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Original poster

Do you anticipate being able to leave the U.K., either for work or play, in 2021?

53 replies

BoogleMcGroogle · 26/01/2021 12:43

If I’d been asked this even a week ago, my answer would have been ‘sure, France in August and maybe a Christmas market’. I would have assumed work trips Stockholm in March and Singapore in May would be moved online.

Now I’m increasingly thinking it’ll be another summer holiday in Norfolk ( fingers crossed!) and not seeing my best friend, living in Perth, for yet another year.

It seems that foreign travel, either in or out, is off the agenda for the foreseeable.

What are you anticipating? Am I just being a pessimistic Peggy?

OP posts:
Whythesadface · 26/01/2021 12:45

Did you see the 10 day hotel quarantined stay plan, at your expense?
Is it really worth the money this year, when we do get sunshine in the UK?

Purplethrow · 26/01/2021 12:45

I haven’t even thought about going abroad this year, I don’t want to be disappointed.

Medusastill · 26/01/2021 12:59

No. Or not where I want to go. My DS1 is in Australia and I miss him dreadfully but can't see us being allowed there (or him home) this year :(

My brother is due to marry his Italian Fiancee in May ..in Italy. Can't see that happening either (already rescheduled from last August)

I think it wil be at least a year before travel for leisure is up and running again.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 26/01/2021 12:59

I've sadly resigned myself to staying at home again this year. The way things are currently going, even a night in a hotel in my own town, or just up the road, will feel like a holiday.

Original poster
BoogleMcGroogle · 26/01/2021 13:01

whythesadface I agree, it’s probably not worth the disappointment and certainly not if it’s reckless. Although we are desperately missing family in France and not seeing for yet another year the person who has been my closet friend for 37 years makes me well up.

We loved our Norfolk holiday last year, but I would dispute your ‘sunshine’ assertion Grin

OP posts:
JaninaDuszejko · 26/01/2021 13:01

If I get to go to Scotland this year I'll be happy. Planning for going abroad in 2022.

TottiePlantagenet · 26/01/2021 13:03

I had a dream of lifetime trip to Italy planned for Oct this year, I'm doubting that we'll get to go now.

But tbh, given all the upheaval and difficulties in other areas of life, foreign travel is quite low down on my list of priorities and things to worry about unfortunately. We don't always go abroad on holiday, but am terribly missing the opportunity of it.

Snowjive2 · 26/01/2021 13:06

DS2, 18, is off to start uni in USA in August. Unless things change, he’ll have to go alone. I’m trying not to think about it Sad

Stompythedinosaur · 26/01/2021 13:07

No, I think it is pretty unlikely that we will get to a point this is a good idea.

We have a UK holiday booked (pushed forwards from last summer) and I'm not feeling particularly certain we'll be able to do that either.

zafferana · 26/01/2021 13:11

I agree OP, although I was less optimistic a week ago, but as the new year dawned I felt certain that we'd be able to travel abroad this summer, now I fear that another year will pass without us setting foot outside the UK. Looking overseas though, the nations that have controlled their epidemics and can enjoy a semblance of normal life, at least within their own borders, inc. children back at school, people back at work, able to go on domestic holidays, meet their friends and family socially, etc, are those where the borders are closed. Perhaps that's the price we need to pay for getting things under control here and, personally, although I LOVE to travel and can't wait to be able to do so again, it's a price I'd willingly pay at this point if it meant all other areas of life were able to return to normal within a few months.

Crashnburn · 26/01/2021 13:15

I’ve got a holiday booked but more than prepared for it to be cancelled again.
I’ll be happy if I can see my family who live a 4 hour drive away to be honest.

treeeeemendous · 26/01/2021 13:18

I agree Sad I love travelling and had high hopes for our holidays that were moved from last year to this but I think it's looking increasingly unlikely . We probably won't bother with a holiday if that's the case. I don't particularly enjoy U.K. holidays. The weather is too unpredictable. I'm not keen on self catering here as eating out every night tends to be very expensive here and I am not cooking on holiday. I find it harder to find activities that the teens would like to do with us and I would be wary of booking any accommodation with a pool as I would be anticipating rain. Would rather save my money for next year.

LaPoesieEstDansLaRue · 26/01/2021 13:23

In a word, no. I'm not even confident booking a UK holiday as rules and regulations seem so unpredictable.

Scbchl · 26/01/2021 13:26

We were meant to be at a wedding abroad last July and it's been moved to this year. I dont think it will happen. Our holiday in October last year was moved to this year and I dont think it will go ahead either.

Hopefully next year things will be better. I hope xmas this year though will be better than last and we can see more family

AnnPerkins · 26/01/2021 13:26

@zafferana

I agree OP, although I was less optimistic a week ago, but as the new year dawned I felt certain that we'd be able to travel abroad this summer, now I fear that another year will pass without us setting foot outside the UK. Looking overseas though, the nations that have controlled their epidemics and can enjoy a semblance of normal life, at least within their own borders, inc. children back at school, people back at work, able to go on domestic holidays, meet their friends and family socially, etc, are those where the borders are closed. Perhaps that's the price we need to pay for getting things under control here and, personally, although I LOVE to travel and can't wait to be able to do so again, it's a price I'd willingly pay at this point if it meant all other areas of life were able to return to normal within a few months.
I agree with all of your post @zafferana. I caught the end of someone saying similar on the radio yesterday: we can aim to be either a country with domestic freedom and no international travel or international travel and no domestic freedom.

I daren't even assume we can travel from England to Scotland or Wales this year so to limit the risk as much as possible I've booked two cottages in England for August. They have free cancellation policies in case we are back/still in some sort of lockdown by then.

Peridot1 · 26/01/2021 13:28

Much as I’d love to I can’t see it happening.

My family are in Ireland and I haven’t seen them for a year. Longest time ever. They are thinking of bringing in mandatory quarantine and if they do it may be in place for a year. My dad was diagnosed with cancer last year too. Very hard to think I may not see him again this year.

Best friend is in Australia. I usually go every year.

And I would love a week of sun and beach.

DisaL · 26/01/2021 13:30

Somebody I work with is going on holiday tomorrow! I can't understand how it's even possible. They booked flights and accommodation separately and the resort they are going to is open for holidays. The airline won't give the money back as the flight isn't cancelled so they're taking the chance and going. We've had about 100 phone calls where we all keep saying that its illegal but its like talking to a brick wall!!

Original poster
BoogleMcGroogle · 26/01/2021 13:42

DisaL WTAF?! Have they not read the papers for a year or so. That's a bold move, if ever there was one!

We were considering booking a cottage in the Highlands, then considered the possibility of not being allowed to cross the boarder. Maybe we'll make it to Northumberland. I like it there, and so does my anorak.

When I see my best friend in Perth, leading a normal life and running her business, I miss her but feel she's in the right place at the moment.

OP posts:
zafferana · 26/01/2021 13:44

I caught the end of someone saying similar on the radio yesterday: we can aim to be either a country with domestic freedom and no international travel or international travel and no domestic freedom.

Yeah, I think this is the reality that's finally dawning on us all @AnnPerkins. Bloody depressing, but honestly at this point I'd gladly give up foreign travel for a year if we could all just live normally again. If we could see our friends and families, get our kids back to school and sports clubs, have domestic holidays, allow the NHS to get back to functioning normally so non-Covid illness could be treated again, go shopping, go to the pub, eat out in restaurants, get rid of masks and social distancing. This month I've suddenly starting to see how people are living in Australia and NZ and I'm desperate for us to have that normal life back here too. A normal summer - we can have that if we just close the borders, keep vaccinating and all agree to just stay here in the UK for now.

AnnPerkins · 26/01/2021 13:58

It's a crap choice no doubt about it. And so hard for people who are missing seeing their families abroad.

StrangerHereMyself · 26/01/2021 13:59

I’m quite hopeful for a trip abroad in October half term, but not hopeful enough to actually book it.
DF has got a cruise booked...

zafferana · 26/01/2021 14:02

@AnnPerkins

It's a crap choice no doubt about it. And so hard for people who are missing seeing their families abroad.
Yep - DH's family is overseas. We haven't seen them since Oct 2019.
TheGoldenCircle · 26/01/2021 14:06

I just don't know. We are all sitting here in Jan saying the year is going to be ruined and we can't go anywhere. But realistically is it? By March/ April the vaccination is going to start and have a downward push on deaths. By summer I reckon we will be in a much, much better place than we are now and were last year. So, with that in mind why can't we go on holiday abroad if other countries are in the same boat, or catch up?

ItsJustTheOneSwanActually · 26/01/2021 15:31

Really hoping we can fly to UK by autumn to see family. Once we’re all vaccinated

amusedbush · 26/01/2021 15:45

DH has three weeks off at the end of June/start of July and another at the start of October. Honestly, I’m not confident that we’ll get away at all this year. We usually go on holiday (or at least short city breaks) 2-3 times a year and the last time we travelled was October 2019, so I will be travelling if it’s safe and practical to do so.