Yes, I know. Ireland is not welcoming tourists until July 19, and so arriving July 18 falls under the old rules.

Please critique the following plan:

1. We get a PCR test on July 16 in D.C., before flying direct Philadelphia-Dublin on July 17/arriving Dublin the morning of July 18. (We can't change the flight date).
2. We fill out the required Travel Locator form to reflect 1 night at a hotel near the Dublin Airport, then 13 nights in a lodging in Cork.
3. On July 19, we will leave our Dublin Airport hotel and return to the airport, and try to see if Irish authorities at the airport will now allow us to show our proof of vaccination and skip the 6-day-quarantine-with-negative-PCR-test-results. (We figure it couldn't hurt to ask.)
4. Assuming we fail to get the authorities to allow us in under the July 19 rules, we proceed by public transit to our rented Cork lodgings. Then, after 5-6 days in Cork, we get a new PCR test, and we are "free"!

We have many concerns, including the following, and could use advice:
A. Can we really get on public transportation to Cork, if we are required to quarantine?
B. Our current "vaccine passport" is our State of California "Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record" which includes a QR code. There isn't a means at present for us to obtain an EU Vaccine Passport, right?
C. Any advice on finding lodging in Cork? We won't have a car. We like to walk. We'd like quiet and comfortable, with private bath, but no more than about $1200 per week.

Thanks!

I don't know for sure but I honestly don't see how your step #3 can work. The authorities who check one's documentation, pcr tests, quarantine arrangements, etc are airside. If that's so, you wouldn't have access because you need a boarding pass for the same day to go airside. But that's probably the least of the complications. If you arrive on the 18th wouldn't you need to meet the requirements in place on 18 July. I doubt they would retroactively change the rules after the fact. But who knows???

Question B is a non-issue. Anyplace in Europe that is allowing US leisure visitors is accepting the CDC covid card - the digital version/QR code isn't even required.

Sorry, won`t work. I am in Dublin now, having arrived about 10 days ago. You are NOT allowed to leave your address for 14 days so going back to the airport is breaking the law. Anyway, a waste of effort as it is the law and the agents have no authority to negotiate.

I`d also warn hat Ireland has a history of changing its mind re `freedom` dates. I`ll see if I can find latest articles defining what `travel freedom` entails and if it is likely to happen.

regards

Regarding Cork, you don't have a place to stay for 14 days? How many of you? My favorite place in Cork is Ballycotton Luxury holiday homes in the beautiful tranquil setting of Ballycotton Cork - Holiday Homes Cork Kevin Cooper 335(0)873690239 You can take train to Midleton, then cab it to Ballycotton. Most walkable sea village close to Ballymaloe. buses but a cab great there also. They are just opening up to eat and not sure how they feel about visitors from the US but Kevin will let you know. Midleton has Jamison and not sure if they are open for tours. I would really try and change the flight date.

But, isn't it an option to do a PCR test after 5 days, rather than quarantine the entire 14 days? BTW, thanks so much for sharing your experience.

So, I had the PCR test before leaving UK. Then booked a PCR test after 5 days on line (free), which was clear. Then I got a text from the health services to say that someone on my flight had the COVID variant. When I called them, they wanted me to take another test today (day 10).

BTW, I also have my two jabs.

I am not sure what the quarantine rules are for pax arriving from US. Theoretically, from July 19th, Ireland will accept pax from USA as follows:

Travel to Ireland

Ireland will begin welcoming U.S. tourists, vaccinated or not, on July 19.

Those who can provide proof of vaccination can skip the testing and quarantine rules. Unvaccinated travelers or those wishing to travel before July 19 will be required to present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours and quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

There are no curfews in place, but masks are required on public transportation, indoors and outside where social distancing is not possible.

BTW: there is a rumor that indoor dining will be deferred for another two weeks

Hope this helps. I think the situation is `fluid`. can you change your flight to 19th?

"(We can't change the flight date)"

You 'can't' because of why? If it is that you have non-refundable/non-changeable tickets, that likely just means you can't get a cash refund. If there is some other reason you can't change your dates - is it more a 'don't want to'?

If you truly can't change your flight date til a day or two later, If it was me - I'd cancel and take Future Travel Voucher and plan a trip sometime in the future.

. . . And it doesn't necessarily have to be a FTV. Depending on airline odds are your flight has been rescheduled several times since you booked it and on most airlines currently, more than a 4 hour re-schedule allows you to cancel/get a refund.

These were frequent flyer miles used for biz class. Very hard to get any date. The flight is on American Airlines, but through OneWorld, and American Airlines makes it extremely difficult to use OneWorld miles. If I cancel this trip date, I don't think the miles will be worth much of anything in the future.

If it was me -- I'd redeposit the miles and go next year . . .

Can you fly on another One World airline and use your points? The reason I ask is that there seems to be availability in business class on British Airways.

They probably don't 'want' to use BA metal because of the extra fees they charge.

True, but what does it cost to quarantine in a hotel for what, 10 or 14 days?

I agree - that's why I put the want in ' ' - they could move their dates, they could fly a different airline, they could cancel and re-book for next year. They don't want to. I sure wouldn't want to fly into DUB 18 July with the hope that I could get around the rules.

I have another question**:

I am concerned about completing the Irish government mandatory Travel Locator until I know what it actually stipulates, but I've never seen a copy of it, and I don't seem to be able to view it in advance of completing it. Am permitted to spend one night at a Dublin airport hotel and then use public transport to a long-term quarantine location in Cork. ? (The night in Dublin and the travel would fall within the 72-hour PCR test window).

**It's definitely worth it to us to quarantine for 5 days, or even 10, as reported by OReilly64. We don't actually expect to bypass the rules in place pre-July 19. Just hoping maybe there'd be some leeway, but we are not expecting it.