My husband tested positive on day 4 of our Scotland tour. We were disappointed to leave the tour, but thankful his case was no worse than a head cold. I spoke with a local pharmacist and was told they treat covid like any other upper respiratory infection - rest, fluids, pain reliever, and isolate for 5 days, if possible, or mask. We have since moved into a new hotel and continued on doing our own thing.
My advice is to bring your own tests. They are very hard to come by here. We needed one for travel insurance purposes. We were able to use our home test and have it witnessed by a Dr. via video call in the privacy of our hotel room. We were then emailed a verification certificate.
Safe travels to all!
Posted by
TX, USA
4080 posts
Well I am sorry about both the Covid and the interruption of your trip! But good for you for making alternate plans and not letting this throw you.
And you have made me think….. As a slow independent traveler, I no longer try to pack tests, because of (as you say) the difference in the way it is treated and viewed in the places I go. And I have time to hole up and recover if necessary. But the thought about an insurance requirement will make me go back and re-read my policy.
Posted by
Freedonia
15007 posts
Home tests in Scotland should be available at Boots, Superdrug, most supermarkets, some discount stores. I left Scotland on Saturday after spending over a month there and saw plenty. (Mostly under £2/test.)
However, getting an "official" lab test is not easy anymore.
I'm glad your husband's case is mild.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
We were in Oban and there wasn’t a test to be found. Tesco stopped carrying them and the Boots pharmacy had none either.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8381 posts
I have a small (sandwich sized) bag that contains 3 Covid tests, thermometer strips, cold medicine and cough drops. Takes up hardly any space and is just a few ounces . I bring it with me on all trips. My theory is that if I am sick these are things I don’t want to have start searching for in an unfamiliar location.
Posted by
Chico CALIF
5 posts
I was on a non RS tour around Scotland from 8/12-8/21/23, and 10 of 17 of us on the tour caught covid. All had head cold symptoms. The Glasgow pharmacy where we bought covid tests said they were “suddenly selling covid tests like crazy”, and that beginning the first week of August, many cities in the lowlands “were rife with covid”. I am still in Europe, and it took me 12 days until I tested negative. My advice: wear masks everywhere indoors, and on the bus, bring a lot of tests from home, re-think any indoor group dining scenarios. There are only 2 cities in the whole of Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh), that are even doing PCR covid tests any more, and they have only on-line booking for covid tests which are booked up 2-3 weeks out. Therefore it was impossible for me to obtain the PCR test my travel insurance was insisting on for proof of covid. Read the fine print on your policies or you may be denied a trip cancellation/interruption claim.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Sounds like we got lucky our trip insurance offered the video verification. Sorry for your issues and hope the rest of your trip is enjoyable.
Posted by
Chicago, IL 🌭🍕
531 posts
On my tour that starts on Sunday, I am bringing tests and a plethora of OTC medications and supplements to help me through just about anything. The first part of our tour stops in major cities, but the rest of it is in smaller towns, and I don't want to have to deal with trying to hunt something down if I really need it...especially if I'm not feeling well.
I almost always get a head cold when I travel to Europe and for my own peace of mind and others on my Loire to South of France tour last fall, I also brought covid tests with me. Thankfully I tested negative the entire time, but I was so glad I had those!
Posted by
14 posts
xrayj42,
Can I ask which travel insurance you have? (if it is allowed for that to be posted here).
We leave for Scotland on the 19th, and we already have travel insurance. I have just re-read the policy, and I still can't tell if a video verification such as you describe would be allowed. The conversation on this thread has me a little concerned.
Thank you,
Bill Kinyon
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Hi Bill, we have the Travel Guard insurance recommended by Rick Steves. That service isn’t listed in our policy, but I would imagine if an insurance company required verification, they would help you with that and not leave you stranded.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13942 posts
@Bill...if you have concerns I would call and talk with someone at the insurance company before you travel. Best to know this ahead of time!
Posted by
CA
2075 posts
More people should listen to Dr. Birx! Trying to pinpoint a good time to travel and dodge the virus is a guessing game. Hubby and I will use masks and try and avoid the hoards. Not sure how things will go but our tour isn’t until 10/4/24.
Posted by
S.F Bay Area (Marin)
268 posts
I asked my primary Dr. and he gave me a prescription for Paxlavoid so I could take it with me on my trip which is 3 weeks from now. Apparently it is not that easy to get in some areas in. Europe . I will only use it if I tested positive.
I am also bringing tests , k 95 masks to use on the plane and in certain crowded situations. And I will get the new vaccine as soon as I can get an appointment. With all that, I will enjoy myself and not worry.
Posted by
14 posts
xrayj42, thank you for the info. We have Allianz, which is also on Rick's list. However, Pam, I think that is good advice, so I am going to contact them and see what they say about this.
Thanks to all, and to all who are traveling soon, have a great trip!
Bill Kinyon