Do I need private PCR test for 16 year old for Portugal holiday?

[HolidayWithTeenager]

Because if so we can't go because it's so much more money when you add the cost of tests on. He's had the one jag, can't book a second one yet. Gah, so frustrating especially when I've found lovely cheap accommodation for us and could do with a holiday after a shit couple of years marked by covid and other bereavements. Why can't we just use the NHS PCR tests like we've been doing throughout due to me WOH and him being at school? This entire thing is a racket. Travelling to and from Glasgow and I was kind of prepared to just get flights from England but it looks like the same rules apply there as well as the flights being more expensive anyway.

NHS PCR tests are to be used when you have symptoms.

Are the certificates they issue even compatible with the requirements for a pre-flight test certificate?

The cheapest private PCR I’ve been able to find costs £40 but is a postal test so a bit risky with getting results back in time.

Don’t forget the Day 2 Tests as well, which will be a minimum of £40 per person, regardless of vaccination status.

Why should the NHS pay for tests for you to take a holiday?
And you have to have the 2 day one when you get back - needs to be booked before you go so that you have the reference number for your passenger locator form.

Don’t forget the Day 2 Tests as well, which will be a minimum of £40 per person, regardless of vaccination status.

Actually if you’re in Scotland you may be forced to use a certain provider and the cost will be higher. I forgot about this as I travel from/to England only.

You should check on Portugal’s tourism website what their entry requirements are and on our government website. We had to get PCR tests for us all mine are under 10 prior to travel and then books tests when there for our return and then our day 2 test. You might be fine with a lateral flow test. They are not so expensive.

Why should the NHS pay for tests for you to take a holiday? This with bells on.

I came back from a holiday in Portugal last week. I ordered the Rapid Antigen Tests from Living Care for £25 per test. You upload results to website and they generate certificate which you show at the airport. I found it saved us a lot of hassle to have the certificates printed out.

You'll need to order a Day 2 (possible even a Day 8 test if your DS hasn't had both vaccines yet) too. I got mine for £43 from Randox.

This is the only reason I haven't gone abroad. Between me and my sister we have 7 kids, with testing coming to around £340. There's just no way around it sadly, you have to follow the rules of the countries you are travelling from and to, both outbound and inbound. Plus, there's the risk they're not accurate. My friends daughter tested negative on the outbound test and was randomly selected at an airport in Greece on arrival. That test was positive, and from that point they never left the airport and instead spent 10 days in a quarantine hotel. That was the final nail for me, sod that, I'll wait until it's normal!

I was also flying out of/returning to Scotland and I had no issues with those tests.

Looks like only children under 11 are exempt now but they do accept an LFT and not an NHS one www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements

Try this company :

You can get results in 24hrs you’ll need a certificate and also your vaccine ‘passport’ from the NHS app

www.c19testing.co.uk/fortravel/

Aye, I was including the day 2 (and 8?) tests in my thinking. It just seems a bit of a pisser. We've followed the regs throughout, I've had to do several PCRs after outbreaks at work when I've had symptoms that looked like the covid, we've both been jagged as much as we can, not his fault that he's only had the one. It's been an exhausting and demoralising time during which we've experienced bereavements that we couldn't even get to funerals to mark and I found this nice wee cheap deal so thought it might be a way for us to have at least one good week after 100 shit ones including me having to go to bloody work and leave him at home while he's doing his GCSEs. I'm just fucked off with it really. There's tests aplenty available , most of the times when we've gone for PCRs we're the only people in the tent, but now we have to pay shit tonnes of money to get ones that tick the box for I don't even know why.

I was also flying out of/returning to Scotland and I had no issues with those tests.

You didn't have to do them? That would be EXCELLENT news.

An antigen test that meets EU parameters for international travel is also permitted. Double check it is suitable for flying when you book. It costs us around £40 at the U.K. end now. It’s not appropriate for the NHS to fund our holiday choices! If an additional £80 renders the holiday unaffordable then it’s probably too much of a stretch anyway.

As previously commented, you will need to book a day two test for your return and the booking number is required to complete the Passenger Locator Form before your return flights.

I think a rule change announced by the U.K. government last night means that you won’t now have to have a test in Portugal before returning to the U.K. if all travellers are double vaccinated, so that’s a welcome saving.

You will be required to prove your vaccination status at the airports, hotels, and at some local attractions. At weekends they also check your vaccine passport before permitting you inside bars and restaurants.

Bring plenty of masks as they are still worn inside venues and outdoors if safe social distancing can’t be maintained.

No, sorrry...that was in relation to my earlier post up thread. I did have to do tests but found providers who weren't too costly

Please can you tell me those providers?

We’re going to Portugal in October Half Term. We’ve been told to get antigen tests that cost about £26 ish. Randox I believe??

Bring plenty of masks as they are still worn inside venues and outdoors if safe social distancing can’t be maintained.

Don't worry m8, I am fully masked up. Unlike most of my fellow countrymen and women. My son would also be fully vaccinated if he was able to be. We've lived and breathed these fucking rules for close to two years even though we've both had to be working and studying outside of home for that time.

The Scottish govt wants us to get tests from a named provider though. Which is £136 coming back and £55 going out. Just because they haven't double jagged my son yet. It's a pisstake.

@HolidayWithTeenager I mentioned in my previous post but I got Rapid Antigen Tests (lateral flows) will Living Care for £25 per test and a Day 2 test (at home PCR) with Randox for £43

It’s the coming back tests that are an issue, and a costly one at that. You need to book with an approved provider of Scotland’s, in OP’s case.

I use NWP tests in England which are £40, for anyone else interested.

Going to Portugal, you need a test that complies with the Portuguese regulations. Scotland can’t tell you which ones to get, you need to get the info off Portugal’s official travel guidelines.

We have booked kids PCR for today, then I think we all need them on Day 2 return? Scotland as well. It is expensive. Plus the Scottish Government keep all the old guidance online, it’s very confusing. If you do go, Randox is cheapest but you need 5 days for delivery, we were too late.

Oh for goodness sake so I can’t use Randox for Day 2 return?

That's how I'm reading it, yes. Otherwise I would do that. The Scottish govt guidelines say you have to use their named provider. Which is £136 coming in, £55 going out. And it's all very well to say 'oh well you wouldn't have been able to afford the holiday if you can't afford to pay that' but actually I would. £191 more is loads of money - the cost of the test is actually only slightly less than the accommodation deal I've found. It makes the trip completely unaffordable. And we're only being gouged for it because my son can't book a 2nd vaccination.