would you cancel your long-awaited holiday?

[seethesuninwintertime]

I live in the UK with my American husband and our two sons. dS1 is 19 and at uni. DS2 is 16.

American husband has bought a ticket to go see his mum (hasn't seen her for two years for obvious reasons) in Florida. He leaves Boxing Day for two weeks.

I have booked to join him 2nd January for a week. Needless to say I've been looking forward to a holiday without kids in sunny climes. The 19 year old is happy to be the adult in the house for the week I'm away.

My problem is that (as I understand it) we'll have to take a test two days before returning home and if we are both positive then we won't be able to fly. Which my 19 year old is not going to be happy about.

I can cancel my trip and get a refund so long as there are 3 weeks to go. DH will have to go (to see parent).

it's a bit depressing but given the situation with the children am I pretty much morally obliged to cancel at this point? :(.

Your 16 year olds mates parents need asking nicely to be the back up plan.

I wouldn’t go but it’s all very personal as everyone and their situation is different. One of my adult sons lives in USA with wife and children and I haven’t seen them since summer 2019. We are hanging on for another 6 months at least as, like a previous poster said, worrying about the return problems would spoil the whole holiday.
Thank goodness for FaceTime otherwise my 5 little grandchildren around the world wouldn’t have a clue who I am!
Having said that, the nearer it gets to 3 years since I saw them all I may have a different viewpoint.

Oh arse - seems like I can only get a voucher......

Stupid me

How long is the voucher valid for ? Is it in your name only or could DH use it for future visit?
FWIW I think things will be a lot easier travel wise by the summer ( or sooner if Omicron is just a blip). They'll have to be or there will be no travel industry left.

Rookie I darent look - have got myself stressed over this :(.

I expect everyone is a bit stressed today.

Who were you flying with OP? If it's BA, the vouchers can be used up to the end of 2023.

It's BA zaffer

thank you.

Do you know if they have to be used just on one flight? Florida was an expensive ticket for me.....

I'd cancel for now. I think things are just going to get worse over winter. You can go in a few years when your youngest starts University.

No @seethesuninwintertime, you'll be issued for a voucher in the amount you paid for your flight to Florida. You can then spend it how you wish.

For instance, we had to cancel four flights to Spain for new year. We paid £1400, but the replacement flights for Feb half term were only £1050, so I now have a new voucher, issued after the re-booking was made, for £350, which we can use for another trip in the future.

So I could buy 4 cheaper flights for a family hol??

I do appreciate this help btw

So I could buy 4 cheaper flights for a family hol??

Yes

:)

We're going to FL in a couple of weeks to see DH's family who live out there. We're all nervous about testing positive or rules changing and being stranded or not being able to fly at the last minute, but just going through the demands and hoping for the best really. We've all had our boosters which gives us a bit more confidence (can you manage to get a walk-in for a booster before you go?) In our case though our dc are younger and are coming with us, so at least we'll all be together. Plus I'm also pregnant, so putting off a trip now means probably not flying out again for another year, which feels too long for my ILs to not see their only dgc.
I think your dc are old enough to manage, at least my nephews of that age would be able to, although it's very individual.

Enjoy your trip lumin!

Latest twist here is that the 19 year old is desperate for me to go...... :)
Wants the house adult-free!

How well is his university set up for distance/online learning? I work at one and we're fully expecting half of our students to have varying delays coming back in January. Everything is running face to face but we have live zoom set up for students to join in with lectures and ask questions/contribute if they're isolating. We're also running extra online tutorials just for students stuck in isolation so they have the lecturer's full attention. I assume most universities are expecting there to be delays and have plans in place.

I would definitely go. These travel rules will be in place in some form or other for the foreseeable future. If we want to travel we will have to learn to accept the additional risks.

We are (hopefully) spending Christmas in Florida and if any of us test positive before we return then we’ll have to figure it out.

Ah the dolphins! Are you heading to South Florida?

I'd be reluctant to go because it's Florida, no other reason.

Bangor - what’s wrong with Florida?

@seethesuninwintertime

Bangor - what’s wrong with Florida?

Some mumsnetters are far too good for Florida. Those of us who tend to go there are uncouth and lower class.

:)

@Luredbyapomegranate

Well in that case I would try and agency like universal aunts - or one of the agencies that provides undergrad tutors. They'd provide a responsible adult to be in the house with him.

I’ve never heard of universal aunts before, interesting.