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

How thoughtless and self centred of people to be posting Greek holiday pictures on facebook in the current environment, when so many have had holidays cancelled.

So someone can't post photographs of their holiday on their own SM incase one of their friends/family is upset that they made the decision to cancel or postpone theirs?

I've had two holidays cancelled, been extra careful due to being clinically vulnerable, had DDs 18th celebrations cancelled, had her leaving school celebrations cancelled, etc - oh and had THREE close family members die over this time (4 over the last 10 months but 3 since April.)

We have taken the quarantine risk to come away to France rather than holiday in a busy Cornwall, etc resort in England. We booked since lockdown having had to change our original long haul summer lambs. It's cost no more than if we'd stayed in England and our annual travel insurance now covers Covid and other pandemics again. If the rules change in the next 4-5 days we will accept a quarantine. I'm on school holidays, Dd won't start university til end of September and Dh can work from home easily.

I've actually felt less at risk using the public transport and restaurants here than I did when back home. Social distancing has been easy. Wearing masks, despite the hot weather, has been fine. And when I return to work I'll be expected to work with 270+ child and their teachers, across 10 different rooms, each week with no social distancing or protection - so tbh this feels a bit safer altogether right now!

If I chose to post a picture on my own SM whilst away I will. People are capable of scrolling past, unfollowing or even de friending me should they wish. No one is forced to look at my photographs after all.

Yeah, I probably shouldn’t make comments about sharing photos on SM since I don’t use it and don’t really understand the urge to show photos of my life (of course only the good bits) to the world. Obviously many people do and don’t have a problem with it. Bowing out now.

It's cost no more than if we'd stayed in England and our annual travel insurance now covers Covid and other pandemics again.

Ok but that’s great for France. Less so for the Uk economy.

If I chose to post a picture on my own SM whilst away I will. People are capable of scrolling past, unfollowing or even de friending me should they wish.

All true. But why post something you know some people will find annoying, upsetting or irresponsible? Do you think people are really going to think “oh how lovely for Aragon” rather than thinking you’re being smug/stupid/ a massive show off? It’s not a normal summer however much we pretend it is.

All true. But why post something you know some people will find annoying, upsetting or irresponsible? Do you think people are really going to think “oh how lovely for Aragon” rather than thinking you’re being smug/stupid/ a massive show off? It’s not a normal summer however much we pretend it is

Well, I’ve managed to think ‘how lovely for them’ when my friends have posted pictures of their trips abroad, so maybe not everyone is as bitter as you think they are?

My SM only has my actual friends and family on, not random people.
All photos are in an album and posted to that so It's incredibly easy to scroll or hide.

Some of my friends are also away so I can see their photos too. Others are out and about on day trips and in holidays - all posting pictures. Very few of my Sm friends/family are sat at home doing nothing now.

People post on SM things all the time. We might not always be interested in or like what we see. It's up to us to unfollow or hide those posts, unless they break a SM guideline.

My close family and friends know what a rubbish time we've had over lockdown and before with so many close family deaths and other issues. They encouraged us to go away and enjoy the break.

As for not being good for the U.K. economy - no possibly not, though they appear to be incredibly busy in some locations in the U.K. now hence ridiculously high prices in many areas and low availability. We spend plenty within the U.K. economy as it already too.

Mini pie - not everyone had them world' as SM friends. Mine are a select number of real family and friends, with strong privacy settings applied.

@Drivingdownthe101

All true. But why post something you know some people will find annoying, upsetting or irresponsible? Do you think people are really going to think “oh how lovely for Aragon” rather than thinking you’re being smug/stupid/ a massive show off? It’s not a normal summer however much we pretend it is

Well, I’ve managed to think ‘how lovely for them’ when my friends have posted pictures of their trips abroad, so maybe not everyone is as bitter as you think they are?

I agree, if they really are your friends surely you are happy for them, or think you would have made a different choice. Not everyone has a massive chip on their shoulder and takes everything as a personal attack. Stop being so self-centered, happy photos are not to spite YOU.

My mother lives on one of the Greek islands. 27 people that flew in from a British airport recently tested positive for Covid and were transported to an isolation centre on the mainland. They will remain there until they fly home so their holiday is ruined.

You did the right thing OP.

We lost a holiday this year (back in May when no one was going anywhere) and I would still be happy to see friends' holiday photos. If you can't cope with photos of friends enjoying themselves, then social media just might not be your thing.

It’s not an issue of happy photos or families enjoying themselves though. It’s not about me either!
It’s about being sensitive to the fact that we are still effectively in a pandemic.

Everyone has a view about whether travelling abroad is a good idea or not. In my family and closest friends opinion covers a range of ideas.
It doesn’t make them less of a friend if they look at photos on SM and think “irresponsible“ rather than “how lovely” does it? Just go abroad, take some snaps and show them to people that care.

OR

accept someone may post a holiday snap - be it in England or abroad, and if you don't like it scroll on by or, if it really bothers you, click to hide for 30 days or unfollow. It's really simple and a more effective way than expecting everyone else to meet your personal expectations.

Of course.
And again it’s not my expectations. You just have to read the comments on selfies and duck pouts and show off posts from other MN threads not to mention in RL..

You seem fine that people would hide, unfollow or defriend you which is fair enough.Others seem to feel that real friends would automatically be pleased you had gone abroad on holiday. Obviously everyone’s situation is different but if you think that, you’re deluded.

@Quartz2208
It is quite easy to find cheap and lovely holidays in the UK if you want and our weather has recently been just as good if not better than parts of mainland Europe

Life is what you make of it

This.

You are better of cancelling. I think it is stupid of anyone to want to go abroad whilst a pandemic is raging around the world. This is how a country gets a second wave. Wait until there is a vaccine.

We are the same but most people are in the same boat. I only know 2 people who have been abroad this summer. To be honest, you are right - you would have a rubbish time. You would not be able to go in the pool, eating out would have restrictions, some activities wouldn't be on and you would have to wear masks in shops.

Life is totally what you make it. I love travelling and seeing new countries but I also love a holiday in the UK. With or without COVID, I’d booked for Cornwall already and we came on Saturday. The UK economy needs all the help it can get, it’s in our hands to get it going. I’m Shopping at local farms, bought fish from harbour this morning. And in terms of comments about how busy it is, it’s the quietest it’s ever been in my 10 years of coming. You choose a jam packed beach and you’ll sit surrounded. You walk a further 10min round the coastline and you’ll find an empty cove always.

our weather has recently been just as good if not better than parts of mainland Europe

But it hasn't been. Not consistently across the whole country.

Granted it was pretty warm and sunny in April and May - thank goodness, it made the start of lockdown so much easier!

Before I went away it had been grey, cold, cloudy and raining pretty much every day for a fortnight. Whilst we've been away friends back home are reporting a lot of Frey cool days with a lot of rain. It's apparently due to be dry and warm over the end of the week/weekend.

In NE France it's been hot and sunny over the last ten days. It's been high 20s and into the 30s every day. It's been warm enough to stay sat outside until late every night. We had some rain one afternoon for a couple of hours.

It's just not comparable I'm afraid.

If I'd booked a fortnight in England and it rained daily I'd be really disappointed, especially as we are trying to do more stuff outdoors because of Covid. We've been able to do this here in France from morning to evening.

I sympathize op, I've just cancelled our trip to Spain. We are going camping instead

I fucking hate camping

Our holiday to Majorca got cancelled in June. We are both key workers so have been working all through the pandemic. We considered booking somewhere in the UK but it's so weather dependent we decided to save the money. We did take a week off though and did lots of fun days out with our 5 year old son. Just hope we are all in a better place next year!

We’ve just had a fantastic holiday in the UK. It is what you make it and the weather has been mostly great.

Why the obsession with going abroad? It’s just one year & really isn’t important in the grand scheme of things. Surely you see that?

We were due to be in Spain last week
We're currently in Devon and having a lovely time and the weather is ok
But I'm still gutted
And I've worked without a days leave since February outside the home.
I'm grateful but gutted
Ds should be travelling across Europe
And ds1 should have graduated
It's crap

You did the right thing.

Maybe save the money instead for a brilliant holiday next year.... Or perhaps book a little trip instead during winter near Christmas.

You could still do something in the UK if you really wanted to get away....even if its just a few days away for the kids.

We have just booked holiday in Greece. We haven't seen the grandparents for months and it is unlikely that we will be able to this year at all (one set is in Europe, the other 5 hours drive)...both are in the vulnerable category. It is really tough for the kids. So this holiday is for us all to go away after full time homeschooling and working. We tried to weigh the pros and cons and in the end we thought we are likely to be as safe as or even safer in Greece than going to local supermarket. But I completely understand that people come to a different decision.

@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!!

Please don't. Leave the UK for those of us who choose to holiday here pissing down or not.

I'm so upset not going to Greece which is my spiritual home. You did the right thing though, it is too risky I think.