Among the green countries, you can visit Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece • Certificates of testing and maintaining hygiene - we went out to check what it is like to vacation in the days of Corona

• Arena. Beaches, pools and everything that Israelis love

At the beginning of last week, the outline came into force, under which anyone who returns from green countries, about 20 countries on the list, will be able to return to Israel without the need for isolation. From the list of green countries, three allow Israelis to enter: Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece. We went to Bulgaria to see how the process works, how many Israelis jump on the bargain, and if the feeling is really like a vacation.

Ben Gurion Airport - fast and simple

The corona tests are currently being conducted by the health funds. In Bulgaria, a test performed in the last 72 hours is requested, in Croatia - in the last 48 hours. The tests are currently free, but from the beginning of next month they will move to the private market, which means that Corona tests before the flight will be performed for a fee. The price starts at $ 50 and also reaches NIS 1,300, depending on the urgency of the test and where it is performed. Among the bodies that will offer the test are the various hospitals and private laboratories. It is expected that the prices of private tests will fall as competition increases.

By the end of the month, it is possible, as mentioned, to perform the corona tests through the health funds. It is important to emphasize during the test that this is a test intended for a flight abroad, and that your names will be written in English next to the passport number. At Ben Gurion Airport you will need to present the test form during the check-in process. There are two small duty free shops on sleeves B and C at Ben Gurion Airport, where you can buy from a relatively limited supply of alcohol, perfumes, makeup and sweets. Most restaurants are closed, as are the electrical stores. Flight and landing at the destination

On the Israir flight to Bulgaria where we flew, it was mandatory to wear masks throughout the two and a half hours until arriving in Bulgaria. Some of the passengers who allowed themselves to take off the mask during the flight were asked to wear it back, both on the mouth and on the nose, even though everyone who was on the plane underwent corona tests and got a negative result. His plane, by the way, is disinfected between flights.

Photo: Shimon Yaish // Editing: Eden Barel

In a conversation with Omri Gilboa, one of the two pilots on a flight to Bulgaria, he talks about the feelings of returning and flying tourists: "The plane is almost full, there are 160 passengers and we are very happy that the sky has opened and new destinations will open. The people of Israel are on vacation. The corona period is challenging and not easy. Israelis are vacationing and enjoying themselves. " There is no service on the flight, no food, and bottles of water are distributed at the entrance to the plane. Immediately upon landing at the destination, the passengers are transferred to the process of verifying the corona tests. The whole process, including the usual inspection processes, lasts about an hour, after which the long-awaited vacation begins - the smell of a foreign land in the air. Enjoy and be saved

After more than half a year in which Israelis did not go on vacation abroad and after the summer seemed lost, about a thousand Israelis managed to go on the long-awaited vacation in the first week, and later on he expects several more thousands to take advantage of the hot summer days. Most of the Israelis who come to Varna visit the International Hotel, which is also the only active casino in the city. In a conversation with Aharon Ben Zino from Acre and Eli Nevo from Kiryat Bialik, who came with their families to vacation in Varna, they talk about the feelings.

"We follow the instructions and vacation next to it. We really enjoy it. The feeling is not exactly like it was before the Corona, but it's worth it in a big way. There was no fear in the flight and there is no fear here. We highly recommend Israelis to come here and relax, we are already planning the destination the next". As we talk, one of the couple shouts in the background, "We want to cry that the vacation is over, fun here in an indescribable way." Kfir Yifrach from Bat Yam also tells about the vacation, "We were closed for a long time because of this epidemic. Vacations are an asset to the soul. We invest our money in trips and we are very happy that it is back. Very fun here and it is a quarter of the price from Eilat."

In conversations with the Bulgarians, they say that they were very much waiting for the Israelis to return. Boriana Cristova, a Bulgarian worker at the International Hotel who treats the Israeli public because she speaks Hebrew, says of the excitement: "I love Israelis so much, I lived in Ness Ziona for five years. I am so glad you are coming back. Everyone here is happy to see the Israelis, it brings us back Light and joy and we are waiting for you to keep coming, we missed you very much. "

In every corner of the malls, the pool in the hotel or the shops on the street there are disinfectants and alcohol, along with signs where you want to keep a distance of a meter and a half from each other. The restaurants in Bulgaria are open, but for outdoor seating only. There are no parties, there are bars and they also sit outside, but what is really important to Israelis is the shopping that is completely open, the casino that is active and of course the pools and beaches, where you can relax and spend almost without restrictions.

Prices and forecast for the future

Currently, flight prices are low. Prices for flights to Greece, Bulgaria and Croatia, to all cities in those countries, range around $ 200 per passenger. Flight prices change from time to time, but this is usually the price.

You can buy complete packages starting at $ 350 per passenger, prices will increase depending on the choice of hotel and the length of the vacation, but a weekend in Varna can cost about NIS 1,300 per person in a double room, including flights and a high-class hotel.

We are approaching the first two weeks in the open sky layout, and these three countries are expected to be joined by more countries, if not in the next few days then probably in the next two weeks, depending on the morbidity rate in the country. Negotiations are underway with Georgia, Italy, Cyprus and other countries.

Tourism companies report very high demand, and Israelis are filling the planes with a last-ditch attempt to spend the summer abroad. Prices are not expected to rise drastically soon, but as mentioned, the testing system is expected to change and cost us a few hundred shekels. "To.