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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:
Whatamesshaslunch · 05/10/2018 17:43

To the previous person who asked about stockpiling food - without being a scaremongerer, yes it would be sensible to have a few things in just in case there is an issue. My OH works in supply chain for a major retailer, and we will start to put some bits in the garage.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2018 17:44

Blimey, I knew about the editor change but I didn’t know the editorial line had changed so much. Are they really pro- remain now?

Ta1kinpeace · 05/10/2018 17:45

Helmet
Yup. Private Eye is loving it

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2018 17:47

I’m going to have to hold my nose and have a look!

Ta1kinpeace · 05/10/2018 17:49
Grin
TonTonMacoute · 05/10/2018 17:54

The EU earns millions from British tourists, they are not going to be putting up a no entry sign.

There are loads of countries who don’t need visas to go to Europe for holidays, including America and Japan, there is no way they will make Brits apply for one. There may be an extra charge of 7euros.

Stop panicking, and most importantly, stop reading the Daily Mail.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2018 17:56

No no I’m going to start reading the daily mail!

theymademejoin · 05/10/2018 17:58

@Penguin34 - All reminds me of the millennium bug

In what way? In the fact that both require a shitload of work to be completed in advance in order to avoid total chaos?

Difference is, for the millennium bug, that the shitload of work started long in advance of the deadline and was completed in time to avoid chaos. In contrast, the approach to Brexit seems to be closing your eyes really tightly and repeatedly stating that it will be all okay. Not a particularly effective approach generally.

theymademejoin · 05/10/2018 18:05

@TonTonMacoute - There are loads of countries who don’t need visas to go to Europe for holidays, including America and Japan,

Why do you think these people are allowed in without visas? Do you not think that maybe some form of agreement was reached between the relevant countries?

If there is a no deal brexit then, in order for British to be allowed ever the EU without visas, some form of agreement will need to be reached. That will take time. How long, I don't know but these agreements will need to be reached with many, many counties as the UK currently operates under EU agreements with outside countries. These will no longer apply in a no deal situation.

TonTonMacoute · 05/10/2018 18:12

If there is a no deal brexit then, in order for British to be allowed ever the EU without visas, some form of agreement will need to be reached.

If...

Havanananana · 05/10/2018 18:15

Honestly all this panicking! We are not going to be stopped travelling around the globe!

The UK has decided that it wants to lose the benefits of being able to travel freely around Europe - it is not a decision made by the EU. Yet again, Brexiters seem unable to grasp the concept that voting to end the ability to freely and easily travel means that travel will no longer be free and easy.

We are not going to be made prisoners on our little island.

One of the conspiracy theories is that Brits are indeed going to be made prisoners on a fenced-in island. The Berlin Wall / Iron Curtain was not built to keep the foreigners out of the Eastern Bloc - it was intended to keep the population in. Even if that sounds a bit far-fetched, there are those of us who are old enough to remember that there were limits on the amount of currency that one could take out of the country, which in effect limited most people to one short trip abroad each year. If the pound plummets and people look to move their assets out of the UK (ask Redwood or Rees-Mogg for more on this) it is far from unlikely that the government would impose similar restrictions in 2019.

The worst that will happen is we will find our selves in a slower immigration queue and we will need to either apply for a visa online or fill in a paper document on the plane to identify who we are and where will be staying whilst holidaying.

The worst that can happen is that British citizens cannot leave the UK until some sort of agreement or system is put in place. (Ignoring for now the issues with aviation and ferries etc).

'The slower immigration queue' - 240 people arriving on a plane, each taking 5 minutes at the Immigration Desk, would represent 20 person/hours of work - i.e. with 20 officers on duty, it would take an hour to clear the queue. Many places I fly into have a maximum of 5 immigration desks, often fewer. It might take 4-5 hours to clear just one plane-load.

There is no online service for applying for a Schengen Visa - it is still being developed with a planned 2020 introduction date, and it was never scoped with the issue of 58 million UK visitors in mind. Likewise, what system will be in place in the EU to print, distribute, collate and check 58 million pieces of paper?

Nousernamefound · 05/10/2018 18:18

It will be fine. I really can’t inagine that all the remaining EU countries are prepared to loose billions in tourist trade by not allowing people to travel.

busyhonestchildcarer · 05/10/2018 18:22

It is not scaremongering.I live in France and we have lots of info coming through from here.At the end of the day noone knows anything.Trying to live here without fear of being set back isnt fun

frankiestein401 · 05/10/2018 18:23

the eu countries earn much more in tourism from the other eu. countries than from the uk.
'breaking' club rules to give the uk special status has far more impact - they wont do it - why should they?

theymademejoin · 05/10/2018 18:25

@TonTonMacoute - yes, if..

What do you think this discussion is about if not what will happen if there is no deal? Obviously if there is a deal, then agreements will be made in advance of brexit. Unfortunately, there is no deal,or sign of a deal, at the moment.

MadMadaMim · 05/10/2018 18:26

Funniest thread in years

theymademejoin · 05/10/2018 18:28

@Nousernamefound - It will be fine. I really can’t inagine that all the remaining EU countries are prepared to loose billions in tourist trade by not allowing people to travel.

I'm not sure whether it's the arrogance or the ignorance of that statement that bothers me most.

ChipmunksInAttic · 05/10/2018 18:29

why don’t you just apply for the visa? i am turkish and need a visa to go to european countries anyway and usually can get it in two weeks. should be easier for you i’d imagine :) I wouldn’t worry too much. good luck!

Havanananana · 05/10/2018 18:30

I really can’t inagine that all the remaining EU countries are prepared to loose billions in tourist trade by not allowing people to travel.

European politicians and businesses have repeatedly stated that the integrity of the EU outweighs any losses incurred by the UK's withdrawal. The EU is not going to change any of the fundamental rules just to accommodate a member that has decided to leave.

Of course it will be possible to travel to the EU in the future, but the practicalities of how this will happen, or even when this will be possible, have yet to be agreed. There are no magic systems in place that can be turned on in March - neither the EU or UK has any idea about what they should be planning and there are only 6 months left.

frankiestein401 · 05/10/2018 18:31

what it boils down to is that our (male) politicians who got us here simply dont have the cojones to admit they were wrong., theyd rather trash the country.

i thought public schools were supposed to instil honour, or is it just the Americans who hold to 'i cannot tell a lie: As for boris, fox, davis, mogg et al the 'englishman's word is his bond' thing must have been covered whilst they were japing in the cloisters.

user1467536289 · 05/10/2018 18:35

Does anyone remember the Millenium Bug Y2K? The resolution was to use the full date in computer programmes and not abbreviate it!! We all woke up on 1st January 2000 and guess what?? The computer's worked, we had email and were able go to work, switch on our PC's and access the work we had left the previous day/week!! We are not going to be excluded from the rest of the world or Europe - but some people won't believe that unless it's written in a newspaper! Guess what - we were able to travel all over the world/Europe before we joined the EU - and we are not going to be excluded from doing that after we leave. Chinese whispers, and He said/She said Playground level gossip is scaremongering. Grow Up!!

Havanananana · 05/10/2018 18:38

why don’t you just apply for the visa? i am turkish and need a visa to go to european countries anyway and usually can get it in two weeks.

Until 29th March, British citizens cannot apply for a visa - they are EU citizens and don't need one.

After 29th March, if there is a No Deal Brexit, British citizens might well have to apply for a visa. There is no system in place that can cope with 18 million applications between 30th March and the summer holidays, so your 2-week turnaround time will be very optimistic.

BunsyGirl · 05/10/2018 18:45

For those saying that we will all be stuck in the U.K., that is absolutely ridiculous. There will be nothing preventing us from flying West. Just book a holiday to the USA, Canada etc and you will be fine.

MiddlingMum · 05/10/2018 18:46

There's no way I'd book a holiday in the EU for several months after Brexit. Nobody knows what the situation will be, and the EU have no reason to be helpful - they would have preferred the UK to stay, and it voted instead to mess things up entirely. There are no definite plans to sort visas out, and no reliable information about what will need to be done.

Still, the will of the people .................

Talkstotrees · 05/10/2018 18:46

Does anyone remember the Millenium Bug Y2K? The resolution was to use the full date in computer programmes and not abbreviate it!! We all woke up on 1st January 2000 and guess what?? The computer's worked, we had email and were able go to work, switch on our PC's and access the work we had left the previous day/week!! We are not going to be excluded from the rest of the world or Europe - but some people won't believe that unless it's written in a newspaper! Guess what - we were able to travel all over the world/Europe before we joined the EU - and we are not going to be excluded from doing that after we leave. Chinese whispers, and He said/She said Playground level gossip is scaremongering. Grow Up!!

Weird how some people can write but are unable to read Confused