Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8133
Off to Bratislava & Vienna next week....
Driving down, bit of a blitz mini-tour as only got 8 nights.
Lots of paperwork and checking requirements on Covid (Can't believe UK is considered 'high risk' to many Euro countries....). Some places OK with NHS app, some want it printed out, some have their own forms to be filled out, some in advance, some in hard-copy, etc. Some want proof of travel insurance, some want hotel addresses, etc. Obviously some doubling up as we enter and leave places more than once....
Gov.UK website is very good source of info' but it takes some time getting it all together. Need to have it all 'just in case' as if I don't sure I will get asked for it but my lad has got by with just the NHS app on his phone everywhere across Europe, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece and back up so far.
In total on way out we're hitting France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Slovakia, and on return its Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France in the 'round trip'.
Will be doing a [smaller] booze run and picking my lad up and the stray mutt he's taken on as we pass Stuttgart (he's leaving his converted van in Germany a while) so all that added to itinerary and chunnel protocols for return leg.
Looking forward to getting over there again
15th Nov 2021 8:49 pm
Oxford-boy
Member Since: 07 Sep 2015
Location: Oxford
Posts: 1107
That looks fun!
Please keep us informed.
Jim
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15th Nov 2021 8:59 pm
Luapno
Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 874
My advice would be to get the certificate of covid vaccination posted from the NHS rather than printed at home. I have read, although not personally had an issue, of some borders not accepting home printed copies. (The certs are different !)When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. All of the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you are stupid.
15th Nov 2021 9:15 pm
ruben D3 Decade
Member Since: 26 Sep 2006
Location: ASTURIAS
Posts: 2429
Re: Off to Bratislava & Vienna next week....
astonbuilder wrote:
Driving down, bit of a blitz mini-tour as only got 8 nights.
Lots of paperwork and checking requirements on Covid (Can't believe UK is considered 'high risk' to many Euro countries....).
because the UK cases last 14 days is 771.28, and this is "high risk"!! Isn´t it?
.... for example France has only 160, Germany 480 and Luxembourg 400
I wish you a good trip!! 👍lost in translation!
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DEFENDER 2 SE D I6 MHEV 2024, other live.
Last edited by ruben on 15th Nov 2021 9:54 pm. Edited 1 time in total
15th Nov 2021 9:39 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23823
^ indeed, The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Europe was approximately 76.8 million as of November 7, 2021, with the UK being the worst affected country at over 9.3 million cases.
Have a safe journey. I’m very envious, I love a good road trip.
Almost a busman’s holiday for you now though. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
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15th Nov 2021 9:50 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8133
Given numbers can/are/have been ‘manipulated’ throughout I don’t know what to believe really but if Austria, as example, struggles to get people vaccinated (only 65% I read?) then I feel ‘safer’ in UK TBH, certainly in aspects of my life I control/influence.
15th Nov 2021 10:20 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8133
Luapno wrote:
My advice would be to get the certificate of covid vaccination posted from the NHS rather than printed at home. I have read, although not personally had an issue, of some borders not accepting home printed copies. (The certs are different !)
Too late for that but latest gov.UK advice is printed copies after 1st November are OK, prior to that they didn’t always work supposedly
15th Nov 2021 10:22 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
The run from Calais to Bratislava is about 13 hours with minimum stops (and slowing down for some speed cameras in Germany ). You’re certainly taking the best route and it will get busy around Brussels and possibly around Frankfurt but otherwise the run is pretty good.
Don’t forget your passes for using the autobahn in Austria and in SK… parking in the centre of Bratislava can be a pain so if you can leave the car at the hotel and use the local HOPINTAXI service (app available) its dead cheap) you’ll do much better. The castle is worth a visit for the view and the restaurants by the river or in the UFO are very good.
Enjoy your time away and safe travels I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
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15th Nov 2021 10:32 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
astonbuilder wrote:
Given numbers can/are/have been ‘manipulated’ throughout I don’t know what to believe really but if Austria, as example, struggles to get people vaccinated (only 65% I read?) then I feel ‘safer’ in UK TBH, certainly in aspects of my life I control/influence.
Yeah… it can but then again…why should uk numbers be right and others not? Same for other country’s by the way…
But more important..
Vaccinated people (or mammals in general) are more protected against illnesses themselves, BUT they can be as contagious as non vaccinated people/mammals, they just don’t get very ill themselves.. we see lately….
So your safety feeling is Misplaced in terms of this i am afraid….
I did travel to the UK last september.. UK wanted us to test 3 times even though i was vaccinated 2 times allready 2 months before traveling… (1time test days before entering the UK, 2time 2 day test after arrival and 3th test on the fifth day) and 4th before traveling back to hook of holland again… pffff.
But atleast we could travel..Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
15th Nov 2021 11:01 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23823
U.K. vaccination rate has pulled back recently to 4th place. Which is good:
Astonbuilder, you’ll probably notice how much stricter controls on for example mask wearing and having to show that you’re vaccinated are in other European countries. Which I guess accounts for the lower amount of cases.
Anyway this is wave off topic. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
15th Nov 2021 11:14 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8133
Spanners are being thrown into the works.......
Austria announces lockdown from Monday. Can still travel through Austria to Slovakia and, at the moment, even after their lockdown we can enter Austria to transit through as fully vaccinated (we literally wouldn't stop if we do that) when coming back.
We've cancelled the opera in Vienna and will no doubt have to 'argue' with the hotel for cancelling that due to the lockdown. We'd booked mandatory PCR tests for the theatre and that was OK
On top of that SWMBO is getting very twitchy generally so just checking if can cancel the Bratislava hotel as if Austria tightens up any more its quite a long way to go 'round' it and more borders for Czech republic if going over it or Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, possibly Switzerland, if going under it.
If we can do all the cancellations we'll just stick to Germany and France I think......
Great timing by us for this one
19th Nov 2021 10:47 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73078
We’ve got a 2 months jolly planned in Switzerland next spring, all by rail there, around and back. SWMBO doesn’t want to do it by car but thinking that’s the best way to do it. Or head somewhere long-haul if Aus (read NSW) opens up, via Singapore. SWMBO clocked that Cambodia was opening up again, tempting but might be pushing things a bit too far.
19th Nov 2021 12:22 pm
Jamiehol
Member Since: 13 Nov 2015
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 387
Hopefully you get to enjoy the road trip.
I know what you mean about the plethora of paper work we were over in the Netherlands and Belgium last week and at one point getting the paperwork and various tests sorted felt like an up hill slog.
19th Nov 2021 12:29 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14383
astonbuilder wrote:
Luapno wrote:
My advice would be to get the certificate of covid vaccination posted from the NHS rather than printed at home. I have read, although not personally had an issue, of some borders not accepting home printed copies. (The certs are different !)
Too late for that but latest gov.UK advice is printed copies after 1st November are OK, prior to that they didn’t always work supposedly
Don't worry. I've been in and out of Europe, US and Caribean since June. These last three weeks I've been to Spain, US and Germany. I'm in Milan next week. I have all digital copies of my docs, covid tests, proof of vaccinztion, PLF etc stored in Books on my iPad and just update them for each trip. I also have my proof of vaccination store in my iPhone's wallet. I've not needed any paper copies. The beauty of Apple Books is that all docs are available on all devices. Works a treat.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
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19th Nov 2021 12:48 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8133
^^^^^ yeah, my lad has been 'over there' since July through Europe, Balkans and down to Greece and has been asked for his passport a couple of times and NHS proof on his phone a couple of times.
Our trip is now all 'cancelled' other than the Euro tunnel bookings so have rest of the day to re-plan the trip from afresh sticking to a mix from Belgium, Holland, France and Germany.
It is what it is and not the end of the world, still fortunate to be 'getting away' and we'll save the original locations for 2022 in our 'usual' big two week circular jaunt
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). You’re certainly taking the best route and it will get busy around Brussels and possibly around Frankfurt but otherwise the run is pretty good.
