p So much scaremongering, so much anxiety about flights and COVID, huh?
p And rightly so. It's really scary. Even though most of us are vaccinated, the kids aren't. The grandparents are at risk.
p And still... what about the soul that's been stuck in a surreal routine for far too long? What about the heart that wants to see the world and make new memories? So we went to open up our hearts a little...
p With lots of responsibility, caution and attention to detail, we decided to fly.
p We were very careful, followed the rules and then some, and gathered everything you need to do in terms of COVID tests, because why should we enjoy alone?
p Okay, that doesn't quite fit here; we didn't exactly enjoy the tests, but you know what I mean...
p What do you need to do, broadly?
p COVID tests for the unvaccinated kids before the flight: PCR (not through your health fund). We did it at the airport in Terminal 3: Check2fly
p The PLF form, plus printing it at midnight the night before the flight
p Filling in a health declaration form the day before the flight
p A COVID test up to 72 hours before the flight back from abroad
p A health declaration 24 hours before the flight
p A COVID test at the airport: Test & Go
p Everyone stays in isolation until the airport test results come back (it takes up to 24 hours and arrives by email and in the health fund apps)
p Another COVID test for unvaccinated kids, per the Ministry of Health instructions
q “Your greatest wealth is health” Someone smart
p With a little more detail:
p COVID tests for the unvaccinated kids before the flight: book ahead so you don't get stuck, and not through your health fund, but a PCR test. Don't book exactly 72 hours before the flight, because if the flight is delayed, you're done for. They check the time at boarding. We did it at the airport in Terminal 3: Check2fly
p The PLF form, plus printing it at midnight the night before the flight. This is a mandatory form from the Greek government. Important: one person can fill it in for everyone, in the final steps, under Travel Companions. Note that the full details are only those of the person filling in the form. You can edit the form under My Dashboard.
p Filling in a health declaration form the day before the flight
p A COVID test up to 72 hours before the flight back from abroad: this amazing website gathered all the information. We did ours in Volos. It's a lab, not a hospital.
p Elpis Volos
p Address: K. Kartali 119, Volos
p Phone: 24210-36090
p You can book an appointment Monday to Friday, 9:00-18:00
p and on Saturday and Sunday, 9:00-13:00
p A health declaration 24 hours before the flight: you fill this in on your phone from abroad, if you're all fine and can board the plane.
p A COVID test at the airport: Test & Go. Pay ahead, so you save yourself a "COVID party" at the airport and go straight to get tested. After we'd finished getting tested, we saw a swarm of people back from abroad going to pay for their tests. Scary!
p Everyone stays in isolation until the airport test results come back (it takes up to 24 hours and arrives by email and in the health fund apps)
p Another COVID test for unvaccinated kids a few days after you get back, per the Ministry of Health instructions.
p If you want to shorten the 14 days, here's the link to do it. An isolation days calculator, so you know for sure when you can come out of isolation.
p Most important, we were careful the whole time. Everyone had hand sanitizer in their bag. Every time we went in or out of a place, we put on a mask and used sanitizer. At the airport we wore the hardcore masks and avoided (as much as possible) crowded places.
p That's it. It's a bit of a burden, a bit scary. But we'd do it all again, because the enjoyment was huge, the memories will stay with us forever, and it was all worth it.
p That's it; all that's left is to fly, be careful and come back safely!
p I've split all the Greece posts into more relevant posts:
p Maps: a map of all our important places in Athens, Meteora and Olympus. A map of all our important places in Pelion.
p The post summing up our trip to Greece: click here.
p The post with our exact route in Pelion, Greece: click here.
p The post with the most beautiful beaches in Pelion: click here.
p The post with the whole route to Thessaloniki, Mount Olympus, Meteora and Athens: click here.
p Come visit my new Instagram and my Facebook group, where you can share your own good times too, because why should you enjoy alone?
