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Pcr test. Vera

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 4:39pm
3 replies433 views4 members subscribed
DBarton

Posts: 17

1 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 14 Jan 2021

Hi. Hope anyone can advise

I am looking to travel to Spain June time and thinking we will still need pcr test for return

We will be arriving by sea and driving down to Vera and obviously driving back Early August, as this a 1st time driving down, for those who have made to journey back this way, would a 72 hour test be in date for the crossing back into Uk, is 2days enough time to get back up to Bilbao 

Many thanks. Debs

Alicia 11

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:12pm

Alicia 11

Super helpful member

Posts: 2098

1775 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 30 Sep 2019

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:12pm

you may not be able to come if the Spanish government don't lift the regulation that states you must be a Spanish national of a resident with proof of residency to enter the country.  You may also need a test or proof of vaccination if you are allowed to travel.

the trip from Bilbao takes about 9.5 hrs drive with stops to rest every 2 hrs.  depends which ferry you get as to whether the 72 hrs is enough the Santander ferry is quicker.

DBarton

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:32pm

DBarton

Original Poster

Posts: 17

1 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 14 Jan 2021

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:32pm

Alicia 11 wrote on Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:12pm:

you may not be able to come if the Spanish government don't lift the regulation that states you must be a Spanish national of a resident with proof of residency to enter the country.  You may also need a test or proof of vaccination if you are allowed to travel.

the trip from Bilbao takes about 9.5 hrs drive with stops to rest every 2 hrs.  depends which ferry you get as to whether the 72 hrs is enough the Santander ferry is quicker....

...

Hi Alicia 

Looks like Bilbao a quicker service over to Spain

I was wondering about the return trip Vera playa back to Bilbao and if any pcr test places around Vera

We do have a house in Spain not residencia .. hoping the COVID rules may change to allow visitors to their own homes having had vaccinations 

If takes 9.5 hrs then a local test may work !!

Here’s to visiting ASAP 😂😎🙏

psy1967

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:36am

psy1967

Helpful member

Posts: 200

216 helpful points

Location: Velez-Rubio

Joined: 29 Jun 2016

Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2021 9:36am

I agree with Alicia that it is certainly possible to do the trip to Bilbao (or Santander) in one day - I usually leave very early in the morning for a late afternoon boat, approx 9hrs driving, 10-10.5 hrs total allowing for stops, though I am usually driving a van so cruise at less than 120km/h.  One point to note is that BF currently require check-in at least 90mins in advance of sailing to allow for socially distanced boarding, rather than the usual 45 mins, which makes it quite difficult to leave early enough in the morning to hit a 3pm or 3.30pm sailing.

Two benefits regarding the test: 

  • Unlike Spain, UK rules require you to have the test no more than 72 hours before boarding, while going the other way to get into Spain you have to have a test no more than 72 hours before arrival in Spain.  Plus you must have your negative result before you can check-in at Portsmouth. 
  • Currently the UK just require evidence of a negative test, not a negative PCR test.  So you can take a faster, cheaper test with results within an hour.  Travelling Portsmouth to Spain, you must have a negative PCR test (24-48hr turnaround) making it a near impossible timeframe. 

Therefore I would say no problem having a local test then driving to Bilbao or Santander, including having an overnight stop along the way if you have an earlyish boat to catch.  The difficult part, under current conditions, is catching the boat from Portsmouth.  But who knows what the rules may be come the summer.

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