Has anyone booked any continental holidays yet?

[Uggers]

z4RRSchris said:

24th March EU Summit re use of such passports

Better part of a month before they even start talking about it.
Then there are the wants and needs of 28 countries to agree politically, then the legal minefield to be negotiated.
Followed by an app/IT system to be used/developed and the small matter of vaccinating most of Europe.

Before Summer? They are going to have to crack on.

[55palfers]

Looks like EU are to include UK in Vaccine Passport scheme.

I read yesterday that Greece and Spain were already talking to UK about a unilateral passport for UK holiday makers.

I tried to book to go to Kyrenia via Larnaca in mid-September but travel agent wouldn't take booking due to unknown situation over EU / Turkish border and UK citizens!.

[Coolbananas]

Uggers said:

Better part of a month before they even start talking about it.
Then there are the wants and needs of 28 countries to agree politically, then the legal minefield to be negotiated.
Followed by an app/IT system to be used/developed and the small matter of vaccinating most of Europe.

Before Summer? They are going to have to crack on.

They have identified an app already that is currently being tested - has been at some airports from what I read. It is looking very likely over here that to travel we will require a vaccine passport, no ifs no buts. Some countries are developing their own already and the EU is just trying to standardise it for all rather than have various versions across Schengen. The emphasis is upon opening up the EU internally rather than elsewhere albeit they have opened the discussion with the UK too, as they have with the US.

I think we'll see some countries, like Greece, Spain, Portugal, Denmark etc who are actively promoting the passport solution allowing their own versions to be rolled out while they wait for the EU-wide version if it is indeed slower.

Here in Portugal, the Algarve will be grateful simply to have internal tourism open up in late March, early April and then see a steady increase as other countries are allowed to travel. Spain would bring a large number over, as would the increasing markets of the Netherlands, France and the Nordics. Hence there is a distinct focus to open up the continent internally as a priority and then third countries being in alignment with the passports will be an added bonus.

The EU countries being slower with the vaccine rollout will mean for many here limited travel until most are vaccinated but that could actually be great for Brits though, with your advanced rollout, you could find yourselves the most sought-after tourists because of the greater numbers who would qualify for unrestricted access. You could have the resorts largely to yourselves, no fighting the Germans for the best poolside spots!

[omniflow]

Just booked a week in Crete from 5th July.

Flights were £60 per person per leg with Easyjet. Apartment can be cancelled with no charge up until the week before.

Airport car parking and car hire can wait a few weeks.

I think the chances of it all going wrong are quite small, and it's a risk I'm prepared to take.

[irocfan]

Well booked an October cruise, Norway/northern lights... let's see how badly fked we get

[Ben La]

Overnight ferry to Santander for September with road trip through any countries that'll have us!!

If it falls through Ill kick it into next spring

[matt3001]

I have a week's worth of cancellable hotels (and a cancellable one-way Audi A3 rental) booked from Bergen up to Lofoten in late-August. Waiting for more developments before I pull the trigger on any flights, even if I book [the flights] 6-8 weeks prior to departure its probably worth the premium to stay flexible.

Hoping the Norwegians crack on with their vaccination programme and its a viable tourist route by then.

[z4RRSchris]

Cyprus go first:

brits will need both vaccinations to enter. from 1st May

[Pete102]

z4RRSchris said:

Cyprus go first:

brits will need both vaccinations to enter. from 1st May

Unclear what a negative test will do regarding quarantine. I bet the elderly are already booking places out there!

[anonymous-user]

Pete102 said:

z4RRSchris said:

Cyprus go first:

brits will need both vaccinations to enter. from 1st May

Unclear what a negative test will do regarding quarantine. I bet the elderly are already booking places out there!

Indeed.

Looks more like it’s as an alternative, like the Spanish were talking about. Even then it’s their first plan and things are likely to change as the summer progresses,

Cyprus were probably the strictest country regarding entry requirements last summer.

https://apple.news/A7jtdojruSMuNp9dURaa_Dg


“Cyprus's deputy tourism minister, Savvas Perdios, said the country would allow Britons who had been given vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) the right to enter without the need for a negative test or to quarantine.”

Or

https://news.sky.com/story/cyprus-to-allow-vaccina...

“ "We have informed the British government that from 1 May we will facilitate the arrival of British nationals who have been vaccinated... so they can visit Cyprus without a negative test or needing to quarantine," Mr Perdios told Cyprus News Agency.”

Not that brits can travel till after the 17 anyway when things could be very different.

The information my employer is getting is that some countries are discussing a vaccine as an alternative to other measures but those other measures haven’t been finalised yet.

Like last year there may well be travel corridors with no quarantines or vaccine requirements etc by the summer holidays. It unlikely (m)any countries will have large amounts of tourists vaccinated with both vaccines by May so it’s an unlikely sole entry requirement.

[Pete102]

It’s already kicking off on Reddit. And ‘poof’ just like that all ongoing support for lockdown evaporates.

This couldn’t have been timed any better given yesterday when it was revealed that 40% of over 80s have broken lockdown rules since getting jabbed.

[Pete102]

I’d be doing exactly the same strongly suspect alternatives to no jab will be in place though

[irocfan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Do tell

[irocfan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks, 'good' to know

[marcosgt]

jesusbuiltmycar said:

Booked for Cyprus in July...

The flights were booked in 2019...

Last year I had to pay to move them...

Hoping we will be able to go but time will tell. I wouldn't book anything at the moment

My flights are for early May, but I can't see myself being vaccinated before then, so I'll have to move them again (3rd time) even if the Government have changed the rules to allow me to fly.

I guess I may get to go later in the year, but I expect flights will be rammed, so I may not bother...

M

[ro250]

For me, a big part of going on holiday is the planning and anticipation. For that reason, we're just not bothering this year. I just can't be bothered to book something which may or may not happen and may be under certain conditions or restrictions which may change at various points in the run up.

I envy those who can be more relaxed about it. After un-booking a self-planned and booked US multi-stop trip last year, I've completely lost my enthusiasm for travel for now.

[HiAsAKite]

Ive got to say, one bit that ive either missed or has been glossed over, all these countries (inc potentially UK) potentially requiring vaccine passports...
...what does that mean for those who cannot get a access to tests, eg children, or even young toddlers who frankly trying to do a swab test on is an exercise in futility...


Are they exempt from this, or have I missed something on this?

Otherwise sounds great for couples and adults, no use for those with young families though.

Edited by HiAsAKite on Friday 5th March 18:38

[fridaypassion]

Booked for August...Croatia. I'll bare my arse on the town hall steps if we don't get on that. Anticipating getting on at least one jolly before that. I think we will be rocking and rolling by June.

[Phil Dicky]

Booked Cyprus in July although neither of us will have had both jabs by then. Apparently a Covid test before travel may be required, even though Cyprus say both jabs at moment.
I understand there is to be further announcement in April.

[Rosscow]

We've had a villa in Italy booked for 2 years now.

Original flights were with Lufthansa, who have just changed their schedules and the flights no longer work out very well so I've cancelled them for a refund and booked with Ryanair instead.

I'm confident we'll go - flying out 31st July back on 13th August.