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Original poster

Have you got a journey to do on 23 Dec?

35 replies

BecomeStronger · 06/12/2020 20:44

The roads are always awful for the Christmas getaway, but at least usually they're staggered from when the schools break up until Christmas Eve.

I can't imagine the gridlock on 23 Dec this year, or are most people deciding not to travel to family this year?

OP posts:
Itstartedinbarcelona · 06/12/2020 20:47

We are going to PIL on Xmas morning (2 hour drive) I’m hoping everyone else will be going on Xmas Eve and the roads will be clear.

larry5 · 06/12/2020 20:52

We are driving from Somerset to just outside the M25 in Surrey to collect DS1 who is coming to stay until the 27th. We decided it was better to do that than let him come down by train as we hope that there is less risk that way. He lives on his own and we haven't seen him since August although as a teacher he is exposed to teenagers every day.

LindaEllen · 06/12/2020 20:54

We're not travelling anywhere this year. Choosing to be at home, just the two of us, for the first time ever.

We believe this is the sensible thing to do, and I think lots of other people will feel the same way.

Heyahun · 06/12/2020 21:06

Gawd no I’m staying in my own house and won’t be visiting or travelling anywhere 😂

drspouse · 06/12/2020 21:09

We're avoiding it; we have a cottage in my parents' town booked for the 22nd but we and they are in Tier 3 so if it stays that way we aren't going. If we are both in Tier 2 by then we'll travel on the 22nd.

WildOrchids67 · 06/12/2020 21:10

I'm planning a 3 hour drive to my family on the 23rd, finish work at 2.30pm then on the way shortly afterwards. Hadn't thought about how busy the roads might be, I'm more concerned about the weather to be honest.

Thefaceofboe · 06/12/2020 21:23

We are travelling to my parents but not till the 24th, which is 300 miles away. We have done this for years and never had bad traffic, but I imagine it’ll be different this year.

bigpricklyfern · 06/12/2020 21:33

Nope. Staying at home this year. I’m sad about that, but glad to avoid the traffic!

Gilead · 06/12/2020 22:43

I’ve got an operation on the 23rd!

TheChosenTwo · 07/12/2020 00:39

All family we would be seeing at Christmas live locally to us, maximum of a 5 minute drive away so we never do long drives for Christmas! Good luck to those of you planning journeys.

Thickhead · 07/12/2020 01:00

Yup. Driving from the South West to Luton and dreading it.

Fruggalo · 07/12/2020 01:04

Vast majority of people I know who would usually travel to see family aren’t going (on the basis the virus isn’t disappearing for five days and the three family rule is too tricky so easier not to do anything). It may even itself out and not be any worse than usual

BestOption · 07/12/2020 01:05

All the way from the bed to the sofa!! & eventually back again, but probably not until the next day. Side trips to the bathroom & kitchen... if the traffic isn't too hideous.

Please take care if you're travelling 🤗

DappledThings · 07/12/2020 08:27

We are going to do the 4 hours to my parents but they have now said they would prefer we don't come.

We would have left around 19.30 so DC sleep the whole way and hoped for the roads to be fairly clear but it was a worry. I'm going to watch our route on live travel on the 23rd just to see how it would have been!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/12/2020 08:39

Nope, decided against seeing family this year. I finish work on the 23rd, I'll be going home and staying there then.

SnuggyBuggy · 07/12/2020 08:44

This is why we've decided to stay put this year. The traffic is bad enough in a normal year.

Ragwort · 07/12/2020 08:47

Just going to work - retail Grin

TeenPlusTwenties · 07/12/2020 08:49

They said on BBC this morning that traffic is expected to be down considerably on normal years (about half I think).

FizzyPink · 07/12/2020 08:49

I’m attempting the train to my parents so that DP can join me with the car on Boxing Day and I’m now really regretting the amount of presents I’ve bought Blush

CallmeAngelina · 07/12/2020 08:51

I wonder how they predict things like that though, especially in a year like this one, where there is no precedent.

TeenPlusTwenties · 07/12/2020 08:55

Callme I would imagine they do surveys like:

  1. are you travelling for Christmas this year? 1b) if yes then on what days
  2. do you usually travel for Christmas 2b) if yes then on what days

Relatively straightforward.

There was something about 'undecideds' on the news too.

Valkadin · 07/12/2020 08:57

No because it’s a 500 mile round trip plus MIL is 80 and though DH campus seems to be ok plus the students are being tested etc we have all decided safer for us not to see her. Plus a huge amount of both our families live overseas.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 07/12/2020 09:00

Not until boxing day. Probably both ways as I'm not sure about overnights. 200milesish.

Officially tier 3 to tier 2. But one of those tier 3 areas where cases are relatively low. None of us do high risk activities. The riskiest being Primary school.
My parents want to see their grandchildren. That's why I'm doing it.

EmmaStone · 07/12/2020 09:06

My parents coming to us, don't know yet when they'll come, whether they'll decide to just come for the day on Xmas, or whether they'll stay a couple of nights. Then 3.5hr drive to see PIL on 27th, think that day could be pretty grim traffic-wise, but there you go.

Scarby9 · 07/12/2020 09:13

I have what would usually be a three hour drive BUT the Tesco delivery at our rented apartment is due at 10am (booked before we knew we wouldn't be allowed to go until the 23rd) and I can't risk not being there for that so I am planning on leaving here about 5am.

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