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.

Interestingly, travel made me so much less fearful. We are fed a daily tale of fear. I know there is much of concern but certainly there isn't the same fear I've seen here elsewhere.

@ArabellaPilkington

Interestingly, travel made me so much less fearful. We are fed a daily tale of fear. I know there is much of concern but certainly there isn't the same fear I've seen here elsewhere.

Where have you been?

Majorca and Crete

@Movinghouseatlast

Having done a lot of research, I have to say it is REALLY important that you research worst case scenario so you can try to mitigate against it.

I booked a holiday to Barbados at the end of January. I read the protocols around testing in both direction. However, what I hadn't quite understood is
-if you were sitting near to someone on the plane who subsequently tests positive you are confined to your hotel room for 5 days. Ditto if you have been on an organised trip or your and someone tests positive. You are tested on day 5 but the results can take up to 28 hours.

• if you test positive on that test you are carted off to Harrisons Point where you will be on a medical ward sharing one toilet. You stay for a minimum of 72 hours.

-if you test positive on the test before you fly home you are also taken to Harrison Point. You are basically imprisoned until you test negative or for 14 days whichever is sooner.

In Greece you are taken to a quarentine hotel if you test positive at any point. It sounds pretty grim.

Obviously these are very rare but I think people are travelling and then being totally shocked when these things happen!

You booked your hol But you don’t say if cancelled given your concern about the above?

What makes you say you didn’t seem same fear out of interest?

Yes I will cancel Barbados due to the worry of sitting next to someone positive on the plane and losing potentially my whole extremely expensive holiday.

I don't know why people have to be cunts about this. I have actually read accounts of people in Barbados being taken to this facility and kicking off because they had no idea it was a possibility. So best to know the risks before you go. If you are happy to risk it go. If not don't.

I'm going to Greece as I can be careful before I go, take lateral tests etc. But sitting next to a stranger on a plane and losing my holiday? No, not a risk worth taking as so many idiots are determined that everything is back to normal.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189457-i1615-k13651171-A_Post_to_Help_You_Navigate_Quarantine_in_Kefalonia-Kefalonia_Ionian_Islands.html

Here you go Arabella as you seem to think it isn't true. Not saying people shouldn't go, just that they should know the risks and not be glib about travel.
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g147262-i230-k13645293-Our_Barbados_holiday_became_a_quarantine_nightmare-Barbados.html

A bit of paperwork and a few extra tests. We wore masks in airports, on flights and in shops, but other than that it was completely normal and lovely to get away. We stayed in a villa in Greece and it was blissful.

Our tests (Greece) were £22 each for Fit to fly (only those not double jabbed) and Fit to Return (everyone) plus days 2 (for all) and day 8 (for ds aged 18), I think it was around £300 for 4 of us. Pricey but worth it. And ds happy to isolate on return, the rest of us didn't have to. So obviously it depends on personal situation and appetite for risk of positive result at some point in the journey, thankfully we were all negative for every test!

Just got back from a long break in Croatia and it was lovely, totally worth the hassle of tests, forms etc. We are double vaccinated as is most of our family and friends we met over there. Nearly all meet ups were outdoors so minimal risk. Croatia had minimal cases until recently so lower risk than UK. Returning double vaccinated from green or amber country is ok, LFT before flying (which is < 20 Eur locally), Day 2 test and Passenger Locator Form. Some queues and confusion at airports but Heathrow was not too busy.

[quote Movinghouseatlast]Here you go Arabella as you seem to think it isn't true. Not saying people shouldn't go, just that they should know the risks and not be glib about travel.
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g147262-i230-k13645293-Our_Barbados_holiday_became_a_quarantine_nightmare-Barbados.html[/quote]
I didn't say I didn't think it was true

I said if you want to look at all the risks of travel, by all means do. Don't forget any!

[quote Movinghouseatlast]Yes I will cancel Barbados due to the worry of sitting next to someone positive on the plane and losing potentially my whole extremely expensive holiday.

I don't know why people have to be cunts about this. I have actually read accounts of people in Barbados being taken to this facility and kicking off because they had no idea it was a possibility. So best to know the risks before you go. If you are happy to risk it go. If not don't.

I'm going to Greece as I can be careful before I go, take lateral tests etc. But sitting next to a stranger on a plane and losing my holiday? No, not a risk worth taking as so many idiots are determined that everything is back to normal.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189457-i1615-k13651171-A_Post_to_Help_You_Navigate_Quarantine_in_Kefalonia-Kefalonia_Ionian_Islands.html[/quote]
Is your trip to Greece not a holiday?

@Movinghouseatlast

Having done a lot of research, I have to say it is REALLY important that you research worst case scenario so you can try to mitigate against it.

I booked a holiday to Barbados at the end of January. I read the protocols around testing in both direction. However, what I hadn't quite understood is
-if you were sitting near to someone on the plane who subsequently tests positive you are confined to your hotel room for 5 days. Ditto if you have been on an organised trip or your and someone tests positive. You are tested on day 5 but the results can take up to 28 hours.

• if you test positive on that test you are carted off to Harrisons Point where you will be on a medical ward sharing one toilet. You stay for a minimum of 72 hours.

-if you test positive on the test before you fly home you are also taken to Harrison Point. You are basically imprisoned until you test negative or for 14 days whichever is sooner.

In Greece you are taken to a quarentine hotel if you test positive at any point. It sounds pretty grim.

Obviously these are very rare but I think people are travelling and then being totally shocked when these things happen!

It’s useful to know, but not all quarantine hotels are a nightmare, and tbh I prefer a country which has organised alternatives than the scenario where you are positive in an Airbnb but new guests are coming and you are either kicked out of the place (positive, hence not flying back) or have to pay for the extra time and the hassle to find alternative accommodation or penalties for the other guests who would be missing out. At last I know the place in Croatia where I am staying has got facilities set asides for the purposes of Covid-positive tourists, and a special team of cleaners who is sent by the tourist association to disinfect a flat if the previous guests are positive. (It’d still be a nightmare if it happens, so I do understand if one doesn’t want to travel. But there would be difficulties even with a staycation, if ie one can’t really drive home on the set day. Minor, in comparison, but still something that’d give me anxiety. I’m staying abroad in my own place so I am covered)

Just spending our last night in Crete after 2 weeks in a lovely villa. Totally worth it! We are a family of 4 with a 17 and 19 year old. Both have had major disruption to their exams and schooling. But this has been bliss. Got our negative lateral flows today and filled in the PLFs so should ge ok to come home tomorrow. Everything has felt so normal here - pretty much everything is outside anyway. We’ve worn masks in shops and at the airport but no where else. I’ve even stopped manically checking the U.K. dashboard at 4pm!

(Croatia has officially only 75 new positive cases today vs the 30.800 of the U.K….a fraction of the population, of course, but geographically it’s quite distributed and not so tiny. There’s a million German tourists, though, they pop up from every corner!)

Yes, Greece is a holiday. Booked 2 years ago. Your point is?

I suppose I’m struggling to understand your point

You say you’re going to cancel one holiday abroad because of fear of your plans being ruined because being notified that someone on plane had covid

What makes your trip to Greece any different ?

Genuine question

If you sit next to someone on the plane to Greece who tests positive for Covid you are not put in a quarentine hotel for your holiday. Also Greece costs £3000 Barbados £110000. I can just about swallow spending £3000 to sit inside but not £11000.

There are people in Barbados who have been taken away and trying to call lawyers to get them out. They didn't understand the protocols they were signing up to.

My post was simply to highlight that many people are not actually aware of what the worst case scenario is. It wasn't about me. But I guess some people can't grasp that not everything is about them.

You sound like you really need a holiday! @Movinghouseatlast

Well yes if you are spending £11,000 on a holiday you certainly want it to be perfect. Probably better to wait a little while for that kind of holiday !

@Movinghouseatlast I've also just cancelled a Barbados holiday in favour of going to Spain. It's absolutely horrific the way they're treating some tourists. Appreciate the risk is small but it's not one I'm willing to take.

Yesterday's flight was less than half empty. No one sat near anyone, so you won't gey pinged. The poolside is quiet, beach is quiet.

Went through both departure and arrival airports quicker than I ever have.

Its bliss over here because of the above nows the time to travel

Where are you @Whammyyammy?

@chocolatesaltyballs22

Where are you *@Whammyyammy*?

Menorca. Flew with Jet 2 for first time, they've been brilliant. Has to wear a mask on plane when not eating or drinking

[quote Movinghouseatlast]Yes I will cancel Barbados due to the worry of sitting next to someone positive on the plane and losing potentially my whole extremely expensive holiday.

I don't know why people have to be cunts about this. I have actually read accounts of people in Barbados being taken to this facility and kicking off because they had no idea it was a possibility. So best to know the risks before you go. If you are happy to risk it go. If not don't.

I'm going to Greece as I can be careful before I go, take lateral tests etc. But sitting next to a stranger on a plane and losing my holiday? No, not a risk worth taking as so many idiots are determined that everything is back to normal.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189457-i1615-k13651171-A_Post_to_Help_You_Navigate_Quarantine_in_Kefalonia-Kefalonia_Ionian_Islands.html[/quote]
I have just re read and I remain as confused as ever

So you are happy to travel to Greece despite risks of, in your words “ In Greece you are taken to a quarentine hotel if you test positive at any point. It sounds pretty grim.”, becuae you think you can control it.

And you’re also essentially saying how dumb people are being by not doing their research beforehand.

So you did your research.
Found out that the risk was “grim”
And still going ahead it

I don’t understand your point!