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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we might not be going on holiday next April after all?

569 replies

Hoardernomore · 04/10/2018 13:09

We stupidly booked a holiday to France for about a fortnight after Brexit. I didn’t even consider brexit at the time, I just considered ds’s Easter holidays. It’s to Disneyland Paris and we’ve been waiting to take the children for ages. We’ve only paid the deposit on the hotel (stopping in Disneyland hotel so expensive if we end up not being able to go) but have paid for the flights.

We are idiots.

Would we be best to cut our losses and not pay the balance on the hotel and book for another time?

OP posts:
Luckyme2 · 04/10/2018 13:12

Had this chat with my inlaws the other day who are also going abroad around the same time. I really hope all will be ok, if a little "slower" than normal maybe. Am watching with interest to see what proper advice you get from others though.

1tisILeClerc · 04/10/2018 13:20

You may well risk losing the cost of the flights (check your small print on whatever documents you have, and keep digging until you find out what the situation would be in terms of cancellation).
Disneyland will be open of course so will it's hotels so it is largely a matter of getting there. Ferries, especially if you go as foot passengers are possibly the least likely to be disrupted and of course trains will be running in France.
Keep an eagle eye out for any announcements about possible visas or any other paperwork you might need.
While Mrs May prances about there is no saying what will really happen. You will not be alone!

Original poster
Hoardernomore · 04/10/2018 13:22

Oh yes if we didn’t go we’d lost deposit and the cost of the flights.

I’m just wondering if there’s any point throwing good money after bad. The hotel cost is a couple of thousand pounds and we’ve only paid the deposit so far which I think was about £300.
Dh had a work bonus so we decided to take them. Now I wish we hadn’t.

OP posts:
ManyCrisps · 04/10/2018 13:25

Nothing will happen you will just have to get a visa I wish people would stop scaremongering.

Original poster
Hoardernomore · 04/10/2018 13:25

Will we have time though if brexit kicks in at the end of March and we go about 12 days later?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hoardernomore · 04/10/2018 13:26

It’ll be chaos.

OP posts:
Didthatreallyhappen2 · 04/10/2018 13:29

I truly sympathise that you are concerned, but personally I'm sure everything will be fine. As someone sensibly says, just see if there is extra paperwork. Hope that you have an amazing time.

Costacoffeeplease · 04/10/2018 13:30

As no one knows what will happen, they can’t ‘scaremonger’. Flights and ferried may not be able to operate, it’s a genuine concern in the immediate days and weeks after brexit. I wish people wouldn’t be so dismissive, unless of course they have a crystal ball and know exactly what’s going to happen Hmm

ManyCrisps · 04/10/2018 13:32

Of course you will time and I’m sure they will let you apply before brexit is finalised

fadingfast · 04/10/2018 13:33

Those who say "oh it'll be fine" REALLY don't understand the complexity of the issue and the consequences if there is no deal.

MissBartlettsconscience · 04/10/2018 13:35

Its a big risk Op, I sympathise. When would the rest of the money be due? could you hold off and see if there is any progress by November / December? If there isn't any, it would probably be safer not to pay the rest of the money Sad.

1tisILeClerc · 04/10/2018 13:36

Please ignore ManyCrisps.
SOMETHING will happen so you are right to be concerned. When you have ALL the heads of the UK car manufacturers agreeing that SOMETHING will happen then it is a safe bet that it will. Collectively they are representing something like 2 Million UK workers and their jobs. Trouble is we don't know what yet.
By the time we are into mid November the writing will really be on the wall as some things CAN'T happen after that, so then will be the time to really act if you want to pull out.

Original poster
Hoardernomore · 04/10/2018 13:37

The rest does not have to be paid until I think end of January. I will double check.
I’m a t1 diabetic so probably won’t survive brexit anyway!

OP posts:
Didthatreallyhappen2 · 04/10/2018 13:38

I do understand the complexities of it all, and I still feel it will be OK. A little optimism never hurt anyone. As I said, OP I hope you have an amazing holiday.

EmmaStone · 04/10/2018 13:41

We're flying longhaul during the Easter holidays. I don't think ANYONE will allow a situation where we're deadlocked with no movement allowed between countries - the UK will come to a standstill, which is both political suicide, but also enormously damaging for all the stakeholders involved.

I think if visas are introduced, there could well be a period of grace.

The only thing I've read that raises real doubt over whether we'll still be flying on 30th March is from Michael Ryan, and I don't really feel him to be a reliable source at this stage.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/10/2018 13:42

It'll be fine. I have no qualms about booking my holiday next year as normal

oh4forkssake · 04/10/2018 13:44

I really hope the powers that be don't let the world grind to a halt. I think it would be so cataclysmic I really don't think they can.

I feel your pain though OP. We're supposed to be travelling to an EU member state for a very significant family event at Easter. It will be awful if we can't go - there'll be a lot of disappointment.

I'm an EU citizen (not British) by the way. So there are many levels on which I'm worried....this is just one.

loveka · 04/10/2018 13:45

Of course you will be able to travel. There is no way travel will be stopped, the economy would go into free fall!

1tisILeClerc · 04/10/2018 13:47

OP, As you are flying, check with the airline. If it is EU based (not UK) then the planes and crew are OK to fly GENERALLY. It will be down to the UK government to ensure that EU planes can use UK airports and airspace, which is probably easier than getting UK planes and crew (etc) recertified which could take months.
Easyjet and other airlines are in the process of getting their certifications fully based in the EU.

BobLemon · 04/10/2018 13:48

I asked a travel agent we were looking to book with what they thought was going to happen, and they said their industry had no set plan, but that they all expected (even in a no-deal) that there would be a period of cross-over and that they didn’t expect anything to stop flying overnight. They were trying to take £3k off us though.

We didn’t book, mind you...

HurricaneFloss · 04/10/2018 13:48

I feel so reassured whenever anyone says things will be fine after 29/03/19. What insider knowledge do they have?

LarryFreakinStylinson · 04/10/2018 13:51

Will travel insurance cover the uncertainties of Brexit? Genuine question I don’t know.

cdtaylornats · 04/10/2018 13:52

Consider this - most airlines and Ferry companies and the Eurostar tunnel are owned by EU companies. Not running will cost the EU money. Businesses in the EU will be lobbying politicians hard - the mayor of Stuttgart for example was pointing out to Merkel in a speech that he was having to think of the devastation a potential 150,000 job losses would cause his city.

We keep hearing how big the EU is compared to the UK, but the pain in the EU wont be spread evenly, individual factories, hotels on Spain's Costas, French farmers will be the ones hit.

1tisILeClerc · 04/10/2018 13:55

For those 'poo poohing' the idea of everything stopping, if there is 'no deal' and we crash out then literally at midnight (EU time) on 29th March NOTHING can legally travel, it really is that scary. Any flights or ferries that might be mid travel would have to turn back as they will be uninsured to land in the UK.
It is as unsubtle as chopping your finger off with an axe, there is no 'half measure'.
An airline went into bankruptcy this week, leaving passengers stranded in many countries. It will be like this but ALL airlines and ferries at once.

Notonthestairs · 04/10/2018 13:56

Given that Heathrow have a 2 month contingency plan forBrexit it would be silly for travellers themselves not to at least consider how best to minimise any financial loss. I don't have money to waste.

Things should have moved on by January which will enable you to make a more informed choice.

I wouldn't tell your children about it as yet - will hopefully be a lovely surprise.