Safe Holidays Explained

Holidays for UK travellers are welcome NOW and straightforward enough by following the guidelines. At Going Luxury we have compiled an easy reference guide to help you all get that getaway you deserve.

Travel to different destinations will vary. You will need to check the specific requirements for your destination prior to travel.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Lots of destinations welcome fully vaccinated travellers. Un-vaccinated travellers may well require a negative test to travel. These tests can be easily booked at most UK airports prior to travel with results sent to you from within 30 minutes. We recommend Express Test Fit to Fly Tests.

Costs incurred: £0-£70pp.

What if I fail my test? You go home and isolate for 10 days. You will need to claim on your travel insurance for holiday costs lost so make sure you are covered from the day you book the holiday. Contact us prior to your travel ASAP so that we can administer necessary cancellation invoices.

RETURN TO UK REQUIREMENTS
Test pre-return travel:
On your return, a negative test must be taken in the 3 days (72 hours) before you depart to the UK. You will be required to show your test results before you board the return flight home.

The test must meet the performance standards of above 97% specificity and above 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies\ml. The test can be a PCR test, a LAMP test or an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device as long as they meet the performance standards

Your test result can be provided as:
Printed document.
An email or text message you can show on your phone – make sure your device is charged!
Children under the age of 11 are exempt from this testing prior to returning back to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Most of our hotels offer this service on location, those that don’t will help with securing the necessary tests at local depots. Remember, we are always at hand for you here in the UK too!

Costs incurred: £25-£80pp in resort.

What if I fail my test? You must isolate for 10 days. We will reschedule your flight home for you.

Test on return:
You will also be required to take a test on your return back to the United Kingdom.

Children, under the age of 4 will be exempt from any testing on return to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Children under the age of 5 will be exempt from testing on return to Scotland.

Green List Country Protocol
If you are arriving into the United Kingdom from a country that is on the green list then you will be required to undergo a further COVID-19 PCR test at your own expense on or before day 2 of your return into the country. You must ensure that this test is booked before returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. You may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form. This need to be completed and submitted before your departure home.

Should you be arriving into Northern Ireland from either Portugal, Israel or Singapore you will also be asked to take an additional free PCR test on Day 8.

Amber List Country Protocol
Not fully vaccinated passengers: If you are arriving into the United Kingdom from a country that is on the Amber List, then alongside your self-isolation period at home, you will be required to undergo 2 private COVID-19 PCR tests on your return into the country, unless you are fully vaccinated. These tests will need to be taken on or before day 2 and on day 8 of your 10 day isolation period. You may also able to take advantage of the test to release scheme which will allow for a PCR test to be taken on day 5 to release you from isolation. You must ensure that your 2 tests are booked before returning to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. You may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form. This needs to be completed and submitted before your departure home.

Fully vaccinated passengers: If you are fully vaccinated with at least 14 days since your last dose and are able to provide proof of this through a vaccination certificate, then you will be not be required to self-isolate on your return to England, Scotland or Wales. You will be required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test at your own expense on or before day 2 of your return, however the test on day 8 will not be needed. You must ensure that your test is booked before returning as you may need to place the confirmation reference number on your Passenger Locator Form which needs to be submitted before your departure home. This guidance is currently only applicable for customers returning to England, Scotland and Wales. Customers returning to Northern Ireland should follow the original advice above.

Costs incurred: £35-£140pp.

What if I fail my test? You go home and isolate for 10 days.

Children under 18 do not need to follow quarantine requirements.

This article was written on and from the perspective of 9th August 2021.