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Messages - ostraco

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1
Plakias / Re: Ok, 2021, lets go !!
« on: August 12, 2021, 07:00:04 PM »
I'm hoping to be travelling out on Saturday Sept 4th.
I keep an eye on the news, and have waves of optimism and pessimism! Current thinking is to wait until August 25th, when I believe the next government update is expected.
We're flying from Gatwick - and will probably arrive there 5 or 6 hours before we're due to fly, instead of the usual 3 or 4. Usually there's time for a meal airside, but this year - who knows?
As for arrival in Crete - well, it will be a question of getting our Greek heads on, and going with the flow there.

Nothing arranged yet for testing: hoping changes on the 25th will make things easier. Fortunately, we are all 'double-jabbed'.

From posts I've seen on other sites, there's no problem with getting tests in Plakias before returning home.

2
Nice one Richard!

i noticed yesterday that the NHS app now has a section to show proof of your vaccine status if needed for travel. There is also an option to print a certificate. No indication which countries find this acceptable though!

3
That sounds hopeful Richard, and I'll happily pay 20 euros if that enables me to get my holiday in.
Perhaps the price is a reflection of how important tourism is to the local economy!

4
Plakias / Re: Last week of May - still very quiet
« on: May 26, 2021, 09:49:01 PM »
Sounds perfect Richard. Wish I was there.
 As a Cornish lad,  I did a lot of my growing up on the beach - and still cannot get used to sunbeds. I love to see Plakias Bay without those plastic monstrosities!

5
Good question Andrew.
To be honest, I've not given it a lot of thought to date - I have the attitude that I'll do what it takes to make it happen.
I am watching the news with interest, but the situation seems to be changing so quickly that I don't think there will be any real clarity for weeks.

Another point of concern is regarding how long the vaccine will be regarded as effective. I had my second jab in February - will I be fully protected in September?

6
Thanks for the detailed information. I'm watching with interest and concern!
I managed to get to Plakias in September last year: it was a great break after lockdown - even if we did have to leave the bars at midnight!

This year I'm hoping to visit again in September. We have flights booked (refunds or rebooking possible) and accommodation reserved (no-fee cancellation).

All we can do at this stage, I think, is to wait and hope. Being retired, I have no concerns about returning from an orange list country - I just hope Greece doesn't go red! I'm not prepared to pay ?1750 for 10 days in a UK airport hotel, plus test charges.

7
Plakias / Greek lockdown
« on: November 05, 2020, 07:23:38 PM »
I've just seen on another site that a lockdown has been announced for the whole of Greece, from 6am this Saturday (7th Nov).
This has an initial duration of three weeks.
Non essential retail closed.
Text messages required to request leaving home for essential shopping, work, doctor or exercise.
Travel between regions banned.
Senior schools will close -primary and nursery to remain open.

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/11/05/greece-records-2917-coronavirus-cases-on-eve-of-second-lockdown/

I wish everyone well. There were limited restrictions when we were in Plakias in September - remarkable to me how well this was supported by everyone. I'm so sorry further measures are necessary.

8
Plakias / Re: Still hoping to make it this year!
« on: September 01, 2020, 05:56:56 PM »
I feel I'm tempting fate by saying: we're due to arrive in the early hours of Sunday morning. Fingers tightly crossed.

Sunday night dinner will be at Elia in Selia - that's been a firm favourite for several years.

9
Plakias / Re: Plakias Far end, what's there now (summer 2020)?
« on: August 14, 2020, 01:30:16 PM »
All the advice is on the UK Government website. This includes links to the form as well as Greek government advice.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece/entry-requirements

We are planning to travel on Sept 5th, but have not done the form yet, as things seem to be changing quickly.

I have seen reports of people using the system with no problem - and other who have not completed the form being turned away from UK airports.

10
Plakias / Re: Still hoping to make it this year!
« on: July 15, 2020, 08:23:54 PM »
Copied from the 'Keep Talking Greece' website:

The first direct flight from UK landed at Ioannis Kapodistrias airport on the island of Corfu at 2 o’ clock Wednesday afternoon. To honor the first UK landing after the pandemic lockdown, two fire service vehicles formed a welcome water arch.

The only scheduled flight for Wednesday was from Birmingham with about 90 passengers on board. Two more flights from East Midlands and Machester are scheduled to land on Corfu on Thursday.

According to state-run news agency amna, the British tourists were tested on Covid-19 based on the risk indications obtained form the special barcode QR which they received after they completed the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before their check-in.

A total of 52 flights from UK onboard are scheduled to land at several airports Wednesday and Thursday, including Zakynthos, Crete, Rhodes and Athens.

It is estimated that COVID-19 tests will be carried out to 6,000 British tourists on Wednesday, reports daily ethnos, adding that the rate of positive tests will determine if the borders will remain open to UK. The same was reported by Alpha TV.

The daily notes that according to Greece’s plan almost all tourists arriving in Greece will be checked and if the number (and percentage) of those who are found positive is low, that is limited to less than 30-40 cases, the Greece will remain open to the UK’s tourism market.

“However, if things turn out differently and the confirmed cases are much higher, then the government is determined to close the border again, considering that the cost of the risk of coronavirus spread is far more important than any benefits from the tourism, in a year that is considered a a lost tourism year and with a fairly reduced turnover, ethnos reports.

11
Plakias / Re: Still hoping to make it this year!
« on: July 14, 2020, 10:29:39 AM »
I can't agree Richard. Levels of 'bad behaviour' post lockdown are much higher than usual for this time of year. To be fair, I think it's a reaction to the heavy restrictions and closures which were in place, and hope it will calm down over the next few weeks.

But living in an area which has had a very low rate of infection compared to the rest of the country, I do worry about what will happen when we get an influx of 'grockles'. I know we need holidaymakers to support the local economy. We need their cash in the south-west, but what else will they bring with them?

12
Plakias / Re: Still hoping to make it this year!
« on: July 12, 2020, 12:22:27 PM »
Sad but true Peter.
I live in Plymouth - local newspapers today report full beaches, drunks and stabbings in the street and a general deterioration of behaviour since lock down was eased. This is happening all over the country.
Foreign governments must be looking at what's going on in the UK and wondering if it's sensible to let Brits in. Whilst I would be very upset if this resulted in us being refused entry to Greece, I would certainly understand why!

13
Plakias / Re: Still hoping to make it this year!
« on: July 10, 2020, 10:54:19 AM »
Fingers still crossed here for early September. I'm fully stocked with masks, sanitiser and wipes.
I must admit though that I watch the UK news every night afraid that it's conditions here that will ultimately stop me from getting to Plakias this year.

15
Plakias / Re: October ?
« on: July 05, 2020, 04:49:56 PM »
I can understand you're keen to get something fixed for next year Daniel. Personally, I'll wait as I feel the travel industry is still in all sorts of turmoil, and maybe things will be better next year. I'm hoping fares will return to more realistic levels.

I just checked the Webcams - links at the top of the page. Seems to be very different from a normal July. I can't even see any sunbeds!


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