Has anyone travelled to Greece yet?

[NoMoreLimbo]

I’m due to travel to Rhodes on the 8th of August. Has anyone on here travelled over there since the travel corridors were introduced?

What makes you think that PamDemic, it doesn't seem like they are close to the numbers yet?

Does anyone have an idea when the next travel update is likely to be?

I’ve been following some really great reassuring threads on Twitter on the Thursday review for Greece. They’re run by @BenkersBen and @PPaulCharles

They analyse the daily cases and then rank all countries in a list. You can see how high above the minimum threshold of 20 that the minimum cases per 100,000 over 14 days was for places like France and Croatia to warrant quarantine. There’s lots of scaremongering going on so trying to read factual information about it all and no panic!

Greece currently at 14.2 average so a long way off 33.5 and 33.6 France and Croatia were at!

Due to fly 16/9 so praying nothing goes awry between them and now!

Also placemarking in case it’s possible to book something last minute in September...though I guess flight prices will be sky high last minute!

Thanks @Palmtree76 that is reassuring we are going with school she DC on Friday and have been worrying

Hello all. Fly to corfu tomorrow, I don't think I'll relax until I arrive at the hotel!

It’s a bit stressful isn’t it @wizzbangfizz but I’m just avoiding tabloid crap and focusing on data. Also the government tends to do reviews each week so you just have to focus on them. Cases a bit higher today but still not in the concerning levels- to give it some context it’s close to Portugal who was removed from quarantine this week.

Yes we are in Portugal at the moment. Its been a really lovely safe holiday. So delighted that we dont even have to quarantine when we get back although we came prepared to do so if necessary.

Read @BenkersBen on Twitter. The most sensible analysis of quarantine likelihood I found ahead of our trip to Corfu (where we are right now!).

The papers are scaremongering. It's helpful for them to use Greece in headlines because it's now the biggest European non-quarantine holiday destination and they get clicks as a result. But read the article (Sun particularly bad for this) and you'll see it's not actually on the danger list yet.

That doesn't mean things might not change, but his is the most level headed view you'll find. (I did hours of panic reading ahead of our hols!).

Thanks @Palmtree76 agree, I'm hoping it isn't on Thursday list and if it does go
On the following Thursday I'd hopefully be able to get back as it tends to come in at 4am on the sat.

@little0miss0mac I’m making myself so anxious about it. I have to stop reading! That’s why I went and read those two threads and no more.

I don’t go until 16/9 so still plenty of time to change but crossing my fingers for good news. I’m happy to quarantine but I’ve heard package providers (I booked with BA holidays) cancel automatically as soon as the FCO advice changes. I hope it’s not true- BA are still selling packages NOW to Spain etc so I think I’m safe. Just desperate to go away. Have worked 70 hours a week due to COVID and need a break. An anxious, stressed ness!

@little0miss0mac hope you're having a nice holiday! How long did it take to get through Corfu airport?

@Faraway20 less time than usual because there are fewer flights! Straight through passport control, didn't get swabbed and didn't see anyone else getting swabbed (though it does happen, of course).

Gatwick was slower than usual at bag drop off (easyjet) because they're checking all docs in the queue, including PLF, before you can drop your bag.

All the restaurants and shops are very organised - hand sanitiser everywhere and the shops (not restaurants) will not let you in without a mask. There are huge shopkeeper fines for non-compliance and it seems to have had the desired effect unlike our local Sainsbury’s 🙄)

Um - the shops and restaurants comment refers to Corfu, not Gatwick, in case that wasn't clear!

We are home now but just wanted to point out that a couple of people have acted a bit strangely since I got back, it's made me feel a bit weird about if we did get it, how awful it would be as it would be our fault if we passed it onto whoever!

My cleaner came today and 'had to check we didn't have any Covid symptoms' err we would mention it if we had!!

Then nursery said 'because you've been to 'Greece' (like it was a really dirty word), we will be taking their temperatures and any sign we will call you'

Just thought it was a bit strange people treated us so leperish!! What if folks have been on a bus, the tube and a theme park etc.??? Do they have to be treated like a leper for 2 weeks??

People are strange

@imamearcat that's weird behaviour when Greece is a low risk country. There's so much judgement with other people's choices at the moment. Most people I told about my holiday said I was mad or 'very brave'. I basically feel like I've done something wrong, but I had a great time and really needed it so stuff 'em. Plus someone's got to keep the travel industry alive

I'm still on pins about Thursday!

I agree @ladyflower23 there are a lot less cases than here. I really don't get it, I think people have been really weird.

Not only are people strange, they're a bit thick too. Try not to take it to heart.

Home from Stoupa today, wonderful holiday. Remember the locator form has to be completed for return flight, no more than 48hours before arrival. So many confused passengers scrambling around in Gatwick to get it sorted. We had done ours in Greece and had downloaded it to phones

@Hohofortherobbers so you have to do another one for the return leg of the journey? Via the same site?

You complete the return locator form. Via the gov uk website. www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk. Hope that worked, I've never copied a link over before. Complete the form on the UK gov website no more than 48 hours before arrival in UK (GMT arrival time, not Greek time +2 hours). Its then emailed straight to you and you can down load it, they don't ask for it in Greece on departure but as soon as you're at Gatwick border control its ALL about the QR code and so chaos. Enjoy your hol!!