To ask how we find out what we are allowed to do??! (self catering)

[drspouse]

Have been trying to Google but no luck!
We have self-catering booked near my mum's for Christmas. Our actual booking is 22nd to 29th December but we know we are allowed to travel (even though we are in Tier 3 and so is she) from the 23rd to the 28th.
But we can't find out if the self-catering is actually allowed to be open.
All the information on Tier 3 says no hotels, B&Bs and guest houses can be open. No mention of self catering!
Of course, the host may decide not to open or the booking portal (it's Airbnb) may decide we can all get refunds or move our bookings.

www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#very-high-alert

Says "accommodation"; i would definitely say that covers self catering I'm afraid.

Is there any word on whether the Christmas lifting applies to accommodation? It says travel is ok where I've read but nothing on accommodation.
Last time there was a tier 3 it didn't seem to include self catering but there is no specific mention - those are all examples where you stay with other people.

(We are happy to move our booking but if we are relying on insurance we need it in black and white)

Just use your own judgement?

The Christmas lifting rules, which over-ride all the tiers stuff, which might have changed by Christmas anyway, say you can stay in 'private rental accommodation'.

I would take this to mean a self catering cottage etc, rather than just staying with relatives who rent their homes.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family/making-a-christmas-bubble-with-friends-and-family

@BritWifeinUSA

Just use your own judgement?

And stay where?

Thanks @BarbaraofSeville - it doesn't quite cover our dates but that may mean insurance will listen.

We have self catering booked too for a similar period. Ironically we plan on just being us, entirely alone. But not sure travel there will be possible.

Yes private rented accommodation clause means you can stay there but if it's in tier 3 only 23-27. If its tier 2 and you're tier 2, you can stay as a single household.

We've decided if it's only the 23rd to the 27th we'll see if they will move our dates or refund, and if not we'll be going to the insurers. It's possible they will rejig the tiers though.

Maybe the plan is for Boris to come out with his Santa hat on and make everything Tier 2 in time for Christmas? Who knows, certainly not the government. Twats.

@drspouse Insurance might want you to wait for the first review on the 16th December... I can’t see much changing, but just so you know!

That's fine!

I understood that a bubble/ 1 household could stay in a cottage or similar. But others have to stay in separate hotel rooms.

There's no actual ban on travel at any time in any tier, it's just advice. So one household can still go anyway even on those dates. (Also bizarrely it's only advice not to stay overnight at someone's house even in tier 3). Can you ask the person renting out the cottage if they are planning to keep it open?

As it's holiday accommodation, they aren't allowed to keep it open in Tier 3.

I had a cottage booked for Xmas in a tier 2 area and its just been cancelled.

Oh, interesting (but annoying as you should be fine in Tier 2).