Author Topic: Travel to Greece  (Read 65301 times)

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Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #25 on: Friday, 17 April, 2020 @ 00:14:39 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary

Updated:    16 April 2020
Latest update:    Updated advice for those wishing to return to the UK ('Coronavirus' and 'Return to the UK' pages)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

Coronavirus / Return to the UK

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #26 on: Monday, 11 May, 2020 @ 02:47:05 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece


Summary

Updated:    11 May 2020
Latest update:    Updated information on measures relating to coronavirus. See 'Summary' and 'Return to UK' pages.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

Summary / Return to the UK
« Last Edit: Monday, 11 May, 2020 @ 02:48:52 by Maik »

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #27 on: Friday, 15 May, 2020 @ 20:22:41 »
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Flight bans extended for seven countries

Greek authorities on Friday announced they were extending a ban on passenger flights to and from Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands until May 31.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/252719/article/ekathimerini/news/flight-bans-extended-for-seven-countries

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #28 on: Monday, 18 May, 2020 @ 03:03:29 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary

Updated:    17 May 2020
Latest update:    Updated information on local measures relating to coronavirus. ('Return to UK' and 'Staying during coronavirus' pages)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece


Return to the UK / Staying during coronavirus

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #29 on: Tuesday, 19 May, 2020 @ 16:14:18 »
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Greece Extends 14-day Quarantine for all Int’l Arrivals by Air

Greece is extending the 14-day self-quarantine required for anyone crossing its borders by air until the end of May, according to a notice to airmen (NOTAM) announced by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Monday.

According to the NOTAM, the measure of mandatory 14-day quarantine for passengers (of all nationalities) arriving to Greece by air, from all international destinations, has been extended until Sunday, May 31, at 23:59.
https://news.gtp.gr/2020/05/18/greece-extends-14-day-quarantine-all-arrivals-air

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #30 on: Wednesday, 20 May, 2020 @ 20:32:36 »
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Greece says no coronavirus tests, no quarantine for tourists this summer

Tourists will be allowed to enter Greece without taking a coronavirus test or remaining in quarantine when international flights restart on July 1, but health officials will conduct spot tests when required, Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis said on Wednesday.

Flights will initially only land in Athens’ International Airport when services resume on June 15 but will eventually extend to all the airports as of July 1, he said.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/252875/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-says-no-coronavirus-tests-no-quarantine-for-tourists-this-summer

Offline TonyD

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #31 on: Wednesday, 20 May, 2020 @ 21:00:45 »
🎵What a difference a day makes🎵

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #32 on: Thursday, 21 May, 2020 @ 01:24:16 »
Well, it seems as though there's some confusion but I did see Haris Theoharis, Greek tourism minister, interviewed on ITV and he did say Brits need not apply. At least, he didn't think the UK's coronavirus record would be good enough by 01 July. Report and video clip of interview on itv.com/news.

And even if Brits are allowed to holiday in Greece in the near future, the "air bridges" allowing Brits to travel abroad and not quarantine on return to UK appears to be fantasy, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #33 on: Thursday, 21 May, 2020 @ 01:37:57 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Updated:     20 May 2020
Latest update:    Addition of information and advice on financial support (‘Staying during coronavirus’ page)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece


Staying during coronavirus

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #34 on: Monday, 25 May, 2020 @ 02:20:02 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary

Updated:    24 May 2020
Latest update:    Update to local coronavirus-related measures. British nationals arriving in Greece will be tested for coronavirus on arrival, and required to go into 14 days’ self-isolation. (‘Summary', 'Return to the UK', 'Staying during coronavirus’ and 'Entry requirements' pages)

Everyone arriving in Greece from abroad must go into 14 days’ self-isolation. See Entry requirements for more information.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece


Return to the UK / Staying during coronavirus / Entry requirements

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #35 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 02:20:22 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary

Updated:    31 May 2020
Latest update:    Update to local coronavirus-related measures. ('Return to the UK' and 'Staying during coronavirus’ pages)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece


Return to the UK / Staying during coronavirus


Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #36 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 03:11:03 »
Now seems that it all depends on which UK airport you fly to Greece from. Quotes are from an article in The Guardian:

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Greece to resume flights from UK on 15 June with strict rules

Greece has announced it is ready to “welcome the world”, and that it will resume flights to the country’s two major airports as of mid-June, including from the UK.

Seeking to clarify a previous announcement, the centre-right government said all air links with Athens and Thessaloniki, the northern capital, will be reinstated from 15 June “in a bridge phase” before direct flights to mainland and island destinations restart on 1 July.

The rules, however, will be strict. Passengers flying in from airports deemed by the EU’s aviation safety agency (EASA) to be in areas with “high risk of transmission of Covid-19” will be required to stay overnight in a designated hotel for testing. “If the test is negative then the passenger self-quarantines for seven days,” said a statement released by the Greek foreign ministry at the weekend. “If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days.”

Those found to not have the highly contagious virus could continue their journey and self-isolate wherever they were headed, but people who tested positive would be monitored by doctors in a hotel both paid for and appointed by the government, officials said.

OK, so that's if you fly from an airport deemed to be in an area with a high risk of transmission of Covid-19. If you can find a UK airport not in an area with high risk of transmission of Covid-19 and that's flying to your part of Greece, then:

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“If your travel originated from an airport not in the EASA affected-area list, then you are only subject to random tests upon arrival,” the statement said.

The two-tier system will end and only spot checks will be conducted once direct international flights resume in July.

Way that reads to me: you can live and work in an area with a high risk of transmission of Covid-19 but if you fly from an airport not on the Greek blacklist then, hey, you might just get randomly tested upon arrival, or you might not. Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester are among ten UK airports on the blacklist, no idea what the others are or if there are actually any UK airports not on the list. Also reads to me as though, from 01 July, it's open season. Hmmmmmmm.........

Offline HiFi

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #37 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 06:06:37 »
I don't think Cardiff or Bournemouth were on the blacklist? I think it's badly worded, as of course there are no direct flights in June to Greece from the UK?

Offline Jolly Roger

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #38 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 07:55:53 »
I don't think Cardiff or Bournemouth were on the blacklist? I think it's badly worded, as of course there are no direct flights in June to Greece from the UK?

Aegean are flying Heathrow to Athens through June.

Offline HiFi

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #39 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 09:07:13 »
Well they're not cancelled yet...let's put it that way......

Offline TonyD

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #40 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 09:18:51 »
Inconvenient rather than insurmountable

Heathrow > Frankfurt > Athens > Kef
Or
UK to Ireland on your UK passport, then Ireland to Greece on your Irish passport

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #41 on: Monday, 01 June, 2020 @ 16:40:33 »
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It has now been confirmed that Greece will also accept arrivals from airports deemed high-risk by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which includes British airports, but that they will be subject to testing and possible quarantine.

Tourism minister Harry Theoharis told the ANA-MPA news agency: “Tourists originating from airports listed on EASA are obliged to be tested once they land in Greece and remain at a designated hotel for one day. If the test turns out negative, these visitors will then be obliged to observe a seven-day quarantine. If their sample is positive, they will remain in a 14-day quarantine and their health will be monitored."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/01/travel-restrictions-greece-will-allow-return-british-tourists/

Hm, slightly different to what I understood. Now seems you'll be able to fly from Heathrow / Gatwick / Manchester, etc, but have to spend a week in quarantine (plus one day mandatory for all new arrivals) if the test results say you don't have Covid-19, or two weeks (+ 1 day?) if the test results are positive.

And, so far, still two weeks quarantine upon return to the UK.

Can't see Greece getting many UK visitors as things stand  :dunno:

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #42 on: Thursday, 04 June, 2020 @ 20:16:41 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary

Updated:    4 June 2020
Latest update:    Updated information on testing of coronavirus and self-isolation when entering Greece ('Summary' and 'Entry requirement' pages) and updated information on reopening some hotels ('Staying during coronavirus' page)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

Summary / Entry requirements / Staying during coronavirus


Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #43 on: Monday, 08 June, 2020 @ 16:57:11 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary

Updated:    8 June 2020
Latest update:    New information on rules for entering the UK from 8 June. ('Return to the UK' page)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

Return to the UK

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #44 on: Saturday, 13 June, 2020 @ 05:17:50 »
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UK travellers unable to fly to Greece as country reopens
Ban on air travel between Britain and Greece to continue until June 30, unlike other countries

It was meant to be the moment when Greece “welcomed the world”. But in another about-turn, travellers on flights from the UK will not be accepted when the Mediterranean country reopens to tourism on Monday.

Bowing to new advice from the EU, Athens announced on Friday that the suspension of air links with Britain, in effect since March, will continue to be enforced until 30 June.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/12/uk-travellers-unable-to-fly-to-greece-as-country-reopens

Offline Karavados

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #45 on: Monday, 15 June, 2020 @ 16:05:56 »


  “These were EU recommendations, we had to go along with them,” said a senior government source.

Well , if that's true, at least it's ( still ) very clear who runs Greece.


But maybe that's just a convenient excuse to hide the … No Brits, thanks all the same, just mail your holiday money to us instead !

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #46 on: Friday, 19 June, 2020 @ 11:55:53 »
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Everything you need to know about visiting Greece this summer
Is Greek island hopping back on the cards?

As tentative signs start to emerge of a revival for the travel industry, our minds are turning to potential holiday destinations for this summer.

With sun, sea and dolmades, Greece has long been a popular travel destination for Britons in need of some vitamin D.

But can British holidaymakers get there? And will we even be welcome?

Here’s everything you need to know.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/greece-holidays-athens-greek-islands-santorini-flights-summer-quarantine-a9573781.html

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #47 on: Monday, 22 June, 2020 @ 19:37:19 »
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Foreign travel advice
Greece

Summary


Updated:    22 June 2020
Latest update:    Updated information about testing for coronavirus and requirement to go into self-isolation when entering Greece ('Summary' and 'Entry requirement' pages) and re-opening of hotels and AirBnB accommodation ('Staying during coronavirus' page)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

Summary / Entry requirements / Staying during coronavirus

Offline Maik

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #48 on: Sunday, 28 June, 2020 @ 12:13:33 »
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Simon Calder’s guide to overseas summer holidays in 2020

On 6 July, 111 days after the Foreign Office warned against foreign travel, British holidaymakers will once again be able to go abroad.

For millions of travellers, the brakes will be off – and many countries are eager to welcome UK holidaymakers, despite the relatively high prevalence of Covid-19.

Countries deemed by the Joint Biosecurity Centre to be handling the pandemic well, with low and declining rates of infection, will be given either amber or green status.

This status will allow returning travellers, and inbound tourists to the UK, to avoid the need to self-isolate for 14 days.

Amber status indicates nations where there is some risk of quarantine being re-introduced in the event of a rise in Covid-19 cases.

“Green” countries are those where the rates are so low that renewed quarantine status is highly unlikely.

The FCO will simultaneously lift its warning to the chosen nations.

The list of favoured countries will be revealed by Wednesday, 1 July.

While travel to Greece will also be given the go-ahead, the nation’s tourism minister has indicated that British visitors may not immediately be welcome.
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/coronavirus-summer-holiday-uk-quarantine-flights-full-guide-a9589466.html

Article goes on to mention that flying - and airports - may not be the usual pleasant(?) experience.


Edit: See also:

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Welcome to Greece!

    Beginning July 1, 2020, the Greek government has determined how the country will welcome travellers, carry out the necessary diagnostic screening and keep everyone safe throughout the season.

    The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is a key element in the planning. All travellers are obliged to complete their PLF at least 48 hours before entering the country, providing detailed information on their point of departure, the duration of previous stays in other countries, and the address of your stay while in Greece.
https://travel.gov.gr/
« Last Edit: Sunday, 28 June, 2020 @ 12:17:30 by Maik »

Offline johnt7959

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Re: Travel to Greece
« Reply #49 on: Monday, 29 June, 2020 @ 08:36:11 »
The website for the PLF form seems to show a blank screen. Has anyone else succeeded in downloading the form?