Austria skiing

[Grayswood]

Meant to heading off to Austria on the 17th December. We booked direct (yes, in hindsight mad) and we won’t get a refund if we don’t go. Anyone else still heading off to Alps this xmas, or are we really stupid? It looks like Austria will be coming out of lockdown tomorrow.

The 2G rules (vaccinated or recovered) apply to everyone aged 12 and over.

There are two sets of rules:

For entry into Austria, unvaccinated teens under 18 can enter if they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.

BUT - entry into hotels, apartments, cafes and ski lifts etc. is only possible for fully vaccinated or recovered teens. There has been talk of there being a workaround for foreign teenagers (e.g. PCR tests) but as yet, there is no official policy that allows this.

Holiday Ninja Pass for foreign (non-Austrian) teenagers announced

The workaround for foreign teenagers who might not be fully vaccinated (e.g. British teenagers aged 12-15) has been announced:

Following a press conference this morning, this report from Tiroler Tagezeitung:

• The “Ninja Pass” is now a tried and tested corona test pass for schoolchildren in Austria. The tests are taken in the school, the pass is valid as proof of entry for all areas where children and young people are required to present a negative test result.

• Now it is being expanded as a “Holiday Ninja Pass” as well as proof of school-free time - both for Austrian school-age young people and for school-age holiday guests from abroad aged 12 to 15 years .

• Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said in the press conference on the Ninja Pass during the holidays:

• “The 2G rule currently applies in Austria, which requires proof of proof from all persons over the age of 12. However, this requirement cannot be met for all families from abroad, as different vaccination rules apply in other countries and many young people are not or only partially vaccinated. Under these conditions, many would have decided against a winter holiday in Austria. With the Holiday-Ninja-Pass, an officially recognized 2G certificate in Austria can be provided even without a complete vaccination or proof of recovery. "

• The Holiday Ninja Pass is equivalent to 2G proof if:

• Valid negative test evidence is always available from day 1 to day 5;

basically at least 2 tests of which are PCR tests;

• All official test certificates are attached to the Holiday Ninja Pass in paper form or digitally and a valid photo ID is carried.

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In summary, PCR tests will be required in resort. Some resorts are setting up facilities for this in addition to the usual testing facilities available at pharmacies and GP surgeries. It might be a good idea to take a PCR test before leaving the UK, as testing facilities might not be open on Sundays (so teens would not be able to ski on the first days in resort). For example, where I live, there will be PCR testing facilities available at one of the main ski lift stations from 08.30 - 09.30 every day except Sunday. The cost for tourists is €35 per test, with results available in 24 hours - so some planning and overlap will be needed if the teen wants to ski every day.

So frustrating as had to cancel our holiday due to singly vaccinated 12 year old - we could have been flying out on Monday 😢

i was so excited by this until I saw that the older DS, although only 15 doesn't get a ninja pass as he is born pre September 2006. I could get him double vaxxed but he has to have 14 days before he could go - gah !!!!!!! God this is SOOOOOOO frustrating. Have been on sweden websites tonight but little accommodation

Can anyone advise what proof of vaccination they are currently accepting in Austria? Is it the NHS app? Will a vaccination card be acceptable as well?

Does anyone have any recommendations for package holiday companies that go to Austria - usually book with Crystal or Inghams and not much left now for new year 😢

@jb23newmum - not package, but most hotels have great offers on atm as last minute. So you would be best booking directly with a hotel or apartment in the resort you like.

I’m going to Austria with Ski Miquel who are a small independent company. Highly recommend as I’ve been with them twice previously (although not to Austria).

[quote Caspianberg]@jb23newmum - not package, but most hotels have great offers on atm as last minute. So you would be best booking directly with a hotel or apartment in the resort you like.[/quote]
Just a little nervous with booking separately incase for whatever reason we have to cancel

Most hotels and airlines are offering pretty flexible bookings at the moment. Just worth reading the small print. Our hotel lets us cancel up to the day of arrival if quarantine, border closures or Covid stop us travelling.

Yes, we have own rental, if restrictions added we offer a full refund at any time. So it’s worth asking directly.

@Sluberry

Can anyone advise what proof of vaccination they are currently accepting in Austria? Is it the NHS app? Will a vaccination card be acceptable as well?

The vaccination paper card you get in the UK isn’t acceptable proof. You need the QR codes the NHS gives you on the app/letter.

Austria Update 18th Dec 2021:

Stricter regulations for entry into Austria come into effect from Monday 20th December. Travellers over 12 will be required to be FULLY vaccinated - i.e. two jabs PLUS the booster - or if they have only had two jabs, a negative PCR test will be required. Travellers can also enter if they can show proof of recovery from Covid.

Children between 12 and 15 can use the Holiday Ninja Pass - but be aware that this cannot be used by 15-year-olds born before 1st September 2006 - and that a negative PCR test will still be required.

www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations

Thank you so much @EileenGC!

Thanks Havana. The new regulations announced today have scuppered our trip ( we were due to fly out on 20th December). With 3 teens who are only 2G we do not have time to get PCRs before the flight. Its been a mad scramble of a day trying to work around this but finally I accepted that we will not be travelling. Feel v sorry for the hotel who tried so hard to help us. Hopefully next Xmas!

Oh joy, now Germany have effectively red listed us by requiring 2 weeks quarantine on arrival. We're flying into Munich. Not until Feb half term, but still looking pretty bleak.

@TokyoSushi - can you look at changing flights to Salzburg nearer the time?

I probably could, but I think I'm getting to the stage where it might be easier not to bother and just roll it all over to 2023.

@Caspianberg - I am desperately streaming of the future and really really want to explore Austria with my dc as I had a lovely holiday there in my teens. Not ski season though, we did walking and outdoor swimming etc. Would you mind sharing your rental details? Or any suggested areas?

@SwumMum - if you looking for summer and hiking, I suggest focusing on the Carinthia region in the south. It borders Italy so one of the warmer areas, lots of hiking, and it’s where all the main lakes area for water sports and swimming

MirrorSignal1
We booked a PCR test the minute we found out. Did it for 9.50am yesterday and got the results back at 5.40am this morning - all negative. We are flying out tomorrow. It really was a stressful day yesterday. I was starting to think I really shouldn't have booked it at all. Anyway we're going now and hopefully nothing else will happen. Really sorry you had to cancel.

Thanks @caspianberg. What happens in the ski areas in warmer weather? And when do they have snow until? We're not skiers but DC would love a snowy holiday!

@TokyoSushi we are supposed to be flying into Munich too just after Christmas- from what I can garner, people can still transit through Germany and as long as you are only remaining in Germany "as long as is absolutely necessary to travel to your country of destination" then you are exempt from quarantine and pre registration.

www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/EinreiseUndAufenthalt

@SwumMum - depends on the ski areas. We if you right in resort then most go straight to hiking, and usually have swimming, and other activities depending on age if children. Where we live it’s a bit lower down, and a 15-30 min drive to various ski resorts, but the lake is main thing in summer.

There’s a card you can buy in the summer that for about £50 allows unlimited access to lots of things in the region like outdoor pools, zoos, mountain cable cars. It’s really good value. I think most regions do similar

[quote overworriedmum]@TokyoSushi we are supposed to be flying into Munich too just after Christmas- from what I can garner, people can still transit through Germany and as long as you are only remaining in Germany "as long as is absolutely necessary to travel to your country of destination" then you are exempt from quarantine and pre registration.

www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/EinreiseUndAufenthalt
[/quote]
Oh that's maybe a bit better then!