It feels like forever since it was easy to jump on a plane and jet of on a last-minute holiday to “Gay Europe.” Or into the sun for a little bit of gay culture. Feeling like the old lady from the film the Titanic, when she delivers her iconic line, “it’s been 84 years…” well that’s how long it feels like since myself and I am sure many of you have waited to be able to enjoy a trip outside of the UK. It’s been 20 months since I was last a passenger on an aeroplane! OVER 560 DAYS!!
With all these government restrictions around the world and the UK’s ‘Traffic Light System’ of…
| RED | AMBER | GREEN |
…departure testing to get into other countries and several tests to just get back into the UK has made travel not only unaffordable for many LGBTQ people but also a lot of hassle. Not only is it the extra cost but most people don’t have 10 days to isolate. Which is needed if you are not double jabbed and arriving from an Amber list country. IT’S A NIGHTMARE!
Could Gay Europe Be Opening Up?
With the latest news from the UK government that from the 4th October 2021, the green and amber lists will be scrapped! YAY! And there will now only be a red list and a rest of the world list (ROW). The current Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement.
“from October 4th we will replace the traffic light system with a single red list of countries and simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world, depending on vaccination status.”
Grant Shapps – Secretary of State for Transport
So, What Does This Mean
If you are double jabbed (had both your COVID vaccines plus 14 days). From the 4th of October 2021, there is no need to do a pre-departure test before travelling to England. Saving you the hassle of having to find a testing provider in a country you are not familiar with. Also saving you a bit of money.
You still must currently do a day 2 PCR test. However, this will be changing to just a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) at the end of October. I managed to get a PCR test this week for just £28, It also includes shipping with Medical Experts. As soon as I made the payment, I was issued a reference number for my UK Passenger Locator Form. My PCR test arrived only 48 hours after and I found the whole process quite simple and easy. (Update: – Medical Experts also now offer £15 LFT for day two arrivals).
So Is Now A Cheap Time To Visit Gay Europe
Well, I think so. I have managed to book flights out of Manchester to Gran Canaria for just £14. This was the basic fare and didn’t include any hold luggage. I was allowed a small carry on, that had to fit under my seat. Who needs much more when jetting off to sunnier climates.
After Gran Canaria, I was also travelling to Torremolinos. Another popular gay destination. I booked flights from Gran Canaria to Malaga for only £5.50. Then my final flight back to Manchester from Malaga for £13. The total cost of all 3 flights was £32.50! You would struggle to get a train to London for that price.
Accommodation
Airfare isn’t the only cost, accommodation is also a big cost. Accommodation is normally a big chunk of any holiday. I always use booking.com and was surprised how cheap the hotels right next to the Yumbo Centre were. The Yumbo, for you that don’t know, is Gran Canaria’s gay mecca. Bars, clubs, cruising bars, shops and restaurants. Basically, the gay centre of Gran Canaria.
My 3-star hotel, situated by the Yumbo was a short walk from the beaches of Playa del Ingles. It was only £178 for 4 nights and it fitted up to 3 people. That is £14.83 per person per night if filling the apartment. The hotel was a typical Spanish apartment. Including a kitchen area, a double bed in the bedroom, a fold-out bed in the front room and a standard shower, toilet in the bathroom. This wasn’t the only property with excellent prices either. Around my hotel they had loads at similar prices, there was too much choice.
I didn’t have to worry about accommodation in Malaga as I was staying with friends. After looking on booking.com Torremolinos also had some amazing prices for your basic and mid-range hotels. A nice double room in the heart of Torremolinos could be had for £35 a night. That’s £17.50 for 2 sharing. Or one of the gay hotels. The Ritual was £58 per night, for 2 sharing The hotel includes a naked rooftop area, large pool, basement sauna & steam area and a gym.
Why Is Travel So Cheap At The Moment?
A mixture of reasons. For many airfares, airlines are putting on extra seats as they see travel restrictions ease up around Europe. However, passengers and tourists are still not 100% confident in travelling, meaning the airlines and holiday companies are left with extra seats on flights, and extra rooms at the hotels. Hotel rooms are there well regardless so any payment is better than an empty room and no payment. So we are seeing huge discounts on hotels/accommodation. These cheap flights and cheap accommodation rates won’t last forever. It is predicted that airlines and accommodation providers will have to increase tickets and rates, due to the huge losses they made during the start of the pandemic.
What About The Risks
There is always a risk when travelling but these risks are increased during the pandemic. Countries can add or change the status for arriving and/or departing tourists. There’s nothing that can be done about this, however, you can protect yourself in the way you book your holiday. Here is how;
1) Take Out Travel Insurance
We can’t stress this point enough! Even before COVID, we would always advise taking out travel insurance. The number of times I have used it for cancelled flights and medical bills has saved me £1000’s in the last 3 years alone. Some providers also offer a range of COVID protection for added security for your trip. Make sure you read the small print and all the terms and conditions to make sure you are covered and comfortable with the level of risk you are taking.
2) Book A Package Holiday
Personally, for myself, I prefer NOT booking a holiday as a package as I like to book the elements on their own and normally find it’s cheaper to do this. However, by booking a package holiday in the UK you are protected under the ‘Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018’, which protects you if your holiday can’t go ahead. A country goes on the red list or a flight is cancelled last minute. You’re protected and you can change your holiday or get a full refund.
3) Book Free Cancellation
If booking your hotels and flights separately, it’s worth paying a few pounds more by booking a free cancellation hotel with a booking site like booking.com. If you can’t travel for any reason or come down with COVID yourself you can quickly and easily cancel the hotel free. Without having to go through your insurance and pay any excess premiums.
4) Book With Airlines That Offer Free Date Changes
As above, if you’re booking your flights and hotels independently, make sure you pick an airline that offers you as much flexibility as possible. Most airlines are now allowing their customers to change their flights at short notice. easyJet is offering changes up to 2 hours before departure, free of charge. The only thing to remember is when booking the new flights, you will have to pay a difference in the airfare from your original booking to your new booking.
5) Credit Card Protection
Pay on a credit card, even if you only put £1 on the card and the rest on a debit card. The credit card is jointly liable if you need to make a claim if the airline or hotel goes bust. The cost of the transaction does normally have to be over £100. Martin Lewis gives more details here.
So Is Now The Best Time To Go?
Whilst no trip is ever risk-free, and therefore insurance is recommended. Europe is now starting to return to normal. During my time in Gran Canaria, they still had some COVID restrictions inside. Before deciding where to go, make sure the restrictions are not going to limit your holiday. If you are into your parties and dancing there is no point booking to go to a country that still has its bars closed early and prohibits dancing.
Flying Back To The UK & My Day 2 Tests?
Completing the Passenger Locator Form was easy. It must be completed before boarding your flight home, the gate staff will check your documents. I saw several passengers denied boarding for not having this completed or not ordering the day 2 tests. The UK passenger locator form can be completed up to 48 hours before travel and you must put your reference number for your day two test to be able to complete the form. (Click here for the form)
Going through Manchester Airport, I wasn’t asked to show any documentation when I landed, I only had to scan my passport at the e-gates. However, people have reported spot checks on their passenger locator forms, so have them ready.
The day after I returned I completed my day 2 PCR test with Medical Experts. Completed the activation on my account and followed the easy instructions. Popped my test kit in the pre-paid biohazard envelope and 72 hours later had my negative result back. It really was super easy.
Points To Take Away
- Try being as flexible as possible with your booking, research what countries have what restrictions.
- GET TRAVEL INSURANCE
- Make sure you pre-order your UK day 2 (and 8 if you need it) before leaving the UK, you will not be allowed to travel to the UK if you don’t have the reference number.
- Make sure you complete your PLF (Passenger Locator Form) before you arrive at the airport, most countries will not let you board the plane if it’s not completed.
- Finally… HAVE FUN, whilst travel is returning to more of a normality we still have a little way to go. Follow the above tips and hopefully you won’t encounter any problems.
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