Anyone been to / going to Greek islands?

[Twobigsapphires]

Due to holiday on Greek Island in 2 weeks. Really anxiety inducing, anyone in the area boat or can offer reassurance?

[PashaMashenko]

We love going to Crete. It is such a big island that there is something for everyone. Our family loves hiking so we normally choose a base town and then try different trails nearby. This year we tried Kritsa - a very cosy traditional village in the mountains. We stayed here: www.booking.com/hotel/gr/cinnamon-house-in-kritsa.en-gb.html
It's not very close to the sea, so for those who prefer being next to the beach not the best option. Good luck!

[Washeduponthebeach]

Thanks @Goldrill
I didn’t know there was an app now . We have letters. It’s all such a bloody minefield. I am about to book PCR tests for day two but deeply resentful about it!

[Goldrill]

@Washeduponthebeach we're going from Scotland on the 10th but flying from Gatwick. I am working on Scottish gov recent update which says:
No test before you fly back
Day 2 PCR but they will align with rest of uk when Boris decides whether that day 2 is a lat flow or still a pcr.
So to avoid the stress we are booking pcrs for all of us (double vacced adults plus two under 11s).

Don't need to be tested before we go as vaccinated/too young.

Have you had a go at getting the new Scottish vaccine passport app to work? An entertaining way to spend a few hours!

[Washeduponthebeach]

Have filled in the PLF already.

[Washeduponthebeach]

We are flying to Crete on the 7 October. What are the requirements for travel from Scotland both ways? I have spent ages trawling through info which seems contradictory and isn't clear whether it is up to date, pre 4 October or post. Please help me!

As far as I understand it , we now do not need to test prior to departure. I don't know if we still need to test during the holiday. I think we need to book PCR tests for day two after we return before we travel. Is that correct? I am incredibly stressed about it all.

[user1499609760]

Thanks everyone. When I checked in with Ryanair this morning, there was a place to upload Covid documentation when completing the check-in process, and there's now a green bar on my boarding pass saying 'Covid documentation uploaded' so I hope that means things will be smooth at the airport. Probably a double-check at the boarding gate.

I had a momentary panic this morning that I needed a pre-departure test despite being fully vaccinated since June, but this thread reassured me that I don't (some travel websites evidently don't update very frequently...).

@EmmaGrundyForPM Ha re: hand luggage! It helps I'm only going for a week Plus I'm going for an activity holiday that involves a lot of swimming & watersports, so I think I'll be spending a lot of time in swimsuits! So clothes can be somewhat minimal (sounds dirty haha )

[Puppylucky]

We flew easyjet and a lady checked our docs in the queue before we reached the check in desk. I second taking C19 fit to fly tests with you - very easy to use.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

@user1499609760

Thanks everyone. I ordered a lateral flow test to take with me.

Can’t see any info on the Ryanair site about document checks, apart from the visa checks they have done for years. If anyone knew anything I’d be grateful!

We flew to Crete yesterday but with WizzAir not Ryanair. It was very straightforward, we just needed to.show our Covid Vaccination pass on our phones plus the PLF.
There were facilities for people doing handuggage only to self check in, but I'm not sure how that worked.

At Heraklion Airport they just gave our paperwork a really cursory check, we were through within minutes. As far as I could tell, no one was being pulled aside for a random LFT.

We have brought fit-to-fly tests with us as we thought that would be easier. I'm just hoping we don't test positive! I was quite shocked at the number of people in the airport and on the plane who weren't wearing masks, despite constant reminders to do so.

On a different note, i'm very impressed that you manage to get all your clothes into hand luggage!

[user1499609760]

Thanks everyone. I ordered a lateral flow test to take with me.

Can’t see any info on the Ryanair site about document checks, apart from the visa checks they have done for years. If anyone knew anything I’d be grateful!

[lazysummer]

I suggest taking C19 fit to fly testing kits with you. You don't need to do a video call- just take a picture of the lateral flow results. Chora Sfakion may have facilities for tests, but I wouldn't bank on it.

[Scottishskifun]

You can always take fit to fly lateral flow tests with you.
We found information out via our hotel main website which gave information to a linked clinic and it was possible to book through them and they came to the hotel on the day which might be worth checking for you?
If not try information through Ryanair to if they have a links to companies, I found that jet2 website gave significant discounts when I clicked through their page.

I'm not sure on hand luggage only I would assume they would still want to check before you get to the gate but not sure!

[user1499609760]

Hi all, I’m due to fly to Crete next week & would greatly appreciate any pointers on the two issues below.

1. I will only be travelling with hand luggage, Ryanair. Will I still need to present myself at a check-in desk in order for my PLF, vaccine cert etc. to be checked? Or does this happen at the gate? I haven’t flown since March 2020 so clueless on this…!
   
   
2. how easy is it to find a Fit to Fly LFT in Greece for the return? I’ll be in southern Crete, near Chora Sfakion & it’s not a big resort from what I understand, so I don’t know how easy it will be to find somewhere. It’s 1.5 hours from the hotel to Chania airport with a flight around lunchtime so not a huge amount of latitude on the day of departure. If anyone knew the area or could generally advise I’d be grateful! Thanks all!

[Scottishskifun]

Anyone else waiting on travel announcements today?
I know Greece will be fine (numbers have been decreasing quickly) but hoping that PCR day 2 tests get removed! Would make life easier!

We have gone 360 and decided to take lft with us but did find if we went through our airline page link we got a significant discount (£10 per test!)

[Squirrelblanket]

I am in Zakynthos now and they asked to see our vaccine proof at the airport (and very briefly glanced at it!) but haven't been asked since. Once you are in resort I don't think they bother. I haven't heard of anyone having to show it to get inside bars, restaurants etc

[Scottishskifun]

Does anyone in Greece know how the new rules are working on showing vaccine status/negative test results to be inside places is working for children?
It's fine for DH and I we can easily show it but DS is 2! Wasn't sure if it's as strict as Israel where they basically weren't allowed in/testing very young children often!

We travel in a few weeks so keeping an eye on levels but so far seem to be dropping so still very much hopeful they will stay on the Amber UK list (and Greece still accepts us!)

[Delatron]

Yeah it’s all a complete farce!

[GrealishHairband]

Cheers @Delatron as I suspected really.

All 4 were done and sent off at the same time on Saturday. Just got a text tonight to say that one has been received 🙄

[Delatron]

Ours was sent back late and two were invalid as I did them wrong. Nothing happened! They’re not followed up.

[GrealishHairband]

😂😂 yep it will.

Ach feck it. I’m sure it won’t be a problem. She says. Optimistically.

[Farfalle88]

Well it will be interesting to find out!

[GrealishHairband]

Just coming back to this thread to say after all of the meticulous planning we did to get on holiday we forgot to take our Day 2 test when we got home. Remembered Day 3 evening in my defence we had DD’s 18th birthday and surprise party on Day 1 and Day 2 respectively. Anyone know if we can expect an arse kicking from Boris? 🤔

[Delatron]

It’s a minefield! @IsabellesMissingSock
I had a lovely time though thank you! Worth it in the end.

[IsabellesMissingSock]

@Delatron

Ah my mistake with the antigen. Wish I’d done mine earlier and enjoyed my last 2 days stress free!

It's very easily confused and the requirements change all the time which also doesn't help! Hope you had a great hol regardless of covid test stress!

[Delatron]

Ah my mistake with the antigen. Wish I’d done mine earlier and enjoyed my last 2 days stress free!

[NeverRTFT]

Went to Rhodes for 2 weeks. Really anxious before going. It was bliss.
Masks are a must over there so take a few.

Lots of PP have covered the testing requirements. It's fiddly but not impossible.

Checks on arrival were being undertaken but it was busy at airport and a bit chaotic. Checks seemed to be random spot checks where some travellers were asked to step into a different Q to take a test. We didn't have to.

Our hotel arranged our antigen test for travelling home.

We were lucky and all worked out. It was worth it in the end but that's because nothing went wrong for us.

I have heard of friends-of-friends who had to go to Covid isolation hotel for 2 weeks (one was positive before flying, they isolated together so then the other caught it, which created the 10 days). Sounds like there wasn't much fresh fruit and veg available, but they were fed. They didn't have DC.