So you think we will able to travel abroad in the summer?

[katie20202]

Hi

I've got a holiday booked in august and I'm just wondering if any one else has a holiday booked? Do you think we will get to go? Oh I hope so! You read all the supposed plans like need a COVID test or be vaccinated!

Yes, the system needs improving and guaranteed results within 24 hours are a must. Normally the test you’d take before leaving the UK would also be accepted by the destination country, as long as it was taken within 48/72h. But you’re right, that needs a functioning system in order to work. NHS-type tests also wouldn’t work for travel, as for many countries you need a certificate with your data/passport no./lab details... I hope they will release specific guidelines soon.

@StCharlotte I'm not worried tbh, DH and I would be fine to WFH, wouldn't be ideal for the kids as we go last week of summer holidays and I wouldn't want them to quarantine (so we will rebook if it goes amber before we go) but given the vaccine programme I think it's a low risk compared to last year so one I'm happy to take. If they put it on the green list of course!

[quote name674398]@StCharlotte I'm not worried tbh, DH and I would be fine to WFH, wouldn't be ideal for the kids as we go last week of summer holidays and I wouldn't want them to quarantine (so we will rebook if it goes amber before we go) but given the vaccine programme I think it's a low risk compared to last year so one I'm happy to take. If they put it on the green list of course![/quote]
That's the thing - I'm not remotely worried about my [covid] safety. There are just too many hoops to jump through and potential pitfalls to make for a relaxing break.

I'm not normally such a defeatist but the day we decided to postpone felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

At least we've booked something over here this year. We didn't get away at all in 2020. We might have another look in the Autumn.

@StCharlotte I understand, we've had 2 holidays cancelled thus far. As this is just an AI one that requires no real planning I'm happy to go with the flow and see what happens. We haven't actually paid the balance yet, that's due in June, so I will be watching eagerly at the announcements in May before committing in June.

[quote name674398]@Parker231 I read USA was looking to be amber. Have they published what the perimeters are going to be?[/quote]
It's all conjecture at the moment. The Times was saying this week that the initial list, due to be published next Fri, will have very few countries listed as green and on that list the USA is expected to be amber. There is due to be a new list published at the end of June though, and as long as the US keeps vaccinating at the current rate and infections keep falling it could well then join the green list. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed. We'll go if it's green or amber, but obviously it would be much better if it's green!

@zafferana are you booked for the States?

So they might not update the list for 6 or 7 weeks? That is absolutely ridiculous.

On one hand, a country could well be green next week with an extremely low incidence and then suddenly they get a new variant or simply a new outbreak, that means by the end of May they’re completely overwhelmed and it wouldn’t be advisable to travel there. Will they take countries off the list on a case by case basis?

On the other hand, what about a country which is borderline amber-green next week, let’s say the incidence limit is 100 and they’re at 120 but coming down, obviously vaccines keep going upwards and then in two weeks they’re well under the green requirements. Will they leave that country on the amber list until the end of June? That’s completely unfair when there could be the opposite situation with high incidence countries described above.

There needs to be a review every 7 or at a push, 14 days. The situation can change so fast. Where I live we were barely vaccinating 1-200k people a day two weeks ago, mass deliveries of doses have meant we’re currently doing well over 1 million each day. Almost all countries review travel advice every week or two. I hope the UK will be doing that too.

@EileenGC Are you in Spain?

[quote name674398]@zafferana are you booked for the States?[/quote]
Yes! Booked last summer in a fit of optimism for a 3-week fly/drive to CA

Some travel will definitely be allowed - through I am really worried that risk may lead to a third spike.

The problem is that as well as the frequent and short notice changes in colour classification and therefore isolation and quarantine requirements, the additional costs of testing and as yet unknown requirements of different locations. People shouldn’t be prepared to travel and then complain when isolation requirements change at short notice. It happened last year and will happen again this year.

Neither me nor my DH can work from home and that in itself is enough to stop us from travelling overseas at the moment.

@zafferana oh amazing, we are set to do that in 2023 (I have a 5 year holiday plan 😂😂) we plan to hire an RV for half of it. I really hope you can go!

@userxx I am not in Spain. I am Spanish though and very much in touch with what’s happening there, if that would help? 😅

Thank you @name674398. I think we could be friends - I too have a rough plan of holidays until DS1 turns 18 (in five years' time)

@zafferana this last year must have been similarly difficult for us 😂

It's been hideous @name674398. I've been like a caged animal. My family have done a lot of eye-rolling

@EileenGC Can you look into your crystal ball and tell me if travel will be permitted to mainland Spain mid-June 😏.

I’d love to know if Spain/ Greece islands will make the green list.

[quote userxx]@EileenGC Can you look into your crystal ball and tell me if travel will be permitted to mainland Spain mid-June 😏. [/quote]
This is the thing with the light system list review. It should be reviewed every week because the situation changes constantly. I believe Spain will be put on the amber list next week, as their cases are still too high for UK’s liking. By mid-June I am confident they’ll be lower, but that’s not useful if they don’t review the list until end of June. So... who knows. Spain will definitely let you in, with a negative PCR (or proof of vaccine if they reach a decision on that soon). Quarantine has never been required in Spain. It really depends on whether UK puts Spain on amber/green, and if it being amber meant you didn’t want to go anymore. Spain will let you in, that’s for sure.

@Alfaix

I’d love to know if Spain/ Greece islands will make the green list.

I reckon they'll be on it by July/August, but I wouldn't put money on them being on before that.

Spain probably won’t by next week. But it should in 3 or 4 weeks. Vaccination is now going really fast and deaths and hospitalisation have decreased. It really depends on what the benchmark for making the green list is, I wish they just came out and announced it. They’ll probably be very vague about it and not give clear guidelines.

And they will try to align it with school holidays. So even if a country is at green numbers in June, they’ll delay it for another month saying it isn’t safe. Which doesn’t help those without children who want to go earlier.

Or those with kids at private school who break up earlier!

Considering their children are at private schools, they'll probably time it for the beginning of July so they can still benefit from it.

I really hope my predictions are wrong and they can come up with a decent system that is reviewed regularly.

We’ve booked for this summer and we went abroad last august too. I’m fairly confident we will be able to travel.

I agree that some travel will be allowed but if it’s anything like last year we will all be on tender hooks. I have costed up all the PCR tests required as prices now - £1k for two people. There are some people making a lot of money out of these tests.

Doc tap do 24 hour turn around PCR tests when leaving the UK £139 each. I wouldn’t go less than that turnaround because some countries are demanding tests no more than 72 hours in advance. I could get a 3 hour one at £200 (each!). I won’t start on the tests we need to return to the UK....

Of course we could stay in the UK but the rip off prices and the weather puts me right off.

I 100% agree that the border control can be sorted out by not being so damm greedy and get people back from furlough. There is just no excuse for airports to bleat they don’t have enough staff and to not use technology to move people through more quickly.

Last year Shapps put countries on the green list which weren’t even open and hopefully he has learnt from this. What is the point about listing Australia and NZ for example.

Although I will be my utmost to get things right can you imagine the scenes at the airports when some people haven’t. Trying to use NHS COVID tests or trying to get through when your test hasn’t come back or one of your parties test hasn’t come through. The tears will start and it’s not good trying to blag your way on or demanding to see a manager.