Has anyone recently been to/currently in/planning to go to Greece?

[Medstudent12]

I'm double vaccinated. Partner has only had one jab.

Hoping to go in July. Happy to do the quarantine when I get back to the UK and pay for the tests.

My main worries are Angela Merkel succeeding in getting us banned from the EU due to delta or being asked to isolate after a positive case on the plane!

So nerve wracking but I am desperate to go! The rates seem much lower than here and would be outside all of the time and only really socialising with my partner. Don't see how it's any more dangerous than staying here. We both have already had covid late 2020 too.

I'm currently in Greece and it's fine here @Medstudent12 cases are low, weather is lovely. I feel much safer here than on a UK break. They tested our entire flight on landing, so be prepared for that if you go.

Go! Just make sure you've got good travel insurance and you book with a reputable operator who will be flexible in the event there are any changes to travel restrictions.

If you're going later in July, there's a good chance Greece will be green by the time you return, or that the quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated travellers will no longer apply.

@WhiteChocTwix ooh really. Lateral flow or PCR? Did it take ages or was the plane half empty? And are many other brits out there? Sorry for bombarding you with questions haha.

@elessar we're planning on booking very last minute anyways. Will get some good travel insurance though! Thanks :)

The danger is not to you but to the Greeks!

We have a holiday to Crete booked for mid July and trying to decide whether to go ahead. The pre and post tests are not a concern, but how do you get a test while you are there, in order to fly back?

I am hoping it will become green soon, but there are obviously no guarantees, so need to make the decision based on amber rating. I also don't understand why the Gov UK makes an exception for Crete and the larger islands- they are amber, but travel there is somehow allowed? Anyone have an insight?

We have cancelled our trip to Crete. We are both double vaxxed but it doesn’t seem right to fly during a pandemic. Also with the cases rising exponentially in the U.K. we really shouldn’t be travelling.

@Medstudent12 it was a lateral flow test. They text us the results about 10 mins after having it done. Our flight was pretty full so took about 90 mins to get through passport and testing before we could pick the bags up. Worth it though, weather is glorious. Plenty of Brits in Mykonos. Less so now we're in Naxos. Our hotel in Mykonos was run by a British lady and we were the only guests for the 1st couple of days. She was so grateful we were there and we had the pool and hotel to ourselves. Can't get more Covid secure than that! I'm honestly more concerned about the mosquito bite I've reacted badly to at present than Covid. Mask wearing is strict on public transport and in shops. There's a major heatwave currently so the govt have decreed it's down to personal choice to wear masks outside. We do in busy areas. I hope you get to go on your trip.

@greywell

We have a holiday to Crete booked for mid July and trying to decide whether to go ahead. The pre and post tests are not a concern, but how do you get a test while you are there, in order to fly back?

We've booked a video call with Collinson to do lateral flow tests for before we come back. Also brought back up tests from Project Screen, which are linked to Virgin, where you do the test and send them a picture of the results to certify.

@WhiteChocTwix super helpful thanks. So you can do lateral flows for flying back to the U.K.? Debating doing test to release too! I assume the tests when you get back to U.K. are home ones.

Was wondering is it busy with other Europeans? I’d prefer it slightly quieter but I’m sure the Greeks are keen for tourists as it’s such a huge part of their economy.

Sounds like you are having a fab time!

@Medstudent12 yes govt guidance says it can be a lateral flow test:

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england#type-of-test

Greece has just updated their guidance to say they'll accept a lateral flow test on the way out as well.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements

I would highly recommend Wren healthcare for outbound testing. They were super efficient with us and v.easy to contact.

We're going to book Express Test drive through tests for day 2 and 8 as we're near Heathrow. Not bothering with test to release as DH WFH and I'm not working currently. That put us in a good position for coming out as we were able to keep to ourselves for a week or so before the flight so not taking it with us. Going to use the quarantine period to job hunt! Plenty of other Europeans here. I say take the opportunity the trip if you can manage all the testing and quarantine.

@Medstudent12 actually you're double vaxxed so you won't need outbound testing 👍

So you can't use the NHS lateral flow tests? You have to buy privately?

@greywell

So you can't use the NHS lateral flow tests? You have to buy privately?

Yes that's right you have to buy lateral flow tests privately.

Thank you.

Just had our flights cancelled to Zante. Would love to know what flights are still going out!

Oh no. When were you going? Spoke to BA this morning, who couldn't guarantee anything. They did say we would be given a week's notice. Flights are now really expensive- no idea why they are not encouraging people to book.

We’re supposed to be going to Corfu on 26th July with TUI. Surely with all the testing before you go the risk to the Greeks is minimal, and if cases there are low the risk of catching it there are also low, but I still feel a bit guilty, and also that I daren’t quite look forward to it in case it doesn’t happen! whitechoctwix I hope you have a lovely time. miawallace sorry about your holiday.

@greywell

So you can't use the NHS lateral flow tests? You have to buy privately?

If you try to use the NHS tests you'll be stopped from boarding. This was in the paper last month- those on Easyjet and Ryan Air who tried to travel outbound using NHS tests were denied boarding.

We are heading to Kefalonia in a fortnight. BA have been flying in every Saturday since June. I'm another one who will go even if it's Amber (no cases in the island for several weeks now and they have been doing MUCH better than the bigger Greek islands that are 'approved' on the FCO list) but hoping that quarantine for the double vaxxed will be abandoned before our return.

Can't wait to go.

We booked flights to corfu Friday night - £76 return for 3 of us.

I'm double jabbed so no testing for me but hubby will have too. There is a Dr in the resort that does the return tests.

Hoping it will be green on the 15th then we don't have to worry!

I went last august & it was fab.

@LondonMummer and @lovemenomore are you guys worried they’ll ban brits? I’m so nervous we’ll be banned before I get there. I need to stop checking the news!

We’re due to go mid August.

I think the fact they’ve planned to vaccinate all the islanders by end of June means they are desperate for the tourism and I’m hoping it will be fine. Germany is in a different situation.

@Delatron ooh I didn’t know that. I hope they still let us in despite delta. I’d be less worried if partner was double jabbed.

@lovemenomore are you just using nhs app as proof of vaccination?