Do you disapprove of people who are planning an overseas holiday this summer?

[cupid_stunt]

A French epidemiologist was interviewed on BBC News, talking about how fast omicron was taking off in France, she said they are only a day or two behind the UK. When asked what impact the closing of the border will have, her reply, 'just about zero'.

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

That’s very much not the case at all. Sadly. It’s a huge issue all over the place. But that’s for another thread.

I note that there are reports of huge queues at Dover as thousands of people tried to get to France today.

eurostar queues last night to go to france

 

[rubbershoes]

Have you ditched the van and Great Dane?

Scooby does go abroad. There is a film where the gang go to Australia. I've seen it and it's shit

 

[Riklet]

Im wondering now what my chance of not being able to travel to Madeira is in Jan...

Im going for a month so will still be worth it even with some quarantine (maybe not 14 days!) but also depends on whether further restrictions are imposed here and/or in Portugal. It seems so uncertain and it's only 2 weeks off!

 

[Artaxerxes]

Ok so we're sick of the UK. How do I travel at this point and where can I go with the minimum of fuckery?

 

[miss direct]

Ok so we're sick of the UK. How do I travel at this point and where can I go with the minimum of fuckery?

Turkey. 0 tests. Loads of covid though.

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

Turkey. 0 tests. Loads of covid though.

Missed the snow now though

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Ok so we're sick of the UK. How do I travel at this point and where can I go with the minimum of fuckery?

Germany no tests, Spain, (including Canaries) no tests.

 

[nagapie]

Germany no tests, Spain, (including Canaries) no tests.

If the countries don't ask for tests, do the airlines still make you do them?

 

[Flavour]

after missing two christmasses in a row in the UK i am now planning on returning for easter

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

If the countries don't ask for tests, do the airlines still make you do them?

No, the airlines only ensure you comply with the entry requirements of the country you are travelling to/via.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

after missing two christmasses in a row in the UK i am now planning on returning for easter

No tests needed for UK from 11th February.

Italy still wants antigen test in the 24 hours prior to arrival from the UK, may well change in the upcoming months though.

 

[miss direct]

Missed the snow now though

Snow in plenty of places there if that's what you're after.

 

[nagapie]

No, the airlines only ensure you comply with the entry requirements of the country you are travelling to/via.

I have to keep my fingers crossed that SA does away with tests before April. I can't afford the extra cost and it takes two people to hold down my youngest to forcibly test him.

 

[The39thStep]

Germany no tests, Spain, (including Canaries) no tests.

The PCR test for Portugal will be reviewed in Feb after the elections Jan 30th

 

[sparkybird]

No tests to enter Mexico and has been this way since the start of the pandemic

 

[Riklet]

The PCR test for Portugal will be reviewed in Feb after the elections Jan 30th

Good to know.

Also worth pointing out that the autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira make their own rules. So I flew to Madeira a few weeks ago (here for a month) and didnt need to provide a PCR or a lab-based LFT like I would have for mainland Portugal. This is if you're fully vaccinated, of course. I did a LFT at home anyway like a responsible citizen. Madeira is awesome btw.

The plane was maybe almost half full which seemed quite busy. Perhaps one of the busier flights, as it was a Saturday.

 

[scifisam]

I was talking to a friend the other day who I've always known was probably anti-vax (we just don't talk about it; she's not stridently telling other people not to vaccinate), and we were talking about how much we all wanted to go abroad and just get some fucking sun. My friend said she was looking towards Spain because they don't require vaccinations to travel, and I said that I'd prefer to go somewhere that did require vaccinations. I'm CEV and although I do take risks, don't permanently isolate etc - this conversation was in a pub - for a holiday I'd prefer somewhere there were some protections in place.

Interesting difference in POVs there.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

The PCR test for Portugal will be reviewed in Feb after the elections Jan 30th

We went to Portugal..you don’t need a PCR test..a 30€ antigen test, easily available at a pharmacy in Paris, is all that was required. I found it reassuring that everyone on the flight was vaccinated and tested.
Restaurants were good at checking vaccination passports.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

No tests to enter Mexico and has been this way since the start of the pandemic

And god help you if you get I’ll there

 

[sparkybird]

And god help you if you get I’ll there

Actually I have plenty of friends there (both expats and Mexican) and we chat regularly about the situation in the UK vs in Mexico.

 

[Riklet]

Spain you def do need to be double vaccinated apparently. Including 12-15s. And from 1 Feb your final dose must have been within the last 9 months. Proof of recovery is not valid. Lots of Brits could be stung by this soon.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

I've just booked to goto Arles & Nice in March on Eurostar/TGV. I guess it could all go wrong but as it stands it's just a pre departure PCR which doesn't seem too much hassle.
The uncertainty will continue all year won't it?

 

[mx wcfc]

I've just booked to goto Arles & Nice in March on Eurostar/TGV. I guess it could all go wrong but as it stands it's just a pre departure PCR which doesn't seem too much hassle.
The uncertainty will continue all year won't it?

If you are in Arles, Avignon is worth a day trip (short train trip), and try to do a tour of the Carmargue too.

 

[miss direct]

If anyone does need to get a pre flight PCR test for travel, it's now only £35 with Randox if you pick it up.

 

[teuchter]

Well I am venturing to the continent in a couple of weeks.

Does anyone have recent experience of what travel insurance generally will & won't cover at the moment? For example, is cancellation cover, that would cover scenarios where a positive test results in either not being able to leave the UK or getting stuck in some other country, something you can only get at great expense?

 

[Spymaster]

Well I am venturing to the continent in a couple of weeks.

Does anyone have recent experience of what travel insurance generally will & won't cover at the moment? For example, is cancellation cover, that would cover scenarios where a positive test results in either not being able to leave the UK or getting stuck in some other country, something you can only get at great expense?

The Post Office do a pretty comprehensive travel insurance policy for not much money.

 

[LDC]

I've just booked to goto Arles & Nice in March on Eurostar/TGV. I guess it could all go wrong but as it stands it's just a pre departure PCR which doesn't seem too much hassle.
The uncertainty will continue all year won't it?

Same DJWrongspeed, I'm also going to south of France mid-March on Eurostar. Hopefully testing requirements might be gone by then...?

 

[teuchter]

Is the PCR test for entering France from any country, or just from the UK?

 

[smmudge]

I found Churchill good for comprehensive insurance. Bit pricier but will cover any cancellation if you test positive pre-trip, and accommodation costs if you get a positive while out there. M&S also similar but more expensive.

When I asked The Post Office, they said they didn't offer anything that would cover accommodation costs if you get positive on a trip (my biggest fear! Though a low risk now there's no tests to come back to the UK).