NEWS more permanent, says Ben Ireland as he joins Tui’s return to Madeira on Monday SPECIAL REPORT
Hygiene (left) and safety protocols at the Hotel Riu Palace Madeira
restart
wanted to get away, so we thought we’d give Madeira a go.” Despite their relief, they did find
the pre-departure testing process a chore. “It’s not taking the test that’s the problem,” says Sandra. “It was the communication. It feels like no one is talking to each other – the government, the travel companies and the testing companies.” The four friends spent different
amounts, from £90 to £155, having booked with different providers. Those who’d paid more had bought duplicate tests because they didn’t trust the tests would arrive in time. “We knew we had to spend on
tests,” says Vivien. “Everyone seemed to have different information. It will take some getting used to.” Asked if the experience would put
them off booking another holiday, the group – each of whom say they usually travel twice a year – firmly and collectively say no. “We knew we were going to be the guinea pigs,” says Sandra. “It’ll get better over time.”
travelweekly.co.uk
TRIED AND COVID-TESTED
Covid testing is the major new element on the holiday preparation list but it’s not onerous
I was looking through the list of government- approved testing firms ahead of our May 17 departure when Tui announced it was offering a £20 package. While costs of individual PCR tests through
some providers were as low as £44.90 beforehand, the £20 offer seemed pretty palatable – closer to a round of drinks than a meal out. There are four different Tui packages to choose
from, ranging from £20 to £90, and it’s important to note Tui is subsidising the price, presumably to make it seem less of a barrier. I took the £60 green list option: a PCR test
before the outward flight, an antigen test to take before the return flight, and a PCR test for day two after returning to the UK. Once you’ve taken your test you have to drop
it off at a designated Tui store. I left mine in Tui’s hands 65 hours before departure so I felt comfortable with the time allowed for delivery and lab analysis. The only thing that is out of your hands is the delivery from the store to the lab, but knowing that Tui uses couriers for these deliveries provides reassurance that results will be returned in time. I’m sure there are many, like me, who always
forget something when packing, but I don’t expect Covid tests to fall into that bracket. Flip-flops, sunglasses or plug adapters may be easily forgotten, but making sure you arrange a test feels closer to checking your passport is still valid. You’re not going to leave it to the last minute. For the purposes of international travel, testing
really shouldn’t be an issue for most people – provided it’s affordable and they know they’ll have their results in time. And it’s likely to be with us, in
some capacity, for a long time yet. i Read Ben Ireland’s full reports from his trip to Madeira at
travelweekly.co.uk
Ben Ireland on the Tui flight
20 MAY 2021
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PICTURES: Joe Pepler/PinPep; Ben Ireland
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