier on the way back but still all very simple. We had all our paperwork ready in a plastic envelope to be checked and all went smoothly. Probably one of the easiest journeys we’ve ever had, and that’s with 3 kids including a baby!
Oh, masks in the airport and on the plane except eating and drinking.
We had a great time. Definitely recommend!

Oh and yeah… masks inside in Spain but we didn’t spend much time inside. Only restaurants we had to book were the really popular ones that have always required pre booking.

@IcedPurple Depends on the hotel but at ours in Majorca the buffet is back, with masks, ample sanitiser and screens that mean you're not breathing on the food as you lean forwards over it.

Airport and plane fine. The cost of the test would put me off going again. Travelled to and from a green listed country so needed to test before travelling to the U.K. and on day 2 post arrival in the Uk.

Oh and tests… we paid 30 euros each (DH and I) for our test in Spain before leaving, and £20 each (4 of us) for our day 2 tests on return to the U.K.

Just returned home from the Canary Islands yesterday.
I won't repeat all of what you have to do as everyone has it covered but have to say, it is so so worth it.
Paperwork is a bit of an arse ache but honestly, beautiful weather, feel so much safer there and honestly for what friends of ours paid to stay in the UK (in the rain!!) I am so glad we went ahead with the holiday!

@Neverrains, where did you get the tests for £20? We paid considerable more

Has anyone who has been abroad tested positive for Covid before coming home and had to self isolate abroad? Or does anyone know of anyone that has happened to? I can cope with testing before you go, testing while there, showing a covid passport, mask wearing, some social distancing, testing on return to the UK, but the thing putting me off is what if I test positive before coming home.

I would hope I'd be able to get insurance to cover paying for the extra time abroad, but I'd miss up to two weeks of work and probably have to take unpaid leave, or use up all my remaining leave, to cover it. I work in a hospital and the message from my Trust is very much if you go abroad you need to consider in advance, and discuss and agree with your manager, how you not being able to get home and back to work as planned would be handled.

And I guess my other morelt likely concerj is what if a country turns red while I am there. I'd have the massive cost of hotel quarantine and also not be able to get back to work, unless someone could deliver my work laptop to the quarantine hotel for me.

[quote shinynewapple21]**@Sallycinnamum* @chocolatesaltyballs22*

Is there a curfew at all in Spain in terms of what time bars and restaurants close?

I'm quite happy to wear a mask walking around a shop or anywhere else busy indoors - as long as you don't have to wear outside . [/quote]
No curfews. I was in Majorca but am going to mainland Spain in October and it's the same there at the moment.

Re the comment about catching COVID whilst there - my advice would be to stay away from other people as much as possible to limit your risk. Stay outdoors where possible as well. Basically, don't forget that COVID exists just because you're on holiday.

If you’ve booked a package then your operator will fly you back in the days before it turns red

Grant S has said he won’t make changes outside of the 3 week window so if you base it round them then turning red whilst abroad will be almost guaranteed not to happen

Richard

Most people I know who’ve travelled took nhs tests with them in hope that if they tested positive then they just wouldn’t do the official ones properly - eg not let it touch nose or mouth

@Watapalava, what?🤯

@Watapalava

Richard

Most people I know who’ve travelled took nhs tests with them in hope that if they tested positive then they just wouldn’t do the official ones properly - eg not let it touch nose or mouth

Our official ones were done by a Dr at a clinic!

I’m not saying I agree with it but on trip advisor and amongst people I know who’ve travelled this was the plan

It’s qidely published on travel threads

@Watapalava

Richard

Most people I know who’ve travelled took nhs tests with them in hope that if they tested positive then they just wouldn’t do the official ones properly - eg not let it touch nose or mouth

How is that even possible when it has to be done by a medical facility?!