Is anyone feeling nervous about their 21/22 ski trip?

[StolenAwayOn55thand3rd]

I realise that I'm probably being silly. I fully recognise that covid has made me a bit irrationally anxious about crowds, busy places, etc. So on that note... We have a large and normally busy resort in France booked (booked pre covid and shifted from last year to this). We're going to a catered chalet with DH's family which includes his child free siblings who will want to go out partying.
I'm a bit worried about ski resorts being covid hotbeds this winter (remembering Whistler last year) and what will happen if we end up with it - we won't be able to travel home presumably so where will we stay? Not to mention the possibility of actually getting ill, though DH and I are both vaccinated so I know that's unlikely.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else is having similar thoughts or if I'm being really foolish.

Still waiting for Crystal to reply to my email asking if they're going to provide antigen tests. This would be a great solution and stop people cancelling their holidays!

@Doubleraspberry

We have Feb half term booked in Austria (hotel only) but will only get a refund if we can’t go because of restrictions, like others. We will drive through France and Germany so also need all of those to be clear to get there. I’m not too stressed - feel quite fatalistic as we have no control, and given that Austria has consistently been stricter than other countries, we’re unlikely to see a situation where we can enter Austria but not get there.

Are you me? That's our exact situation

We are booked on Hull-Rotterdam ferry but it looks like there is now no exemption for unvaccinated teens travelling with fully vaccinated parents through Netherlands

DS16 won't be able to have second jab before we go due to the 12 week gap

Is anyone aware of any way round this?

I'm not losing all hope for those of us who are vaccinated anyway.

Switzerland has scrapped its quarantine for UK arrivals. link

Hasn't Switzerland been the most strict?

I’m in Switzerland. They’ll do anything and everything to keep the ski resorts open. Even last year they were open where everywhere else was closed.

Oh my mistake

I was about to cancel our Swiss trip in mid December until they removed the U.K. quarantine part today (which I wasn't expecting).

But I can't work out from their press release what else needs to happen. A PCR test before departure - then another between 4-7 days after arrival, but we're staying 6 days so not sure whether we would need to take that as well. And would a single vaccinated 15 year old face extra restrictions? I think the devil may be in the detail.

Would be great if someone could clarify the testing and vaccination for teens, as mine are unable to be vaccinated as they have just recently had covid.
Are restaurants etc likely to remain open?

Swiss have never restricted under 16s.

Here's the link: www.eda.admin.ch/countries/united-kingdom/en/home/representations/embassy-in-london/coronavirus.html

Re the France testing - does that have to be done in person? We are due to travel on 27th/28th so would need to test 25th/26th… presumably there won’t be anywhere open? (Just looking at local providers it’s places like Boots)

I've just been trying to speak to crystal. Was in hold for 1hr and 45 minutes without getting to speak to anyone.
Just thought I'd let others know.
Had to disconnect😩

Thanks for the link, that is good news! My dd is 16 and currently unvaccinated, it says under 16 does that include 16yr old?

I hope that is a promising sign that the new variant isn't as bad as feared.

Thanks for the updated guidance on the link, very helpful. Still not quite sure if we can avoid the day 4-7 test if we leave Switzerland before the 7 day period ends (presumably the day of arrival counts as day 1).

@mincepiesallround

Re the France testing - does that have to be done in person? We are due to travel on 27th/28th so would need to test 25th/26th… presumably there won’t be anywhere open? (Just looking at local providers it’s places like Boots)

Unedited cut and paste from French Consulate in London’s website

“From 4 December, fully vaccinated travellers (12 years old or more), and whatever their nationality, have to provide the result of a negative PCR or antigen test (in paper or digital format) carried out less than 48h hours prior to departure. Self-administred tests, whose results are not certified by a laboratory (e.g.: tests provided free of charge by the NHS) are not considered valid for travel.“

uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-between-France-and-the-UK-28918

@Hairyhat

I've just been trying to speak to crystal. Was in hold for 1hr and 45 minutes without getting to speak to anyone. Just thought I'd let others know. Had to disconnect😩

I rang them earlier and literally got straight through - I thought they'd got more staff in but maybe I was just lucky somehow.

@mincepiesallround

Re the France testing - does that have to be done in person? We are due to travel on 27th/28th so would need to test 25th/26th… presumably there won’t be anywhere open? (Just looking at local providers it’s places like Boots)

Yes, from what I've read you can't use the tests that you do at home and send a photo of the result to get the certificate (although don't know how they would know it was this type of test rather than an in-person one). I'm looking at going to nearest airport as they seem to be open everyday.

Loads of people have used the home tests, they say they qualify "as the results are interpreted by a professional". Feel free to check with a provider etc but have known plenty of people use chronomics etc.

@mincepiesallround

Re the France testing - does that have to be done in person? We are due to travel on 27th/28th so would need to test 25th/26th… presumably there won’t be anywhere open? (Just looking at local providers it’s places like Boots)

Not wanting to confuse the issue but the test for an unvaccinated 12+ year old needs to be less than 24 hours old. From my understanding it was less than 48 hours old for a test for a fully vaccinated individual. We are a family of 4 (with teens) and booked for the 4 of us to be tested the day before we travel.

Crystal have sent us a generic email basically saying they don't know how the daily antigen testing is going to work as it is too early in the season. So we have until the 12th to cancel. Will see if they put anything in place before then, but we will be cancelling if not. Especially as we are going over Christmas, so have no idea if the pharmacy will even be open on Christmas Day to get tested. This is for Val Thorens in France, in case anyone else is going there.

@abricotine

Loads of people have used the home tests, they say they qualify "as the results are interpreted by a professional". Feel free to check with a provider etc but have known plenty of people use chronomics etc.

As you say though, “have used”..

Given that these new rules for entry into France don’t start until early Sat AM it will be interesting to see if that continues.

It would be really really helpful if it did.

Thanks @IsThisNameTaken - we are driving to France but can definitely go via an airport to test.
Only full vaxxed adults and young kids here so at least that removes the teenage complication!

French Consulate website says "Self-administred tests, whose results are not certified by a laboratory (e.g.: tests provided free of charge by the NHS) are not considered valid for travel". So sounds like you can use an at-home test as long as the results are verified by a lab ... fingers crossed!

@notimagain the "self administered" rule was always there. Now it is more helpful with an explanation about certifying by a lab and explaining that NHS tests are not included. There is absolutely no reason or change of wording to suggest that these tests which have been accepted since early summer are no longer acceptable.