To go away for Christmas this year?

[InAPrettyCabinet]

Dh and I were having a chat last night and he brought up going away for Christmas.
We've been to Center Parcs several times and the kids love going. We like the slower pace of it all and being able to let them cycle everywhere. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea though.
Dh is torn between wanting to go and feeling bad that we are taking the children away from grandparents and family especially after we've all been separated during this lockdown. (Sorry I had to say it)
I'm of a mind that we can have a get together afterwards and as we live a fair way from half the family it won't matter too much as Christmas for us is often two weeks long just because of the logistics of getting round everyone. This way we will have some time to ourselves (dh and I work in a business that is incredibly busy in the run up to Christmas) and then have everyone round once we get back. We would only be away for four days.
Whilst we are all together at the moment dh is working from home and incredibly busy and I'm still going out to work. The children will be set more work once this half term is over.
The other thing to add is that they wouldn't know until we were actually going.

I'd assume we'd be refunded if it didn't happen?

Have you not read all the horror stories about people losing their holiday money now?!

We are keeping everything crossed that we will be able to go abroad for Xmas and NY this year. Last Xmas was quite boring, and frankly, seeing as we are highly unlikely to have a summer holiday this year, I am counting on being able to live it up at Xmas.

How old are the grandparents? This is going to come in waves. We aren't showing immunity and not to be dramatic but this could be many older etc people's last Christmas.

A lot of the reasons people die, are irrelevant to me and I get my flu jab. I am, like many others now under a real threat. We've missed Easter and summer together. We are making Christmas count this year. Just in case there isn't ever a vaccine.

It's just something to think about, if your children are close to their GPs. But that doesn't stop you having a 'Christmas' on another day of course.

Check out the refund situation, don't assume and think about insurance incase someone has Covid symptoms, because you'll still have to isolate.

You can see by the replies on all these type threads that we are going to get a massive wave again in January.

So movement may be restricted. If there isn't going to be adequate PPE, i think the NHS should strike, why should they die so we can go back to normal?

He's gone and booked it.
Gp are in their early 60's one set have got it.
I guess I hadn't thought about progressing into next year although I did hear about the second wave.

I think that’s a terrific idea personally. Be sure to book lots of things that are completely non-refundable in the intervening months too. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Nice!

I think a lot of govts are anticipating having to have further lockdown as the virus ebbs and flows. I imagine Christmas is likely to be a particularly risky time and there might be limitations on large gatherings and mass travel.

I also think it would be hard on grandparents this particular year to separate them from grandparents.

@Ponoka7 every Christmas is lots of older people's last one.

You are being dramatic. The vast vast majority of people who get covid 19 survive.

Asking on here is a big mistake. Most will tel you lock down will be in place for the next 5 years at least maybe longer and it will get stricter with army patrolling the streets so no, don't ever make any plans for the future as you cannot have one.

Depending how old your kids are I would be cautious about telling them until much closer.

Unless this vaccine is successful and released early autumn or they release the restrictions so much in the summer the majority of people have had it, I would assume we'll be very restricted again in certain periods over next winter to manage NHS capacity.

Businesses are closing. Are centerparcs going to actually survive the lockdown? They won’t be having visitors this summer will they? If they go into receivership you won’t get your money back. I’d say it’s too risky to shell out that much money. FlyBe went down. Warehouse went down. More are going to follow surely?

Id book! We also love CP. i have a booking for June, fingers crossed it will be open. If not, hey-ho but we cant go any other time this year so we’ll have to wait till next year to go. All those people since March wanting to book, so it will have to wait. Date suited us as DD had finished her GCSE.

We’ve been away for Christmas (not Centerparcs) and had really lovely times, but grandparents are very happy and relaxed about ‘celebrating’ Christmas differently, it doesn’t all have to revolve around Dec 25th.

PS; I am early 60s myself and would never expect my adult children to assume I need to spend Christmas with them ....

I'm supposed to be away skiing for Xmas. I'm fairly certain it won't be happening.

I'd just check your insurance before you go ahead and book, and check their refund policy.

Up to you really, as long as you're prepared to accept it if the govt announce no unnecessary travel over Christmas.

My concern about people booking holidays now for Christmas is that some of them will insist on travelling no matter what the situation at the time, putting other people at risk. We saw it here in Ireland with Cheltenham, and also many people continuing to travel to Spain on holidays right up to the middle of March.

Even if refund policies say they will refund , a lot of companies are not paying out or offering vouchers, new dates that might not suit you.This is either because they are trying to protect future business or are facing going bust. So yes book a holiday now but be prepared to lose the lot.

I would not have booked it yet (have not booked trip to Paris for a family birthday in November), but hope it is all OK for you and you get to enjoy Christmas as you wish.