View Full Version : US opening to UK visitors, anybody got any new information?
I know it’s all guesswork and nobody really has any clue what’s likely to happen, but we’re fed up and want to go spend a month or so in Florida. The latest info I can find online dates back to mid July and I can’t find anything which gives any kind of a clue as to when things might be likely to relax. This is a brief call out to anyone who may have come across anything which gives a glimmer of hope to share it so I can look at making some preliminary plans.
Living currently in the centre of London and having become accustomed to empty streets, it’s quite astonishing how many tourists have suddenly appeared in the last few weeks. I’m hoping this relaxation is also on the way in the USA. I guess it’s more wishful thinking than anything else, but if anyone has come across some positive hints, I would like to hear of them. I’m assuming all villa owners here will be watching like hawks and are likely to have a bit more knowledge than I can glean from my google searches. I can understand your pain and I’m keen to provide one of you with some business as soon as I can!
Yes your right as us villa owners are also desperate for our Florida fix! Not seen any info yet about the opening up of USA to foreign tourists but lets hope its not far away! Sure us villa owners will also be happy to accommodate when the time is right
We had our trip cancelled in May and really want to have a holiday and check out our home. We keep watching the news but unfortunately have not seen ay glimmers of hope yet.
Ours was cancelled in June. Not expecting to be able to go this year sadly
Madabouttigger
18-08-2020, 18:06
Ohhh how exciting to be going back, are you planning on going to Captiva? I so desperately need a Florida fix, interested to know your plans?
Diane :cool:
The way things stand at the moment is you still cannot get a visa or ESTA of any type to travel to the USA. Trump's declaration of March of no entry until 31 December has not been rescinded yet so it's not looking hopeful plus you'd almost certainly need to quarantine on return if you could get there. My guests for October have just had their flights cancelled. We have been permitted to rent out with new cleaning rules since June.
Ohhh how exciting to be going back, are you planning on going to Captiva? I so desperately need a Florida fix, interested to know your plans?
Diane :cool:
Hi Diane, sorry I’ve just seen your reply.
I don’t know! It depends on when it reopens. We’re both fed up and want a lengthy break. A month or more in Captiva is probably our preferred option as we haven’t been for at least two years now, it may even be three.
Does anyone have any idea if the borders might open up anytime this year. Our villa, like many others, stands empty and we can't wait to get back, hate snow and cold weather.
The S.A. variant has been found in quite a few places in the U.S.
It looks as if the U.S. might move onto the list of RED countries which could push visits some way into the future.
Regards Dave
Madabouttigger
24-03-2021, 18:19
I’ve just seen on the news that Airlingus have announced they will start flying back to New York and Orlando in June this year, have also been told that you can get ESTAs again, so perhaps things are starting to move forward at last.
Oh I do hope so, can't wait to get back to our Florida home.
Katys Grandad
25-03-2021, 18:25
I’ve just seen on the news that Airlingus have announced they will start flying back to New York and Orlando in June this year, have also been told that you can get ESTAs again, so perhaps things are starting to move forward at last.
A new Aer Lingus Manchester-Orlando service starts on 29 July and will run 5 flights a week Thursday to Monday. They are bookable now on their website.
Incidentally, if anybody has BA Avios they should be usable on these flights although no redemption rates are available yet..
I’ve just booked Virgin flights to Orlando for August. If it turns out we can’t use them, they allow us multiple changes. Now looking for a villa for the month, but not sure if the owners can be as flexible as Virgin. Fingers crossed.
Madabouttigger
28-03-2021, 18:12
I’ve just booked Virgin flights to Orlando for August. If it turns out we can’t use them, they allow us multiple changes. Now looking for a villa for the month, but not sure if the owners can be as flexible as Virgin. Fingers crossed.
We are now rebooked for March 2022, just two years later than the original plan, keeping fingers crossed.
Funshine
11-04-2021, 08:48
I saw some really good prices flying Virgin Atlantic for August too, very tempted to book them, especially as we now have September available!!
ujpest doza
26-04-2021, 17:58
I’ve just seen on the news that Airlingus have announced they will start flying back to New York and Orlando in June this year, have also been told that you can get ESTAs again, so perhaps things are starting to move forward at last.
We renewed our ESTA's last July, they've never stopped you renewing them, you just can't use them!!
Madabouttigger
06-05-2021, 16:55
Just booked flights with Virgin for March 2022, fingers crossed third time lucky we get there this time.
Margaret
07-05-2021, 07:10
Just booked flights with Virgin for March 2022, fingers crossed third time lucky we get there this time.
Fingers crossed for you Diane
Just booked flights with Virgin for March 2022, fingers crossed third time lucky we get there this time.
Good luck with it Diane, I’m sure it should be ok by then. I’ve still got fingers crossed for our August trip - due to fly 31 July. We’ve got the flights and villa booked, the parrot and dogs booked into boarding for a month. I’ve had my 2nd jab, got the NHS app (which will likely be the vaccine passport) on my phone and applied for the global entry programme. Mrs T gets her 2nd jab later this month, so all looking good - all we need now is Boris and Fauci to agree we can go....
If that fails, we will probably switch it to a month over Christmas, but we’re really looking for sunshine and lots of heat. I’m kind of relying on the airlines to keep putting lots of pressure both sides of the Atlantic and hopefully we will see some movement soon. Ever an optimist.
Madabouttigger
21-05-2021, 17:55
Fingers crossed Peter, are you staying in Orlando for this trip or off back to Captiva ?
Katys Grandad
17-06-2021, 06:09
I doubt many (if any) will be affected by this but the new Aer Lingus service from Manchester I referred to above has now been put back to 30 September. No big surprise I suppose.
Fingers crossed Peter, are you staying in Orlando for this trip or off back to Captiva ?
Sorry Diane, just seen this. We were planning on Orlando for August, as we may have a couple of teenagers coming along, but it’s all looking precarious now. We have to confirm finally with the Villa owner by end June so she has time to resell our dates if the corridor hasn’t been confirmed. Of course what’s likely is we will have to cancel end June but they will announce opening a week later.
If we do have to cancel we will try to rearrange to spend October in Captiva. (Which actually I think is my preferred option).
Madabouttigger
20-09-2021, 14:55
Looks like it will be November, official announcement to follow 😎
Looks like it will be November, official announcement to follow 😎
Hi Diane.
Well, finally it looks like after several false starts we are going to get away over Christmas. We have booked a villa in Orlando for a month mid December to mid January, will do Captiva hopefully in April or May.
We’re planning for everyone to join us at some point over the Christmas period - with six of us plus various partners with different work requirements it’s all a bit patchy over who will be able to come when, but over a month we should all be able to make it at some point together.
The most frustrating bit just at the minute is organising covid testing. Mrs T and I are flying from Heathrow on 18th December. I have booked flights for my daughter and her friend from Leeds on 27 December. But with the requirement to have a Covid test no more than three days before, it means their test and results have to be done and received on Christmas Eve. That is proving difficult to organise to say the least.
But we will get there in the end I hope! If we have to, I will extend our stay. As long as I have WiFi it really doesn’t matter anymore where I am, so I plan to spend a lot more time in USA.
Hope your plans are working out. It would be nice to meet if ever our trips coincide.
Katys Grandad
11-11-2021, 07:01
That sounds very exciting Peter.
I'm sure I'm not the only member who would love to hear how it all goes in due course. I'm still slightly hesitant about returning in the foreseeable future so anything you can share would be valuable to me especially as I know you are somebody who will provide a balanced account.
Either way, have a great time.
We have booked flights for 2nd to 23d December. I had no idea who to books covid tests with there are so many companies out there doing it. Have booked one now but still looking for the Day 2 test for our return landing on Christmas Eve is going to be a problem. Looking forward to seeing my Villa again.
That sounds very exciting Peter.
I'm sure I'm not the only member who would love to hear how it all goes in due course. I'm still slightly hesitant about returning in the foreseeable future so anything you can share would be valuable to me especially as I know you are somebody who will provide a balanced account.
Either way, have a great time.
Thanks, I will definitely give you feedback. We’re really looking forward to getting away, it has been way too long.
We have booked flights for 2nd to 23d December. I had no idea who to books covid tests with there are so many companies out there doing it. Have booked one now but still looking for the Day 2 test for our return landing on Christmas Eve is going to be a problem. Looking forward to seeing my Villa again.
Hi Lyn
I just wanted to make sure you are aware that Home tests are not accepted for entry into the US unless they are done under video supervision. We are currently here and had a lateral flow antigen test done at Gatwick Airport on the Sunday and flew on the Wednesday. It cost us £35 each.
Madabouttigger
07-01-2022, 16:49
Thanks, I will definitely give you feedback. We’re really looking forward to getting away, it has been way too long. We will be back in March 2022, will do a trip report for you. We will be heading over to the gulf for a long overdue visit.
Katys Grandad
10-01-2022, 10:04
We will be back in March 2022, will do a trip report for you. We will be heading over to the gulf for a long overdue visit.
That would be great Diane and I look forward to reading whatever you post. We're as keen as ever to get over there but like everybody else we're anxious to make sure we won't run into problems.
That would be great Diane and I look forward to reading whatever you post. We're as keen as ever to get over there but like everybody else we're anxious to make sure we won't run into problems.
Just back from a month’s stay. Will give you an update in the next couple of days. Some interesting changes - some annoying, some good, but on the whole, if you were wondering about should you go or not, I would say the answer is yes, definitely go ahead.
Katys Grandad
17-01-2022, 07:27
Your post is much appreciated and I look forward to reading more when you get the time. Thanks again.
Madabouttigger
18-01-2022, 19:48
Thanks so much for this, look forward to reading your comments.
Margaret
19-01-2022, 17:24
I’m also looking forward to reading about your trip, we are hoping to go this May after rearranging twice. Found myself reading old trip reports from this forum to give me my Florida fix😊.
I’m also looking forward to reading about your trip, we are hoping to go this May after rearranging twice. Found myself reading old trip reports from this forum to give me my Florida fix😊.
Apologies, I promise I will write a report. It’s just that since I returned, the world and his wife seems to want all of my time. Plus the jet lag has really got to me this time. Must be an age thing. Will try to write it up this weekend.
Margaret
27-01-2022, 08:04
Apologies, I promise I will write a report. It’s just that since I returned, the world and his wife seems to want all of my time. Plus the jet lag has really got to me this time. Must be an age thing. Will try to write it up this weekend.
I understand, I wasn’t trying to pressure you in any way. I hope you recover from the jet lag soon.
I am in Florida at the moment, very much like the UK in that some people wear masks some don't. The cost of everything has gone up but that is happening everywhere. We are having a great time and are glad to be back. The flight was fine had to wear masks when not eating but that is not a problem when you are not moving about a lot. Immigration was a doddle straight through. Anyone wanting to come over just do it, my family fly out next week to join us and the biggest problem with children is hoping they don't pick Covid up at school, then it's all off.
Lindybob
10-02-2022, 14:40
We've just returned and as Lyn says it is very much like UK with regards to masks. Flights both ways were a breeze and coming home I've never seen the queue so short and move so quick at Orlando International.