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.

@Muchtoomuchtodo - it’s 270 days from last vaccination.

@Caspianberg I thought I’d seen more specific timings but that’s straightforward enough. 👍🏻

@Muchtoomuchtodo
www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations
14 days min between 1-2
120 days min between 2- booster
270 days is how long valid from last one ie 2 or booster.

@Caspianberg that’s it. Thanks.

Austrian travel guidance is head spinning. Just got this update from the FCO’s country update:

Clarification that Covid-19 recovery can only be used as an alternative to boostered vaccination status if there have been at least two subsequent vaccinations with the first coming at least 21 days after a positive test or evidence of antibodies

Yes I’m so confused. I thought 2 vaccinations then recovery from Covid proof was fine (I can’t have the booster yet as not 28 days from Covid).

Now it’s implying you needed to have Covid first then the 2 vaccinations? The wording ‘subsequent’ could be key here?

Argh. So what if you’ve had Covid after the two vaccinations. I’m so confused. I don’t know whether to rush and book my booster for next week now. Only just feeling better from omicron!

On the Austria.info website it says ‘recovered from Covid and then had two vaccinations (or the other way round).’ But on the official website it says you have to have had Covid then two subsequent vaccinations. No (or the other way round!)

I'm heading to Alpbach (Tyrol) with a 13 year old a week tomorrow. I think I have worked out all the restrictions and requirements except the ninja testing ... I can see that screening centres are an option, and other than that the websites mention that some hotels do the tests for tourists.

Is testing widely available and easy to find? Does it have to be booked in advance? How much does it cost? Thanks in advance for any reassurance!!

@Pyjamasalldayplease - for tourists I think it’s free in many hotels or test centres mentioned. Look at the ones in the area you will be in.
You can test at pharmacies as well or doctors but will be charged for these as tourist - it’s around €30 for a PCR.

Thanks @Caspianberg, do you know whether tests at pharmacies have to be booked in advance?

@Pyjamasalldayplease - I’m not actually sure. We always register but that’s as Austrian residents using the free option. I think you can just walk in though, just might have to wait if it’s a busy one and everyone else has registered. Near us the pharmacies are pretty empty. I think if you just turn up and pay the €30 they don’t care

apotheken.oesterreich-testet.at/#/registration/start This is where you register

@Pyjamasalldayplease

I'm heading to Alpbach (Tyrol) with a 13 year old a week tomorrow. I think I have worked out all the restrictions and requirements except the ninja testing ... I can see that screening centres are an option, and other than that the websites mention that some hotels do the tests for tourists.

Is testing widely available and easy to find? Does it have to be booked in advance? How much does it cost? Thanks in advance for any reassurance!!

When we looked at it there seemed to be gargle PCR tests readily available in supermarkets and other test centres. Have a look on the tourist office website for the area you are going to. There is a list on the Tirol tourist website.

Flying to Austria 08 Feb, we're both triple vaccinated and currently have covid. Is anyone in the same boat?

I'm confused as to whether we have to declare the fact we have had covid less than one month before travel, or can we just enter the country as we originally planned (with proof of triple vac + negative PCR)?

Obviously there's a risk we may still be testing positive by the time we travel, trying not to think about that..

We’re booking the Eurotunnel today: top price totally refundable and changeable tickets. Ouch! But worth it to save the hassle of trying to get refunds on insurance if someone tests positive. As we’ll be driving through a tiny corner of France, we’ll need to test 24 days before departure, but after that hopefully nothing as adults are triple vaccinated and kids are under 12. It actually feels like it might happen now! 30 days to go.

Whereas we still have to make a decision, 15 year old not vaccinated at all, and I can't have booster until end of January at earliest.
DS has booked holiday from work but needs to cancel it if we aren't going or he's got it booked for no reason and will lose it if not.
Oh and DS15 has no ski gear as his stuff from 2 years ago is far too small, but again no point buying unless we are actually going....
It's torturous not knowing if Austria is going to make changes!

I don't think Austria will tighten the rules any further, but that is just my wild guess. Germany have just classed Austria as a high risk area meaning unvaccinated (so mostly children under 12) have to quarantine on return. This is probably leading to a lot of German families cancelling their trips for the winter /half term school holidays late January and early February. I don't think Austria wants to restrict tourists much more than they are already. However I think there are so many cases from ski areas I wouldn't risk it if you needed negative tests to return. I don't know anyone who has returned from skiing in Austria over the last couple of weeks that hasn't caught covid, my kids included. However it hasn't put us off and we'll be returning end of February. Considering I prefer skiing in France and Switzerland purely for the terrain I'm spending a lot in Austria at the moment 🙈

Hmm. As things stand, we would be in for the full cost of our stay unless we ourselves can’t travel so that’s a strong reason to go! The hotel we are heading to gets a lot of German visitors so it will be interesting to see what impact the joint issues of German rules and the uncertainty of UK travel has on them. If we come home and test positive then it will be a slight pain but we both work from home full time so it’s just the time off school for the kids, and that could happen any time - they’re all primary. The region we’re headed to has had very low levels throughout - no cases at all throughout the first year - and was one of those specifically exempted from last autumn’s designation of Austria as an area of high infection. Of course, we’d get it off the other guests most likely!

The German rules are only really affecting those with children. But it might have an effect on business generally. However rules could change again by February. Under the circumstances you describe I'd go. Do you need negative PCR to enter the UK? I am only concerned about not being able to get home. However extremely unlikely as we drive as live in Germany. If we had to fly and get pcr tests it would be a different matter

Everyone using our hotel has children - it’s a Kinderhotel! No return PCRs as things stand. We’d need to take a day two LFT on return currently but rumours abound that even that may scrapped shortly.

I've just seen mentioned on another thread that the Austrians are about to lift the PCR test requirement. Fingers crossed.

Austria will lift the restrictions on Sunday, after which travellers from the UK can enter with 2x vax plus either - a booster, or proof of recovery from Covid, or a negative PCR test (all subject to time limits - see the link below).

www.bmeia.gv.at/en/austrian-embassy-london/travelling-to-austria/coronavirus-covid-19-and-travel-abroad/

Omg this is epic news... now just to see if can travel through Germany to get there

I hope so, @Thunderpunt. That’s our plan!

This has saved us £200. Much needed after being utterly rinced by Eurotunnel (our own fault for hanging back on buying what were always going to be fully refundable tickets - doh). Just the French LFT now, and fingers crossed that one goes too.

Ahh @Doubleraspberry I must admit we booked eurotunnel ages ago on a flexible ticket knowing we'd use it for Italy in the summer.
I can't actually believe it might be happening. We've been looking at France and Italy hotels all day, and flights to Grenoble were £800!!
I'd forgotten about the France rules - and we will prob overnight in France so will have to look at those properly. Had hoped to do stopover in Germany but that's looking unlikely as it stands.
My 15 year old has no gear - it's too small, need to shop!

Does Austria still require completion of its pre departure clearance form does anyone know? We’re fully vax-ed.