EU promises “We will have a summer tourist season” [for travellers from Europe]
Jun 14, 2020, 2:43 pm
#721
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Re Poland, I maybe spoke too soon? I can't find the source I saw before. But. It says to "EU citizens". UK citizens are for all intents and purposes, still EU citizens.
I see nothing on the Polish Embassy UK Facebook page or their embassy site.
If anyone finds anything official on that, feel free to share...I will keep hunting.
I see nothing on the Polish Embassy UK Facebook page or their embassy site.
If anyone finds anything official on that, feel free to share...I will keep hunting.
Last edited by Dan1113; Jun 14, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Jun 14, 2020, 2:46 pm
#722
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
That is a huge loophole! Solution is to fly to Croatia or Albania and cross from there!
Seen some of your posts regards Scotland and its low rate, I agree. However I think for countries to exempt Scotland but not the rest of the UK is as similarly unworkable as Czechia exempting all of Poland bar 1 province. How on earth does a country police this? It is almost like they expect their border forces to be mind reading magicians or something with all these silly rules, restrictions etc. Best thing to do is just exempt everyone and have increased health checks on arrival! Good old Turkey and Serbia leading the way on this.
Seen some of your posts regards Scotland and its low rate, I agree. However I think for countries to exempt Scotland but not the rest of the UK is as similarly unworkable as Czechia exempting all of Poland bar 1 province. How on earth does a country police this? It is almost like they expect their border forces to be mind reading magicians or something with all these silly rules, restrictions etc. Best thing to do is just exempt everyone and have increased health checks on arrival! Good old Turkey and Serbia leading the way on this.
Jun 14, 2020, 2:52 pm
#723
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
There may be some key the police uses to determine where to check, but I have no idea what it is. When I encountered spot checks, they were directly at the border or wherever the abandonded border facility from pre-Schengen times was, e.g. coming from Slovakia using D2 highway, it was maybe 5 km into Czechia (but before the first exit in CZ, so essentialy anyone who arrived there arrived from abroad). I don't think there is any kind of internal checks.
It applies since train services were resumed (I think it was two or three weeks ago). I never head of any check actually being performed on a train. Such check would be done on the train on Czech territory (maybe in the border section between Bad Schandau and Decin). Pre-check in Germany would not work for variety of reasons (I can hardly imagine Czech police in Berlin preventing people from boarding a train towards Dresden).
Under current rules (which expire today), residency could be proven either by a formal residency document or by two supporting documents proving some links to the country, such as EHIC, lease agreement, job contract, etc. I have no idea whether this also applies from tomorrow.
The whole thing is super-confusing and unfortunatelly reading the legal document raises even more questions than it answers. However, one thing is relatively clear to me and that is that only residents of green countries will be admitted to Czechia. The document does not list any exception for residents of orange countries.
In any case, I would not recommend trying to sneak into the country, it can have all kinds of bad consequences and you don't want to be put into Schengen Information System as persona nongrata by a member state, especially on the basis of illegal border crossing. This could significantly complicate your future travels into the EU. If you really want to visit Czechia, I recommend that you get tested and then you can enter without any problems.
It applies since train services were resumed (I think it was two or three weeks ago). I never head of any check actually being performed on a train. Such check would be done on the train on Czech territory (maybe in the border section between Bad Schandau and Decin). Pre-check in Germany would not work for variety of reasons (I can hardly imagine Czech police in Berlin preventing people from boarding a train towards Dresden).
Under current rules (which expire today), residency could be proven either by a formal residency document or by two supporting documents proving some links to the country, such as EHIC, lease agreement, job contract, etc. I have no idea whether this also applies from tomorrow.
The whole thing is super-confusing and unfortunatelly reading the legal document raises even more questions than it answers. However, one thing is relatively clear to me and that is that only residents of green countries will be admitted to Czechia. The document does not list any exception for residents of orange countries.
In any case, I would not recommend trying to sneak into the country, it can have all kinds of bad consequences and you don't want to be put into Schengen Information System as persona nongrata by a member state, especially on the basis of illegal border crossing. This could significantly complicate your future travels into the EU. If you really want to visit Czechia, I recommend that you get tested and then you can enter without any problems.
I would have no issues with betting a test but if you look at some of the pages, it says foreigners from orange/red countries can only enter with a test and for business and other purposes (not tourism), so based on those texts, it wouldn't do me much good anyway to pay 200 euro in Germany for that!
Jun 14, 2020, 2:57 pm
#724
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Got it. 
Poland’s borders reopen for EU citizens on 13 June. EU citizens entering Poland after 13 June will no longer have to undergo quarantine. This applies to UK citizens until end of 2020. But we currently advise against all non-essential international travel.
Jun 14, 2020, 3:21 pm
#726
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
https://english.elpais.com/spanish_n...al-chiefs.html
Jun 14, 2020, 3:24 pm
#727
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
Found this clarifying Spain say UK is included.
https://english.elpais.com/spanish_n...al-chiefs.html
https://english.elpais.com/spanish_n...al-chiefs.html
Quite confused as to what Spain is saying, as I was wondering whether it is doing away with its quarantine then too or waiting for July 1st to do away with it.
Eurgh, so done with all these restrictions.
Jun 14, 2020, 3:34 pm
#728
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,820
I would have no issues with betting a test but if you look at some of the pages, it says foreigners from orange/red countries can only enter with a test and for business and other purposes (not tourism), so based on those texts, it wouldn't do me much good anyway to pay 200 euro in Germany for that!
Jun 14, 2020, 3:39 pm
#729
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Given the lack of clarity of the rules in particular around orange countries, surely you would just be not allowed in and asked to return, at worst?
Jun 14, 2020, 3:43 pm
#730
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ABZ/NCL
Posts: 2,943
This comes back to my previous argument about covid19 test certificates. One can easily make one up on word.
Unless these border guards are mind readers I do not see how on earth they are supposed to police these policies.
Jun 14, 2020, 3:47 pm
#731
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,593
Nothing. I prefer Coop most of the time but they're pretty similar. I tend to go to France for fish & patisseries, and Germany for toiletries/washing stuff. it's not a big deal and one can - of course - get everything one needs here in Basel, but I also enjoy cycling around the 3-country area.
They used to be. Swiss prices haven't changed in many years - in fact they've come down slightly. Food in nearby countries has gone up in price. So they're closer than they were, although certain things (e.g. branded wasbhing powder, shower gels etc) cost at least double compared to Germany.
True, but on the other hand beer and wine is very cheap in the supermarkets, and sitting in parks or by the river with your own drink and food (bbqs allowed everywhere) mitigates that.
True, but on the other hand beer and wine is very cheap in the supermarkets, and sitting in parks or by the river with your own drink and food (bbqs allowed everywhere) mitigates that.
Jun 14, 2020, 4:16 pm
#732
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,820
No idea. The law is clear enough - no entry, unless extempted (and there's no exception for orange countries). I generally find Czech police to be very reasonable, but I wouldn't risk it.
Jun 14, 2020, 4:30 pm
#733
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
Aegean Airlines just sent out this email.
To help you plan your next travel, here are some key points of the flight restrictions currently imposed by the Greek Government for arrivals to Greece effective June 15th and until June 30th 2020.
Arriving passengers are categorized in accordance with their origin in three distinct groups as follows:
GROUP A: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland.
GROUP B: Albania, Belgium, France, Italy, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, other non-EU countries.
- Passengers arriving at Athens International Airport originating from GROUP A will be subject to random Covid-19 testing upon their arrival.
- Passengers arriving at Athens International Airport originating from GROUP B, either with a direct flight or through a country included in Group A, will be subject to 100% Covid-19 testing upon their arrival.
- Passengers arriving at Thessaloniki Airport, will be subject to 100% Covid-19 testing upon their arrival.
All international passengers will be provided during check in or on board, with a Passenger Location Form, to be filled and provided to the authorities upon arrival.
Tested passengers have to compulsory self-isolate in the address they will declare for 24 hours, until the testing outcome is available.
Connecting Passengers are subject to COVID-19 testing upon their arrival in Athens or Thessaloniki and will be able to continue their trip to their final destination, where they will self-isolate until the testing outcome is available.
Furthermore, the Greek Goverment has extended flight restrictions from/to UK and Turkey until June 29th, 2020.
Arriving passengers are categorized in accordance with their origin in three distinct groups as follows:
GROUP A: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland.
GROUP B: Albania, Belgium, France, Italy, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, other non-EU countries.
- Passengers arriving at Athens International Airport originating from GROUP A will be subject to random Covid-19 testing upon their arrival.
- Passengers arriving at Athens International Airport originating from GROUP B, either with a direct flight or through a country included in Group A, will be subject to 100% Covid-19 testing upon their arrival.
- Passengers arriving at Thessaloniki Airport, will be subject to 100% Covid-19 testing upon their arrival.
All international passengers will be provided during check in or on board, with a Passenger Location Form, to be filled and provided to the authorities upon arrival.
Tested passengers have to compulsory self-isolate in the address they will declare for 24 hours, until the testing outcome is available.
Connecting Passengers are subject to COVID-19 testing upon their arrival in Athens or Thessaloniki and will be able to continue their trip to their final destination, where they will self-isolate until the testing outcome is available.
Furthermore, the Greek Goverment has extended flight restrictions from/to UK and Turkey until June 29th, 2020.
Jun 14, 2020, 4:33 pm
#735
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Independence Day is finally here. Europe is almost back to normal for jetsetting! June 15 2020, the day where you can travel like the old days across almost all of Europe (UK not included)