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.

Now that they have reintroduced the test before entry to the UK, that's me pretty much written off our Feb half term French ski break. As it is a while away, I guess there is a slight hope things might improve, but not prepared to do much gambling with DS in an exam year.
We may go skiing in Scotland- ironically last year was amazing for snow, but of course we weren't allowed to ski.

It's awful that this is the third year of skiing so impacted. I wonder if some of the resorts will be able to survive.

I'm hoping this is a short term measure before Christmas? We're with family at Christmas so not such a blow if we tested positive out there but still really worrying. But if they introduce day 8 testing with longer quarantine then we're doomed.

Agreed. Where's the day 8 quarantine come from? Is it on one of the news channels?

I’ve checked the terms of our hotel booking and the free cancellation applies if we are required to quarantine on return, so I feel happier.

@Fairylights25

Now we have to take the PCR before we leave to come back to the UK and now the UK gov are talking about a day 8 test as well as a longer quarantine time - SNP and welsh pushing for 8 days of quarantine vaccinated or not!

Just about to book Switzerland and now rethinking!

But there is nothing confirmed about a Day 8 test for the UK yet is there. PCR/Antigen prior to UK arrival and Day 2 test only at this stage?

@Fairylights25 In Switzerland an unvaccinated 16 year would need to test every 24 hours to get a covid pass to enter public buildings and cafes/restaurants - and owners can now refuse the unvaccinated, even if you have tested for a covid pass. Thankfully antigen tests are accepted by the uk as pcr costs about Fr.150...
The hospitals are very full, some operations are being cancelled. It's not a great situation!

@bontopia I can't see where to find the info that an unvaccinated teen needs to test every 24 hours in Switzerland and does unvaccinated mean one jab only?

I thought Switzerland was moving to 2G restrictions? Vaccinated or recovered?
www.reuters.com/markets/europe/swiss-tighten-covid-19-restrictions-cases-rise-2021-12-03/

(as in fully vaccinated- 2 doses)

@Greamhradh sorry I meant does unvaccinated for a teen mean two jabs or one? I have one teen who has had one jab only and I can't work out whether she will need to test every day in Switzerland to go into cafes/ski etc or whether she is exempt from testing because she will be with fully vaccinated adults and so will just do the day 4-7 test that we will all do

@cloughie100 sounds like you are confusing entry requirements with Covid pass once you are in.
16&17 can enter with fully vaccinated adult even though they are not vaccinated themselves but the Covid pass (testing etc) will still apply for restaurants and lifts.
In almost every country the requirement to get in is different from their internal Covid pass rules.

In Switzerland 1 vaccination counts as unvaccinated, unless you have proof of recovery. Covid pass isn't currently needed for ski lifts, they count as public transport so just compulsory masks. Antigen tests are only valid for 24 hours, hence the need to keep testing unless you're fully self catering.

@cloughie100 if your teen isn't 16 yet then there's no need to test at all in Switzerland.

@bontopia thank you!

Anyone that is still hoping to go skiing somewhere. Sweden is going to remain open (as far as they can be sure - I spoke to some friends on the phone, but infections are low so it is looking good) and no PCR tests etc needed on arrival, unvaccinated kids welcome with vaccinated parents. Snow is amazing this year and it is close by if you need to get home for any reason, it is so far from home. Just a thought for anyone looking to switch.

**Not so far from home.

Still hoping to ski in France. 🤞

Our ski trip is booked for Zermatt and, at the moment, there's more pistes open on the Cervinia/Italian side. My 15 year old unfortunately won't have his second vaccination in time so won't get the necessary health pass. Am I right in thinking, even for joint Swiss/Italian ski resorts, he won't be able to use the lifts in Italy without a daily Covid test as he's not double vaccinated?

Hoping to go to France via Lyon week before Xmas. As far as I know it's masks not whilst skiing but on all lifts and bubbles.

If I'm going to get it anywhere it would be coming in from cold into warm crowded
restaurant for lunch...

Has anyone with teens heard when they are likely to start the 2nd vaccinations ? My daughters 12 weeks is 15th December so would like to get away in January . Also has anyone been successful linking their child’s profile to their nhs app ? My doctors are being helpful but I can’t actually see her first vaccine on there ?

I managed to get my GP to link my son's profile today to my NHS App. All good until I realised it hasn't included his health record which is the bit I needed!
According to the NHS website, you can request your child's profile is linked and you are given proxy access.

Yes I can see some medication my one daughter has received but no info about when either had covid or my eldests vaccination

Does anyone else find it weird that 5-12yos don't need the pre departure test to get back to the UK, but do need the Day 2 test? Just seems so disjointed.

Also on mask front... DH found guidance for the Andorra resorts that neck tubes count as masks for ski school.

Austria looking a bit more hopeful?!

planetski.eu/2021/12/07/austria-to-end-nationwide-lockdown-this-weekend-as-cases-fall-sharply/

Yes hopefully - just waiting for the press conference today! It's this bit which is currently unclear: "Some restrictions may remain for hotels and restaurants." Fingers crossed 🤞