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?

@morefrizzthanease that sounds a nightmare. What did the hotel say about having your booking but not being open?

Oh dear I randomly put this in the wrong place!,

Wonder if you'd all be able to help me.

I'm confused too. I'm sorry if I'm asking stupid questions.

I've read and read. Tried to work out what we need.

We are going Ljubljana end September. Then Portugal beginning October, both for Friday to Monday.

We are both double vaccinated (3 friends) . Tried to see if I can get a cheap green package from BA (Ljubljana) and Ryanair (Lisbon).

1)It says below that per gov uk you DON'T need a test to enter. Portugal.

See below linked.

But I find this hard to believe, why would any country let you in without recent proof of being covid free?

One friend suggests we don't need a pre leaving uk test, to get into Slovenia or Portugal. That just can't be tight, can it?

2)I'm also confused by the day 2 antigen. Why?

In order to fly back to uk, you have to prove you have a PCR booked for when you get home right.
On the passenger locator form to
Get back into the uk, it's not the day 2 antigen test they ask for
Is it? So why have that done? To whom do you report that you've had a day 2 test done.

In order to get home, for the uk form, you need to prove you've got a PCR booked for your return home, by day 2 after you get home right?

So why the antigen test when you are there. What's the need for that? Who asks you to prove you've had it done?

I attach Slovenia and Portugal per gov uk.

I think the rules to Portugal have just changed. But yes if you’re double vaccinated then no test before departure.

To return to the U.K. you need to do a rapid antigen 48 hours before you fly or PCR 72 hours. This is to show you are negative before you board a flight to the U.K. The results of these tests will be a fit to fly certificate you will need to show at the departure airport.

The return day 2 test is a PCR which must be booked before you depart back to the U.K. (to be taken when you return). You’ll need this code for the PLF form. You do the test on or before day 2 after you arrive back in the U.K.

All the rules are different for different European countries but yes many accept proof of vaccinations instead of a test.

Yes you don't need. Test to go to many countries if you are double vaccinated.

Then you need to test just before you fly back to UK + after you return (day2).

No need to test pre departure.
Ok Delatron. Thank you.

"To return to the U.K. you need to do a rapid antigen 48 hours before you fly or PCR 72 hours. "

So. You don't need both?

Do to fly to Portugal I don't need a pre flight 48/72 hour test pre flight.
In order to return I need a antigen test I do there pre flight. I don't need an antigen when there. Plus a PCR 2 days after return. I don't need both of these for the passenger form to return.

So let me get this right in order to go I don't need a test. I already have my UK Corona vaccination to prove.

I don't need a PCR on day 2 after I arrive. (More expensive). I can get away with only doing an antigen, (cheaper than PCR) when I'm there. Which when I get the result , I can put on the passenger form to get us back to uk.

Ie the only test I need is to buy an antigen to use when there. I use this result on passenger form to fly home.

But that's only 1 test. Cheap?
That can't be right.

You’ll need to have ordered your day 2 PCR test to do when you get back to the U.K.

So you’ll need a LFT with an approved company when out there for your fit to fly certificate to return to U.K. . You either take this with you or go to a pharmacy.

Then the PCR test needs to be ordered for you to do on day 2 or before when you get back to the U.K. You need this code for your U.K. PLF.

So 2 tests. Both for the U.K. side of things.

The return to U.K. test timing is 3 days prior to arrival in U.K., for either PCR or antigen. It doesn't have to be 48 hours for antigen. 72 is fine for both types of test.

@Oblomov21

"To return to the U.K. you need to do a rapid antigen 48 hours before you fly or PCR 72 hours. "

So. You don't need both?

Do to fly to Portugal I don't need a pre flight 48/72 hour test pre flight.
In order to return I need a antigen test I do there pre flight. I don't need an antigen when there. Plus a PCR 2 days after return. I don't need both of these for the passenger form to return.

So let me get this right in order to go I don't need a test. I already have my UK Corona vaccination to prove.

I don't need a PCR on day 2 after I arrive. (More expensive). I can get away with only doing an antigen, (cheaper than PCR) when I'm there. Which when I get the result , I can put on the passenger form to get us back to uk.

Ie the only test I need is to buy an antigen to use when there. I use this result on passenger form to fly home.

But that's only 1 test. Cheap?
That can't be right.

Everyone arriving in the U.K. needs a PCR on or before day 2. It doesn't have to be done on day 2 itself - it's any time from arrival until day 2. I just did mine yesterday, the day after I returned from Greece.

It does say the antigen test is within 48 hours and PCR 72?

From Greece we definitely had to do ours within a 48 hour window for the rapid antigen test.

We went to Kos late July for 2 week, it was glorious and the Greeks were so happy for people to be there, spending money etc. We did the rapid flow test on the Friday morning, returned Sunday morning.

All being well I'm going back to Corfu next week and have no worries about safety.

@Delatron

It does say the antigen test is within 48 hours and PCR 72?

From Greece we definitely had to do ours within a 48 hour window for the rapid antigen test.

Where does it say that?

Government guidance doesn't say 48 hours for antigen. 3 days is fine

@IsabellesMissingSock

Government guidance doesn't say 48 hours for antigen. 3 days is fine

This is correct. 72 hours for rapid antigen coming into the U.K.

Heading out to Greece, Greek rules were 72 hours for PCR and 48 hours rapid antigen, but into the U.K. is different

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.

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

@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!

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

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? 🤔

Well it will be interesting to find out!

😂😂 yep it will.

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

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

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 🙄

Yeah it’s all a complete farce!