 Poster: A snowHead
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@holidayloverxx, I’m just trying to see if, as mentioned earlier that touristic travel is not allowed.
The Austria.info is the official Austrian travel portal website, so you would hope they have got it correct and they are not mentioning anything about tourists from VVC countries being not allowed in.
Hopefully the tour operators will get clarification today.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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One thing that is clear though is that anyone traveling with older teenagers (16/17 born before 1 Sep 2006) is SOL here - with very few exceptions they won't have been able to be boosted, but Austria will treat them as adults - they can't use the Ninja Pass option (which frankly sounded like a PITA itself, but was at least a possible get out for younger teens).
Still, good to see that the Austria authorities are as keen to support hospitality as ours are back home 
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Thu 23-12-21 11:31; edited 1 time in total
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| 2planks wrote: |
NEW: Virus variant areas United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway
New rules for everyone arriving from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. These countries will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 December in Austria. This means:
People who are fully vaccinated (double jabbed) AND have received the 3rd booster jab can enter Austria with a negative PCR test (valid 72 hours). Children under the age of 12 are exempt (see below) and teenagers eligible for the Holiday Ninja Pass will be able to enter with a negative PCR test (valid 72 hours).
Important additional information: Everyone else travelling from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway needs to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival if they have not been fully vaccinated (2 x jabs) and had a third booster.
This is what this Austria tourist info site says here, https://www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations
Said it was updated on the 21st though 
No mention of a landing ban for U.K. arrivals. |
For essential entry only otherwise travel into Austria is prohibited from the countries listed. It’s a subtle but huge and seemingly overlooked by many difference.
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From the Austrian Govt Health Ministry,
Angola, Botswana, Denmark, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway , Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the United Kingdom
Entry from these countries is generally prohibited
Essentially, only Austrian citizens, EU / EEA citizens and people with residence or habitual abode in Austria are allowed to enter. Entry for humanitarian reasons or in the urgent interest of the republic is also possible.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It reads to me like they’ve put the booster+PCR exemption in place for the Dutch, Danes and Norwegians, and we’re out of luck. Again.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| LittleRos wrote: |
| It reads to me like they’ve put the booster+PCR exemption in place for the Dutch, Danes and Norwegians, and we’re out of luck. Again. |
It reads to me the booster pcr and quarantine exception is in place for anyone permitted to enter Austria. The grounds for being permitted to enter seem clear also. We can’t expect them to specifically list all reasons we can’t enter, ie skiing, socialising, shopping etc etc etc.
I think many of the interpretations of what is in black and white are just wishful thinking still, which is understandable, not helped by some of the updates from TO’s which seem to confuse people.
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@jirac18,
The Austrian national tourist office website does not state tourism from UK is not allowed. As they are a website for tourists I think its doubtful they would not spell it out clearly.
https://www.austria.info/en
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 23-12-21 12:00; edited 2 times in total
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| jirac18 wrote: |
| LittleRos wrote: |
| It reads to me like they’ve put the booster+PCR exemption in place for the Dutch, Danes and Norwegians, and we’re out of luck. Again. |
It reads to me the booster pcr and quarantine exception is in place for anyone permitted to enter Austria. The grounds for being permitted to enter seem clear also. We can’t expect them to specifically list all reasons we can’t enter, ie skiing, socialising, shopping etc etc etc.
I think many of the interpretations of what is in black and white are just wishful thinking still, which is understandable, not helped by some of the updates from TO’s which seem to confuse people. |
Yup I agree
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@LittleRos, exactly, it’s like Flangesax said yesterday, no UK tourists allowed as it’s non-essential travel. The UK is not in the EU anymore. If it was then the EU citizens thing would apply with booster and PCR.
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@VolklAttivaS5, yup. Thanks brexit! (Dons crash helmet in anticipation of brexiteers reaction) 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Just to add to the confusion. There is this tweet from the UK Austrian Tourist office
https://twitter.com/Austria_UK/status/1473666938249302028?s=20
| Quote: |
The UK will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 Dec in Austria. Everyone travelling from the UK needs to quarantine for 10 days. Except: People who are fully vaccinated AND have received the booster can enter Austria with a negative PCR test.
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It was posted yesterday evening, and clearly implies tourism is allowed for x3 jabs + PCR!
Who knows, I am glad I am not trying to plan any sort of holiday to Austria at the moment.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Tom H wrote: |
@jirac18,
The Austrian national tourist office website does not state tourism from UK is not allowed. As they are a website for tourists I think its doubtful they would not spell it out clearly.
https://www.austria.info/en |
Like I said some still suffering wishful thinking
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| LittleRos wrote: |
| It reads to me like they’ve put the booster+PCR exemption in place for the Dutch, Danes and Norwegians, and we’re out of luck. Again. |
Are you sure? The info pasted above from the Austria Info site reads to me like they've put the booster+PCR exemption in place for the UK plus Dutch, Danes and Norwegians.
If by "we" you mean the UK then I think we're no more out of luck than the Dutch et al, at least for now. Unless there's been another update since 21/12?
It's a pain, but if you can get a flight or a TO holiday then it looks like folks from the UK can enter if boosted and negative PCR tested. Just don't fly via Munich... that's a whole other problem. Although Lufthansa have cancelled my flight there which might be a blessing in disguise if I can rebook to Innsbruck.
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You know it makes sense.
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@sah, I’m glad my flight home wasn’t cancelled there’s only 20 people on here!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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This is the information from the Austrian Tourist Office, UK travellers with booster can travel to Austria , see the second part for children
UK classified as virus variant country
Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the United Kingdom will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 December in Austria. Everyone travelling from the UK needs to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. Exception: People who are fully vaccinated (2 jabs AND have received the 3rd booster jab) can enter Austria with a negative PCR test (valid 72hours) without quarantine. Please find here more information about entry requirements.
Source : https://www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information
Further info when you click "here" https://www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information/entry-regulations
NEW: Virus variant areas United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway
New rules for everyone arriving from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. These countries will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 December in Austria. This means:
People who are fully vaccinated (double jabbed) AND have received the 3rd booster jab can enter Austria with a negative PCR test (valid 72 hours). Children under the age of 12 are exempt (see below) and teenagers eligible for the Holiday Ninja Pass will be able to enter with a negative PCR test (valid 72 hours).
Important additional information: Everyone else travelling from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway needs to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival if they have not been fully vaccinated (2 x jabs) and had a third booster.
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Thu 23-12-21 12:16; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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| munich_irish wrote: |
Just to add to the confusion. There is this tweet from the UK Austrian Tourist office
https://twitter.com/Austria_UK/status/1473666938249302028?s=20
| Quote: |
The UK will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 Dec in Austria. Everyone travelling from the UK needs to quarantine for 10 days. Except: People who are fully vaccinated AND have received the booster can enter Austria with a negative PCR test.
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It was posted yesterday evening, and clearly implies tourism is allowed for x3 jabs + PCR!
Who knows, I am glad I am not trying to plan any sort of holiday to Austria at the moment. |
Exactly, I think if it was me I’d just forget it, and invest my energies into enjoying a nice Christmas at home. Let the dust settle and in a few weeks time everyone should hopefully see the Omicron variant is not that bad.
I’m not doing anything else until Feb now and I might not even bother with that. Will see how I feel nearer the time and what the situation is a week or so before.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| @sah, I’m glad my flight home wasn’t cancelled there’s only 20 people on here! |
I guess that explains why they're cancelling the flights though. i'm not flying until Feb, they've already changed the timing of the return flight and cancelled my outbound.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@LittleRos, see my post above
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| sah wrote: |
| VolklAttivaS5 wrote: |
| @sah, I’m glad my flight home wasn’t cancelled there’s only 20 people on here! |
I guess that explains why they're cancelling the flights though. i'm not flying until Feb, they've already changed the timing of the return flight and cancelled my outbound. |
Oh really, yes that’s a while away. They might relaunch the schedule nearer the time for last minute bookings (and £)
They changed the time of both of mine but only by 10 mins.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@sah, as it stands the government websites state that only EU/EEA* citizens and Austrian residents can enter. It may be that they just haven’t updated that part, but there’s no way to tell for sure!
The Austrian embassy in London might be a good source on information for the UK but is still showing a holding page saying “come back later”.
*as a Swiss person I also wonder if this is the strict definition of EU/EEA or the usual version which implies we are included. Probably moot though as I don’t think I could bring my husband anyway.
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| munich_irish wrote: |
A bit of good news though will not affect many reading here. Germany is going to downgrade Austria from a "high risk" area to a "normal risk" area from 26.12 https://liveblog.tt.com/414/coronavirus/115046/deutschland-osterreich-ab-26-dezember-nicht-mehr-hochrisikogebiet
This means that families resident in Germany can go to Austria without having to quarantine on their return (didnt apply to fully vaccinated but given it applied from 5 years old many kids were included). I am sure that will make the Austrian tourist industry very happy. |
It sure will and they won’t mind so much that UK tourists aren’t there now. It’s the Germans and the Dutch that see the main market for them.
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| jirac18 wrote: |
| Tom H wrote: |
@jirac18,
The Austrian national tourist office website does not state tourism from UK is not allowed. As they are a website for tourists I think its doubtful they would not spell it out clearly.
https://www.austria.info/en |
Like I said some still suffering wishful thinking |
Not me I can’t go due to covid. Was hoping you might clarify your position with some hard evidence. Unlikely.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thanks @VolklAttiva. We’re in Obertauern. Gorgeous sunny day and not as cold as it was before!
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@Tiefschneetaucher, yes I’d noticed the temperature was going to increase today! Snow forecast for the weekend I think.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@radar Austria.info and the Sozialministerium seem to be contradicting one another!
Generally I think the entry information published by the Austrian government has been poor throughout - websites contradict each other, are updated out of sync and occasionally say different things in different languages.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@LittleRos, totally agree, I like a few others on here have several bookmarks to various agencies as well as a newspaper subscription to try an keep track of it.
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@radar, It seems perfectly sensible and what was implied by the announcement yesterday. Problem is that is not what the official regulations say. Hopefully it is just some bureaucratic issue. It is possible that the rules were written just for the group of African countries, they have copied and pasted the European countries into the list without spotting that they have, in effect, created a non essential travel ban!
The same paragraphs that say there is a ban also say you need to fill in a pre travel clearance form https://entry.ptc.gv.at/en but the form only mentions the African countries not the European ones.....
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You know it makes sense.
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| jirac18 wrote: |
| Tom H wrote: |
@jirac18,
The Austrian national tourist office website does not state tourism from UK is not allowed. As they are a website for tourists I think its doubtful they would not spell it out clearly.
https://www.austria.info/en |
Like I said some still suffering wishful thinking |
Not me I can’t go due to covid. Was hoping you might clarify your position with some hard evidence. Unlikely.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@munich_irish, Agree that was my take on the announcement. We are back on the 8th of January fingers crossed. I'm hoping that when they have got over Christmas we will have some better clarity, especially double wax and recovered.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@munich_irish I do wonder if the fact the embassy travel page hasn’t been updated is a sign of discussions going on behind the scenes. That probably is wishful thinking though!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@LittleRos, they have been very slow at updating their pages
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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PCR period seems to have changed to 48 hours:
"Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the United Kingdom will be classified as a virus variant region from 25 December in Austria. Everyone travelling from the UK needs to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival. Exception: People who are fully vaccinated (2 jabs) AND have received the 3rd booster jab can enter Austria with a negative PCR test (valid 48hours) without quarantine."
From the Austia Travel site https://www.austria.info/en
Hotel has contacted us to say the same.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@ptex, fairly certain it said 72 hours yesterday. Seems they are making updates
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yep - I only looked just now when an email from the hotel this morning said "things have changed again after the email we sent you yesterday" and they linked to the Austria.info site.
They did also say they're looking forward to us visiting!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It is fair to say that whatever the outcome, the Austiran Gov have made an uitter pigs ear of this change/announcement. It is less than two days before it is implemented and no one is any the wiser as to what the rules are and there remains either no or conflicting information on various Austrian government websites. Either way, it's too late, it's already killed of NY week (arguably one of the top too busiest weeks of the winter season).
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| ptex wrote: |
Yep - I only looked just now when an email from the hotel this morning said "things have changed again after the email we sent you yesterday" and they linked to the Austria.info site.
They did also say they're looking forward to us visiting! |
Hopefully you can sort the tests in time. I assume you are going as a tourist from UK?
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Just had this text through in an email from Crystal about our trip on Jan 3rd:
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We're aware that the Austrian Government have announced that UK travellers aged 16 and over need to quarantine upon arrival for 10 days, unless they've had a booster jab and have a negative PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours before their flight arrival time. Children aged 12-15 must also have a negative PCR result. Children aged 11 and under don't need to take a test.
It's important to book a test as soon as possible for anyone on your booking that this applies to. Over the Christmas and New Year period, postal services may experience delays in their delivery times. It's important to take this into consideration when selecting your type of test and the time frames in which you need to get your results.
If you're looking for some extra reassurance, you can choose to book in-clinic tests at competitive prices, rather than home testing kits that need to be delivered and collected. For more details – including estimates of the time it'll take for test results to come through over the festive period – visit our testing partners websites via the links below.
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/travel-with-confidence/covid-19-testing/ |
So they're saying 72 hours and I guess wouldn't have sent it without being confident on the entry requirements for UK travellers. Luckily I live about 2 miles from East Mids Airport which has a Randox drive through testing centre.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Given all of the above, conflicting messages etc, I'm quite relieved to have cancelled following the initial Tirol Tageszeitung report. Feel especially sorry for all those cancelled by Crystal and other tour ops. Fingers crossed, the Swiss authorities stick with current entry requirements.
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It doesn’t surprise me that the PCR result needs to be within 48 hours so if it was me I’d work on that not 72. Better to err on the side of caution.
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FAQ
