Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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:
Indoctro · 24/08/2021 07:42

Came back from a week in Majorca a couple of weeks ago

It was a fantastic holiday

Flight was empty , maybe less than a 3rd full. Check in was super quick as airport also empty - leaving from Glasgow

Palma on arrival again super quick and same on return home

Hotel was only at 50% capacity so again it was nice for us as a large family hotel and it would normally of been rammed at this time of year.

In fact our holiday was much better being during covid times due to being so quiet .

Do feel sorry for all the industries related to holidays though, but as a tourist you will definitely prefer you holiday at the moment than normal because of numbers.

Forms for completing were a 5 minute job

herecomesthsun · 24/08/2021 07:45

@User7458

Most of these holidays are a couple of weeks on a European beach though, I can't spend too long in the sun and wanted to go to countries a bit further afield and for three or four weeks, I think they will be a long time coming. For example 3 weeks in Canada in camper van type of holiday, I feel these travels have gone forever, though we might go to Iceland for a week or two later in the year. To me it is very far from normal and at the moment are just stuck to going around the UK in our caravan which we would do anyway and I enjoy it but missing the trip abroad.
I think those holidays will come back eventually
ArabellaPilkington · 24/08/2021 07:52

@User7458

Most of these holidays are a couple of weeks on a European beach though, I can't spend too long in the sun and wanted to go to countries a bit further afield and for three or four weeks, I think they will be a long time coming. For example 3 weeks in Canada in camper van type of holiday, I feel these travels have gone forever, though we might go to Iceland for a week or two later in the year. To me it is very far from normal and at the moment are just stuck to going around the UK in our caravan which we would do anyway and I enjoy it but missing the trip abroad.
Perfectly possible to not do a beach holiday in Greece and Spain.....they have masses to offer. Appreciate they may be a bit hot weather wise tho. Which we love!!
Lemons1571 · 24/08/2021 07:52

Surely it’s only easy if you test negative? What happens if you are still testing positive after having the virus weeks ago? (our situation). @MelbourneTerrace what happened in the end with your daughter testing positive still?

Neverrains · 24/08/2021 08:01

@User7458

Most of these holidays are a couple of weeks on a European beach though, I can't spend too long in the sun and wanted to go to countries a bit further afield and for three or four weeks, I think they will be a long time coming. For example 3 weeks in Canada in camper van type of holiday, I feel these travels have gone forever, though we might go to Iceland for a week or two later in the year. To me it is very far from normal and at the moment are just stuck to going around the UK in our caravan which we would do anyway and I enjoy it but missing the trip abroad.
We went to Spain… we didn’t go to a beach once. There is plenty to do in Spain which isn’t a beach! We spent a few days in Madrid visiting friends, then travelled down to Valencia to see our family. We went to nice restaurants, saw an exhibition at our favourite museum in Madrid, went to the Valley of the Fallen… all sorts.
Lemons1571 · 24/08/2021 08:02

@Whammyyammy

I'm loving all the scaremongering, please stay locked in doors at home with your masks and foil hats on. Empty flights and quiet beaches are pure bliss for those of us that are getting on with life
Unlikely to enjoy it for long though, given that flights and hotels will be running at a loss if they are empty.
PandoraP · 24/08/2021 08:12

I still wonder where you get these cheap tests. If you bring them with you, presumably you need to check in your luggage then as it’s liquid? We travel with only hand luggage so that would also add to the cost for us. We paid an absolute fortune for tests, but have a feeling I didn’t do my research properlySad

LivinLaVidaLoki · 24/08/2021 08:23

@PandoraP

I still wonder where you get these cheap tests. If you bring them with you, presumably you need to check in your luggage then as it’s liquid? We travel with only hand luggage so that would also add to the cost for us. We paid an absolute fortune for tests, but have a feeling I didn’t do my research properlySad
We got ours with TUI.

You put them in your hand luggage as you are allowed to carry liquid in your hand luggage (no more than 100ml and the liquid in the tests is tiny). The boxes are sealed and clearly labelled, its fine.

ArabellaPilkington · 24/08/2021 08:24

It's a tiny amount of liquid though isn't it usually?

Which is fine in cabin baggage if separated into a clear plastic bag and less than 100ml?

R0SEMARY · 24/08/2021 08:25

@PandoraP

I still wonder where you get these cheap tests. If you bring them with you, presumably you need to check in your luggage then as it’s liquid? We travel with only hand luggage so that would also add to the cost for us. We paid an absolute fortune for tests, but have a feeling I didn’t do my research properlySad
It’s only a tiny amount of liquid, less than your 100ml limit for hand luggage .

Or ore book a local test that meets the Uk standards.

User7458 · 24/08/2021 08:25

@Whammyyammy

I'm loving all the scaremongering, please stay locked in doors at home with your masks and foil hats on. Empty flights and quiet beaches are pure bliss for those of us that are getting on with life
Just because we aren't going abroad it doesn't mean we are staying in, its inconvenience not fear that is putting people off, though I don't fancy having to wear a mask on a plane for hours.

We might look at going to Canada next year on a package type thing though rather than DIY or if not Iceland, we have been to Spain and Greece and sightseeing but DH gets tempted by the sunbeds and pool as he is fine in the sun and its a bit mean to have to trek out the whole time and avoid the sun, I have to keep covered as I have patches of a type of pre skin cancer thing that I have to keep an eye on, nothing too serious but have to be careful, probably acquired from being in the sun too much when I was younger on these Spanish and Greek holidays.

Neverrains · 24/08/2021 08:25

@PandoraP

I still wonder where you get these cheap tests. If you bring them with you, presumably you need to check in your luggage then as it’s liquid? We travel with only hand luggage so that would also add to the cost for us. We paid an absolute fortune for tests, but have a feeling I didn’t do my research properlySad
Our tests in Spain were 30 euros each from a clinic. Could have got them for 17 euros each but they were a half hour drive away. We just googled it. Day 2 tests at home were £20 each, postal ones. Just found the provider on the government website. Had to book them quite far in advance as they sell out quickly. They were at our house when we returned and we had to post them back in a priority post box. We do take hold luggage anyway though as 5 of us went for 2 weeks. We took some LF tests with us, not to use as our official tests but just so we could use them periodically for peace of mind.
PandoraP · 24/08/2021 08:27

And where do you get the tests if you are not travelling with Tui? Asking because I paid £90
for a day 2 test for one person using the provider listed on the gov website. I needed mine quickly think next day though so paid extra for speed.

PandoraP · 24/08/2021 08:29

Not all countries charge £30 for tests locally. Perhaps countries like Spain who really want to attract tourists. I am not even going to say what we had to paid for our tests 🤯

User7458 · 24/08/2021 08:40

Tui do a very good package don't they with tests and various insurance that you can buy to add on to the package, am I right in thinking this, I am a bit of a lazy traveller and like to have stuff organised especially if it means a lot of faffing about. They go to Iceland as a package as we have been with them before and I'm thinking maybe this is the best option at the moment.

sleepwouldbenice · 24/08/2021 08:41

@Whammyyammy

I'm loving all the scaremongering, please stay locked in doors at home with your masks and foil hats on. Empty flights and quiet beaches are pure bliss for those of us that are getting on with life
You can see from previous posts you’ve made what your overall attitude is

Grow up

And not everyone has flexibility through work and family circumstance to be able to take holidays to certain holidays in certain weeks of the year

Coogee · 24/08/2021 08:41

Not all countries charge £30 for tests locally. Perhaps countries like Spain who really want to attract tourists. I am not even going to say what we had to paid for our tests

That’s true. In Cyprus, it is €10. The tests are for everybody, not just tourists.

sleepwouldbenice · 24/08/2021 08:42

*countries

PandoraP · 24/08/2021 08:50

@Coogee, I include Cyprus as a country which wants to attract tourists. We paid LOT more which is why I am interested in the tests people bring with them.

cherin · 24/08/2021 08:53

In Croatia the pre boarding tests are 12£. Life feels pretty much like summer 2018. Masks only in shops, and everybody is very relaxed. We haven’t seen any other brit, though, plenty of Germans, Austrians, and Dutch….

Neverrains · 24/08/2021 08:56

[quote PandoraP]@Coogee, I include Cyprus as a country which wants to attract tourists. We paid LOT more which is why I am interested in the tests people bring with them.[/quote]
The tests in Spain aren’t specifically for tourists, we went to a private Spanish clinic that the IL’s use for all their healthcare. We weren’t in a touristy area. That’s the price they charge for anyone wanting a LF test (they don’t get them free there).

Coogee · 24/08/2021 09:01

*PandoraP

They might but that has nothing to do with the test price. It is the same for Cypriot citizens and set low to encourage them to test. They charge for lateral flow tests to encourage people to get vaccinated. If you aren’t, you need to take two tests a week if want to to enter pubs and restaurants etc.

PandoraP · 24/08/2021 09:12

Tests are free where we went too, but they didn’t issue fit to fly certificates. Same as the NHS I suppose.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 24/08/2021 09:27

Drove to France via Eurotunnel, bit unpleasant doing the pre-travel PCR test, everything uploaded prior to departure.
5 or 10 minute delay at Eurotunnel as there was no automatic entry and they checked who you were. After than everything as is was before.

In France, no quarantine required. converted NHS vaccination 'certificate' to French style via app 'Tous Covid' Need to show that on entry to restaurants, museums etc but not for shops.

No hassle to come here (still here) have to take a PCR test before our return and a 2 day test in the UK. Currently no quarantine in the UK.

Just the way life is at the moment, and likely to be for sometime to come.

Coogee · 24/08/2021 09:30

They don’t issue a fit to fly certificate. It’s a fit to go into pubs and restaurants unvaccinated in Cyprus certificate. It just happens to meet the requirements for the return to UK test.

Swipe left for the next trending thread