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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think it's OK to travel now?

161 replies

dabbydeedoo · 18/11/2021 17:41

I have absolutely tons of annual leave to use up and am looking at places to travel to over the next month or two. A friend of mine made a really snippy comment about it not being right to travel "in the middle of a pandemic" and AIBU to think she's wrong?

I think that attitude made sense throughout 2020, and I didn't go anywhere, but we're now almost two years into the pandemic and most of us are vaccinated and there are systems and testing in place to mitigate risk. I don't think it's reasonable to expect people not to go on holiday or travel to see friends and family at this point. Covid is everywhere and it's here to stay, so I don't understand why it's acceptable to go for a long weekend in Edinburgh but not Prague or Barcelona. Provided we're prepared to take precautions like wear masks and be sensible, I don't think we can be expected to curtail our lives for much longer.

AIBU?

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 18/11/2021 17:45

It depends on where you're going. Some countries have red listed us and require us to quarantine, some aren't even letting us in. Assuming you want to go somewhere that's more open then go for it.

RuggerHug · 18/11/2021 17:47

Travelling to family abroad and being sensible is one thing. I'm bored and want a holiday Hmm not so much.

JollyJoon · 18/11/2021 17:50

Go for it

MrzClaus · 18/11/2021 17:50

My partner is travelling out of the country every week for work currently, and we're off to the states in December. Go for it!

Abraxan · 18/11/2021 17:53

@RuggerHug

Travelling to family abroad and being sensible is one thing. I'm bored and want a holiday Hmm not so much.
What's wrong with travelling to go on holiday at present? It's allowed. Many countries want is to visit as they rely on tourism. Many people in our own country rely on people travelling for their job. Without people travelling for holidays they may well lose their job.

Holidays are allowed.
They've been allowed for a while now.

Anyone who goes on holiday right now, so long as they follow the rules, is doing nothing wrong!

OompaLumpaLabrador · 18/11/2021 17:54

Of course it is! I’m bored and want a holiday, so I’m going on holiday very soon and can’t bloody wait. Travelling is important to me and my family, my kids have missed it and we’ve got some great trips in the pipeline. Including a traditional wedding in northern Greece, which is especially exciting. We will follow the rules wherever we go and will have a few adventures and help a local economy. Others are very welcome to stay at home but they can keep their judgy pants in the drawer, thanks.

coogee · 18/11/2021 17:54

I never stopped. Happy to jump through all the hoops necessary.

Newnameforabit · 18/11/2021 17:55

I've travelled, when we were allowed (flying) throughout the pendamic. It's as safe as it's ever going to be for a while
Go for it

Whammyyammy · 18/11/2021 17:59

I've not stopped travelling during any of this, only change is I've not visited countries that closed their borders, like the u.s.
Ignore your bonkers friend and get booking...

Whammyyammy · 18/11/2021 18:00

@RuggerHug

Travelling to family abroad and being sensible is one thing. I'm bored and want a holiday Hmm not so much.
Good lord......
Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 18/11/2021 18:02

@RuggerHug

Travelling to family abroad and being sensible is one thing. I'm bored and want a holiday Hmm not so much.
Why? It makes no sense to me to have that attitude when nightclubs and literally everything else is open now. I could go dancing every night among loads of sweaty strangers, and to a packed zumba class every morning, but I can't go to Lanzarote for a break?
OP posts:
grapewine · 18/11/2021 18:05

I'm currently in London on holiday. Yes, it's a risk. But life is a risk and if I didn't do it now, I felt I might be stuck not travelling for years, and I felt incredibly stuck. This isolation has fucked with my brain.

YANBU. Go.

EileenGC · 18/11/2021 18:07

I’ve taken over 40 flights since the pandemic started. Go for it OP, it’ll be fine. Just be prepared for anything to happen whilst there and get good insurance.

Subeccoo · 18/11/2021 18:08

Unless you are vulnerable, what's the risk? You have a negative test, you're jabbed, go for it!!
I was straight on a plane in October half term, the earliest I could realistically get away, it was absolute heaven. Didn't travel to see relatives, travelled because I ADORE travelling and its actually made me quite depressed over the last two years. It is something I prioritise in life.

TwinklyBranch · 18/11/2021 18:10

I'm with your friend. It's not necessary.

PurBal · 18/11/2021 18:13

I mean… my family still can’t get back to the UK because there are no fights. A NZ friend hasn’t seen his family (nor have they met his almost 1 year old son) and there’s a 50k strong waiting list for NZ nationals to get home. So to me the pandemic is very not anywhere near over.

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 18/11/2021 18:13

@Subeccoo

Unless you are vulnerable, what's the risk? You have a negative test, you're jabbed, go for it!! I was straight on a plane in October half term, the earliest I could realistically get away, it was absolute heaven. Didn't travel to see relatives, travelled because I ADORE travelling and its actually made me quite depressed over the last two years. It is something I prioritise in life.
Where did you go? I feel exactly the same...travel is my number one hobby and passion. Pre pandemic I was always nipping to Paris or Brussels for a weekend and going to exciting places during my annual leave. I felt so incredibly trapped, especially during this year's long lockdown and then into the summer where they kept up the pointless ten day quarantine requirements for 'amber' countries! When I did finally get away for a week on holiday it was glorious and I can't wait to go again.
OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 18/11/2021 18:13

Just be prepared to allow a lot more time at the airport (both departing and arriving and in return), get all your forms and paperwork printed out (including passenger locator forms) and expect other people queuing behind you and on the plane to cough everywhere without a mask, then get arsey when you ask them to put one on.

I found it so stressful on a break last month I'm not planning on leaving the UK again anytime soon (although the week in the sun was gorgeous).

DazedandConcerned · 18/11/2021 18:14

Did Greece and Egypt in 2020.

This year we did Greece twice, Amsterdam and Ibiza. Was fab. No issues at all. Masks in many locations abroad, planes cleaned between flights, a lot of abroad destinations require vaccine passports to sit indoors.

Go. For good beach weather check our Hurghada right now. I was there last December and could sunbathe until 5pm. Need a sweater for the nights outdoors.

ilovesooty · 18/11/2021 18:14

@RuggerHug

Travelling to family abroad and being sensible is one thing. I'm bored and want a holiday Hmm not so much.
Why can't you be sensible and go on holiday?
Annabel7 · 18/11/2021 18:15

Go for it! So long as you're vaccinated and the rules around your destination are not too faffy.

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 18/11/2021 18:16

@PurBal

I mean… my family still can’t get back to the UK because there are no fights. A NZ friend hasn’t seen his family (nor have they met his almost 1 year old son) and there’s a 50k strong waiting list for NZ nationals to get home. So to me the pandemic is very not anywhere near over.
That's not the pandemic not being over, that's NZ choosing to respond in that way to it. Hardly any other nation has had such an OTT response. Not saying it's right or wrong, but they seem to have prioritised a zero covid approach over absolutely everything else.
OP posts:
Anothermuddywalk · 18/11/2021 18:16

@TwinklyBranch

I'm with your friend. It's not necessary.
Most of what we do "isn't necessary" - should we all just sit in our houses for ever more? When will it be acceptable to do "unnecessary" things anymore?
FrankGrillosWrist · 18/11/2021 18:17

I’ve got a few trips booked for this year, & I have no intention of doing any more Premier Inns around the UK. I’m suspecting the friend doesn’t travel much, if at all. Just do it OP, we’ve all spent far too much time stuck inside.

Abraxan · 18/11/2021 18:19

@TwinklyBranch

I'm with your friend. It's not necessary.
Holidays are never necessary. Even holidays within the U.K. aren't necessary.

But should that mean we can still only do necessary things? And for how long?