While many of us have been dreaming about going on a summer holiday in the sun, coronavirus restrictions have meant the majority have been spending any time off in the UK.
But some holidaymakers have taken the decision to travel, and as quarantine restrictions start to ease, some could be thinking about taking a last minute holiday.
Travel expert Simon Calder says: “The vast majority of people who have escaped do say to be on a beach, to feel the sand on your toes, to sit in a taverna as the sun comes down reminds them what life is all about.”
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Speaking from Greece, Sarah, from Cardiff, who travelled there with her family this week said the tests and forms that had to be filled in were easy to follow, and says it still feels like a “normal family holiday”.
During a Radio 2 phone-in on travel, Mr Calder praised the testing system in Wales and Scotland, and gave advice to those thinking about going booking a holiday.
Explaining the tests that are needed when you return from the UK, even from a green listed country, he said: “When you get back from holiday, unless you are coming from Ireland, you are going to need at least one PCR test, which you must pre-book from the list of 400+ providers, except if you are coming in to Wales or Scotland.
“They just say, ‘we have only got one provider, it is going to cost you £68’ and that is actually not too bad a deal. It is a reputable company compared to some of what the Health Secretary Sajid Javid actually called ‘cowboys’. It is all very murky and there is huge amounts of confusion amplified by companies producing false statements.”
Here we take a look at popular holiday destinations and what you need to know before you travel.
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Greece
Welsh holidaymaker Sarah, who travelled from Bristol to Greece earlier this week said: “The only thing needed if double jabbed is to do your Covid passport and print it off.
“It has a barcode with an expiry date so print it a few days before you go. Then you need to do a passenger locator form. Greece asks for one form for the whole family.
“They checked our vaccine records and our locator forms in UK and Greece. If you print it all off it’s much easier. On Saturday, we have to do the test to return and our Passenger Locator Form for the UK. The UK wants one form per person and a fit to fly negative test.
“We do the test ourselves and upload the results then they email us a certificate. We will see how that part goes but coming over here was very easy.”
Speaking about what it is like in Greece, she said: “Everything is quite normal. You have to wear masks to wear in shops and on the plane and the transfer. TUI pretty strict on that part.
“You don’t need to wear them in restaurants and bars. It’s like a normal holiday. Anyone not double jabbed needs either a negative test or proof you have had Covid so Greece is about the easiest to travel to at the moment.”
Do you need a test before you go?
If you’re not fully vaccinated Yes – Antigen (rapid flow) test within the 48 hours before your flight arrival time
If you are fully vaccinated – No.
Is there a testing exemption if you have recovered from Covid?
Yes – prove your Covid-19 status by using the NHS App or by calling 119 for a paper copy.
You must have recovered from Covid-19 between 30 and 180 days prior to travel.
Is there a testing exemption for those vaccinated?
Yes – prove your vaccine status by using the NHS app or by calling 119 for a paper copy.
Do you need to take a test on arrival?
No. However, you may be asked to undergo a random antigen (rapid flow) test on arrival
Do you need to fill out a form before you go?
Yes. You can find the form here.
It must be completed no later than 11.59pm (local time Greece) on the day before arriving in Greece.
What do you need to do before you return?
A ‘travel test package’ of NHS tests must be booked before your arrival in Wales.
CTM are the booking agent for NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect tests which are processed through the UK Lighthouse lab network.
Wales is using NHS tests, rather than private tests, because they are processed by NHS laboratories and results are sent directly into NHS Wales’ systems.
Costs for the tests are:
All travellers aged 5 and above must book a testing package. You will need show evidence of your booked tests before you board.
If you arrive in Wales without proof of test booking, you could be fined £2,000.
Other information
Children aged 12 and over must complete the required tests.
You’ll be denied boarding if these requirements are not met.
Spain
If you are travelling to Spain, you don’t need to take any tests to travel if you are fully vaccinated.
Travel expert Simon Calder told a holidaymaker travelling to the country next week: “Some tour operators are doing a really good thing for package holidaymakers. They are only asking from £20 to £60 or organise the tests. They are subsidising the tests to help holidaymakers.
“If you are double jabbed, you don’t need anything to get into Spain, but coming back you need to have a pre-departure test and that is the one that some tour operators send you and then call up from Spain and say it is negative, send a photo and you are OK to get on your flight.”
Do you need a test before you go?
If you’re not fully vaccinated then, yes – PCR, TMA, LAMP or NEAR test within 72 hours of your flight arrival (local) time
If you are fully vaccinated- No
Is there a testing exemption if you have recovered from Covid?
No
Is there a testing exemption for those vaccinated?
Yes – prove your vaccine status by using the NHS app or by calling 119 for a paper copy.
Do you need to take a test on arrival?
No
Do you need to fill out a form before you go?
Yes. The form for Spain can be found here.
What do you need to do before you return?
A ‘travel test package’ of NHS tests must be booked before your arrival in Wales.
CTM are the booking agent for NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect tests which are processed through the UK Lighthouse lab network.
Wales is using NHS tests, rather than private tests, because they are processed by NHS laboratories and results are sent directly into NHS Wales’ systems.
Costs for the tests are:
All travellers aged 5 and above must book a testing package. You will need show evidence of your booked tests before you board.
If you arrive in Wales without proof of test booking, you could be fined £2,000.
Other information
Children aged 12 and over must complete required tests. Arrivals from Spain (back into the UK) can take an antigen (rapid flow) OR PCR test whilst in Spain.
Portugal
Portugal has always been a popular destination for UK travellers and there are flights with Ryanair from Cardiff Airport.
Jenni, from Penarth, travelled there earlier this month with her husband and two children.
She said: “The tests that are needed did add a lot to the cost of the flight, but it was a holiday that we had had to postpone so had been paid for the year before. The tests were easy to follow and take. It is easier from Wales as there is only one firm that you can go with.
“Coming back, tests have to be booked in advance and paid for in full. It can take up to 24 hours for the results to be returned. You can schedule a test at any private testing clinic in Portugal.
“You still have to wear masks inside, but it didn’t feel very different, and that was something we were already used to in the UK.”
Do you need a test before you go?
Yes – PCR within the 72 hours before your flight departure time OR Antigen (rapid flow) test within the 48 hours before your flight departure time
Is there a testing exemption if you have recovered from Covid?
No
Is there a testing exemption for those vaccinated?
No
Do you need to take a test on arrival?
No. If you have a temperature over 38˚C, you may be asked to take an antigen(rapid flow) test on arrival.
Do you need to fill out a form before you go?
Yes. The form can be found here. You must complete this form before you depart.
What do you need to do before you return?
A ‘travel test package’ of NHS tests must be booked before your arrival in Wales.
CTM are the booking agent for NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect tests which are processed through the UK Lighthouse lab network.
Wales is using NHS tests, rather than private tests, because they are processed by NHS laboratories and results are sent directly into NHS Wales’ systems.
Costs for the tests are:
All travellers aged 5 and above must book a testing package. You will need show evidence of your booked tests before you board.
If you arrive in Wales without proof of test booking, you could be fined £2,000.
Other information
Children aged 12 and over must complete the required tests and show proof of their test result at the border and when checking into their hotel. You’ll be denied boarding if these requirements are not met.
If you haven’t been fully vaccinated, you’ll need to quarantine on arrival for 14 days.
Croatia
The popular holiday destination is even more popular because it is on the UK’s green list.
There have been reports of a number of coronavirus cases associated with visits to bars and other busy venues, and the Foreign Office advice is: “You should exercise caution and follow social distancing rules when attending busy venues.”
It is mandatory for passengers to wear masks on public transport, taxis and in shops and other commercial premises.
Patricia, Llandudno, is holidaying there with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
She said: “We were a bit concerned about coming away, but the family persuaded me to go. We have had a wonderful holiday, and felt very safe.”
Do you need a test before you go?
Yes – PCR test within the 72 hours before your flight arrival time OR Antigen (rapid flow) test within the 48 hours before your flight arrival time
Is there a testing exemption if you have recovered from Covid?
No
Is there a testing exemption for those vaccinated?
No
Do you need to take a test on arrival?
No.
Do you need to fill out a form before you go?
Yes. The form can be found here. You must also provide proof of your hotel booking on arrival.
What do you need to do before you return?
A ‘travel test package’ of NHS tests must be booked before your arrival in Wales.
CTM are the booking agent for NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect tests which are processed through the UK Lighthouse lab network.
Wales is using NHS tests, rather than private tests, because they are processed by NHS laboratories and results are sent directly into NHS Wales’ systems.
Costs for the tests are:
All travellers aged 5 and above must book a testing package. You will need show evidence of your booked tests before you board.
If you arrive in Wales without proof of test booking, you could be fined £2,000.
Other information
Children aged 11 and under do not need to take a test providing they are travelling with an adult who is has a negative PCR/Antigen test result
Germany
Travel expert Simon Calder is visiting there this weekend and says it is one of the easier countries to travel to.
He told BBC Radio 2: “Germany is actually one of those places which is quite easy for those of us who have been fully vaccinated. I have been out a couple of times and you just need to have proof of vaccination. I have got the NHS Covid Pass Letter that you can get by phone in Wales and it looks as though you have passed an exam.
“I have to fill out a digital registration for entry and then I have to carry around my pass as lots of restaurants, shops and and places of interest will want to see it. On the day of departure, or three previous days, I need to take a lateral flow test that will cost 30 or 40 Euros and then in the 48 hours before I come back, I have to fill in a passenger locator form for that I have to have a PCR test booked and then I get a code. I am actually going to have one at the airport when I touch down.”
Do you need a test before you go?
No
Is there a testing exemption if you have recovered from Covid?
No
Is there a testing exemption for those vaccinated?
No
Do you need to take a test on arrival?
No.
Do you need to fill out a form before you go?
Yes. The form can be found here.
What do you need to do before you return?
A ‘travel test package’ of NHS tests must be booked before your arrival in Wales.
CTM are the booking agent for NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect tests which are processed through the UK Lighthouse lab network.
Wales is using NHS tests, rather than private tests, because they are processed by NHS laboratories and results are sent directly into NHS Wales’ systems.
Costs for the tests are:
All travellers aged 5 and above must book a testing package. You will need show evidence of your booked tests before you board.
If you arrive in Wales without proof of test booking, you could be fined £2,000.
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