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Post by balddave on Jul 1, 2021 7:22:17 GMT
Here’s hoping for some positive news on the 15th, if it’s positive I hope it comes with clear guidelines with regards to tests/ vaccination requirements for travel. It appears all airlines have only suspended flights up to the 21st so fingers crossed.
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Post by dennisn on Jul 1, 2021 8:39:26 GMT
Well the whole thing has me confused.
I've signed up for email notifications of changes to Gov.uk advice on Greece. So I get an email saying there's a change, click on it and can't for the life of me find the next thing to click to read what the change is! I've seen things about no longer wearing masks and no longer under curfew - I didn't really know they still masks and curfews!!
I've got the app for my medical stuff showing my jabs and did the look and download of the certificate thing, which says it is only valid until 28th July - no use for our September holiday!
We are currently trying to be optimistic about September, but all yesterday I kept hearing about stuff like testing arrangements for school pupils when they go back to school in September and arrangements to give us all a booster jab for the winter. Is it going to be got rid of or not?
I had even lost track and trace of dates for reviews, so I didn't know there would be one on 15th July. I simply had registered that all being well we shall lose all restrictions on 19th July (which sounds odd in light of suggestions about testing pupils in September!) I must be looking in the wrong place, but I have no idea what the arrangements are for going on holiday. I'd like a list saying points one to five (or fifteen) what we have to do, when and where.
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Post by katet on Jul 2, 2021 9:18:50 GMT
Yes, it is rather confusing. Jet2 seem to be prepared to fly after 16th July, as long as either Skiathos goes green or the Govt allows doubly vaccinated people to skip quarantine. If neither of these are the case, I won’t be going until September (hopefully). Let’s all think positive thoughts!
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Post by balddave on Jul 2, 2021 10:45:53 GMT
Really hope the 2 jab rule comes into play as suggested on the 26th with regards to for the need to isolate on return from amber countries. With this in mind we have booked flights to Seville on the 25th, nearly a year since we’ve seen our 3 grandchildren who live there, oh and our son and wife. If the 2 jab relaxation does not happen we’re resigned to having to isolate on return. There is also a cost saving due to not having to test on day 8. Our biggest concern is UK daily increasing infection rates and how Europe react , hopefully they will keep their borders open
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Post by dennisn on Jul 2, 2021 16:57:26 GMT
I spoke to Angela of Villa Maria today, still not getting visitors (we should have been arriving last Friday and starting our second week today). It must be heart-breakingly desperate. We're just losing a holiday, but still working and earning (and getting our pensions), but they're not.
If I was the boss of Jet2, I'd be flying my planes full of holidaymakers on the 20th July, even though Greece is still amber. I'd be doing it on the basis that by the time the holidaymakers are due to come back, the restrictions will have been withdrawn. To avoid quarantine for my aircrew on the outbound flights before restrictions end, I'd ask Skiathos to let me park my planes for a few days at no airport parking fees, because I'd be bringing several planeloads nice and early. Am I bright?
Angela told me there's a change to life there next week. From Monday, tavernas are open ONLY for people who have a full (two jab) vaccination, OR a negative rapid test costing 20 Euros. She says, so if you want to go to the harbour for a coffee and don't have a certificate, it'll cost you 4 Euros for a coffee and 20 Euros for a test. Yet I read somewhere else (Facebook) that somebody is offering free rapid flow tests on the harbour.
My iPhone says it will all be over in time for us to fly out on 10th September and Angela will have been able to afford to fill their pool and the sea will be fvlat calm, warm as I like it and the skittery fishes will skitter to my heart's content.
Tonight's another good Euromillions draw. Fingers crossed.
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Post by balddave on Jul 2, 2021 18:37:35 GMT
Would like to give your post a like Dennis, but actually I feel despair for the owners of hospitality venues , all be it tavernas or accommodation in Skiathos, they are battling on regardless, it must be at best worrying for them financially, I am unsure of the financial assistance (if any);business in Greece has received, but guess not
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Post by dennisn on Jul 2, 2021 20:10:28 GMT
Yes Dave, the holiday industry out there is in disarray I am sure. There are some ‘foreign’ tourists now, but I’m guessing British tourists are the greater proportion and of course TUI have tied their owners up so they can’t try letting (temporarily of course) to ad hoc visitors. I’m not close enough to talk finance, only general sympathetic noises about the situation, so I don’t know if Greece has done anything to help. I shall ask Google.
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Post by dennisn on Jul 2, 2021 23:35:52 GMT
Google says the EU Commission approved in May 2020 an allocation of 2 billion Euros, then again January 2021 another 1 billion (bear with me, those figures are from memory of a few hours ago, so may be not perfect) for Greece to support those who have been hit by COVID. It’s quite a lot of reading to see who gets what and I have no idea how far the distribution spread, but there were some arrangements along similar lines to our own. But, even though my self employed earnings dropped by about 50%, I didn’t qualify for a penny - it wasn’t just tell us how much you’ve dropped and we’ll give it to you.
So there was a support package, but I don’t know if it reached out to Villa owners in Skiathos.
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Post by bvrc on Jul 3, 2021 0:08:46 GMT
On my visit last September I was chatting to an owner of a small apartment & bar set up out of town about tough times on the island. I was telling him about the furlough scheme in the UK, all he had received was €800, Greece probably can’t afford much more. Their tourist industry is their lifeline.
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Post by balddave on Jul 4, 2021 16:53:05 GMT
The requirements for entering countries are still vague, we have been seeking clarification if a vaccination certificate allows us to travel to Spain without the need for a PCR test, I have noticed folk going to Skiathos via Athens are experiencing similar issues, this problem has been posted on FB. Our son who lives in Spain is aware of folk being refused entry without PCR,. I think although we’re both double jabbed, we shall take PCR test to avoid any issues.
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Post by katet on Jul 5, 2021 6:19:03 GMT
That’s probably wise, Dave. I’d do the same. I’m still umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to look into travelling via Athens on 21st, just in case Jet2 pulls the plug again. If I don’t travel, it’s likely that I’ll lose my €500 deposit for the hotel.
Dennis made a good point that the planes should start taking folk out a week before 26th, if indeed that’s the date after which the doubly vaccinated can travel without quarantine. I’ll just sit tight for a little while longer, I suppose 🤔
However, I feel so sad for the business owners, far more than me where it’s only a holiday. It’s been said on more than one fb site that they are desperately missing us Brits, even though there are other nationalities there now. Bars like the Agustera haven’t opened yet, as Koukounaries is largely holidayed in by the Brits. So, not only will the business owners be struggling, as they’ll still have to pay their leases/rents, but their staff will be unemployed, too. It will be desperate for some ☹️
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Post by balddave on Jul 5, 2021 15:37:07 GMT
If everything goes according to plan there should be a few of us on the island at the same time. It would be good to put a face to the name, so to speak. Our paths may cross at some point . first and foremost, I’m sure we’ll all be more than pleased to eventually be back in Skiathos, fingers crossed i
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Post by kevb on Jul 8, 2021 11:21:14 GMT
No self isolation for doubly vaccinated adults returning from amber listed destinations from July 19th. Children also exempt. Also the official govt 'advice' not to travel to amber listed countries will be dropped on same date which means your usual normal travel insurance should be all that's necessary. Testing and passenger locator forms will still be required as things stand.
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Post by katet on Jul 8, 2021 14:58:38 GMT
Fantastic news … should be there in 13 days, then! I’ve checked in this morning 😁
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Post by dennisn on Jul 8, 2021 15:43:55 GMT
Angela has told me today that TUI are going to inspect Villa Maria on Wednesday for the season opening 1st August for three months. So extending into October.
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