Fao Prudie

[Bobbisox1]

How was your holiday and was the form filling etc easy enough?, I know I did a locator one last October and got the QR code which was scanned at the airport on arrival in Lanzarote but this time it’s tests we have gave as well ?
Menorca being a Spanish island just as the Canaries are! albeit they are autonomous regions of Spain, what was the average costs of the PCR test?
We hopefully go September 2 to Lanzarote

[Buenchico]

(The post above was only spam, so that's why I removed it).

While you're waiting for Prudie:
The present rules for people from the UK seeking to enter the Canary Islands require visitors to provide proof of a negative NAAT test (which, in practice, means a PCR one) carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. The cost of a PCR test in the UK will vary between providers but, as a guide, I know that one pharmacy in Ipswich is charging £145 for one. Rapid antigen tests (also known as lateral flow tests) aren't acceptable.

You can theoretically enter the Canary Islands just using your proof of full vaccination instead of a PCR test result but, as yet, there's no reciprocity agreement between the EU and the UK for vaccination certificates, so your NHS proof of vaccination isn't currently valid for entry into the islands. (That might change before you travel though. If it does, and the EU agrees to accept the UK's proof of vaccination, you won't need a PCR test).

The information above was largely derived from here
https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/travelling-to-the-canary-islands/
which is a website provided by the Spain's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (and which is linked to by our own Foreign & Commonwealth Office website) and is thus definitely 'official'.

For returning to the UK, you'll need to take a Covid test within the three days before you travel. The test does NOT have to be a PCR one; lateral flow tests can also be used. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england ). The Spanish Airports authority (Aena) has teamed up with a company called Eurofins to provide testing facilities at many Spanish airports, including Lanzarote. The cost is approximately €30. You can book a test directly through the Eurofins website or by downloading their app:
https://eurofins-megalab.com/en/eurofins-megalab-is-carrying-out-testing-for-covid-in-12-spanish-airports/

[Bobbisox1]

Thanks Chris, I’ve saved the link

[Prudie]

Hi Bobbs, it was all a major faff if I'm honest but still worth it - however the non-techie would tear their hair out and non smartphone owners would find it almost impossible.
So my situation may be a bit different because Menorca was green when we went plus we've both been double jabbed but this was what we had to do:

Before going we had to upload our proof of double vaccination from the NHS app to the the airline. This meant we could not check in 24 hours before because the validation didn't come through until an hour before the check-in desk opened at heathrow.

We did NOT have to have any kind of test before we went (green? double jabbed?)

We had to complete the spanish locator form as usual 48 hrs before arrival

Once there we had to book a lateral flow test with a local clinic at 30 euros each. This had to be done in your last 3 days and again you get an email and QR code that had to be available with negative result for inspection at check-in on way home. Personally I would not want to fret and wait to get it done at the airport on way home. You cannot use free NHS ones!

We had to pre-order PCR tests for day 2 arrival back in UK and have the reference number for completing the return UK locator form. We used boots via Royal Mail at £99 each and arranged it before we left.

So basically on our phones when arriving back for both airports needed:
lateral flow result
UK locator form done
Proof of arrangements for Day 2 PCR test in UK

The Balearics have now gone back to amber but if you are double jabbed you don't need to quarantine.

It's certainly not put us off trying again for September :-)

[Bobbisox1]

Thanks for the feedback Prudie, can I ask who you flew with,we’ve got a villa booked so it’s villa/ flight separate with Jet2

[Prudie]

BA

[Prudie]

They might all do their own thing of course

[Bobbisox1]

I think they do , fingers crossed for both of us then for September eh?

[Prudie]

Definitely, certainly hope so for you because I know you've had so many cancellations etc.

[Bobbisox1]

5 till now, 6th time lucky :0)