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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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GrealishHairband · 21/07/2021 13:14

@RytonLane when were you due to go? Why has it been cancelled?

astuz · 21/07/2021 16:17

I've just come back from Majorca (not Greek Islands, I know), but if I'm brutally honest with myself, I wish we hadn't gone. There was the constant nagging thought in the back of my mind that we might not get back home. I could never fully relax. If I was younger and more carefree, with no kids, then I don't think it would have bothered me, but the thought of being stranded with 2 children (a teen & a pre-teen, with not a lot to do), just put a massive damper on the whole thing.

My advice: if you're feeling anxious/stressed about it all before you go (which I was), then don't go, because those feelings won't go away when you're there, but if you're not feeling anxious/stressed, go for it!

I'm just staying home now until all this is over, I can't be doing with the stress.

LostFrog · 21/07/2021 16:46

astuz sorry you had a shit time.

GenevaPL · 21/07/2021 18:30

Not Greece - but my two weeks in Sardinia cancelled.
I feel stunned. All prep done, clothes bought, COVID arrangements made ...bloody hell.

PlumpCushion · 21/07/2021 18:53

Oh no! When we’re you due to go @GenevaPL?

GenevaPL · 21/07/2021 19:04

Next week! Not much warning.

E11lover · 21/07/2021 19:15

We made a decision this evening and cancelled our planned trip to Lefkada (for the second time in 2 years).

With cases in the UK skyrocketing the possibility of gambling and losing felt too great -and I can’t imagine what it would be like to arrive with two excited kids only to be told we’d have to spend almost all our holiday trapped in a quarantine hotel. Taking my laptop in case we weren’t allowed to leave didn’t feel very relaxing either.

I’d felt quite optimistic when we both got our second vaccinations but at the moment there is still no real escape.

If you’re going, best of luck!

iwantavuvezela · 21/07/2021 20:36

@askingforafriend53 I’ve booked for Skiathos (paid more on BAA flights as fully refundable and movable) - meant to be going in about 2 weeks, if the flight goes I’m going and taking my chances!!!!

izzy2076 · 21/07/2021 20:40

I thinking im taking my chances too and flying to Greece in ten days. I'm just really hoping people test before they get on the plane. I'm trying to do the maths. If people who don't test before getting on the plane are double vaccinated then they are 60-80% less likely to have contracted COVID than if they weren't?

I'm not booking accommodation until the very last minute.

I might also change my mind as I'm traveling with two kids.

SallyCinnamon3009 · 21/07/2021 20:45

Went to Crete as soon as travel reopened . It was a bit stressful getting the tests done but once we were there had an amazing holiday. You need to take a test in Crete before flying and show the certificate when you arrive at the airport. Tui were selling a package of all required tests.

LostFrog · 21/07/2021 21:22

It is a bit annoying that people don’t have to test before they fly. I don’t really get the logic behind it. Surely it makes more sense to test everyone BEFORE they get to Greece and refuse to put them on the plane, rather than testing when they get there and potentially having to put them, their family and anyone who has sat near them on the plane up in a hotel?!
Cases are actually falling where we live so I am not worried about getting it before we go, but I am slightly concerned about other people on the plane potentially having it if that would indeed mean that we had to isolate as well if we were sat near them (although again, logically, if people are wearing masks and are asymptomatic I think the risk is incredibly low).

izzy2076 · 21/07/2021 21:34

@LostFrog

It is a bit annoying that people don’t have to test before they fly. I don’t really get the logic behind it. Surely it makes more sense to test everyone BEFORE they get to Greece and refuse to put them on the plane, rather than testing when they get there and potentially having to put them, their family and anyone who has sat near them on the plane up in a hotel?! Cases are actually falling where we live so I am not worried about getting it before we go, but I am slightly concerned about other people on the plane potentially having it if that would indeed mean that we had to isolate as well if we were sat near them (although again, logically, if people are wearing masks and are asymptomatic I think the risk is incredibly low).
Yes it's really illogical. It would cost the Greek government a fortune to have to quarantine whole plane loads of people and the whole system would risk collapsing.
poshme · 21/07/2021 23:16

Well you have to be double vaccinated, or have a recent negative test before flying...

askingforafriend53 · 22/07/2021 07:37

@iwantavuvezela I've booked now too - a package - and have decided to take my chances!! Have a great time 😀

PlumpCushion · 22/07/2021 07:53

Izzy, i totally agree. Are there any evidence / sources that Greek authorities would quarantine anyone other than the ‘travel companions’ of the person testing positive? I’m not sure they can reasonably classify people on a plane you’ve never met as companions…

The double vaccinated people in my party are getting tested pre test flights too btw

Summersdreaming · 22/07/2021 08:02

@PlumpCushion I'd like to know this too!

izzy2076 · 22/07/2021 08:09

I read somewhere that it's two rows behind and around if you're on a flight.

I'm erring on the side of canceling today. I can't bear the stress.

PlumpCushion · 22/07/2021 08:38

Does anyone do Twitter? Maybe we could ask the Greek authorities about this question…

PlumpCushion · 22/07/2021 08:40

@izzy2076 I was feeling like that too but my teenage daughters told me that I’ve got an exaggerated sense of the risk because of researching it so much 😂

askingforafriend53 · 22/07/2021 08:46

@izzy2076 this made me smile as my family has said the same to me!! I've said it's part of being a mum!! Smile

askingforafriend53 · 22/07/2021 08:46

Sorry, I should have tagged @PlumpCushion Hmm

FizzyPink · 22/07/2021 08:51

@PlumpCushion this is me too! I need to stop watching videos on TikTok of people stuck in quarantine hotels. There was one today of a guy going into one in Greece and it was obviously a mealtime as every door had a tray with food outside and I scared myself with just how many people must be quarantined in that hotel!

izzy2076 · 22/07/2021 08:51

[quote askingforafriend53]@izzy2076 this made me smile as my family has said the same to me!! I've said it's part of being a mum!! Smile[/quote]
Well my two ten year olds have just told me I'm too hardcore and risk taking and why would I risk them going to a quarantine hotel when they can just go to Weymouth or somewhere?

I'm now considering Croatia as everyone needs to rest before departure now. I can change my destination on easyjet free of charge with their COVID pledge I think/hope?

izzy2076 · 22/07/2021 08:52

[quote FizzyPink]@PlumpCushion this is me too! I need to stop watching videos on TikTok of people stuck in quarantine hotels. There was one today of a guy going into one in Greece and it was obviously a mealtime as every door had a tray with food outside and I scared myself with just how many people must be quarantined in that hotel![/quote]
Me too!!! Boiled broccoli and a chicken. Burger with a light smattering of bed bugs....

PlumpCushion · 22/07/2021 09:09

Oh god I’m going to have to leave this thread…