Re: COVID RULES
 

The situation is fluid , to say the least.But every cloud..
Had a funny chat the other day with an older couple . They had come in for their second
vaccination. I asked them why they hadn't had it months ago .
They replied that they had flown to their holiday home and got trapped there for 2 months with the restrictions coming in as they were unable to get flights back.
I said on now that's terrible ,where were you stuck.
They said Barbados !
so I said ,actually don't feel so sorry for you now!

Re: COVID RULES
 

And they came back why?.......:rofl:

Re: COVID RULES
 

Our glorious British summer of course.!
I mean who needs a tan when you get the same colour by rusting .

Re: COVID RULES
 

and we would have nothing to complain about, lol. :shades_smile:
Mary.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Good Morning all, have been looking into the testing and checked out Randox but, for us it is the time, travel, journey etc to their drop box - miles away from us. Will be a pain when in Spain too and would be concerned about their receipt of the test and the response time

Following my first post I had made a mistake as I missed out the fact that you need a test to enter Portugal so need to do that before catching a flight from England.

Try www.c19testing.co.uk (Cerulean Healthcare) I have emailed them twice and they have replied quickly. They are on the gov.uk list. The rapid antigen tests 3 days before leaving England and before leaving Portugal/Spain are £29 each. Do the test yourself and upload it to their site with passport details and they respond with your certificate (if negative of course) which you can print off.

The day 2 PCR test on return is £99, Day 2 and day 8 are £180 As Mary said above, no rush to book the tests as we may only need the Day2 BUT, of course, anything and everything could change hopefully for the better but it may not.

SO per person from England to Portugal 2 Rapid Antigens @ £29 each and (hopefully) 1 x day 2 PCR = £99 TOTAL £157 IF Day2 and Day8 PCR on return then the total is £238
The PCR tests can be returned to C19 Testing by Royal Mail

Anyway, if like us you are thinking of travelling it may be worth a look and please do post comments on here - good or bad so we can make the correct choices/

Take Care all

Mel

Re: COVID RULES
 

San Roque in Ayamonte are doing tests for 30euros.
As with all the test centres it is vital you book your test for your returning asap as they you will struggle to get one at short notice. They do not test at weekends so if you are flying on a Monday you will struggle

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks Guesswork, do you know if they take the swab there, test and then provide a certificate that meets all the criteria required to board a plane and enter back into England ? Is it the rapid antigen test ?

Sorry to quiz you

Thanks Mel

Re: COVID RULES
 

They do the test and results there. Its the basic test. I know people who were flying to the UK and it was acceptable

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks very much

Re: COVID RULES
 

There is a company in the UK doing the test to fly out and giving a test to take with you .
With all the details on what to do.
they have got good reviews on trust pilot
All in £99
I will PM you with details

Re: COVID RULES
 

Mel & John,
The clinic in VRSA can do your antigen test for 25 euros, results take 24 hours.. They are just opposite the "COFFEE" coffee shop on the main road.
Are you aware that your day 2 & 8 tests need to be booked through a specific website which you can find the link for on the official Government website?
Mary.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Brilliant ...thanks

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks for the VSRA info.
Yikes, for the PCR 2 and 8 I thought I could book with any company on the gov.uk list but did not know the actual booking have to be channelled via that website. Thanks Mary, I better get checking again.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Just looked on Gov.uk for advice when returning from an Amber country into England and the system takes you to the list of providers. I put "self swab at home" for our choice and C19 Testing appear and a click on their name takes you to their website.

Re: COVID RULES
 

From 29 July you only need a day 2 test on returning from Amber list countries
(Portugal) as long as you have had both jabs

Re: COVID RULES
 

From 19 July you only need a day 2 test on returning from Amber list countries
(Portugal) as long as you have had both jabs

Re: COVID RULES
 

We used the Cerulean Healthcare website quoted above. Bought two antigen tests each. All done at home, outward one while in UK and return one with us here to do in ES next week. No need to leave home for either test @ £29 each.

Booking our day 2 PCR tests with Randox via the EasyJet website link @ £43 each. Will be on doormat when we arrive home in UK on 20th July. DPD collect samples, so no need to leave home to complete the test.

Total cost per person £101 for all tests required for our return trip to ES via PT. Have researched well and reckon this is the best solution.

Re: COVID RULES
 

That's good ....hope it stays that way OR if it changes let's hope it's GREEN, GREEEN for GO !!

Re: COVID RULES
 

just so I'm clear .
You used the the rapid antigen test to fly to Faro ,with no problems
were you asked for proof at departure or arrival ?
and both tests to be done 48 hours before artival/departure?
looking on the latest UK gov info that seems acceptable and cheaper than the full
PCR test

Re: COVID RULES
 

Yes, that's correct. We printed NHS double-jabbed certificates, PT passenger locator forms and negative antigen test results. These were presented at Bristol and Faro where they were inspected and returned to us with only cursory inspection at both airports. Bristol complimented us for having them printed out.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks for that .
Seems the best ,easiest and cheapest way to.go at the moment.
Just need to get all the ducks in a row.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Hi
Has anyone had any issues travelling to Faro with the UK vaccination certificate showing the Indian version of the Astra Zenica jab ?
Thanks

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks very much and that's certainly does seem the best way to go. Those PCR tests with Randox are at a good price
with EJet. Much appreciate the info 🙂👍

Re: COVID RULES
 

Apparently a couple were turned away from a flight to Malta because of this.
also France may not allow either ( no surprise there)
Spain and Germany are among 10 countries that were mentioned have no problems with it.
unfortunately Portugal were not mentioned either way.

​​​​​​Ba tch numbers are 412Z001, 412Z002, 412Z003
Hopefully someone can check their vaccine record who had flown to Portugal and put your mind a rest.

Re: COVID RULES
 

We've been using gov.uk website for advice. That website states quarantine rules apply to arrival by road. This is at odds with the Visit Portugal advice. On balance we've decided not to risk a day trip over the international bridge.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Your jabs also must have been done through the UK NHS vaccination programme.

Re: COVID RULES
 

We are in Portugal all the time, no issues. Of course, can't say the rules won't change going forward.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Same here we go over the bridge 4 or 5 times a week lunch over there from Castro to Olhaoa 2 or three times a week. Only once been stopped and that was months ago when total lockdown was on. Only way to be allowed through was either a boarding card for a flight that day or a certified hospital appointment. By and large freedom of movement is so important to both sides with frontier workers and tourism being so important to the Atlantic coast economy!

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks - its only when I checked the app - I found out I had been jabbed with one of those batches :fingerscrossed: Portugal are ok with it

Re: COVID RULES
 

Just a quick question that someone has asked me ,and got me thinking as well.
They want to get their timings right .
The antigen test results you get emailed back .Is the expiry time on them 48 hours from when you sent the pics of tests by email or 48 hours from when they send the test result back by email?

Re: COVID RULES
 

Good news Belgium has lessened the arrival rules from the UK .. this is (hopefully) the first step and other EU countries will follow, and change their entry rules :fingerscrossed:

People who have a vaccination or a recovery certificate are required to: get tested on day 1 or 2 after their arrival in Belgium. They can leave quarantine if their test result is negative.

Next week or so I expect a follow up announcement from Grant Schapps regarding the changing of UK entry rules for the double jabbed (reported here last week) i.e not restricted to NHS jabs only - as is currently the case. :fingerscrossed:

Jon
https://www.brusselstimes.com/news/b...or-travellers/

On the flip side.... Just heard that the Ballearic Islands have flipped from Green to Amber on the UK entry list... After TWO weeks! Changes happening fast!

Re: COVID RULES
 

Good point Tony - hope somebody can answer

Also folks, on another point, don't forget to apply for your Global Health Insurance Card GHIC on the gov.uk site. As per the previously issued E111 cards there is no cost.

Re: COVID RULES
 

I was expecting BoJo would not require any testing for those with 2 X NHS jabs post "Freedom Day". Silly me :eek:

I have booked to travel and overnight in France & Holland to catch ferry from Ijmuiden to Newcastle.

It seems I shall require a PCR or rapid test(?) not more than 24 hours before boarding and 2 X PCR test in UK. Can anyone confirm what if any testing / isolation requirements are for overnightstop in France / Holland?

Re: COVID RULES
 

48 hours from when you actually do the test. You have to declare time of test when uploading your result photo and should upload photo as soon as test is done. Not sure what happens if flight is delayed. We did ours 45 hours before scheduled departure just in case of delay. There's a lot of potential banana skins with this lark.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks for this info.
I literally have just seen a certificate from someone who ha s returned from Majorca
There's shows time test sent and time test sent back
And it was sent within. 3 hours !!
They said that about 20 people were refused boarding because they didn't have all the necessary paperwork
And someone told them at their hotel that someone was refused because their test time was 10 minutes past date !
So need to check,double check and throw in another check as well .

Re: COVID RULES
 

UH-OH... 😢 Re: The news that French returnees have to quarantine even if double-jabbed with NHS _administered_ jabs. Making a sort-of new 'Amber + category' 😱

I am still waiting to hear if Grant Schapps is still confident that NHS _approved_ jabs will count equally by the UK. As after all I have been jab2'd with exactly the same vax as approved in the UK. I mentioned this earlier here.

But this kind of 'draconian action' could affect all our plans, after all Spain + Belgium share just a land border with France with relatively free movement.

It just proves that international travel is just a real risk, as rules can (and do) change virtually and effectively overnight !! The (relatively new) adage that the virus "knows no borders" can be supplemented by "government's know no limits" !!

Yet another risk is 'reciprocal action'. If France decides to reciprocate (they've done it before).. then as huge influencers in the EU - that easily could have knock- on affects with other EU countries. (It's happened before),,,,,,,😭 Im not even sure if I can blame them... Also our case rate brings us onto their 'virus radar', anyway !!

Oh heck! Anyone wanting to go into the UK, e.g holiday- returnees or visitors (like me) have a huge banana-skin right on our road. 2+ years of planning of a UK holiday in September - delayed twice.... is now on my personal 'red list' :eek:

Jon

Re: COVID RULES
 

Seems that the delta B (South african) which is a small percentage of cases in France may be more resistant to the vaccine especially the AZ one
Surely they must have known this for sometime .
Is it just me that thinks we are not being told the whole truth about everything .

Or am I just being paranoid.

Re: COVID RULES
 

Re: COVID RULES
 

https://www.urgenciassanroque.com/

​​​​​​Be stLoco

Re: COVID RULES
 

Thanks very much Loco, I am sure a few will be clicking on the link