Annual trip to Catalunya

[Steve M]

Update:
The circuit announced more tickets last night but their website still wasn't playing fair.
It seems that some Portuguese websites routinely block 'foreign' IP addresses but I sorted out a portugese VPN and am now the proud owner of two weekend tickets!!!!

Spent the rest of the morning arranging flights and hotels.

Now if Boris can just get a grip of the pandemic.............

[Walkingthedog]

Let’s hope it doesn’t get a grip of you.

Will you be allowed to fly to Spain?

[Steve M]

Let’s hope it doesn’t get a grip of you.

Will you be allowed to fly to Spain?

Hope not, it’s Portugal.

As it stands at the moment, entering Portugal isn’t an issue although they may take temperatures on arrival. Returning we would have to self-isolate - I’ve already booked additional holiday to cover that and my son is working from home until next year.
While we are out there we will mainly be in the open air so risk is reduced along with the same mask and distancing rules we have here.
The car hire company claim that their cars are ‘sanitized’ So not really much more we can do......apart from not go and live like a hermit.

Still plenty of time for the plans to fall apart though.

[Walkingthedog]

Doh! Not sure why I put Spain.

Hope you get there, think you deserve it.

[IanS]

I always look on the dark side when planning holidays and look for insurance cover. Portugal, at present, on the 'against all but essential travel' list meaning normal holiday insurance is totally invalid if you go.

I hope things work out for you and that you've sorted out the intricacies of insurance for your forthcoming trip.

[bulleidboy]

Slightly off-track - excuse the pun - but with regards to travel, a friend has just has their flights to Miami in January 2021 with BA - cancelled. That does not look good for the future?

[Steve M]

Ian, you are correct about insurance - it is a worry and a risk.
I have taken additional cover and my EHIC is still valid so that’s about all I can do on that score. As for Covid, the usual mitigations that we have on this country are in place over there so apart from the flight the risk is similar to going to work.

And it really is a once in a lifetime event ........that will always sway my decision. A bit like buying a new loco - you know you don’t need it, you know you shouldn’t, but it comes home with you anyway.

Barry, not at all surprised by the BA decision but at least it’s easier to reinstate flights if the situation changes rather than have to cancel and refund at the last minute. The USA will take a long time to recover from their handling of the pandemic. Trump makes Johnson look good by comparison.

I’ll get moderated for that.

[bulleidboy]

Barry, not at all surprised by the BA decision but at least it’s easier to reinstate flights if the situation changes rather than have to cancel and refund at the last minute. The USA will take a long time to recover from their handling of the pandemic. Trump makes Johnson look good by comparison.

I’ll get moderated for that.

I agree - is that an answer that needs moderating? Barry

[Steve M]

Many race tracks allow unrestricted access to other parts of the track on Friday/Saturday if you have bought a grandstand seat for Sunday (race day).
I emailed the track last week to see if this is the case for Portugal - got a reply today which basically says we are restricted to the area we have booked ‘due to the pandemic’ - understandable in the circumstances.
But I loved the translation and phrasing of their statement:

“On arrival, a member of staff will escort you to your grandstand and your seat, where you will remain.”

I have an outstanding inquiry around permissions for toilet breaks.

[brian1951]

This weekends GP is from the best circuit on the calendar, best for both drivers and spectators in my view and i have travelled to quite a few around the globe.