25 Aug 2021 11:24
T.o.m wrote: TheConductor wrote: You need to double-check the specific countries entry requirements, but expect your NHS vaccination certificate (via the app) and a negative PCR test within 72/58 hours prior to flying will be the requirement.
Has anyone been to Portugal recently?
I flew out Friday from UK, did a lat flow anti gen test (not PCR) at home as that's the minimum that's required to enter. Was £28 from chromatics. Came in the post 2 full days before flying, although original shipping date was supposed to have come a day earlier. I booked an anti gen at a Boots in store as a back up in case it didn't turn up as it's free cancellation there but twice the price plus hassle of going to the nearest branch that does the tests.
The anti gen test you log on the chromatics website to get your pdf certificate.
Flying back Friday. Booked the return anti gen test for Weds at a Unilabs pharmacy today no probs, €25. National chain, plenty of availability in Porto.
Then to return to UK have to fill out a passenger locator form and have day 2 PCR home test booked as have had both jabs. Not been a bad experience overall so far. Testing all in going to be £100.
Nice one! I'm just looking to go for 3 nights in Porto, but testing seems a bit of a faff. So you have to do one in Portugal before you come back as well?
swede
10510 posts since 21/3/09
posted 25 Aug 2021 12:50, edited 25 Aug 2021 12:50
TheConductor wrote: Nice one! I'm just looking to go for 3 nights in Porto, but testing seems a bit of a faff. So you have to do one in Portugal before you come back as well?
you can just bring a special kit with you (e.g QURED). You then facetime them and they watch you swab your nose and do the lat flow test. they then send you a pdf certificate prior to your flight. pretty easy tbh
Dee
12199 posts since 22/11/07
25 Aug 2021 12:57
don't forget the passenger locator forms, complete ball ache. We were denied boarding last week.
swede
10510 posts since 21/3/09
25 Aug 2021 13:04
you not bother with the forms then?
posted 25 Aug 2021 15:14, edited 25 Aug 2021 15:14
I bought the spare test they recommend in case of an inconclusive result (nice upsell/scam).
Anyway, once I got my negative result, and with the spare one now worthless out of curiosity I checked what would happen if I dropped the liquid sample onto the test without actually doing a swab. It came back negative.
25 Aug 2021 15:18
T.o.m wrote: TheConductor wrote: Nice one! I'm just looking to go for 3 nights in Porto, but testing seems a bit of a faff. So you have to do one in Portugal before you come back as well?
Yeah you have to before returning to UK as Portugal is an Amber country at the moment.
Before leaving the UK you could order and take one of the chromatics (or similar) tests with you to use for your return test as that would be valid, save having to go into a Unilabs branch as you're not in Porto long, although everything seems to be within a 20 minute walk here.
Also, before entering Portugal you have to do their passenger locator form.
Food here has been amazing and bonus is the airplane was only a third full
Cheers for the advice and everyone else for chipping in. Think I'll still go for that short amount of time as really want a quick break.
Any recommendations for food and that good natty wine in Porto would be greatly appreciated!
25 Aug 2021 15:23
abagnale wrote: I dropped the liquid sample onto the test without actually doing a swab. It came back negative.
What did you think would happen?
swede
10510 posts since 21/3/09
posted 25 Aug 2021 15:50, edited 25 Aug 2021 15:50
abagnale wrote: I was 99% sure it would come back negative. But given there's zero verification I was kind of hoping they had some science to make it come back inconclusive. Turns out I gave them far more credit than they deserve.
the "control" bar won't have appeared (C in the below pic). meaning inconclusive test
25 Aug 2021 16:29
abagnale wrote: I was kind of hoping they had some science to make it come back inconclusive. Turns out I gave them far more credit than they deserve.
Ah, I didn't realise there was an inconclusive option. Apologies.
swede
10510 posts since 21/3/09
25 Aug 2021 16:57
interesting. shouldnt be happening
T.o.m
1193 posts since 4/7/03
25 Aug 2021 22:56
As mentioned before, the home anti-gen test I did is open to abuse as all you have to do is log the indicator serial number when you start the process and then send a photo of the negative result on the matching indicator, could easily be photoshopped or have someone else take the test, and then you could always alter the pdf report to show a negative result too.
But then again who would travel if they did test positive, that's a pretty cuntish thing to do, knowing you'll be spreading it about on the plane when you should be isolating.
The home test was like pushing a cotton bud around your nose, no bother, whereas the in branch test I had today the nurse proper shoved a thin flexible brush up my nose and twirled it around which was a shock.
Dee
12199 posts since 22/11/07
posted 26 Aug 2021 03:28, edited 26 Aug 2021 03:28
T.o.m
1193 posts since 4/7/03
posted 26 Aug 2021 14:07, edited 26 Aug 2021 14:07
Yeah, I can understand people's differing working situations, but if positive you'll have to stay indoors when back to the UK, in which case someone who does WFH could be able to still WFH while abroad. If your job is that important, making contingency plans (take laptop or tablet)for if you get stuck abroad should be part of your holiday plans?
I got Covid travel insurance at £20 to cover any unexpected overstays.
