Absolutely gutted we cancelled our Greek holiday because of covid :{

[mostwonderfultime]

We decided to cancel this year because we were concerned about having to isolate if anyone on the plane was found to have covid, and also because we thought it was too much money or a holiday that was potentially not going to be as good as pre/post covid what with masks, social distancing etc. But now I keep seeing pictures on Facebook etc of people seemingly having amazing holidays abroad. I also feel bad for my dc who've complied with home learning and been cooped up for months and should be on a lovely holiday now

Will you be insured if anything goes wrong? I bought annual cover before the pandemic started but even with that in place I wouldn't be confident in going abroad. Things are changing at the drop of a hat. Want some sun so badly though, I get your pain

You played it safe. You’re responsible. It’s a good way to be during a pandemic. Sorry you’re sad though, I would be too.

I don't understand why people think that cancelling their holidays this year is somehow similar to the end of the world. It's not. Children will survive. You will survive. Chances are, even without the PTSD, that's for serious stuff and not being able to go somewhere where it's hot.

As a PP said you are only seeing the good bits on Social media. I think you've made the right call. I cancelled a holiday on 15th March and lost all my money/holiday 2 days before the FCO changed their advice to essential travel only. I watched how it played out in the resort/hotel the week I should have been there and can honestly say I have never been so glad to be sitting on my sofa at home. It would have been a far cry from the 5* holiday we had planned. The holiday reps disappeared after there were 2 positive cases of Covid in the sister hotel next door. Then there was a positive case in the hotel we'd have been in. Half the restaurants were closed and guests were in a total panic as they didn't know what was happening. The island had no hospital and limited healthcare facilities. In the end all the holiday makers were flown back to the UK on the same day regardless of the length of their holiday. I'd have needed a holiday to get over the holiday if I'd gone. I've just been reading that there's been 10 cases of covid in the UK in people returning from Spain. I wonder whether they caught it in Spain or on the plane? If it was down to me anyone who has been on a plane would be quarantining for 14 days regardless of which country they've been to.

You and millions of others.

I don't understand why people think that cancelling their holidays this year is somehow similar to the end of the world because it’s usually what most people look forward to all year....how hard is it for people to understand how relentless the year can feel without a break

OP I dont blame you, I've had a few holidays this year cancelled, I've been working all through the pandemic (not classed as key worker but in public sector) with pretty much my full annual leave allowance left. I'm tired and bloody fed up and need a break.

I live about as far away from the typical British seaside holiday places as you can get, but have read several posts on MN about how people living in tourist places didnt want visitors. So I think the alternative to staying at home would be to visit somewhere self catering in the UK, to pay more money and still having to cook etc, whilst it pisses it down and the locals dont want you there.

Things could change at any time and look at what's happened to those currently in Spain. Theres plenty chance you could end up having to isolate due to someone else having covid, having a temperature on landing, guidance changing due to localised outbreaks etc. We have cancelled our summer plans and just stuck to Uk breaks instead. It's only 1 year (hopefully) and we had a great time camping. I think you did the right thing. It would be a constant worry!

My holiday (to Slovenia) was cancelled for me - at least the flights were, I hadn't booked anything else.

I am sad because I am desperate for some warm weather and sun. It's been so shit here. I had a week off work last week - cold and wet. My fence blew down this morning because of the wind and I can't remember what blue sky looks like.

It's all very well saying "holiday in the UK" but unless you go down south which is quite far for me it's usually disappointing.

I feel for you OP - we had to cancel a family holiday to Paris at Easter, and DS's school French trip (which would have included a day at Disneyland Paris) has also been cancelled, so it's a bit shit all round.

As it turns out, Greece is relatively OK at the moment, Spain obviously not so - but you didn't have a crystal ball which would have enabled you to see this, so you did absolutely the right thing cancelling.

In the Algarve no one is booking slots on the beach - it is the same as normal, just a little quieter, and people wearing masks and using hand gel more frequently. Of course, being on the naughty list means not many from the UK are now visiting us. What a shame - everyone that has come here has remarked on how safe they feel with all the measures in place. The airports are quieter, the planes are not full, there are no long queues when you land to get luggage or go through passport control. When you arrive at Faro, you are temperature checked remotely, and anyone who has a higher temperature is pulled to one side for testing.

Book a villa, go to the supermarket for a big shop, and you don't even have to leave the safety of the villa if you don't want to.

I've written this year off for holidays, just wish the weather was a bit nicer here. Have even split my summer fortnight into 2 separate weeks as we couldn't go to Devon as planned in early July as dh is shielding and 2 weeks at home doing not much seemed a waste.
Surely 2021 has to be better???

@userxx

Go on holiday in Britain

Yes, do this. Greece is totally over-rated with its fabulous weather, amazing scenery and fantastic food. Stay in the UK where it will probably piss it down 5 days out of 7!!

We were booked to go to one of the Greek islands in May so obviously that was cancelled we were hoping to get away later this year, but think we might wait until next year now.

YANBU to feel sad - we are all nostalgic about the breaks we've enjoyed over the last few years too, and will really miss it this year.

But for the sake of a year (hopefully) it's the right thing to do. We 'need' a change of scenery & some relaxation. We don't 'need' to go abroad. And imagine how good it will be when we can go stress free!

keep telling yourself Groggy

My sister is in North Norfolk right now and she has never seen it so busy. In 40 years! Absolutely rammed everywhere. So actually a holiday abroad could probably be safer than staying home in some circumstances.

I think you did the right thing honestly...

I’m not judging those who have gone away but I definitely think we’re not fully in the clear yet in regards to COVID and I definitely wouldn’t be taking chances with my health and my families health for a sub standard holiday. (I’m saying sub standard because it won’t be as good as pre COVID)

because it’s usually what most people look forward to all year....how hard is it for people to understand how relentless the year can feel without a break

Surely people do understand as we are mostly all in the same boat? We for one look forward to our summer holiday all year. It's more than just a holiday as it is to a place I called home for many years and where my dc were born. We have strong family and friend relationships there and a real culture bond. I often get very homesick, however it is what it is and we've still had a fab break - a weeks camping in the Scottish Borders that wasn't crowded and didn't cost much at all. The weather was glorious for all but 1 day where the dc happily played in the rain and my grind and I sat under the gazebo and had hot chocolate. We have another break to look forward to on Friday by the sea when it's due to be 27c. Although we are missing our family and our other home we're just making the best of it. You don't need to pay over the odds for crowded tourist hot spots, the uk has loads of quieter/cheaper places. We had the tent part of the site to ourselves for most of the week so people unable to find places must not be looking too hard.

I’ve just got some Covid test results (negative for all of us).
We were instructed to take the test yesterday and I have been feeling so guilty ever since - did the man in the post office have underlying conditions & etc.
Right now I wouldn’t want to share with my DC that extra risk of guilt just for a holiday.

Maybe ask me again in September?

We should be out in Spain this week visiting family. It was such a tough decision to make but we rescheduled for next year a couple of months ago. I haven't seen them for well over a year as for one reason and another we didn't visit last year either. Back in May they advised us not to come, that even if we were allowed to it wouldn't be a normal experience. When things started easing and boarders opened we started to doubt our decision. People started to get excited about upcoming trips and there was a pang of jealousy. But of course we now know we made the right decision. By next year the situation should be more settled and the virus better understood. Procedures should be more established and predictable.... We hope anyway.

My dream trip to Canada was cancelled in June. I'm gutted.
I live in another European country where at least the weather is nice but I've not rushed to re-book somewhere else even though I could and could reach a lot of really nice destinations within 4 hours in the car. But things are changing all the time and just last week the country I am in decided to impose quarantine on people returning from certain countries when they'd been declared safe just a couple of weeks before.
I worry about going away somewhere and having to enter quarantine when I get back or, even worse, having to be quarantined in the destination itself. There's just too much uncertainty this summer. I'm also seeing photos of friends' holidays and it does make me feel shit but it's my decision to stay at home and their decision to go abroad and they will have to work through the consequences of travel advice changing. They might be lucky and have no problems at all but as we've seen with the UK and Spain, things change fast.

Surely people do understand as we are mostly all in the same boat? doesn’t make someone any less gutted.

@m00rfarm

In the Algarve no one is booking slots on the beach - it is the same as normal, just a little quieter, and people wearing masks and using hand gel more frequently. Of course, being on the naughty list means not many from the UK are now visiting us. What a shame - everyone that has come here has remarked on how safe they feel with all the measures in place. The airports are quieter, the planes are not full, there are no long queues when you land to get luggage or go through passport control. When you arrive at Faro, you are temperature checked remotely, and anyone who has a higher temperature is pulled to one side for testing.

Book a villa, go to the supermarket for a big shop, and you don't even have to leave the safety of the villa if you don't want to.

Totally same experience here. Straight through airport, only flight running at the time, not one single queue. Best airport and journey we’ve every had. Plane looked and smelled super clean. No one in same row as us. Fab. Once away, no queues for beaches, shops, restaurants. Busy enough not to be like a ghost town but manageable and pleasant. We were all saying it was the best holiday we’ve had in ages. Villa plus private pool. So easy.

YANBU at all, it sucks
but there's always the risk of last-minute cancellation or quarantine, so it was for the best.

I know some posters on MN pretend to look down at holidays, that they are a luxury not a necessity bladibla... the competitive misery is endless on here. Ignore them.

The UK is absolutely packed, the weather mainly sucks and it's ridiculously expensive, especially for what it is, I agree. Can't you use some of the money you saved for a couple of shorter trips and daily outings? It won't be the same, but your kids can still have a great summer holiday, and so can you.

It does make you appreciate real holidays even more doesn't it. I am going to make sure we take as many as we possibly can in the future, I'd rather save on everything else.

It is shit OP, but you probably have done the right thing and people on social media aren't showing all of the crap bits.

I get really annoyed by all of the people who say 'holiday in the UK'. I live by one of the main through routes into North Wales. The dual carriageway has been like a car park full of caravans for the last two weeks. Colwyn Bay and Prestatyn are going to be covid hot spots soon at this rate.

OP - we are in exactly the same situation as you. I am gutted as I would love, love, love the two weeks in the Greek sunshine that we planned but with three kids it just doesn't feel like the sensible thing to do. We are going to have a few nights 'away' in blighty instead, and whilst it won't be 30 degrees and drinking cocktails it will be with my family and I'll be counting my blessings that we are all healthy and can enjoy our time together.