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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be irritated by people wanting a foreign holiday this summer?

615 replies

Irishterrier · 06/05/2021 18:18

I know some people have family abroad and that is different.

However I know several people who either have second homes abroad or just fancy some sun, and I feel annoyed by them agitating about wanting to go abroad this summer.

AIBU to think they're being selfish?

OP posts:
Bythemillpond · 07/05/2021 02:43

Having looked at the cost of a holiday in this country I think some people can only afford to go abroad. Given we are in May and the weather is horrible I really don’t want to go on a staycation

Really don’t want to go abroad either this year especially if everything is shut when you get there.

BritWifeinUSA · 07/05/2021 03:52

Jealous much, OP?

Torvean · 07/05/2021 03:57

My concern is the UK not agreeing on red countries then ppl fly into London and drive to Scotland and don't quarantine.

I think we need to agree on red countries to prevent this.

If ppl follow the rules then I can't be annoyed at them.
My worry is variants getting in.

DarkMutterings · 07/05/2021 04:24

Any travel in and out of a country runs the risk of bringing variants in. It's really that simple. Some variants will be less dangerous, some more. Some will be totally covered by the current vaccines, some a little bit, some not at all.

So I get why people want a holiday and why they don't want to quarantine after but for god sake, if you do then take ownership of your decision and the potential consequences.

The government is taking a gamble to balance different parts of the county - economy vs health vs social. Individuals need to do the same. So if travel over the summer leads, to more variants in the UK, leads to restrictions in the autumn/winter then that's the consequence of the decision people made

Remaker · 07/05/2021 04:24

I don’t think selfish is the right word, but it has become clear during the pandemic that the UK has an obsession with holidays abroad that is quite unique in the world. In Australia (apart from Melbourne) we mostly had quite short lockdowns but once they were lifted most people I know had really discovered how important the basics of life were. Kids being able to go to school, parents being back at work, seeing friends and family, having a meal out, watching a sporting event or going to a live show. Booking overseas holidays when you are not even living a normal life in your own country is just absurd to most of us.

ilovesooty · 07/05/2021 04:31

I wonder how many sitting in judgement of permitted overseas travel with testing and quarantine compliance ate out to help out and mixed with unvaccinated family and friends indoors at Christmas?

Not to mention those who have bent the rules and guidance to suit themselves all along.

Pixxie7 · 07/05/2021 05:14

Most people have got something they want to do so I don’t think their selfish as such.

GillBiggeloesHair · 07/05/2021 05:24

I'm desperate to go to UK to see family.
Entry back into my country is not a problem but getting into UK is making it impossible at the moment.

doorornottodoor · 07/05/2021 05:40

One word @Remaker weather! It’s been hailing yesterday and only 5C! Grin

Also Australia is miles from anywhere, in the UK you can hop to Europe in one hour/in the car.

Rangoon · 07/05/2021 06:22

Like @Remaker and as a New Zealander I too am surprised about the UK's obsession with holidays given your infection rates. We won't be going on a holiday abroad this year - we have some sort of bubble going with Australia but if there is a flare up you could get stranded. Otherwise, no matter where you go, you have to quarantine for two weeks when you return - in a program managed by the armed forces. But to be fair we might not have Europe nearby but Australia and New Zealand have Asia for holidays plus various Pacific Islands. Or we would if covid wasn't lurking out there to get us. Of course for us in NZ, apart from the lack of travel overseas, life is completely normal with really the only thing being the wearing of masks on public transport and planes. We can meet friends, have crowds at sports things and concerts and so on. We can travel anywhere in the country and our pubs, shops, universities and schools are all open. Of course you won't be holidaying with us or Remaker!

Geamhradh · 07/05/2021 06:26

@ilovesooty

I wonder how many sitting in judgement of permitted overseas travel with testing and quarantine compliance ate out to help out and mixed with unvaccinated family and friends indoors at Christmas?

Not to mention those who have bent the rules and guidance to suit themselves all along.

A quick Advanced Search tells me, as might be expected, quite a few. Ironically, one of the posters now running round like Chicken Licken when the sky didn't come down was a staunch Covid denier when refusing to wear masks stomping her judgemental little feet and calling them face muzzles. I think the whole Covid thing is just (for them) this year's chip-on-shoulder moment. Whilst for another, at least by bollocking people booking holidays, she's not fat-shaming which is her other Big Thing on MN.

I do wonder about the Little Englander thinly veiled xenophobia masquerading as concern too. I can see the OP moving her children away from those dirty foreigners if any of them are buying a postcard in her vicinity.

Tumbleweed101 · 07/05/2021 06:40

Not selfish for wanting to go but it is
selfish to go if it risks another increase in cases and makes it more likely we have restrictions in autumn/winter. Adults might be vaccinated by then but does that mean they are leaving their children behind? They could pick it up and bring it home. Don’t trust the quarantine measures as they haven’t worked well here so far.

Original poster
Irishterrier · 07/05/2021 06:40

I'm amazed at the entitlement of some of the answers. And the assumptions!

People saying they 'need' a fortnight in the sun truly shock me.

I have had a horrendously shit time through Covid. I'm not terrified of Covid at all, funnily enough, and am vaccinated. I usually go abroad three times a year and could afford a foreign holiday this summer. Indeed I would love one.

But I've booked a pretty rubbish UK self catering holiday because there was not much left and because I think now is not the time time go abroad to largely unvaccinated countries.

I'm enjoying reading people's angry posts though.

OP posts:
bungabungaboo · 07/05/2021 06:45

This might give more 'scientific' support to the argument against travel at the moment.

To be irritated by people wanting a foreign holiday this summer?
bungabungaboo · 07/05/2021 06:45

Source The Guardian this morning

lughnasadh · 07/05/2021 06:46

@Irishterrier if you normally go abroad three times a year, you likely have a lovely home and the means to keep yourself generally amused.

People who go away one a year, or once every few years, probably benefit more from the time away.

It means more to them, and they need it more.

Livpool · 07/05/2021 06:46

YABU -why do you care?!

And I am not going abroad

bungabungaboo · 07/05/2021 06:47

Did we not spread the Kent variant to Europe?
No xenophobia here

tuttifritti · 07/05/2021 06:52

No YABU

JustAnotherOldMan · 07/05/2021 06:57

Not selfish for people to people to want a foreign holiday, but some really entitled responses, no-one really needs a foreign holiday, just something people are used to it and somehow think they “deserve” their 2 weeks in the sun,
personally I think the government should keep the foreign travel ban on for another year, buts that’s just me, and I’m sure there will some foreign travel this year

Frogsandsheep · 07/05/2021 07:00

I don’t think it’s selfish but I am not taking my dc abroad this year because I think the restrictions will make it less enjoyable and we have booked a UK holiday instead.

However I have booked a trip abroad with just my DH for a few days which I still don’t think is selfish as it’s somewhere the dc wouldn’t particularly enjoy and we found a very good deal!

I shall be taking the dc abroad at least once next year as this is what we’ve always done but this year it didn’t seem worth it for the hassle.

RhubarbCustardy · 07/05/2021 07:02

YANBU OP. Why can't people wait? We've been through all this shit for so long so why risk going back to it all just so some people can loll about in the sun for a couple of weeks and then bring back into the country? So yes it's totally selfish.

Soopermum1 · 07/05/2021 07:05

Plenty of people went abroad on holiday last year. Were they selfish? I didn't as my dad was dying, so am really desperate to go this year. I don't think that's selfish

ItsCokeFFS · 07/05/2021 07:55

@MolyHolyGuacamole

I wasn't "going off" and I am aware that the OP is talking about holidays as opposed to people visiting family.

I was merely pointing out that the usual flight routes need to start up again in order for family visits to occur. It is unlikely that flights will be available unless there is also an acceptable degree of holidaymakers buying tickets.

Whilst I quite like the idea of an EasyJet "granny" service, I don't think it's going to happen.

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