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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are you going away in half term?

194 replies

Cocopogo · 17/10/2020 16:04

I have a couple of nights booked in UK. It’s likely the area will be T3 by time our half term in a couple of weeks. Happy to still go, chill in hotel room and walk in remote areas. DP says we shouldn’t go. Would you?
YABU - don’t go
YANBU - go and enjoy!

OP posts:
Whatyoucanandcantdo · 18/10/2020 11:36

We are on half term next week, we have 4 hotels in 4 different parts of the U.K. booked to visit 6 theme parks. I am undecided. We are tier 2, we are allowed to go, the areas we are visiting are tier 2. My consideration is whether it’s the right thing to do

That just sounds utterly exhausting to me, let alone anything else Confused

RaspberryCoulis · 18/10/2020 11:38

I entirely agree a holiday is vital for health. I just strongly believe it's not essential when we are dealing with a pandemic.

And that's up to you. You are free to stay at home. Lots of the rest of us are entirely comfortable with our ultra-low-risk choice to go away.

unmarkedbythat · 18/10/2020 11:45

No, I'm not going anywhere. People are free to do what they want within the rules of course. I see no need to tell them I think it's a good idea to book and have a holiday right now but I'm sure my approval or lack of it is irrelevant to them. One thing I want do is sympathise with anyone who has booked something since all this started and finds that changing restrictions disrupt it. What the hell they were thinking is beyond me.

slidingdrawers · 18/10/2020 11:46

@RaspberryCoulis

I entirely agree a holiday is vital for health. I just strongly believe it's not essential when we are dealing with a pandemic.

And that's up to you. You are free to stay at home. Lots of the rest of us are entirely comfortable with our ultra-low-risk choice to go away.

When exactly have I:
  1. Said I'm not going on holiday?
  1. Suggested anyone else should not do so?

My argument and contribution to this thread is based on my belief that a holiday is not essential during a pandemic.

JoanneCofton · 18/10/2020 12:07

We’re going away for the week unless things change. We’re staying in a cottage, doing a click and collect order to pick up when we get there and probably won’t come into contact with anyone for a week.

Stillgoings · 18/10/2020 13:42

In my heart of hearts I don't think travelling this year is the right thing to do and I'm happy with our decision not to, but at the same time I'm envious of the holiday photos I've seen and recognise the economic arguments of the people that have gone ahead and gone on holiday either in this country or abroad. Like so much in covid politics nothing is straightforward. I'm expecting to be jealous of all the half term holiday pictures again next week.

Watermelon999 · 18/10/2020 13:58

It’s getting very confusing on here knowing what is allowed and what isn’t vs what is “advised against“.

It doesn’t help that the media is always one step ahead, reporting things that haven’t been announced yet, eg Wales closing its borders etc. So you never know if it’s fact or guesswork.

We are tier 2. I know of 3 friends (3 different households) who have gone to Greece for a week staying in same villa. Is this legal? Or advised against?

I know of a few people planning to travel and stay in tier 1 areas over half term, but in their household groups...so presumably this is ok??

I know of one in tier 3 who went away last weekend with family (different households) to another tier 3 area (neighbouring county)...presuming that’s not allowed? Or is it just not advised?

I know of a few who are supposed to be going to wales who are presuming they now can’t go, but can’t get refunds. Presuming they should get refunds if it’s illegal but is it just advice not to go?

It’s so confusing.......

MuddlingMackem · 18/10/2020 14:11

We were supposed to be visiting Blackpool for the Illuminations over half term but cancelled as it didn't feel a good idea, next day it was announced that Blackpool was moving into Tier 3.

We're in a Tier 2 area but under thread of being moved into Tier 3, so probably not a great area to be travelling out of to elsewhere in the country.

user1487194234 · 18/10/2020 14:15

Definitely going
Can't wait
I am reluctantly prepared to follow leak requirements but not otherwise
Really feel like my family needs a break

Tanfastic · 18/10/2020 14:22

@MuddlingMackem

We were supposed to be visiting Blackpool for the Illuminations over half term but cancelled as it didn't feel a good idea, next day it was announced that Blackpool was moving into Tier 3.

We're in a Tier 2 area but under thread of being moved into Tier 3, so probably not a great area to be travelling out of to elsewhere in the country.

Out of interest did you get your money back? I know there is no financial support package for Blackpool hoteliers as they haven't been forced to close so are essentially on "no man's land".
Watermelon999 · 18/10/2020 14:23

I think there are also different types of break.

Staying in a cottage not near other properties, which you drive to, with just your household and doing walks and bike rides etc doesn’t feel too high a risk...

Staying in more closely packed accommodation, travelling on public transport, visiting bars, restaurants, attractions etc probably is much higher risk I would imagine?

Chattycatty · 18/10/2020 14:34

So your in a soon to be tier 3 area so numbers are raising quickly and you want to travel to a hotel!!! How could you even consider it, there is no way to stay totally isolated from everyone. You've got the time off work so just stay home and keep others safe as obviously you don't give a shit about others

vanillandhoney · 18/10/2020 14:46

The Lake District is in Tier 3 as of yesterday - how does it work that people are still allowed to come here for a holiday?

Um, it most certainly is not!

The whole of Cumbria is in Tier 1 with the exception of Barrow in Furness which is Tier 2.

caringcarer · 18/10/2020 14:50

No not this year. We have a lovely 7 bedroomed house in Brittany, France and usually go for 6 weeks in summer hols and have friends/family come to stay with us and the same over half term. This year we won't go and is just stands empty.

nosswith · 18/10/2020 15:07

I'm not but never do. Even as a child when we often spend part of the school holidays at a grandmother, we never did.

All I would add is if you plan anything do so where it can be cancelled at minimal or no cost.

OverTheRainbow88 · 18/10/2020 15:18

@caringcarer

Can’t you drive there?

DownToTheSeaAgain · 18/10/2020 15:51

In Wales it is clear - tier 2 or 3 England you can't go whether you isolate in remote cottage and eat only food you bring or not.

Watermelon999 · 18/10/2020 16:09

@DownToTheSeaAgain

In Wales it is clear - tier 2 or 3 England you can't go whether you isolate in remote cottage and eat only food you bring or not.
Is that law @DownToTheSeaAgain? And has it been brought out from now?

I’m just wondering why my friends (tier 2) can’t get refund on holiday booked (haven)?

caringcarer · 18/10/2020 16:11

@OverTheRainbow88, we usually go on ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff but DH is immunosuppressed so we have to be super careful. Once there we like to play golf, go to beaches, visit chateaus, swimming pool and eat out and everything would be too risky. We would just end up staying in all of the time and I would have to go good shopping alone. Hoping to go next year. It's a shame because my sisters home over with their kids and it is lovely to see the cousins playing together. Then 2 weeks quarenteen when we got back to UK. I don't want child to miss school.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 18/10/2020 16:17

twitter.com/welshgovernment/status/1317106816929714177?s=21

@Watermelon999 it is my understanding that they will be identifying tier 2 &3 cars and stopping them. I don't know if a law has been enacted.

MuddlingMackem · 18/10/2020 16:17

@Tanfastic, it was a pay on arrival booking, so no money paid yet. We have booked up for next summer when we cancelled. I think it's a shit situation for the hoteliers, as I believe it should be forbidden to travel in or out of tier 3 areas and the businesses compensated so it can be enforced.

We did go in the summer, but so much was still closed as we went just as things were starting to reopen so we decided to shorten that holiday and move a couple of nights to October - DH loves an opportunity to see the Illuminations. But right now I just don't feel right travelling outside our area. If we don't have the circuit breaker lockdown which is being talked about, then we will try and have a staycation for those days instead and at least pump some money into our local economy.

I like to think we might get down for one night before the Illuminations end, since they've been extended to new year, but I'm not currently optimistic. Sad

tealjourneys · 18/10/2020 16:26

If you're legally allowed to go, why not. If government says no travel, obviously don't go.

Original poster
Cocopogo · 18/10/2020 16:44

teal the government are advising against not saying no travel

OP posts:
Original poster
Cocopogo · 18/10/2020 20:35

I told DP it was a pretty even split but he reckons my maths is out and likened it to brexit majority Hmm so looks like i’m going nowhere

OP posts:
beela · 18/10/2020 20:46

All those smug people who 'cleverly' took the opportunity to go away in the summer - you do know that you are part of the reason it started getting worse again at the tail end of August, don't you?

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