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Original poster

Anyone been to / going to Greek islands?

865 replies

Twobigsapphires · 18/07/2021 19:05

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

OP posts:
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8
rufus77 · 09/08/2021 13:01

@GrealishHairband Thank you so much! I am hoping this is the case for me. My boys all tested negative by the end of their 10 day isolation but mine is the strongest its been today and i'm supposed to finish Wednesday night! Hoping for a miracle but am seriously worried at the moment. It is good to see some progression photos though. Were they strong positives before the first one or faint?

I feel like a serial tester like when I was trying for a baby although this time I dont want to see 2 lines!!

GrealishHairband · 09/08/2021 13:11

First positive was super strong like the top one, had a few days like that before they started to get fainter as shown.

Good luck x

Scottishskifun · 09/08/2021 13:13

@FizzyPink

We’ve packed a load of lateral flow tests just for the peace of mind so there aren’t any nasty shocks when we come to go home. We’ll also test before we fly in case of airport testing when we arrive
Good idea! Just ordered some so we will test before we fly and before we do in resort testing.

Thanks all for this thread BTW! Its been so useful as I was pretty daunted by it all initially!
We don't fly out til towards the end of Sept so won't be booking tests for a while but I've found the in resort info and booking (which is actually cheaper for the lateral flows) and a company for 2 day return ones (we are flying from England as the cost from Scotland is ridiculous!)

ArabellaPilkington · 09/08/2021 13:48

@rufus77

My DC both had it before we came here. DS was positive for one day only, DD the full 10!! Even though neither of them were ill. DDs got fainter on Days 9 & 10 and was gone by Day 11.

rufus77 · 09/08/2021 14:03

@ArabellaPilkington Thank you! Its so strange isn't it. We officially have 7 days and 2 hours until our flight. I've had either faint or strong positives for 6 days now. Just praying it goes negative soon as, apart from the random testing and fear of quarantine, I couldn't knowingly travel with it still being positive. Literally everything is crossed at the moment.

Sunshine2007 · 09/08/2021 14:14

I think the problem with quarantining in an Airbnb rather than quarantine hotel would be that one of you would have to go food shopping and that’s exactly what they don’t want. We all did an NHS lateral flow yesterday (negative) and will do our actual test to return tests today to fly home on Wed. Fingers crossed all still negative. The riskiest thing we have done, other than go in a supermarket, is go to a water park, but even that was pretty quiet and obvs all outdoors (and doesn’t chlorine kill the virus?).

AvonCallingBarksdale · 09/08/2021 15:47

@rufus77 fingers crossed for you. We’ve had to cancel our trip because DD and I (I’m double-jabbed) both tested positive in the 48-hour window before flying. So we got soooo close Sad. We’re both still testing positive on LFT.

Movinghouseatlast · 09/08/2021 16:10

I'm confused by some of this. So are some of you flying when you had a positive test only 7 days before you go?

I have read that Greece will only accept entry if your positive test was 30 days ago. So I assume none of you are getting PCR tests, so your positive tests are not registered anywhere? Is that right?

Sorry if I have got the wrong end of the stick.

poshme · 09/08/2021 16:15

@Movinghouseatlast Greece accept either proof of recovery (after 30 days) OR double
Vaccinated, OR negative lateral flow.
So once out of isolation, if you're negative on LFT you can fly to Greece.

poshme · 09/08/2021 16:16

@RaelImperialAerosolKid

We've just had our return COVID tests - All negative but it was a nervous half hour !
I know that feeling! So relieved to be handed papers with negative on every one!
Movinghouseatlast · 09/08/2021 16:17

I haven't read of a single example of anyone being allowed to quarentine in the villa where they are staying.

As to who knows about your positive test on the way home you won't have a fit to fly certificate. So you would change your flight and stay ' under the radar'. How would you get food without going out? You wouldn't actually be quarentining in those circumstances.

Movinghouseatlast · 09/08/2021 16:19

@poshme I know the rules. If you have been positive recently though, despite being fully jabbed, you could show a positive result on a lateral flow test. That is a hell of a risk.

rufus77 · 09/08/2021 16:27

@AvonCallingBarksdale that's awful, its so hard isnt it. Myself and my husband are both double jabbed and we have both now had it! We have both been ok with it though which I am thankful for, I hope you are your daughter are too.

I'm so sorry you missed out on your holiday, were you insured or able to move it? When did you start to test positive on lateral flow?

rufus77 · 09/08/2021 16:30

@Movinghouseatlast I agree. I haven't had a PCR as we know the drill now after 3 others at home have had it. My isolation finishes on Wednesday and I am testing every day. If i am still showing positive by Saturday/Sunday then we will either cancel or my husband and sons will go without me, I am not risking us ending up in a quarantine hotel if I get randomly checked at the airport and also wouldnt travel if I thought I could still be infectious. Its causing me serious anxiety at the moment!

ArabellaPilkington · 09/08/2021 16:31

@Movinghouseatlast

There is a world of difference between being in self isolation for 10 days having tested positive, and being out of isolation and still testing positive. You can test positive for up to 90 days after an initial positive result due to dead cells kicking about.

It doesn't mean you have the virus and are spreading it.

poshme · 09/08/2021 16:39

@Movinghouseatlast it is- but when we had covid, we were testing negative on LFTs within days of positive PCR.

I tested negative on LFT 2 days after positive PCR. (Double jabbed) the kids took longer to test negative, and yes, it was a nerve wracking moment when we did our departure LFT today in Greece.

We might still test positive on day 2 at home, but we can accept that.

ArabellaPilkington · 09/08/2021 16:42

Our GP advised it was unusual to test positive on a PCR after 3 weeks.

poshme · 09/08/2021 16:42

@ArabellaPilkington ooh! That's good news!

Bayleaf25 · 09/08/2021 18:25

@Movinghouseatlast also my DS has always had negative lateral flows and no symptoms despite PCR being positive. I think this is because he probably had the virus weeks ago but it wasn’t detected then.

He will have finished quarantining and if still negative on his fit to fly lateral flow we will still go. I agree that it’s a risk but we’re potentially less likely to have it than some other travellers as we will have been in isolation.

We will have done about 10 lateral flows by the time we fly, hopefully all negative. I don’t think our return flight one is any more risk of being positive than someone who has potentially caught the virus on the plane on the way out for instance.

I think it’s a bit of an odd one for asymptomatic people as you don’t necessarily know when they first got the virus.

Scottishskifun · 09/08/2021 18:48

I tested positive for over 3 months due to long covid I wasn't infectious at all though was just left over virus. We waited til I tested negative on lft before booking our holiday!

We are now going to take some with us and test before we fly (both double jabbed) so no surprises and so far our flight is pretty empty so we will select seats away from others if possible at the last minute.

It's always going to be a bit of a risk flying but I think this system is here to stay might as well get used to the new way of travelling and feet a break after the last 18+ months

FizzyPink · 09/08/2021 20:51

Just downloading my holiday reading list. Anyone got any suggestions? Bonus points for anything set in Greece to really get me in the mood

magsbagsfags · 10/08/2021 06:59

Hello. Has anyone used the rapid antigen test for entering Greece?

Do you have to show it in the UK to board your flight? Or just on landing?

Thank you!

ArabellaPilkington · 10/08/2021 07:30

@magsbagsfags

Hello. Has anyone used the rapid antigen test for entering Greece?

Do you have to show it in the UK to board your flight? Or just on landing?

Thank you!

Yes we used this for the DC - had to show it at check in/bag drop in UK but not Greece on landing - they barely looked at our Greek PLF/QR code.

Filled in a self declaration re LFT test for DC to travel on ferry between islands, as well as our NHS app. Police at port were hilarious re the self declaration "WHAT IS THIS????!!!" but calmed down once they saw our NHS passes. Tbh in with them - it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on!!!

blametheparents · 10/08/2021 08:36

@FizzyPink
What about Stephen Fry’s books based on Greek mythology? Mythos and Heroes. I read Mythos on my last holiday to Greece and it was great.

iwantavuvezela · 10/08/2021 10:41

We made it to Skiathos - pretty drama free!

Wanting to ask those who have flown back did you need to do a PCR test or could you do any Covid test - the antigen ones are only £20 and even free at the port - wanting to know if we need the PCR (which is around £60)
I have booked and have the Day 2 tests for our return.

Really glad we took the plunge, been able to swim every day, eating delicious food and just relaxing is so good.

Good luck to everyone else