Greece this summer

xvril · 06-08-2020 6:20pm

You will be breathing the same air for four hours regardless so I wouldn't worry about being next to someone

VG31 · 06-08-2020 7:34pm

xvril wrote: »

You will be breathing the same air for four hours regardless so I wouldn't worry about being next to someone

This shows how safe flying is as long as everyone wears a mask.

Masks work by stopping most of the droplets which occur when people cough, sneeze or talk. They are better at protecting you from other people than vice versa, but if everybody wears a mask, the impact can be dramatic.

In one case, a man flew from China to Toronto and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

He had a dry cough and wore a mask on the flight yet all 25 people closest to him on the flight tested negative for Covid-19.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/masks-q-a-who-has-to-wear-them-in-shops-and-what-happens-if-you-don-t-1.4324060

acquiescefc · 07-08-2020 1:09am

xvril wrote: »

You will be breathing the same air for four hours regardless so I wouldn't worry about being next to someone

Then why is there not an epidemic amongst flight attendants?

I think you will find that the air is replenished every few minutes. The only danger is proximity and time spent next to someone with covid

Tenzor07 · 07-08-2020 9:19am

Just booked Corfu for next month. Should be a bit cooler hopefully...
Flight's around 3 hours so that's grand. Flights were €30 each way.
A few days in Corfu town to relax outdoors, restaurants without time-limits and a bar without a €9 toastie... Should be great!...

RubyK · 07-08-2020 10:27am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Just booked Corfu for next month. Should be a bit cooler hopefully...
Flight's around 3 hours so that's grand. Flights were €30 each way.
A few days in Corfu town to relax outdoors, restaurants without time-limits and a bar without a €9 toastie... Should be great!...

That's some bargain! Corfu town is lovely.

Great to see that Corfu and Mykonos have been added to Ryanair's routes. Lovely to see more Greek options available. I hope these routes will be kept on.

Tenzor07 · 07-08-2020 11:05am

RubyK wrote: »

That's some bargain! Corfu town is lovely.
Great to see that Corfu and Mykonos have been added to Ryanair's routes. Lovely to see more Greek options available. I hope these routes will be kept on.

Have a lovely apartment reserved right in the heart of the old town for less than €100 a night...

I wanted to go to Mykonos as the flight prices are roughly the same, however the price of accommodation around the main town is still quite high, though it's the 2nd most popular island next to Santorini I'd say...

xvril · 07-08-2020 12:09pm

There really are some bargains to be had. I'd near go back for a second summer holiday haha.

Tenzor07 · 07-08-2020 12:46pm

xvril wrote: »

There really are some bargains to be had. I'd near go back for a second summer holiday haha.

For sure, it's gonna be a long tough winter ahead so make the most of it while we all can...

jonnny68 · 07-08-2020 4:17pm

Unfortunately there appears to be a big spike in cases in Greece i wouldnt be suprised if the fcukers took it off the green list

Greece still lower than Ireland but up to 9.4, apparently this website is what they base their decision to remove countrys from this farcical green list

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea

mikekerry · 07-08-2020 5:05pm

You can be sure that's what their next aim is.

Tenzor07 · 07-08-2020 5:29pm

jonnny68 wrote: »

Unfortunately there appears to be a big spike in cases in Greece i wouldnt be suprised if the fcukers took it off the green list Greece still lower than Ireland but up to 9.4, apparently this website is what they base their decision to remove countrys from this farcical green list
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea

If you were to go by the magic Green list then Kildare, Laois and Offaly wouldn't be on it.
Even if a country isn't on it when you go, it could be on it before you come back.

So, just make your own best judgement, if your sole guide is the list then best not to travel anywhere.

xvril · 07-08-2020 7:47pm

Yeah they are getting the spike they were expecting when they welcomed tourists, nothing I would be concerned about if I was travelling.

xvril · 08-08-2020 11:27am

johnire wrote: »

I’ve no views one way or the other but by what you’ve said in your post you’ve just admitted that travel increases cases so surely that debunks the myth that travel isn’t an issue in spreading the virus?

I dont think I ever said that? If someone with the virus travels from A to B then of course there is a chance they could spread the virus. Greece test a lot of arrivals but of course some are going to slip through the cracks, its just about containment then. Greece has a larger population than us so they've done pretty well thus far.

Do I believe you are more likely to get it travelling to Greece than staying at home? No tbh. Id say you are more likely to get the virus here, my experience in Greece was they were very careful.

johnire · 08-08-2020 12:31pm

I’m sorry I just don’t understand the point you’re making.
You said the following-

they are getting the spike they were expecting when they welcomed tourists

So that had to mean the spike wouldn’t have occurred if they hadn’t welcomed tourists?
I’m not doubting that Greece hasn’t done well and I never said that by travelling to Greece I would catch the virus.

xvril wrote: »

I dont think I ever said that? If someone with the virus travels from A to B then of course there is a chance they could spread the virus. Greece test a lot of arrivals but of course some are going to slip through the cracks, its just about containment then. Greece has a larger population than us so they've done pretty well thus far.

Do I believe you are more likely to get it travelling to Greece than staying at home? No tbh. Id say you are more likely to get the virus here, my experience in Greece was they were very careful.

xvril · 08-08-2020 4:22pm

johnire wrote: »

I’m sorry I just don’t understand the point you’re making.
You said the following-

they are getting the spike they were expecting when they welcomed tourists

So that had to mean the spike wouldn’t have occurred if they hadn’t welcomed tourists?
I’m not doubting that Greece hasn’t done well and I never said that by travelling to Greece I would catch the virus.

I dont think it would have no. They were in a position to handle it and needed the tourism for their economy so they made that decision.

Every country is different.

In saying that, countries that did not welcome tourists are also getting spikes in case numbers.

So possibly its just all related to reopening, I don't actually know the answer I can only speculate.

jonnny68 · 09-08-2020 7:02pm

Tenzor07 wrote: »

If you were to go by the magic Green list then Kildare, Laois and Offaly wouldn't be on it.
Even if a country isn't on it when you go, it could be on it before you come back.

So, just make your own best judgement, if your sole guide is the list then best not to travel anywhere.

i understand but i believe they do base their decisions on the link i posted, io do want to go abroad but the thoiughts being in say Greece and while we are there it's taken off the list wouldnt be good, it's still lower than Ireland though they did have over 200 cases today.

ShineOn7 · 12-08-2020 2:40pm

I follow two Travel subs a bit on Reddit and this week someone was researching their Greece trip, but for "either September 2021 or September 2022", depending on how much Covid fcuks off

They asked "best Greek island?" and the top few answers all said Crete

I was expecting Santorini to come out on top as it looks next level beautiful. But Crete seems to tick more boxes among these seasoned travelers

Just thought I'd share

Tenzor07 · 13-08-2020 11:43am

ShineOn7 wrote: »

I follow two Travel subs a bit on Reddit and this week someone was researching their Greece trip, but for "either September 2021 or September 2022", depending on how much Covid fcuks off
They asked "best Greek island?" and the top few answers all said Crete
I was expecting Santorini to come out on top as it looks next level beautiful. But Crete seems to tick more boxes among these seasoned travelers
Just thought I'd share

Wow only a year or two to research a trip to Greece, hope it's enough time!

There's 227 inhabited Islands so each one of them offers something different, Crete is a big island so loads of variety and things to see. Santorini has the beauty of the town of Oia,

No big plan needed, fly into Athens, and Ferry hop all the way down to Crete and back up to Corfu, perfect...

GalwayBmw · 18-08-2020 11:33pm

Today in the airport we were let known that we need that form to be completed, we lost our flight over this. Re-booked for Thursday, the form is now completed pending bar code sending. Can anyone share their experience re processing times - are we supposed to get bar codes issued over night?

ShineOn7 · 18-08-2020 11:48pm

GalwayBmw wrote: »

Today in the airport we were let known that we need that form to be completed, we lost our flight over this.

That sounds messy

Did the airline/travel company not mention this in the confirmation email?

GalwayBmw · 19-08-2020 12:18am

It did not. All they said EU is not a union anymore - me must adhere to the rules of the country we're travelling to. I've booked non refundable hotel so it'd be a pain to lose it. If we won't get our application 'approved' we've no choice other than saying **** you greece we did nothing you to treat us this way.

Tenzor07 · 19-08-2020 9:25am

GalwayBmw wrote: »

Today in the airport we were let known that we need that form to be completed, we lost our flight over this. Re-booked for Thursday, the form is now completed pending bar code sending. Can anyone share their experience re processing times - are we supposed to get bar codes issued over night?

Filled out my form 24 hours before the flight, received the barcode later that day. Was asked at the check in if I had the form filled and to see the barcode.

Couldn't be easier...

Tenzor07 · 19-08-2020 9:28am

GalwayBmw wrote: »

It did not. All they said EU is not a union anymore - me must adhere to the rules of the country we're travelling to. I've booked non refundable hotel so it'd be a pain to lose it. If we won't get our application 'approved' we've no choice other than saying **** you greece we did nothing you to treat us this way.

You could have just filled out the form, it's been in use for months now, and i've read articles that said people were refused boarding on flights so not like it's a secret either?

acquiescefc · 19-08-2020 11:20am

Tenzor07 wrote: »

You could have just filled out the form, it's been in use for months now, and i've read articles that said people were refused boarding on flights so not like it's a secret either?

Exactly. You need to check the country requirements and this has been in place for a couple of months.

Cant blame Greece for actually having a screening/tracing function.

Waiting for the PLF barcode tonight and hopefully that storm to eff off.

GalwayBmw · 19-08-2020 11:44am

Filled out the form yesterday at 4PM - got confirmations instantly. So far no barcodes have been sent, they say they send them on the day of travel, also they said it's okay to use submission confirmation if the barcodes haven't received. Our flight is at 8AM tomorrow.

Tenzor07 · 19-08-2020 2:07pm

GalwayBmw wrote: »

Filled out the form yesterday at 4PM - got confirmations instantly. So far no barcodes have been sent, they say they send them on the day of travel, also they said it's okay to use submission confirmation if the barcodes haven't received. Our flight is at 8AM tomorrow.

You should have them just after midnight tonight so..

I sent off for my barcode for Belgium and got it fairly quick, the Greek system is just a little slower.

GalwayBmw · 19-08-2020 2:24pm

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Filled out my form 24 hours before the flight, received the barcode later that day. Was asked at the check in if I had the form filled and to see the barcode.

Couldn't be easier...

Are you sure you you did? Sending the QR on the same day as making the application defeats the purpose. They monitor the situation on a daily basis which is why they send it on the day of travel.

On travel.gov.gr it's said that they also accept e-submission confirmations - has anyone had experience using email confirmation in absence of QR code?

RubyK · 19-08-2020 2:31pm

From what I read online, you need to fill our the PLF 48 hrs in advance of travel to Greece, and you will receive the QR code at 10.00pm Irish time (midnight Greek time), the day before you fly.

Tenzor07 · 19-08-2020 5:10pm

GalwayBmw wrote: »

Are you sure you you did? Sending the QR on the same day as making the application defeats the purpose. They monitor the situation on a daily basis which is why they send it on the day of travel.
On travel.gov.gr it's said that they also accept e-submission confirmations - has anyone had experience using email confirmation in absence of QR code?

yea it was 48 hours before arrival but they cut that down to 24 hours cos of people travelling last minute..so i did it 24 hours before the flight and had the QR later that night...
The check in desk will check you have things in order...

I'm off to Belgium for the weekend, had the barcode within a few minutes! :-D

GalwayBmw · 19-08-2020 10:06pm

00:06 greek time - nothing's been received so far.

GalwayBmw · 19-08-2020 10:48pm

got them.

xvril · 20-08-2020 6:10pm

RyanAir emailed me letting me know I had to fill out the form, barcode was very quick and had no issues after that.

CBear1993 · 23-08-2020 8:25am

Which would boardsies choose: Mykonos or Santorini ?

Partner and I (both in mid 20s) booking a last minute trip as our large family holiday with parents etc was cancelled again for September.

Santorini looks beautiful to me but maybe not a lot happening?
Mykonos looks to have the nice beach front hotels but it’s expensive for accom too. Flights are good at the minute from Dublin

I’ve only read bits or comparisons last night. We are definitely not big partiers or drinkers but I don’t want to go somewhere totally dead either. Although I know with Covid there’s not much you can do!

CBear1993 · 23-08-2020 8:43am

Thanks.

Went to Madeira and Lisbon last year and Madeira was terrible island for us, full of pensioner age Brits and Germans, very very dead with zero atmosphere in the evenings in pubs, even in the centre. I’m not even talking about clubbing I just mean from 7-11pm!

Looking for a week of relaxation and good hotels with a bit of luxury, Mykonos seems to tick those boxes so far. Santorini also but maybe less activities to do? We’re both physically fit but Santorini looks to be quite hilly and known for hiking ...

CBear1993 · 23-08-2020 12:01pm

I hear you exactly, nope that is not what I’d be up for. Having seen man United’s £86m centre back Harry Maguire got arrested in Mykonos this week, my immediate worries were is it full of the Brit insta jet setters like Marbella!

Not looking for nightclubs either, but certainly a bit of a buzz around or nice atmosphere upto 11/12 at night.

Mykonos sounds more suited than Santorini by your description. Although I’m considering Crete too.

Thanks

ShineOn7 · 23-08-2020 12:04pm

Mickey; what would be your top 3 fav Greek islands?

All of what you described above (no clichéd Irish/Brits On Tour scenes) but with more infrastructure maybe, good transport links etc

MickeyLeari · 23-08-2020 12:35pm

Ferryhopper.com is good for island hopping. The ferries are really easy - can recommend Blue Star although a bit slower.

Robson99 · 23-08-2020 12:35pm

MickeyLeari wrote: »

Rhodes is very nice although need to be careful where one stays. .

In what way ? Accommodation wise or crowd wise ?

CBear1993 · 23-08-2020 12:37pm

MickeyLeari wrote: »

1. Naxos
2. Antiparos
3. = Spetses and Patmos

Rhodes is very nice although need to be careful where one stays. Probably a good option for September.

Rethimno in Crete is meant to be very nice. Good quality hotels, nice beach and a nice old town.

Thanks a lot for that MickeyL, Missus is mad to get to Mykonos so might have to compromise and spend a day in both Naxos and Antiparos, i looked up google maps and it appears its about 1hour30mins on a boat from Mykonos to both of those which isn't bad. Others are too far.

Any of you done Crete, no?

ShineOn7 · 23-08-2020 12:55pm

MickeyLeari wrote: »

Break it up with a Greek salad and calamari and happy days. 3.50 for a Mythos and 4 euro for a half litre of wine - happy days.

How are the prices on local food for a budget traveler looking to eat as healthy as possible Mickey?

notdarkyet · 23-08-2020 1:00pm

We spent a week each on Naxos and Santorini and preferred Naxos. We’ve also stayed at a resort on the mainland and loved it. Restaurant meals were generally around €10 so a meal for two with drinks was about €30.

Tenzor07 · 23-08-2020 7:27pm

Mykonos and Santorini, the number 1 and 2 Greek islands...

Very expensive for accommodation, even now!

As for Crete I think it has it all...

Take Your Pants Off · 07-09-2020 1:24pm

Hey guys,

Planning to go to Greece this month, since it’s the only attractive country for me which is on the green list And hasn’t closed they’re borders. Clubs and bars don’t really phase me, so I don’t really mind early night finishes. In my early 20’s, planning to head with my mates. We’re very into activities, beaches, sight seeing and the likes.

I was looking into Athens, for 5 nights I know that is more then enough but is there other destinations I should try to go for during that time?

As much as I’d love to go Santorini or Mykonos lol, it’s a bit outstretched for my budget, as that is something I’d want to do on a single trip on its own(I want to go Athens) so if there is nearby resorts/cities etc that anyone could recommend? Or even how I should plan my trip?

notdarkyet · 07-09-2020 2:17pm

Consider Glyfada, pretty much a suburb of Athens but with a beach

Tenzor07 · 07-09-2020 6:23pm

Take Your Pants Off wrote: »

Planning to go to Greece this month, since it’s the only attractive country for me which is on the green list And hasn’t closed they’re borders. Clubs and bars don’t really phase me, so I don’t really mind early night finishes. In my early 20’s, planning to head with my mates. We’re very into activities, beaches, sight seeing and the likes.I was looking into Athens, for 5 nights I know that is more then enough but is there other destinations I should try to go for during that time?As much as I’d love to go Santorini or Mykonos lol, it’s a bit outstretched for my budget, as that is something I’d want to do on a single trip on its own(I want to go Athens) so if there is nearby resorts/cities etc that anyone could recommend? Or even how I should plan my trip?

If you're going to Athen's then check out Vouliagmeni, it's full of beaches where all the city locals go on a day off etc. A few bars and restaurants around the beach too. It's not a cheap neighbourhood so expect to pay Irish prices...
Not sure how lively it is at this time of year, so if it were me i'd stay in Athens city centre where you'll find Speakeasy bars that stay open until 3am...

Taxi takes around 30 mins or so to the beach.
Stay in a hotel close to the Monastiraki district, it's the most historic part and close to the Metro for getting around cheaply and quick.

gussieg · 13-09-2020 4:14pm

what is poros like to stay?

Take Your Pants Off · 13-09-2020 11:20pm

So I have booked my tickets to Athens for this Friday, returning on Tuesday.
Apart from filling out that form, do I need to do a test beforehand ?

Tenzor07 · 14-09-2020 9:17am

Take Your Pants Off wrote: »

So I have booked my tickets to Athens for this Friday, returning on Tuesday.
Apart from filling out that form, do I need to do a test beforehand ?

No test before arrival but chances are there's a test when you do arrive..

CBear1993 · 21-09-2020 11:29am

Just back on friday from a great week in Mykonos.

I'll tell you something else, felt a lot safer in Mykonos airport than arriving into Dublin. It's tiny but their professionalism, attitude and enforcing of mask wearing etc was exemplary.

Great week and only had to wear masks while indoors in stores/shops on the island.

Didn't impact our holiday at all. Dublin airport is a disgrace on arrival and it would make you question the whole NPHET/government to be honest.

Tenzor07 · 21-09-2020 12:16pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

Didn't impact our holiday at all. Dublin airport is a disgrace on arrival and it would make you question the whole NPHET/government to be honest.

Not sure what the issue is with D.A, but of the 8 airports I've traveled to in the last 2 months it's probably the best... And certainly 10 times better than the 3 Greek airports I was in.

Greece this summer

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