Paperwork

Well, we’re through security and about to have a late lunch in a pub in the departures area of Manchester Airport. 

As we drove south towards Manchester we were still awaiting our Covid PCR test results from Chronomics, which is our holiday company Tui’s own test provider. We thought that this was the safest option because it is linked to the holiday company. As the miles went by there were still no results from Chronomics, even though we dropped our tests off as instructed early yesterday morning. We both started to feel very worried because without a negative result we would not be allowed to go to Italy; we both had knots in our stomachs. 

After discussing the situation we decided to book another test in case we didn’t hear anything; we booked a company online called Collinson, whose test centre is at Terminal 1. Luckily there were plenty of time slots available. We parked the car at the Clayton Hotel (it used to be Bewleys) and walked the short distance to Terminal 1. 

Things started to go better for us. We had booked an antigen test (according to current advice this is acceptable for Italy as well as a PCR) and there were no queues at the test centre and the staff were very helpful and friendly. We got our results online within half an hour (negative thank goodness!) and got them printed free at the test centre. 

We then followed the usual routine of bag drop and security, the only unusual thing being how quiet it is. And here we are, feeling a lot more relaxed. 

This is the documentation that we have with us for this holiday in addition to the usual passports and boarding cards:

Covid Antigen Test reports

NHS Records of Vaccination 

EU Digital Passenger Locator forms.

All of these required a fair amount of effort to obtain, and it has been a tad stressful for both of us. Phew!