Greece with under 12s (covid)

[SmallElephants]

Hi all
Travelling to Greece in April - 2 fully vaccinated adults and unvaccinated under 12s. Just read that the children will need negative lfts for the plane, and also for all kinds of indoor settings during the trip - anyone had any experience of this and can describe how this is working in practice? Thank you
Ps gutted I didn’t get covid recovery certificates for them when I could - we all had it in Jan but I was sure they were exempt from testing requirements due to their age… I was wrong…

You just have to self test them (you can bring LFTs with you) and then fill in declaration form each day. Apparently it’s very easy. Much less strict than with unvaxxed adults.

We went last summer- anyone non vaccinated had to sit 'outside' which included covered areas with sides but near the open front. That was where everyone usually wanted to sit anyway as it was cooler with better views. I never saw any issues with unvaccinated children, and most owners facilitated things outdoors where possible, e.g. the bar with an arcade popular with young teens had the front and sides open so it classed as 'outside'. The police were strict so bar owners were strict - e.g. no one could dance in bars in July and owners wouldn't allow it otherwise they would be shut down for a period of time.For shops, in taxis etc everyone had to wear masks and we were never asked to show proof of vaccinations. They have cancelled the need to complete the PLF forms now.

Did you find you were regularly asked for your self test forms?

I’m concerned about the same thing, we’re due to go in May. I have no issue with testing them to fly but really don’t want to have to worry about testing every other day to go into bars & restaurants.
I am praying they change the rules before we go, I can’t see that they will keep them as they can’t afford not to have British tourism for another season.

Hi there. Just came across this post and wondering if you can help as all the travel advice is very confusing!

Going to greece in May, fully vaccinated with boosters etc

But had covid-19 in jan too. I have the nhs covid app as proof of vaccine status.

I dont have a covid recovery certificate though for myself - will the pass suffice showing that im fully vaccinated??

Taking 2 under 5 year olds so assuming they are exempt from any testing or proofs?

Thanks

If you are fully vacced including booster then you should be ok with your pass. Are either child over 4? They’ll be subject to the self testing in Greece. It’s over 5 for the flights.

I've got the same issue. I'm going end of May. The Greek government are discussing wether to relax the rules at Easter. Although cases are starting to rise again in Greece, so maybe they wont change them. My 8 year old hates being tested, so I'm just hoping that they will.

@CJay81

I've got the same issue. I'm going end of May. The Greek government are discussing wether to relax the rules at Easter. Although cases are starting to rise again in Greece, so maybe they wont change them. My 8 year old hates being tested, so I'm just hoping that they will.

I’m watching very closely too. My DD is SEN and hates testing too. I can manage the one to fly, but every 48 hours isn’t going to be pleasant on holiday.

Oh I didn't realise this! We are going in August. Is it all kids? DD3 hates testing, I had talked myself into it being ok for the flight but I can't put her through it all holiday, the poor thing is traumatised from them. Really hope it gets relaxed!

Hey,
We went in October. For internal flights we had to self declare lfts for the children. So.. we printed off a few forms so we could do it on the way back without trying to find a printer and then in the hotel room we did the lft's. Nobody checked but we had it all ready.
Don't know if it's changed since then.

Also going in May with an 11 year old. It will have been over 6 months since he had covid, so that won't cover him either. What a pain. I hope they relax the rules before we go.

For those of you travelling in the summer, appointments are now becoming available for vaccination of 5-11 year olds, will solve your problems

We went away in Feb half term. Only asked for self test forms once entering a museum. Otherwise all was fine, though we had to sit outside

A bit worried about the hotel restaurant. We've booked all inclusive but I'm guessing he won't be allowed inside to pick his own food. Could be interesting!

@ThirtyCharacterUsernamesOnly30
I doubt that'll be the case. We are all inclusive too. Looking at the photos of the buffet restuarant it is partly open air..but even if it wasnt, these places are advertised as family hotels. I really think they will change the rules by 1st May though for the holiday season, even with cases rising. Tourism is a big part of greek economy, they need to get it going again.

My dd is getting her first vaccine next week but can't fit 2 doses in before we go in May.

Well we r going next week and appears rules will be still in place so I shall report back! @Solasum that’s encouraging to hear you only had to show self test doc once - when you look at the list of places it even covers playgrounds!!!
So hopefully just self test for any day trips on ferries and the domestic flight and have some available and printed out forms in case needed for restaurants etc. official LFT booked for flight out, looks to be not needed for return. It all seems almost easy…. It’s funny, we flew there in sept 2020 and it was a piece of pie in comparison!

@gogohm

For those of you travelling in the summer, appointments are now becoming available for vaccination of 5-11 year olds, will solve your problems

Sadly doesn't help my 3 year old! She is traumatised after all the testing. Really hope the rules change.

At the moment the rules are in place till 4th April. They will review after then. .

@usernotfound0000 if your child is still under 4 when you travel none of the testing requirements apply to them

Dear SmallElephants, please report back indeed! We're also due to fly out over Easter (our Easter, not Greek Easter.

Everybody who can be vaccinated in our family was vaccinated (incl. the 5 year old) but I still have a 3 year old that could not get vaccinated. We do have a recovery certificate from catching Covid in November that I will take but it would be great if I didn't have to submit him to testing!

@Reservoir13

Dear SmallElephants, please report back indeed! We're also due to fly out over Easter (our Easter, not Greek Easter.

Everybody who can be vaccinated in our family was vaccinated (incl. the 5 year old) but I still have a 3 year old that could not get vaccinated. We do have a recovery certificate from catching Covid in November that I will take but it would be great if I didn't have to submit him to testing!

How did you get a recovery certificate for your child? I have been told it’s not possible for under 11’s.

@Solasum

We went away in Feb half term. Only asked for self test forms once entering a museum. Otherwise all was fine, though we had to sit outside

The self test forms, is this something you complete yourself? Do you have to pay for private tests or are the NHS ones ok to use? Is there any evidence that you have actually done a test?

Just to clarify: we live in Belgium. Vaccinations for under -12s and covid recovery certificates are available here without problem.
I did see divergent information on the Greek tourism websites for the validity of recovery certificates though (one mentioning 180 days, another 90 days) so having more certainty would be good.

@FawnFrenchieMum there is a self declaration form on the travel.gr website. We just used a normal NHS lateral flow test and recorded the result. So really it is on trust

I'm thinking Greece will surely change their rules. The Canary Islands have now dropped all restrictions and Spain allow younger children in with no testing. I'll cancel my holiday and go somewhere else if not, I just don't want any stress on holiday seeing as myself, husband and toddler will be fine but my 6 year old will be viewed as some kind of disease vector.