Anyone else wondering whether to cancel a December holiday?

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Aaaggh! We haven’t been away for two years and are due to fly to Mexico on 10th, coming back on 23rd but would now have to self isolate until pcr results were back which means in all likelihood it would mean we couldn’t see family at Christmas. I don’t know what to do.

Likelihood of things getting worse in the next four weeks also seems quite high to me

@EileenGC

The EU will probably not close the borders completely. They weren’t even closed during the first wave in 2020, or last winter.

How were these kids going to Austria if (I’m assuming) they aren’t fully vaccinated, in the first place?

They were. Only residents were allowed back in in the first wave

I'd still go. Dh parents won't be alone if they have each other? Or are they separated but come to you for Christmas?

You could do Christmas after you've finished isolating or something?

@maddy68

You can have a rapid 3 hr test at the airport so no isolation required

It depends on the airport. Not only can I not find that service at Stanstead the drive through, results next day closesminutes after our flight lands. So we are currently looking at Randox to drop off. Won't book until we know what is happening in Finland.

Going to USA and Virgin Atlantic will offer us a £22,000 switch... 🤦‍♀️

For those asking about LFTs they'd already booked but now need a PCR, you might get a refund on your LFT, it's worth asking. We had ordered some for a holiday in October then didn't need them (for an outbound flight) and was able to get a refund minus an admin fee. Also, the would have been valid for a year if we hadn't cancelled them.

I wouldn’t even consider going abroad at the moment. Everything is still too up in the air. Hope you can put it back if you decide not to go. It’s frustrating.

@maddy68

You can have a rapid 3 hr test at the airport so no isolation required

Do you have more info on this @maddy68 ? We've got family due to fly in from USA for Xmas so the quicker they can do the Day 2 PCR, the better. Can you do the test on arrival at the UK and not wait until Day 2?

Yes you can @Dauphinois. The test can be taken any time from arrival up until day 2. Our plan IF we do end up going abroad is to do our tests in person at the airport when we return, although we probably won't pay the £££ for the rapid turn around processing.

This is where you can find the cheapest PCR tests: www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/how-to-find-the-cheapest-private-coronavirus-tests-for-travel/#arrivalstwo
Scroll down for "airport testing".

They were. Only residents were allowed back in in the first wave

@maddy68 notice my use of the word 'completely'. Some EU countries shut the borders to non-EU travel.

The borders within the EU remained open throughout. I travelled in April 2020, all through summer and autumn and had several trips across the continent during the winter lockdown. The borders weren't fully shut.

I would still go. A rapid turnaround test would be best (randox took DAYS last time as I had to post it to Ireland)

Or adjust flight and come back a couple of days earlier.

I really hope this is not just lip service/ a Money making scheme for the government . How will they enforce this new quarantine? Will someone be calling round to check? Otherwise it’s more pointless expense for holidaymakers after years of this shit.

Currently nobody checks up on PCR tests or LFT so I’d like to know how this will be different and more effective?!

@Remmy123

Do the pcr the day you are back on the 23rd.

Btw no one even checks up to see if these have been done!!

How would this work when the tests are meant to be after two days and you have to prove details of the tests you have booked on your passenger locator form for return to the UK. Tests are meant to be 48 hours because Covid doesn't show on a test immediately .

Tests are meant to be 48 hours because Covid doesn't show on a test immediately

I’m pretty sure it’s exactly the opposite isnt it? You have to take the test before 2 days

@notangelinajolie

We are booked to stay in a cottage in Wales with family coming from all over the UK. Me and DH, our DDs, elderly FIL and my DB. Classed as 5 households. Our holiday starts from Christmas Eve for 4 nights. I don't want to go anymore. We do have insurance that covers us for a refund if government announces lockdown or if one of us gets Covid within 14 days of travel. It's all paid for and I can't cancel.

Why don't you want to go? Because of the new variant ? You could all do LFTs before you meet.

antimaskersaretwats

That trip will definitely be cancelled. Austria is operating 3G/2G rule system which means their entry requirements are less strict than the rules after entry

Entry - unvax kids can get in with vax adults (teachers) - so fine to enter
Once there - anyone over 12 has to be fully vax to access hotels, restaurants and ski lifts etc so uk kids cant go.

www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations

plus no gatherings of 25+ - most school trips are big groups

In this situation I’d be planning on going- having a quiet Christmas at home- and then meeting up with family later in December when everyone’s had the all clear
We always plan to meet up with both families between Christmas and new year. But other than last year because it was only allowed on the 25th, we’re rarely bothered about it being on that day itself

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon Thank you for the link - that’s really helpful 😊. Sadly travelling with a non-UK airline so won’t benefit from the discount but it’s good to have a summary of what is out there…

Would it be really awful to get a pcr test through the nhs? On day 2 of getting home?

Or will be have to have something official?

And we're driving from France. So how is that different from driving down from Newcastle or wherever? We've been on holiday in our own place, doing outdoor activities, then getting in the car and driving straight home via the tunnel. What's the difference?

Because for the vast majority of people that won’t be the case. They can’t have a system where they make exceptions for different sorts of travel or the rules become unworkable.

More stupid rules that make no logical sense.

To you. They make no sense to you.

Us - currently booked to go to France 19-22 Dec. I think we'll probably cancel TBH, the risk of the PCRs not coming back promptly in the pre-Christmas period and messing up last minute shopping etc is not appealing. And driving somewhere for rapid-turnaround ones for all 4 of us will almost be more than the cost of the holiday!

Would it be really awful to get a pcr test through the nhs? On day 2 of getting home?

I don’t know how many times, and how many different ways it has to be said…but the answer to this is no

You cannot use NHS test for travel

You have to book a private test for when you return and once booked you are given a reference number which goes on your passenger locator form which you complete 48 hours before entering the UK. Its prefix is specific so you cant use nhs test even if you tried

I'm in a similar position, due to fly out of the UK on Dec 18 and wondering if borders will be closed before then. Plus we'll all have to have a negative PCR for the destination, and we've had Covid about 3 weeks ago. Does anyone know what the likelihood is of getting a negative test six weeks or so out from a positive one?

@shinynewapple21 the test has to be taken on day of arrival, day 1 or day 2. Hence testing places at airports.