Page 18 | To think that holidays are non essential?

Silliantro · 2021-04-02T11:27:29+00:00

The amount of whinging about missing out on holidays here and elsewhere has been shockingly irritating. Will missing out on a couple of trips to Megaluf/bland med cruises REALLY be the end of the world? It's such a shocking tone-deaf and privileged way to live your life. Will staying at home and talking to your DC/learning a language/read a few books really be the end of the world? It's pretty grim absolutely NEED trips abroad or the seaside to to distract yourself from your own life.

Aimee1987 · 03/04/2021 21:51

Alot of people live in different countries to their family. I have only been home once since the birth of my son. I suffered horribly with postnatal depression in the first year, I desperately wanted my mum.
Lifes not always black and white.

Badabingbadabum · 03/04/2021 21:54

I haven't had a holiday since 2014 and that was only a couple of nights away. Last 'proper' holiday was 2013. We chose not to go with very small dc then things happened where we were not able to afford many day trips away, let alone a holiday.

They are not essential like being able to afford food no, but if it is something you want then not being able to take a holiday can be miserable. We are in a position now where we can afford holidays and I would love to be able to take dds away. I'd love a break from my house, to see the sea, walk in different places. I'm very grateful for what I have but I really want a bloody holiday.

Grilledaubergines · 03/04/2021 22:28

Of course they’re not essential. Nor is a trip to the garden centre but people are going there in droves. For a great many though, holidays are up there as major priorities.

Why sneer at holiday destinations of others though, OP?

As soon as it’s safe to do so and a holiday can be enjoyed (and yes, for me they are hugely enjoyable) I’ll be booking. And I won’t judge others for their choices, be it Magaluf or the local garden centre.

Keepyourdistance000 · 03/04/2021 22:53

Bottom line is that pre Covid, we had taken too much for granted, for too long.

PenfoldPenny · 03/04/2021 22:57

keepyourdistance - YES! I agree totally.

rosiejaune · 03/04/2021 23:57

YANBU to think holidays abroad are not essential (and indeed counter-productive if we want to have a beautiful and safe planet to live on in future).

But YABU to equate holidays and going abroad. There's nothing wrong with getting the train somewhere else in the UK once a year for a break away from home.

PenfoldPenny · 04/04/2021 01:48

Oooops I said YABU upthread - should have said yaNbu.

MargosKaftan · 04/04/2021 08:07

If I could find the quality of hotel, food, kids entertainment/holiday club (that isn't just childcare) of a Neilson or Mark Warner holiday in the UK, I think id be less keen to escape.

Uk holidays do seem to be more to be endured.

We have a glamping trip in the UK booked but that is a holiday for the kids, im not expecting to enjoy it, more enjoy them enjoying it (if that makes sense!).

Abraxan · 04/04/2021 09:07

I spent much of yesterday planning and booking a UK holiday.
Not a staycation - I'm not staying at home. It's a holiday.

The main thing I have noticed yesterday is the cost of uk hotels and accommodation. It's certainly not cheap to remain in England for a fortnight's holiday.

Just have to hope the weather's okay in the summer now 🤞🏻

I have a holiday abroad booked for October half term. Just hoping we can go, but we shall see,

Abraxan · 04/04/2021 09:09

@Alfaix

Can I derail this thread to ask how likely it is we’ll get somewhere sunny this year if adults vaccinated but not kids?! I know the op disapproves but I disapprove of killjoys

If foreign travel is allowed it is likely that you will be asked for proof of vaccine OR a negative pcr test. You may have to pay for the pcr however.

That seems to have been the case in most of the suggestions put forward. They couldn't just have a vaccine passport as not everyone is eligible or able to have a vaccine. Some people with certain conditions are not able to have it.

Bzzzzzbumblebee · 04/04/2021 09:34

They couldn't just have a vaccine passport as not everyone is eligible or able to have a vaccine. Some people with certain conditions are not able to have it.

But some countries already do with some illnesses. If you have travelled to a yellow fever region there are lots of countries that won’t let you in with out a yellow fever vaccination card. Same in you live in the region. Regardless of other conditions etc...

www.who.int/ith/ith_country_list.pdf

So if you want to go to Angola you need a yellow fever certificate. If you can’t get one you can’t go. It is that simple.

We have just been very lucky to not have this restriction before or for the restrictions above to not be tourist destinations. But that might not be the case in the future.

You do not have a right to enter another country.

LadyCatStark · 04/04/2021 09:40

Nothing’s essential except food, water and shelter. Maybe we should give up everything non- essential just incase other people can’t have those things either 🙄.

IcedPurple · 04/04/2021 10:32

@PenfoldPenny

YABU Tbh I havent really been on holiday for years. I havent left this town since March last year either. Neither by design but its not the end of the world. As for "needing to go away" for mental health type reasons - I think thats perfectly possible by a few nights in a neighbouring town, a week in the lake district etc. Nothing essential about jetting around the world imho (fun yes but not essential)

You clearly aren't interested in travelling. That's fine. I'm sure I'm not interested in many of the things you enjoy either. However, I'd never lecture you about the 'non-essential' nature of your lifestyle because it's a moronic line of discussion.

I don't think anybody here has said 'jetting off' is 'essential'. But for some of us, it's one of the things that makes life living and "a few nights in a neighbouring town" just doesn't cut it.

I'll be 'jetting off' the minute it becomes possible again and there's nonthing the MN Essentials Police can do about it.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/04/2021 10:38

Now while I know the Lake District is beautiful, it's not exactly known for it's amazing weather. And why on earth would I want to spend a few nights in a 'neighbouring town'? I may as well stay at home!

bert3400 · 04/04/2021 10:41

I live abroad and would really like to see my mum and so would the kids. Not all trips abroad are for 'holidays' . Just because you don't think it's essential travel doesn't mean you are right . Not everything is black & white

IcedPurple · 04/04/2021 10:46

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Now while I know the Lake District is beautiful, it's not exactly known for it's amazing weather. And why on earth would I want to spend a few nights in a 'neighbouring town'? I may as well stay at home!

Plus, the very same people sneering at others for 'jetting off to the costa'' instead of having a 'lovely holiday in Britain' will turn around and chastise 'idiots flocking to beaches' quite soon.

What are these people going to do when they no longer get to tell others to 'Stay the f*ck at home?"

Alfaix · 04/04/2021 10:47

@Abraxan

I spent much of yesterday planning and booking a UK holiday. Not a staycation - I'm not staying at home. It's a holiday.

The main thing I have noticed yesterday is the cost of uk hotels and accommodation. It's certainly not cheap to remain in England for a fortnight's holiday.

Just have to hope the weather's okay in the summer now 🤞🏻

I have a holiday abroad booked for October half term. Just hoping we can go, but we shall see,

We have 11 nights booked in a holiday cottage down South and the cost is more than a fortnight in Crete, Portugal, Spain. Considerably more! We will be taking a view in June what to do. I have already had 2 doses and DH has had one. Happy to pay for testing for DS is it means we can get away.

Wanderlust20 · 04/04/2021 10:48

Of course they're not "essential" but for many people, like me, travelling was a hobby and a chance to meet people, experience new cultures and broaden your horizons.

But to offer another perspective... I was just saying to my husband the other day that I've only recently realised (during lockdown) that I never properly relax! Always on the go, looking for things to keep me busy, and the only time I properly do relax is on holiday. So I guess that's "essential" for my mental health? But we are very priveleged to be able to get away, even if it's just for mini breaks in our own country. I understand what you're saying, but there's many reasons people go on holiday.

Werkwerkwerkwerkwerk · 04/04/2021 11:56

I'm not sure what's driving it, maybe simplistic to say the media, but there seems this real insistence on splitting people into camps. So the sentiment expressed is essentially people are dying of Covid because of you selfish people, wanting to go on holiday (and may not have actually gone away, just dared to want to go). As if these 2 camps are mutually exclusive.
I'm sure there are also people who have had/died with Covid who want a holiday. Who knows, they may even have, gasp, gone on a holiday, and weighed up their risks and made their own choices.
Equally, there are those who have had/died with Covid who didn't wish to travel, and/or wouldn't have done so.
Why are we becoming so readily divisive.

museumum · 04/04/2021 15:46

I’d agree with that false divide. Many of those I know who went abroad last year (and were branded covidiots) were nhs hospital clinical staff.

EileenGC · 04/04/2021 19:17

Kids might need pcrs

Adults too.

Abraxan · 04/04/2021 19:45

@Bzzzzzbumblebee

They couldn't just have a vaccine passport as not everyone is eligible or able to have a vaccine. Some people with certain conditions are not able to have it.

But some countries already do with some illnesses. If you have travelled to a yellow fever region there are lots of countries that won’t let you in with out a yellow fever vaccination card. Same in you live in the region. Regardless of other conditions etc...

www.who.int/ith/ith_country_list.pdf

So if you want to go to Angola you need a yellow fever certificate. If you can’t get one you can’t go. It is that simple.

We have just been very lucky to not have this restriction before or for the restrictions above to not be tourist destinations. But that might not be the case in the future.

You do not have a right to enter another country.

I know re the Yellow Fever, as have had to have it in the past.

However, pretty much everything I have read including about the trials etc they've planned it has always been about proving your covid status, not just if you've had two vaccines.

So fully vaccinated OR a negative pcr.

Re children - yes, it's likely children will be expected to have a pcr too. I can imagine babies may be exempt however.

oblada · 04/04/2021 19:52

Not much IS essential really.
Hobbies aren't. Most shops aren't. Restaurants aren't. Cinemas aren't. Theatres aren't. Museums aren't. Really not much is actually essential to our survival at all.
Where we individually rank 'holidays' (by that I expect some of you include going abroad to a country of origin / to see family) is up to us and it can bloody well be pretty far up the list.
As far as I'm concerned it is definitely at the top of the list and there is no reason for it not to happen if it can be done safely and properly.
Absolutely bonkers that this clown Johnson is banning me from going to see my family in France (but then not banning them from coming over here, which they've had to do loads, go figure - surely he should be concerned about people coming in not people coming out).

Abraxan · 04/04/2021 19:53

I'm sure there are also people who have had/died with Covid who want a holiday. Who knows, they may even have, gasp, gone on a holiday, and weighed up their risks and made their own choices.

Me.

I'm CV.

Last summer I went on holiday, abroad. We took precautions, we went by train, we wore masks, we socially distanced, we ate outside the whole time, etc. It felt very 'covid safe.'

I have had covid, it was several weeks later and not linked at all. The most likely place I caught it was at school where SDing isn't possible and masks, at that time, wasn't being permitted for primary school teachers in our Lea. I was in hospital and had 7 weeks off work. It's been nearly 6 months and I'm still not fully recovered and due to complications I'm likely to be in medication for life.

However, I can't wait to be able to get back to being able to go on holidays. We normally go away a fair bit and always have at least 2 or 3 holidays a broad each year.

Both me and dh have had our first vaccine. I'll have my second early in May and dh will have his second in July.

We are ready and willing to get going now. We have a holiday abroad booked for October half term with Dd, who will be 19y. She should have had her first by then, possibly her second but it depends if the slowdown continues,

RandomUsernameHere · 04/04/2021 20:04

Of course holidays aren't essential, but people are still allowed to be disappointed that they can't go on them