Lanzarote.
I'm from Europe mate
I just flew there and flew back
Meanwhile, for the self-inflicted pariah’s of Europe-
The biggest hassle this week was the passenger locator forms. Being as you could only do the Spanish (we came back via Valencia Wednesday. Jumped the metro and had a good 4 hours in the centre. 33 degrees!
) and UK ones within 48 hours of departure. So they had to be done on the go. (But at least you could start them and get so far before the deadline opened up so there was that.). The fear of entering some info wrong and getting knocked back or fined makes that really nervous madly.
So after having needed the negative antigen (or PCR) test to get in to Portugal (more on that in a minute. As we were away within the three day limit, that doubled as the negative test to come back into the UK so we saved on a test there), along with proof of being double vaxed and the Portuguese PLF, we breezed through security at all 4 airports. Only being asked for the proof of everything leaving L'pool Monday tea-time and entering Spain Wednesday. But then everything's logged on the relevant systems regardless I guess.
We had to show proof of the negative test/ NHS proof of being double vaxed, and photo ID to match, along with having our temperature checked, before we could get through the turnies at the ground but it was a quick process to be fair.
And then you had to do the Day 2 PCR test yesterday and get that dropped off for collection.
So it wasn't half as bad as anticipated getting through security at airports. But the hassle of doing all the forms and extra test expense is both a frustrating, if needed, chore and extra expense. (The antigen we did before departure was £29 and the Day 2 PCR £43. Which when you consider the boss £20 deal we got on all flights ..... ).
There was gutting scenes at Speke Monday like with a lot of poor folk being turned away at the gate and refused boarding as they'd misunderstood the info ..... Portugal have changed the rules so they now accept the NHS double vaxed proof in place of a negative test for entry.
BUT it didn't come into force until yesterday. Which wasn't reported and badly informed by both the Government site and the Echo story. So those turned away had presumed you didn't need a negative test within 48 hours of departure. And we're talking into double figures of people refused boarding. For a fully booked flight, there was a LOT of empty seats. Including a family just going on a normal holiday who were devoed as you could imagine. So that all wasn't good in the least. Particularly when they weren't trying to swerve the system. Just misunderstood the rules down to unclear info.
At least for Madrid (if they give us tickets. Looks promising as they are now back to full capacity), we'll only need the Day 2 test and the Spanish and UK PLF's to fill out as well as the NHS double vax. proof so there is that. Which, nothing changing dramatically between now and December excepted, should be the same for Milan.
So all told, it wasn't that bad an extra experience. Just a frustrating extra hassle that takes a lot of the fun out of travelling.
Oh, and thankfully things aren't anywhere near fully flowing again (Valencia in particular was deserted. Never moved as quickly through 4 security checks as Wednesday's flights home) so we didn't get any long queues anywhere down to now being a third Country. But hey, I did get my passi stamped for the first time in ages as I'm no longer a European citizen.
****** Brexit!!!!! Taking back
control and all that .....