Is it stupid to book flights to Thailand for Xmas?

[Sundiamond]

We've not been anywhere since Lockdown, with no plans on the horizon.

I wanted to see how things panned out.

But thinking ahead to Xmas. I realise it could be a period of higher infections, but presuming more robust testing measures are in place globally, is planning to go further afield stupid?

@Scarby9 why have they stopped selling alcohol?
To stop them getting drunk and getting into fights/ignoring social distancing rules?

I wouldn't. Will you even be able to get travel insurance?

We are considering this too as we have flights to Bangkok that the airline will only offer to move the dates. If we don’t find another time to go we will lose 3k

Motherlode our government has said today that it’s unlikely domestic travel within Australia will be happening by Summer/Christmas so I wouldn’t be pinning your hopes on being able to come here. At best you’ll be locked in a hotel room for 2 weeks (at your own expense) guarded by the army. No international travel for us until at least 2022/23 at this point.

Alcohol ban was only in april which includes thai new year

Alcohol is freely available in shops bars and restaurants and has been since may

Bars clubs and restaurants are open with additional measures in place

Check your travel insurance, but according to mine, Covid 19 is now a, 'known risk,' so wouldn't be covered

Motherlodeour government has said today that it’s unlikely domestic travel within Australia will be happening by Summer/Christmas so I wouldn’t be pinning your hopes on being able to come here. At best you’ll be locked in a hotel room for 2 weeks (at your own expense) guarded by the army. No international travel for us until at least 2022/23 at this point.

I'm not sure if this comment is for me. I'm generally quite a pessimist so I have resigned myself that we probably wont be going, as much as we need a break - it's the rest of the family that havent accepted it! In some ways I'd rather have a definite no now than be wondering will we/wont we for the next few months(and give more time for DC to accept it) I've put off applying for passports and visas knowing there is a strong possibility of not being able to go but need to apply soon.

Yes

You can book it but I doubt you will be able to go so I’d ensure the dates are transferable.

You can't book flights to Thailand atm. There are only three essential repatriation flights this month. All require a medical certificate and compulsory quarantine on arrival, in government approved centres.
The repatriation flights are only for Thai citizens (and foreign spouses).

It isn't yet known when more flights will open up.

Thailand has managed Covid brilliantly.
They don't want anybody bringing it in.

@piscean10

I dont get this desperation for people who can't survive one year without a holiday.

I just got back from Italy, it was fab!

We had Thailand booked for end of September, changed it to an open ticket so can go anytime next year. I'm hoping for March!

Many hospitals in Thailand have very high standards
Which will be an expensive luxury if your travel insurance won’t cover COVID related illness.

Also, those saying Thailand and other countries have handled it well and are better than the UK for infection rates, is the possibility of spreading the infection to another country good for your MH??

I wouldn't go, but you're not me.

Weigh up the risks, are you happy to potentially be stranded in Thailand at Xmas, potentially lose a lot of money around Xmas time if flights cancelled etc.

I really want to go on holiday, but I'm waiting until next year, or whenever is safe. I'm young, fit and very healthy, but don't want to take the risk of potentially giving myself severe long term lung damage.

I just got back from Italy, it was fab!

We had Thailand booked for end of September, changed it to an open ticket so can go anytime next year. I'm hoping for March!

Congratulations to you that you’ve not had any negative impact on your finances.

By Christmas we will have high cases and Thailand low. They won’t let you in.

At the least it would require quarantine.

*13:29piscean10

I dont get this desperation for people who can't survive one year without a holiday.*

Last year was a really difficult year for our family when my Ddad became unwell and subsequently passed away. My DC spent most of their summer holidays visiting a hospice.We normally have 1 week holiday in the uk per year but desperately wanted to look forward to something positive in 2020 and booked a big holiday . As it turns out 2020 has turned out pretty shit as well, and yes we will likely have to survive without a holiday but it's not a crime to feel the need for one.

@Sunrise234

It's good for my mental health if nothing else.

I can’t see how potentially getting lockdowned or quarantined in a different country for 2 weeks and then being quarantined in the UK for 2 weeks is going to improve your mental health.
Everyone else is in the sane situation and would love to get away from it all but it’s impossible when it’s worldwide.

Regardless to what you think, it still makes me feel good - and who says I live in the UK and have the same quarantine restrictions? For the record, I don't. As far as I'm concerned it's just the same as window / internet shopping and I'm simply putting everything in my cart and I'll decide to buy later or not. Until then, I'm quite happy doing my thing.

@Sunrise234

I just got back from Italy, it was fab!

We had Thailand booked for end of September, changed it to an open ticket so can go anytime next year. I'm hoping for March!

Congratulations to you that you’ve not had any negative impact on your finances.

Actually I was made redundant last month, luckily I've been sensible with money historically and have healthy savings to fall back on, and already secured a new job

Regardless to what you think, it still makes me feel good

It makes everyone feel good.

But if you’re worried about your mental health I don’t understand how the added worry of whether you can go or not. Whether your or that country will be in quarantine. Whether if you do have to quarantine in that country will mess up the entire holiday. If you have to quarantine when you get back will that cause trouble with your employer. How quickly you can get your money back etc.
It is all way to stressful for me and I only suffer with small mental health issues.

If you don’t struggle with mental health or financial issues then I would say book it just in case but if you do then I wouldn’t.

Actually I was made redundant last month, luckily I've been sensible with money historically and have healthy savings to fall back on, and already secured a new job

Congratulations that you are so sensible and had such healthy savings and have already secured a new job. Half the country could learn a lot from you.

Countries that are covid free will not be opening their borders to countries that are not any time soon.

If you really want to go abroad pick another country.

@Sunrise234

Regardless to what you think, it still makes me feel good

It makes everyone feel good.

But if you’re worried about your mental health I don’t understand how the added worry of whether you can go or not. Whether your or that country will be in quarantine. Whether if you do have to quarantine in that country will mess up the entire holiday. If you have to quarantine when you get back will that cause trouble with your employer. How quickly you can get your money back etc.
It is all way to stressful for me and I only suffer with small mental health issues.

If you don’t struggle with mental health or financial issues then I would say book it just in case but if you do then I wouldn’t.

There's absolutely no stress from my side. Quite the opposite. As I said in my initial post, I'm simply looking at hotels on booking.com with free cancellation. I'll look at flights nearer the time and make my final decision then. It feels great!

OP, in thebk8ndest way, if you're so sure you are doing the right thing why start a thread asking if you are in AIBU?

We have 10 days booked in November- we are regular visitors and its for a special event. But I'm dubious we will be able to go. The flights are transferable so I guess we will leave it till nearer the time and assess then