Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Reporting back from Majorca trip
EmmaStone · 26/07/2021 13:25
Hi All
Got back yesterday from our 5 night stay in Majorca, and thought I'd update on how it all went.
It was me and DH (fully vaxxed), and 2 teens (not vaxxed). When we booked, we needed to get PCR tests for the kids no more than 48 hours before arrival in Spain. We used Zava, which cost £60 each with a discount code from Easyjet. Because of our flight times, and drop off points being closed on a Sunday, I drove them to the lab which had an open drop off on a Sunday, they did their tests in the car park, and I handed them to a technician. That was at 11;15am, and we had results back at 15:30 same day - excellent relief.
We could then complete our Spanish passenger locator forms, which I then uploaded to my Apple wallet, and shared with each traveller, so everyone had it on their phones.
In Spain, our locator forms were scanned, and they asked to see evidence of my double vax, no-one else needed to show anything. There weren't any particular hold-ups, the plane was about half full, it was all very straightforward.
We stayed in Palma the whole time, and I noticed that many people were wearing masks all the time, not just indoors, but walking around the streets too. I did double check whether we needed to do this, and we didn't, but if we were amongst lots of people, I did tend to just slip it on as a courtesy. And we wore masks indoors always. We ate outside for every meal (except at hotel breakfast), as that felt a bit safer to us.
Once we were in Palma, I ordered our Day 2 tests to arrive while we were away (I ordered these on Wednesday, and they've still not arrived in UK on Monday - our day 2 is tomorrow...). Our hotel also had a small medical team come to the lobby 3 times a week to do the lateral flow return to UK tests (these were nostril only - so much more pleasant than gagging when doing the throat!), and had a fixed fee of €30 each. We all had these done the day before we flew home, and had results back within 10 mins.
With results in hand, I completed our UK passenger locator form, we had to show this and our negative LFTs on check in for our flight home, but not again (nothing to show when we landed in UK). Flight home was about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
Because we're double vaxxed or under 18, no quarantine required. Not sure what we'll do if our day 2 tests don't arrive in time, I'm inclined to just do them when they eventually arrive back, but I don't feel I'm particularly putting the country at risk TBH.
The travel was all totally worth it - the worst bit was the pre-travel tests for the teens, I wouldn't do any planning for the holiday in case I jinxed it and we couldn't go. But finally being abroad, mixing with loads of EU citizens felt fantastic, we properly relaxed, and it was amazing!
SansaClegane · 26/07/2021 13:29
Thank you! That's really helpful. I'm going to Menorca next week (me and one teenager plus two under 12-s), reading your experience gives me hope it won't be so stressful as it seems at the moment!
ChristmasShearwater · 26/07/2021 13:29
Glad you had a good time. I'm pining for Majorca - hopefully next year !
JengaNonConfirming · 26/07/2021 14:03
I came back from Majorca just over a Weeke, I went with my adult daughter and we found everything went very smooth. We're now in isolation until the end of tomorrow, which would mean that someone we were sat near to on the plane tested positive on their Day 2 test - rather frustrating, but always the risk!
KidneyBeans · 26/07/2021 15:08
Yes but my son has told me he wants it. Even if it's not Cambridge we can attempt Edinburgh.
Or you could wait a year, equip him with some life skills and attempt Cambridge at a more appropriate age?
Especially if you're planning on his 'networking with professors' 
SoupDragon · 26/07/2021 15:13
nothing to show when we landed in UK
I was unimpressed with this TBH. The checks and compulsory hand sanitiser when we arrived abroad were more thorough.
Mzombie · 26/07/2021 15:21
This is really good to hear. We have a trip planned for the autumn and having had so many things cancelled I am desperate for this one to go ahead.
Remmy123 · 26/07/2021 18:20
This is helpful - did you stay all inclusive? I worry that if there are positive cases within the hotel what happens then do they make whole hotel isolate?!
Oblomov21 · 26/07/2021 18:57
My boss is due to go to Portugal and he told me today for the things he had done and quite frankly it sounds like an absolute nightmare.
The thing is that no one explains all the bits to you, there's no idiots guide, step by step.
We are flying BA to Lisbon Portugal in October hopefully.
I think he's flying BA.
He started off explaining that you needed a rapid flow test, But not the ones that his kids school gives to them it needs to be from a designated site. Expensive.
He had already looked on the government website and the Portugal website and then the BA website and then he rang BA. They do have a package but they actually recommended using a different supplier.
Many people are unaware that you will need a certificate of your vaccination and if you download it from the NHS app you get the certificate it's only valid for 30 days. Some people have said that they were when they were flying the officials demanded a paper copy of it so it's best to have the app and also a printed copy.
The test needs to be done in a timeframe not to your flight but to the time you land. I hadn't thought of that!
You need to do the locator form prior to landing.
Then all of this invoice information now becomes void and irrelevant.
Now that we're out of the EU might need a Visa. I too hadn't thought Of that.
Then you need to arrange a two day test in the location you are.
Then in order to fill out the for the location form at the end of your holiday in order to return you have to prove that you have already booked a PCR test to arrive at your home and you need to have this and link it and show it and prove it when you're filling out the form to return. I hadn't thought of that.
There are many things I hadn't thought of and I'm really glad he told me so I can make sure that all these things are done when we hopefully go.
SoupDragon · 26/07/2021 19:05
Then in order to fill out the for the location form at the end of your holiday in order to return you have to prove that you have already booked a PCR test to arrive at your home and you need to have this and link it and show it and prove it when you're filling out the form to return
When you book the Day 2 test you are given a code that you put on the form. That bit is quite straightforward.
lljkk · 26/07/2021 19:41
It still sounds like a giant jigsaw headache of multiple moving parts. Am in awe of those of you who have mastered all that.
Beebopawhop · 26/07/2021 20:41
Thanks for all the information. Does anyone have experience of the Collinsons video test ? I've been ok trust pilot and some of the reviews are bad! I'm so so worried about yes catching it on the plane or in the hotel? We are going to menorca next week in an all inc
Thinking back should have got a villa somewhere instead in case we do need to isolate ? Oh it's a mind f
Iflyaway · 26/07/2021 20:48
Not in the UK but did a covid test after coming back from Spain - double Pfizer - but needed it to get out of quarantine.
Result - negative! - was emailed to me 15 minutes later.
Amazed it took so long to get back to you.
Glad you had a great holiday!
Quail15 · 26/07/2021 20:54
I'm currently in the middle of a two week holiday in Tenerife and have had a similar experience to you so far. Those in our group who aren't double vaxed just needed to do a LAMP test where the results came back within 90 minutes - we did these the morning of our flight and got a call within 10 minutes to say one of the tests had an error so we went straight back and re-did it. All results came back negative with in 30 minutes the test center was great.
Masks have to be worn in doors but not out doors. We are staying in a self catering apartment but have eaten out most days. The flight was less than half full so social distancing wasn't an issue.
We have enjoyed every minute of it and it has not been the stress or chaos that we were led to believe it would be.
Quail15 · 26/07/2021 20:59
@Beebopawhop
I've booked a collinsons video test - due to have it on Saturday before returning home it is supposed to be straight forward. The video call is just to show to how to do the test. You then need to email over a photo of your result. If it's negative they send you a certificate.
If it's to much of a hassle I have already found a local test center where they will do it if I walk in for 30 euros (just in case - I always like to have a back up plan).
cptartapp · 26/07/2021 21:03
DS1 returned from ten days in Magaluf recently just whilst it was on green. The testing wasn't difficult if you get organised and he had a great time.
Not much social distancing going on though. They have lookouts who blow a whistle as an alert in the bars when police appear!
Loved Palma.
Worth noting testing requirements deadlines are based on arrival times. Not departure.
EmmaStone · 26/07/2021 21:40
I found the info on Mumsnet so helpful when working out what we needed to do, but I agree it's not particularly straightforward and things are constantly changing, but when you've got a vested interest, you make sure you know!!
For the PP that asked, we stayed in a hotel on a B&B basis, not AI.
I felt really safe in Majorca - the difference in mask wearing between the UK and Europe was telling - I didn't see anyone wearing a mask under their nose or as a beard warmer. In the airport waiting to leave the UK however...
For those with plans shortly, I hope they all go ahead and you have a wonderful holiday. It really was blissful having a short break of a real holiday.
cafedesreves · 26/07/2021 22:41
@KidneyBeans
Or you could wait a year, equip him with some life skills and attempt Cambridge at a more appropriate age?
Especially if you're planning on his 'networking with professors'
What has this got to do with Majorca?
Glad you had a great time, OP!
SoupDragon · 26/07/2021 22:49
@lljkk
I found it helped to write down, in plain English, all the things I needed to book. It got it straight in my head better than reading the info online. Then I could tick them all off.
I didn't need it but I ordered a paper vaccination proof from a link on another thread.
Mzombie · 27/07/2021 02:15
@EmmaStone
For the PP that asked, we stayed in a hotel on a B&B basis, not AI.
I felt really safe in Majorca - the difference in mask wearing between the UK and Europe was telling - I didn't see anyone wearing a mask under their nose or as a beard warmer. In the airport waiting to leave the UK however...
For those with plans shortly, I hope they all go ahead and you have a wonderful holiday. It really was blissful having a short break of a real holiday.
Thank you. It's 5 years since I've been abroad so I will be gutted ifit doesn't go ahead. Really appreciate your advice and reassurance. X
lljkk · 27/07/2021 06:38
I just read a story on Facebook about someone trying to get back to UK but their flight was last minute cancelled then rescheduled. She scrambled in destination country to get covid tests that will be valid within 72 hours of rescheduled departure. Not available at airport & expensive, of course. Only after she has those new test results, last minute text arrives to say they her group can use original-date covid tests.
And people wonder why I can't face idea of going abroad right now.
EmmaStone · 27/07/2021 08:17
I think there are plenty of horror stories, and it's one reason I posted mine - to show that actually, things can also be fairly straightforward once you've worked out all the stuff required. And bad stuff can happen on any holiday, not just in the times of Covid - we got stuck for 2 (additional) weeks abroad after the ash cloud over Iceland, we've had one holiday where the first night had to take youngest to A&E for stitches, the following night eldest had food poisoning and was vomiting all night in a tiny static caravan in France 😱. We've had lost wallets, etc etc. Last year Grant Shapps announced quarantine for travellers to France as we were under the Channel on our way. We've always just got on with it.
lljkk · 28/07/2021 06:40
Someone was saying on R4 just now how 40% of travel insurance policies are voided if you travel to amber list countries, not sure if voided if the country changes from green to amber while you're in it..
Also, virtually all travel insurance policies are voided by travelling to a country with FCDO warning against travel there.
France, Spain & Portugal don't have FCDO warnings, but Italy & Lithuania do have FCDO warnings. Another set of things to check before booking travel.
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