Covid day 2 test only (fully vaccd amber arrivals)

[DefTrap]

Just seeking some info ..

Anyone had to do this recently? I'll be in the UK as of end of next week (hopefully) and natch' need a day 2 test. You need to reference a booked test on your 'passenger locator' form and submit it prior to travelling. There are a myriad of fantastically dodgy-sounding providers with varying price points or there's something you've heard of like Boots.

Any good or bad anecdotal advice? Who is good and who to avoid? My head says use Boots but if they're completely overrun and therefore useless I don't need this sort of bollocks in my life to spoil the relatively short amount of time I have available UK-side.

(Over here there are numerous labs anyway - you book and pitch up - they do the swab and the results almost beat you home. I'd prefer it to be efficient like that).

[Saga Lout]

Mrs S L came back from China in May. I booked her tests with Testing For All, which is (or was) listed on the .gov.uk website as an approved test and cost just over £100 for the two tests. The test kits were posted to my house and I sent them back as she completed them. the results were available two days later.

[Mussels]

Just seeking some info ..

Anyone had to do this recently? I'll be in the UK as of end of next week (hopefully) and natch' need a day 2 test. You need to reference a booked test on your 'passenger locator' form and submit it prior to travelling. There are a myriad of fantastically dodgy-sounding providers with varying price points or there's something you've heard of like Boots.

Any good or bad anecdotal advice? Who is good and who to avoid? My head says use Boots but if they're completely overrun and therefore useless I don't need this sort of bollocks in my life to spoil the relatively short amount of time I have available UK-side.

(Over here there are numerous labs anyway - you book and pitch up - they do the swab and the results almost beat you home. I'd prefer it to be efficient like that).

Good luck, the government has gone to the competitions watchdog asking them for an urgent review as it looks like there are loads of dodgy sellers.

[DefTrap]

Good luck, the government has gone to the competitions watchdog asking them for an urgent review as it looks like there are loads of dodgy sellers.

Puts system out to tender, runs away, realises it is crap. A metaphor for Boris.

The uk gov website currently list 423 'providers' - lots of them with hilarious '123' 'abc' prefix names to get themselves higher up the listings like cab companies of yesteryear.

I'll probably go with Saga's suggestion, doesn't look too iffy!

[Saga Lout]

I'll probably go with Saga's suggestion, doesn't look too iffy!

Make sure you have the receipt for the test handy, on your phone, preferably. Mrs S L was turned away from check in because I ordered the tests and she didn't have the receipt, even though the reference number for the tests was on the passenger locator form. One of Priti Patel's henchmen* assured me that they no longer demand to see the receipt but you never know.


* Priti Patel is my MP.

[r1flyguy]

Be very wary of certain test providers on the gov website.

I ordered my kit with assurances they would arrive in time for me first test day, they never did!!!! I called them, continued engaged tone, no answerphone,
I reported this to the NHS who promptly sent out a spare kit as i was under a 10 day house arrest
Suffice to say i received the kit i paid for 6 days late and they never once answered the phone. I reported the company to the NHS on one of their links to provide feedback.


I’m just preparing myself to head back to Hong Kong where I will need to quarantine in a government approved hotel for 3 weeks even though I'm fully vaccinated (in HKG) Soooooooooo not looking forward to it.

[slowsider]

I’m just preparing myself to head back to Hong Kong where I will need to quarantine in a government approved hotel for 3 weeks even though I'm fully vaccinated (in HKG) Soooooooooo not looking forward to it.

you could always protest.

[DefTrap]

And now - every - news story I read seems to be about testing cockups and has pictures of collection point 'bins' overflowing into the street with uncollected test swabs.

What exactly are you meant to do if your day 2 test isn't processed efficiently? Carry on regardless?

[cheb]

Whine about your [s]holiday[/s] essential foreign travel being disrupted?

[gremlin]

Well, I'm off to Santorini on Saturday, so I'm throwing myself at the mercy of some shyster testing companies to get me there and back.....

[gremlin]

Just my findings:

Greece allows fully vaccinated people in. Exempt if you're under 12, so Gremlinette had to have test prior to flying. Cost - £39.

Had to fill in a Greek passenger locatior form before flying. It was checked, along with the fit to fly certificate and our vaccination status on the NHS app, at Gatwick by Easyjet staff, but not on arrival. Spot testing was taking place, but we swerved that. The couple chosen 'at random' were SE Asian. Coincidence? They didn't think so and it proper kicked off.

Had to book three 'fit to fly' tests for 48 hours prior to departure back to the UK. This was done via a video call, though the person on the other end clearly couldn't see all three if us, but we uploaded the image of each test and passport and the certificates come though 10 minutes later. These weren't checked at check in. That debacle cost c £100.
There was a pharmacy not far from where we were staying doing them for Eur 20 each.

The only issue we had was that one restaurant could only seat us 'inside', even though it was all open plan, and as the kid didn't have a test certificate less than 48 hours old, they wouldn't serve us inside.

On arrival at Gatwick, the queues were a little busier, no social distancing whatsoever, and neither the PLF or test results were checked at passport control, she simply asked if we'd done it. In order to complete the UK PLF you need a 'Day 2' test booking reference no. and these PCR kits have just been delivered. They cost £144 for three.

Seems to be a lot of hoops to jump through, at considerable expense, for little verification.

[Saga Lout]

Seems to be a lot of hoops to jump through, at considerable expense, for little verification.

Get used to it. I fear it's going to continue way longer than it needs to.

[gremlin]

Hoping that Italy rethink their five day quarantine rule soon, as our annual pilgrimage on two wheels is pencilled in for October half term. Overpriced, pointless testing I can grudgingly tolerate, but five days in a hotel room, not going anywhere, kinda kills gig before it starts.

[DefTrap]

Telling for me, on the ferry over only two cars were French regd, one of which was mine. Foreigners clearly can't be arsed with the paperwork coming in to the UK. It's cost me over 200 quid extra so far in tests. My folks will probably cancel their holiday abroad next month, it's really too much hassle for senior citizens.

Next time I'm starting in a dinghy at Calais and waiting for the Farage taxi.

[DefTrap]

Oh by the way saga's testingforall is a good shout, arrived as promised and straightforward, you put them in a proper postbox for return rather than one of those shoddy pickup bins.

[Supermofo]

All of that ballache is why I've holidayed in Blighty again this year. I do miss abroad but had 4 good nights in Minehead and 5 in Torquay. Had a cracking meal in a fish restaurant in Brixham tonight washed down with a bottle of prosecco whilst looking out over the harbour as the sun went down.

Would have been better off if it stayed above 20c after the sun went down but that's blighty I guess.

Hoping all the testing stuff will be gone by next year but bet not

[Dodgy69]

I've got a week in Brixham from September 25, any good.? I believe there's a nice coastal walk to Paignton. I like to do some walking them sit outside a pub and watch things, the wife will probably stay nearer base and read a book. Perfect.

[Supermofo]

I've got a week in Brixham from September 25, any good.? I believe there's a nice coastal walk to Paignton. I like to do some walking them sit outside a pub and watch things, the wife will probably stay nearer base and read a book. Perfect.

Only did the day there (11am Ferry from Torquay and bus about 8.30pm back) and I have a 9 and 7 year old but we had a nice day. We had to book the restaurant about 4 days before as places are very busy round here at the moment but that should be ok late Sep. I really liked Brixham, not very big but nice place to sit and soak up the harbour atmos.

Looked like there is a coastal path to Berry Head where you can see porpoises and dolphin. We've seen a few seals since we've been here. There were signs to a WW2 artillery place as well.

There are ferry trips to Torquay, Teignmouth and Dartmouth, steam trains and coastal walks by the look of it. We did a lot of sightseeing in Minehead so this week has mainly been about entertaining the kids ie did an hour and a bits crabbing in Brixham.

[Horse]

Testing For All, which is (or was) listed on the .gov.uk website as an approved test and cost just over £100 for the two tests. The test kits were posted to my house and I sent them back as she completed them. the results were available two days later.

Used them (from your recommendation) for day 2 LF tests.

Good service, thanks SL!