To book a holiday in Europe in August

[MrsSouthgate]

I don't know why I'm asking you this but I can't make up my mind. Is it insane to book a holiday for the first two weeks of August? Surely the cases (due to Delta) are just going to go up.

I keep trying to work out what's the worst that could happen. DH and I both double-jabbed. Two primary school age DCs who haven't had Covid, to my knowledge. I think it's not impossible that the country we go for could go on the red list while we are there, necessitating a 10-day stay in a quarantine hotel in the UK when we get back, at significant expense. Also, of course, any of us could still get it -- but I hope not severely.

Tell me, what are your holiday plans? Am I being unreasonable thinking I might be able to get away with a holiday in the Med this summer?

I think it’s insane.

If you have the time booked off work, just book at the last minute. We have a holiday mid August to France (moved from last year) that has been on and off more times than I can count!

Additional cost of testing depending on the country. Likely over £100 per person. Possibility of having to isolate in a random hotel abroad if you test positive before flying back.

Bad idea I'd say. Even if you can go and get back, airports will be nightmareish. Plus good chance Delta will pick up across Europe in the coming weeks. And we know it's only going to go up in the next few weeks here and many countries may decided against allowing even vaxxed British people in.

Well the worst that could happen is that one or more of you get covid and end up in icu abroad. But I'd personally consider that very unlikely.
I intend travelling to visit family, have booked three weeks so will work while away for some of it but it gives a buffer in case of unexpected need to isolate while away - can just work during it instead of missing holiday time.

I wouldn't bother

We've made a decision not to chance it. I can't believe its harder this year than last to go away. We managed to get to Croatia last August with hardly any problem.

The thought of having to get negative tests before we get back into the UK is putting us off. We'd be thinking about for the whole of the holiday and if one of us gets a positive then we have to stay until we get a negative test. I can't even think of the stress that would cause.

I couldn't deal with worrying about 'on-off' beforehand, dreading the news each day.

Tui has cancelled my friend's holiday completely. No warning.

I also had to stay on after a family holiday with a LO with chicken pox..nightmare. No choice of where, just dumped by the travel company as they needed my accommodation back for their next customers. No help, no transport, no local clinic, LO only wanted certain foods...and ( wouldn't happen with COVID) but my DH had to fly home without me as the insurance wouldn't cover us both to stay.

Never again.

I wouldn't bother.

We have decided to stay in the UK this year and have booked a lodge for a week in Dorset.

We're just back from the Greek Islands. Awaiting result of our Day 5 Test to Release so hopefully out of quarantine on Saturday.

It was brilliant. Had to be organised before we went and ensure we had all the necessary paperwork (we're both double-jabbed) but apart from that it was all straight-forward.

We got tested on arrival in Greece and the result was text to us within an hour. It felt very safe over there (cases much lower than here although rising a bit). We spent an hour or so on our final day getting a pre-flight test and completing our UK Plfs, otherwise it was just a normal relaxing holiday.

We've booked to go back in September

You might get away with it, but I would be wary of the host country introducing restrictions. Even if you can come and stay in the country, you might not be pleased if restaurants close early, for example.

I would expect your chances of catching Covid are more likely in the UK, certainly in the parts with high infection rates.

I think going with just 2 adults is different to going with a family including kids. If it was just the 2 of us I might chance it but not with the family.

It feels like a recipe for disappointment. I’d settle for a UK holiday.

We are supposed to be going abroad in August. It was booked last year. Will we get there? Who knows?

We have a UK holiday backup plan, so we will be going somewhere.

DS just back from Majorca, had a great time.
We've a holiday moved from last year to Greece mid August and will likely go. DH and I double jabbed, DS2 under 18 and DS1 hoping to get second jab in time. If not,,we'll pay for test to release.. We'd have to fork out £400 minimum for train fares to London which is our back up holiday. Can't get excited about that really. Would rather spend it on swabs and go abroad.
I had Covid last year and the rest of the family two months ago. Just need to be organised.

The problem is I’ve left it too late to find any kind of UK backup, seemingly. I know a few people who are going in Aug. I will ge SO JEALOUS of them if I don’t. Humph. I too can’t believe it’s harder this summer. We did our bit and stayed home last year.

I would love to go away abroad, but we’re not due to the cost of the extra tests etc. Heard it can add £800 + for a family of 4.
We’re going to a cottage n Yorkshire for 4 nights instead.

We're going if we possibly can. Both double jabbed + 2 weeks and ds will be PCRed. We're no safer in this country than anywhere else in Europe IMO, it's going crazy here.

It's ridiculous, we went last summer when no one was jabbed and it was much less hassle. I absolutely can't wait to get away though we had an amazing time last summer. Who knows when going away will be normal again, it might never be so might as well go IMO.

I have booked a holiday to Croatia. I am hopeful it will go ahead but obviously something could go wrong. The tests we need to have over there in order to fly back is the big hassle but hopefully we'll work it out.

Just returned from Malta. Probably the easiest airport experience we've ever had . Airport and flight quieter than normal. Everything well organised. PLF form is linked to your passport so going through passport control took only a few minutes. The resort wasn't overly busy and felt extremely safe. So my recommendation would be go for it😀

Friends of mine went to Ibiza last weekend for a stag do, had a nightmare on the way there due to one of them testing positive. Then their test results didn't come back in time so they missed their flight and had to get to another airport to make another flight. On the way home their covid certificates didn't come though in time so they missed their flights back. Sounds too much hassle to me.

We have just come back from Spain but we were at our own property, knew where to get tested, speak Spanish and it wouldn’t have been a disaster if we got stuck there.
I wouldn’t have risked it in different circumstances

I’m currently in Ibiza having a wonderful time. Just need to have your ducks in a row.

We came with TUI. Both double jabbed so our testing kits were £20 each. Had an easy time in the airport and on our flights. Took a little longer to get through passport control but nothing major. About 20 minutes.

Having a wonderful time in the sun. You won’t regret it.

Go green list or soon to be green list
Croatia or Bulgaria
Or go home !

Way less risky and IF they go amber , plan for it