AIBU to think it's OK to travel now?

[dabbydeedoo]

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?

Of course you're not being unreasonable. Get it booked!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59324764

@TwinklyBranch

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

I could name 100 things that aren't necessary. If you don't want to travel then don't, but don't place your made up restrictions on another people and attempt to guilt them for getting on with their lives.

My holidays over the pandemic have been bliss, as not many people travelled obviously. Planes half full, beaches not overcrowded, no sun bed hogging, bars and restaurants not crowded....I hope the foil hat brigade stay locked in forever

I’m of the opinion that the pandemic is definitely not over and I’m still being very cautious with everything BUT I think you should go OP because I can’t wait to go abroad myself! It just isn’t practical for us at the moment so if you can, you should and have a great time for those of us who can’t! 😀

I went away to Croatia in October half term.

Very simple to sort and didn't involve any lengthy queues anywhere either end.

We had covid passes on our phones so could just show them quickly, along with out boarding passes. Even used these to do a day trip into a nearby country. I had printed them too just incase but didn't need to use them.

Airport didn't have any additional queues or delays at either side of the holiday, not in the U.K. (flew from Manchester) not in Croatia.

Both the Croatian and the U.K. passenger locator forms were simple to complete online. Just had them on our phones to show when required.

We didn't need tests to go or when there before we returned, and we didn't have any quarantine issues as me, Dh and 19y teen were fully vaccinated. We did a paid for LFT when home, all negative, which cost about £20 each.

We wore masks in the airports and on the flight. Didn't need them much in Croatia, other than taxis.

And everywhere was quieter than normal so had a lovely relaxing holiday in the sun. Bliss!

Sure. But the pandemic isn’t over. Lots of nations are unvaccinated even if the borders aren’t closed. And some of the borders are open but with no flights. Don’t get me wrong, I miss it terribly. I had a two month Asia trip planned for earlier this year. But it would be super shit right now. Each to their own of course.

Reasonable to travel. Perhaps not everywhere, but to many places.
Check the situation in location you are visiting, check the covid rules, make refundable bookings if possible in case they change, get travel insurance. And have fun!

I guess all the places I want to go I can’t get to and I’m jealous!!

@TwinklyBranch

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

I don't think she asked if it was 'necessary'. Almost nothing other than eating, drinking and breathing is stritcly 'necessary'. Including your post.

I have travelled the past 18 months as much as I normally would have pre-pandemic. Im Fully vacinnated, take pre-departure tests, wear masks and sanitise my hands, respect the covid regulations of the country im visiting,complete any required return tests etc which I feel have all made it as safe as possible. Not once have I caught covid or even had a scare.

We’ve been abroad several times this year and will be going again soon. I think as long as you’re following the rules (of home and destination country) for travel then crack on - the global tourism industry needs it as much as Uk hospitality industry needs people to eat out when they can.

Just make sure you have decent travel insurance and don’t run to the papers with a “sad face” if there are any pandemic related hiccups. And have an amazing time!

Sounds like your friend is jealous.

Get it booked; as others have said, Covid won't disappear and you can't put your life on hold for ever.

Look on the Gov.UK website for latest requirements as they've changed recently. I've just been to Paris on the Eurostar and as long as you've got everything in place before you go - NHS Covid pass downloaded, a signed document to say you haven't got symptoms, day 2 LFT booked before you go (because you'll need the reference number for your Passenger Locator form) - and a phone to complete the locator form whilst you're away you'll be good to go. People were wearing masks at both stations and on board.

Happy holidays!

Yanbu at all.
I swear some people on here want everyone to stay on their houses for the rest of their lives.

It depends what 'ok' means to you. I'm totally relaxed about covid risk and would 100% travel from a 'safety' perspective. But I personally can't be bothered with the admin faff and tests needed, and then restrictions and pre-booking and time slots for the pool etc when you're there which for me would make it all a bit...flat.
I also can't risk getting stuck somewhere because I need to get back for work.

@Smileyaxolotl1

I don't think my ILs will ever venture outside again, however that's a win for the rest of the population imo.

@TwinklyBranch

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

Holidays are never ‘necessary’.

Do you only do things that are strictly necessary? Nothing for pleasure?

YANBU OP. We’ve had 3 holidays this year. All fab.

I am not interested

It’s still a risk with countries changing their rules all the time - Austria is today’s example.
However if you’re happy with that level of uncertainty and you’ve got decent travel insurance so you don’t end up out of pocket go for it!

@Iamnotminterested

Sounds like your friend is jealous.

Get it booked; as others have said, Covid won't disappear and you can't put your life on hold for ever.

Look on the Gov.UK website for latest requirements as they've changed recently. I've just been to Paris on the Eurostar and as long as you've got everything in place before you go - NHS Covid pass downloaded, a signed document to say you haven't got symptoms, day 2 LFT booked before you go (because you'll need the reference number for your Passenger Locator form) - and a phone to complete the locator form whilst you're away you'll be good to go. People were wearing masks at both stations and on board.

Happy holidays!

I feel like the Day 2 test has ruined spontaneity quite a bit...I'm used to just booking a couple of days in advance and going. I know you only need the number, really, but what do you do if you get back and the test isn't there yet, or it's been lost?

As long as you're prepared to spend an additional 10 days quarantining in your destination if you are unlucky enough to catch covid while there...

Go for it. I know holidays aren't strictly necessary but there is very little that is and if you give up everything except the essentials you aren't living and we only get to do this once. Also, how low does the risk level have to get to before it is acceptable? Covid isn't going to vanish never to be heard of again, how long are we supposed to put our lives on hold for?

@Minceandonions

It depends what 'ok' means to you. I'm totally relaxed about covid risk and would 100% travel from a 'safety' perspective. But I personally can't be bothered with the admin faff and tests needed, and then restrictions and pre-booking and time slots for the pool etc when you're there which for me would make it all a bit...flat. I also can't risk getting stuck somewhere because I need to get back for work.

I guess from an ethical perspective. I personally didn't think it was right to travel last year, so I didn't. Vaccines were nowhere near ready and we were very much 'in the middle' of the pandemic, and the second wave was largely seeded by people returning from Spain etc. But things are very different now to how they were a year ago - everyone in the country has had the opportunity to be double or even triple vaccinated and covid rates are better in most other places than here. I think there's more risk of getting and spreading covid by going to the pub in the UK than on holiday to Spain.

@Alaimo

As long as you're prepared to spend an additional 10 days quarantining in your destination if you are unlucky enough to catch covid while there...

I personally wouldn't go anywhere for longer than a few days so it seems unlikely. Not impossible though.