Worried about holidays abroad

[Bluemooninmyeyes1]

Sorry to start a negative thread but I’m genuinely worried about this. I know the projections state that we should all be hopefully vaccinated in the uk by autumn/winter but surely it’s going to take a lot longer for the world to be vaccinated, which is what essentially needs to happen before we can travel safely again.

What are peoples thoughts about future holidays? Do you think travelling abroad will become a pastime of the ‘rich’ again like in the 60s and 70s or do you think the holiday companies will need to make holidaying more affordable to entice people to spend money?

I’m also worried that the government (in light of our economy plummeting) will try to keep holidays abroad illegal for as long as possible to encourage people to holiday in this country to spend money/improve the uk economy.

I was having a browse last night for flights for the end of the year, just for interest really. What I noticed was that flights were more expensive than they were pre-covid, I'm assuming because the industry is trying to recoup some of the losses. But based on that holidays abroad might become the preserve of the rich again, at least for a little while.

I think we may have to resign ourselves to paying more and going less, so I'll just have to save for longer.

Surely there are more important things than holidays abroad? It's no big deal. If you so desperately need a holiday then you can substitute a holiday in the UK.

Travel is going to be substantially more expensive because of Brexit too.

I suppose on the matter of flight costs, unless the price goes up by an order of magnitude, it's not really going to affect people's behaviour.

We typically find that the flight element of a 'week in the sun in Europe' is about 10-20% of the total cost of the holiday, so even if the flight cost doubled, it doesn't increase the overall price by much, percentage-wise at least.

The issue about not being able to travel overseas for leisure purposes is more concerning, although I would expect that countries that are heavily dependent on tourism will be wanting to get their citizens vaccinated ASAP and the look to set up air corridor type arrangments, to get things up and running sooner rather than later.

And before the 'we should all holiday in the UK for the sake of the planet' brigade chime in, the environmental damage caused by a couple of short haul holidays per year is such a drop in the ocean that it's really not worth worrying about, there isn't the capacity for all UK residents to holiday in their own country, and many of us wouldn't bother for more than the occasional short break anyway, because we don't want to pay ££££ for what is likely to be shit weather.

Holidays in the UK don't help when your family is abroad.

I think the airlines will be desperate to get things moving again, however I think people will be desperate to travel again (you only have to read a few threads on here!) so prices may be expensive at first, but it will soon settle. I don’t think it will be for a good year yet though. A lot of countries are scared of our variants.

People adore their holidays and save hard to afford them. Those who have managed to get refunds or save the cash from a holiday they would have had in the last 12 months are raring to go. Yes it will expensive but I think they'll suck it up and pay, maybe go for a cheaper option, self catering etc. For us it'll be a way of celebrating life getting back to normal again. We won't even try for 2021 as are still too worried about restrictions and have got a lot of work backlog to sort out, but will definitely go for it big time in 2022 🎉

@Compey

Surely there are more important things than holidays abroad? It's no big deal. If you so desperately need a holiday then you can substitute a holiday in the UK.

A UK holiday will always be a poor substitute to me because of the unreliability of the British weather.

Sunshine is my main reason for going on holiday. After my Italian holiday was cancelled last year, I still took the annual leave (I've been working all the way through) and, as we were having such an amazing summer, I consoled myself with buying holiday books, holiday food, a bottle of Aperol and I planned a lovely week in the garden pretending I was on holiday.

Naturally it pissed down all week although I'd say a lot of the raindrops were my tears.

And yes. Of course there are more important things to worry about but I've given them more than their fair share of headspace this last year so its a change to contemplate something nice.

Millions of people flying away on holiday twice a year is not "a drop in the ocean". It's a signficant contributor to global warming, which is accelerating at a terrifying rate.

I don't want a holiday in the UK. The unpredictable weather, the fact I am surrounded by the same people, culture, shops...as I am 4 hours down the road. Sitting on a beach in Devon for a week is not my idea of a holiday and I do not give a flying fuck if there are "nice walks" or a teacup museum or bloody chips, I don't like bloody chips or afternoon tea or hills to tramp up. I do not like a British holiday.

For various reasons, we've not had a foreign holiday in a while. You can have fantastic holidays on the UK - there really are some fabulous places to discover. Obviously if you're a sun-seeker, you're going to be disappointed but don't dismiss holidaying here. It may be a great thing if some of the hotels and resorts / attractions up their game to attract those that can't / won't be able to go abroad.

@Compey

Surely there are more important things than holidays abroad? It's no big deal. If you so desperately need a holiday then you can substitute a holiday in the UK.

I hate this shitty attitude. A holiday is what most normal people look forward to all year. For many of us, we like to have guaranteed good weather. You don't get that in the UK. You also pay extortionate prices in the UK for something that isn't as enjoyable as going abroad.

I really, really struggle without sun. It makes me feel so much better. I've never been diagnosed with SAD but I wouldn't be surprised if I had it. I am a different person in winter.

Last year I was lucky. I was furloughed and we had a glorious summer. This year I'm working and I'll have to pick a week and hope it doesn't piss down, that's if there's any accommodation to book anywhere near the coast.

@BarbaraofSeville

I suppose on the matter of flight costs, unless the price goes up by an order of magnitude, it's not really going to affect people's behaviour.

We typically find that the flight element of a 'week in the sun in Europe' is about 10-20% of the total cost of the holiday, so even if the flight cost doubled, it doesn't increase the overall price by much, percentage-wise at least.

The issue about not being able to travel overseas for leisure purposes is more concerning, although I would expect that countries that are heavily dependent on tourism will be wanting to get their citizens vaccinated ASAP and the look to set up air corridor type arrangments, to get things up and running sooner rather than later.

And before the 'we should all holiday in the UK for the sake of the planet' brigade chime in, the environmental damage caused by a couple of short haul holidays per year is such a drop in the ocean that it's really not worth worrying about, there isn't the capacity for all UK residents to holiday in their own country, and many of us wouldn't bother for more than the occasional short break anyway, because we don't want to pay ££££ for what is likely to be shit weather.

Agree. We were booked for Tenerife next month. It’s my ‘shit February ‘ birthday present. We got refunded last week. Our next scheduled health break trip is October . Anyone’s guess. We won’t be doing quarantine hotels, far too detrimental for our mental health, so if that’s the case, we won’t be booking.

@TrustTheGeneGenie
I know exactly where you are coming from.
We spent a shed load a couple of years ago touring Northumberland, central Scotland, the west coast where we had an expensive lochside apartment, then southern Scotland and the lakes.
The first couple of days were very pleasant but once we reached Stirling , just three days in it declined rapidly and pissed down every day.
The day we left the lakes for home the sun came out.
£1500 for two of us. We could’ve had three weeks in glorious sunshine in Tenerife for the same money.
This was end of June / beginning of July.
England was cracking open the bbqs and sweltering while we were eating soggy fish and chips in the rain , in full on winter gear as it was 12 degrees in Oban.

I feel so sorry for the scots. Beautiful country but so often shite weather.
If they can get away good luck to them.

I like holidays in the UK. I also like diving in warm, clear water, eating outside in the evening and sitting around in the sun with a book and a drink or three that didn't cost an arm and a leg.

However much the UK tourist industry 'ups it's game' it's unlikely to give me what I want from a holiday.

Most UK tourist attractions can't even manage sensibly priced good quality food, preferring to offer nasty burgers and charging ridiculous prices for them.

There will also be the issue of a number of people refusing the vaccine and some not being eligible or too young. It means enough of our population won’t be vaccinated so the mutant strains will likely continue to be a real risk for a long time to come.

We holiday in Devon every year in august (in-laws have cottage so it’s cheap). We have been very very lucky with weather in this country for the past years that I can remember but last year was utterly shit. It rained all bloody week, kids were bored, we spent extortionate amounts visiting tourist attractions just for something to do inside and frankly I would rather have stayed at home so on that basis at the absolute first opportunity we shall go abroad for some sun. The UK is not a fun holiday with kids if the weather is crap.

I love holidays abroad but I'm resigned to the fact that they're not going to be possible/desirable for me personally for the next 12-18 months at least.

This summer.... let’s be positive!!! I will not holiday in the U.K. playing thousands.

I would never holiday in the UK again, overpriced and shit weather.

Saving all our money for when we can get to Cyprus again.

May have a picnic in the summer if nice day and allowed

@Compey

Surely there are more important things than holidays abroad? It's no big deal. If you so desperately need a holiday then you can substitute a holiday in the UK.

No thanks. I’ve had one UK break with glorious sunshine - a long weekend in London which we spent cooling off in beer gardens. However, I go on holiday to see new things, experience a different culture, eat new food and to get some guaranteed sun. I’m never going to be happy about spending hundreds of pounds to traipse around another part of the UK.

I would happily holiday in the U.K. but won’t be bothering with going away this year, abroad or U.K. as it’s too likely to be cancelled or places closed due to the virus. We’ll stick with day trips this year.