Visiting UK
 

Hi, hope you’re all well. Has anyone travelled to the UK during the pandemic? As the UK border asks for covid test results to be in English, French or Spanish, do the ones done in pharmacies here have English translations on them, or are they all in Italian?

Many thanks

Re: Visiting UK
 

There are labs which will give you an English version of the PCR test. Make sure you ask before you book for the test.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Thanks a lot - do you know if the tests done at pharmacies are enough for entering the UK?
Thank you.

Re: Visiting UK
 

The test doesn't have to be a PCR test. It can also be an antigen test. Lots of pharmacies do them, and all the ones round us that do them will produce a certificatein English

Re: Visiting UK
 

I've been checking in preparation for our return trip and found that our local airport, Ancona does antigen and pcr tests and will supply certificates in English.

Re: Visiting UK
 

I got my pharmacy antigen test last week supplied in Ital and English.

Today's announcement allows fully vaxed EU to enter UK. Guardian reports the digital form is required for EU visitors while US visitors can present paper form of pass.

If anyone has a source for reasonably priced PCR tests required in UK...

Re: Visiting UK
 

Guardian reports the digital form is required for EU visitorsBut what if you don't have a mobile phone? Then what happens?

Re: Visiting UK
 

By digital, I think that they mean the QR code which can either be saved on your phone or downloaded and printed.

Re: Visiting UK
 

I think the .Gov.uk site here indicates the onus will be on your airline/travel company, so really their web site should tell you. Certainly the other day when I looked Jet2 at least had quite detailed information, but how quickly they are updating this fastly changing situation who knows.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Thank you

Re: Visiting UK
 

Looks like i timed this thread well :p

From what I’ve seen all tests in the UK have to be booked before leaving Italia and done with government-approved suppliers.

I’m planning on going at the end of August for the first time in a couple of years.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Has anyone driven to UK recently; how much importance/attention is given to the Passenger Locator Form, please?
I have messed-up my application for a PLF account with the result that, if I try to start again, I am informed that an account already exists but has not been activated (the system requires the phone country code to be entered as"+" in the application and not "00").
The Immigration Service helpline, 0800 6781667, isn't.
I would be grateful for suggestions. I am catching the Rotterdam - Hull ferry on Wednesday evening (Test Rapido permitting).
​​​​​​

Re: Visiting UK
 

Who's a silly boy, then?
Looked at the site again and realised I don't need an account, I can use a one-journey Form, which I've logged.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Does the day 2 UK test need to be a PCR one? Or can it be a rapid one?

Re: Visiting UK
 

Day 2 test is supposed to be a PCR one, I'm afraid. The reason given is that only PCR tests are able to identify the genomic structure of infected samples and hence new variants. I'm not sure that this makes 100% sense, since it would be possible to require someone testing positive with a lateral flow test to then take a PCR test. But maybe that's too complicared

Re: Visiting UK
 

Thanks for confirming. It seems that a rapid test is enough to get into the UK and get back into Italy though.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Yes. Frustrating that different countries have different rules for the same thing. I've just had to fly back to the UK for a couple of days. I'm fully vaccinated. To enter the UK I need a pre-flight lateral flow or PCR test and then a day 2 PCR test, but no quarantine. To enter Italy I need a pre-flight test (lateral flow or PCR), then quarantine for 5 days followed by a lateral flow test. But we should count ourselves lucky that we're not travelling from France!

Re: Visiting UK
 

For anyone intending to travel by P&O Ferries, a warning,: the Passenger Locator Form has to be completed before you board, not before you reach UK, and Day 2 test booked. They did the booking, £40. I booked via Direct Ferries and was not warned with the booking confirmation or other messages. Regarding the PLF, the GOVUK web site, and 4 emails confirming my application repeat " ... before arrival at UK border.".
It took more than an hour to get the form cleared on-line; the GOVUK site was playing up. I was fortunate to have arrived 3 hours early and just before a party of 8 Swedes with the same problem!
The A61 in Germany is closed between West Köln Kreuz and Kreuz Meckenheim, sourh of Bonn. The diversion isn't well signed (Venlo only appears right at the end) but the traffic flow takes you on to the A565; take "Koln" (A555) and not "Koln Ost/ Airport" then follow "Aachen" (A4) to West Koln Kreuz and the A61. Best to avoid the area altogether
There is no sign of a border from Italy to Holland but at Brennero they at least have a flag.

Re: Visiting UK
 

At Hull passport control:
"What do you need to see?"
"Only your passport, Sir."
And no Customs check.

Re: Visiting UK
 

No quarantine in the UK because you're double jabbed with a paper certificate and digital QR code?

Re: Visiting UK
 

Yes

Re: Visiting UK
 

:thumb:

Re: Visiting UK
 

Postscript
The literature I read and the exchanges at check-in referred consistently to "an appointment"".
Not so. I received diy kit by post this am.

Re: Visiting UK
 

That would be challenging for us - we don't get post delivered to the house, we have to use a post service in town.

Re: Visiting UK
 

I wondered about saying I was going to be travelling around in a camper but chickened out: I wanted to board.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Hi,

We came by camper via Hook of Holland last Tuesday. Did the free PCR test in the Netherlands. All very straightforward and easy to book in English. Obviously we had to spend a day in Holland waiting for the results, but that suited us. On the passenger locator form you still had (might have changed since last week) to give an address for ten days in case they need to contact you, but in practice you're free to move about as you wish (on the train to London at the moment writing this).

But it doesn't matter if you can't receive post at the address. You have to choose an authorised tester for the day 2 PCR test here, and when you do that you can see which providers allow you to collect from them. We went to the chemist, got the kit, did the test and sent it off, and you get the results by email.

I was very nervous about it all, and it was a bit stressful and time consuming (filling in the same details numerous times), but in the end it was all okay.

​​​​​​Trying not to worry about coming back to Italy in a few weeks because the rules might well change again, but at the moment it seems doable (with the issues about quarantine mentioned in other threads)

Re: Visiting UK
 

That was a good move going to the UK. The thermometer is going up to 40C next week in central Italy.

Re: Visiting UK
 

I think I prefer 40C over 16c and rain ;)

Re: Visiting UK
 

Very much agree about the rain, but 40c....

Re: Visiting UK
 

The problem with 40C is that the structure of the house starts to heat up. It is impossible to get it cooled down at night. I dont know how those folks in Canada coped with 50C. I look forward to September and more managable temperatures.

Re: Visiting UK
 

You hit the nail on the head, if it is not cool enough for long enough the heat builds in the house. Think you have to experience such for a few months on end to know how bad this can be, it was only second to the quakes for us. Canada was awfully hot, but the overnight temperatures were quite low in comparison (21c), so if long enough would have give them a break. Still, I'm happy (ish) with the UK weather at present, again though over time it may get to me with the rain, rain, rain....!

Re: Visiting UK
 

Not strictly on theme, but is phone charge Roaming another Brexit casualty? (I have been charged in UK for a call that in previous years would have been part of my package.)

Re: Visiting UK
 

I am with EE and they charge for calls to Italy from UK at full rate but vice versa it is part of roaming. WhatsApp seems to be the way to go.

Re: Visiting UK
 

Yes, I'm afraid it is. The legal requirement for free roaming lapsed at the end of last year. All (or almost all) UK operators said they had no plans to introduce charges, but you can expect all to introduce them quietly in the not too distant future. Just remember, "Brexit, the gift that goes on taking"©

Re: Visiting UK
 

My deal is Wind Call Your Country Gold (250 mins/month world wide €10). I had made some local calls and not noticed an effect but a call to Malaya wiped out €15 credit in a few minutes. WhatsApp it is, then.
Thanks also to Serrano.

Re: Visiting UK
 

At the moment, Vodaphone and EE have re-introduced roaming, but O2 and Three have currently avoided imposing EU roaming charges and are sticking to a fair use data cap of 25GB and 12GB per month respectively.

Re: Visiting UK
 

I think they’re starting from January.

Re: Visiting UK
 

As this discussion about mobile phone charges is in the 'Visiting UK' thread I thought at first that you were all talking about people visiting the UK and using your Italian phones... but it seems like you're talking about the opposite...is that right???

My Italian Vodafone contract still seems to include the UK for calls and data without any extra charge as it does for EU countries...at least I hope it does as I'm using it here and I can't see that I'm being charged for it!

Re: Visiting UK
 

For NEW conracts I think !? Don't panic

Re: Visiting UK
 

[QUOTE=C.2s;13039222]As this discussion about mobile phone charges is in the 'Visiting UK' thread I thought at first that you were all talking about people visiting the UK and using your Italian phones... but it seems like you're talking about the opposite...is that right???

No, my case is Italian phone in UK.
I have since monitored the credit and phone calls within UK and to Italy are covered by my package fee; it may be that extra-European calls are not covered outwith Italy.