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?

@BogRollBOGOF

I've got minimal interest in travelling while it involves masks and Covid passes, but for people who can tolerate all that malarkey, fair play. Tourist destinations need the trade and its keeping economies alive.

I didn't fret about holiday health safety even after the Bombay Bowels, or the super-spreading AI buffet vomit bug where half the hotel including 3/4 in the family going down with it. Life's too short to constantly miss out on fun incase something goes wrong.

I felt the same last year. I thought I would wait for covid to be 'over', assuming this year we'd be pretty much normal again, but we're not. The hassle is actually not that bad once you're doing it - it's definitely outweighed by how great it is to be away! What I didn't enjoy was when we had to do the pre departure lateral flow - I was paranoid about somehow picking up covid on a train or something or at the outdoor wine tasting I did and testing positive and being stuck there so it was in the back of my mind the whole time. Even then, it was a brilliant trip.

As you say, many countries absolutely rely on tourism. Not much use in being precious about travelling in a pandemic if people are losing their homes and going hungry because they can't work.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

- Exactly puppup25. Same as the bleating "but we're allooooooowed". You're a fucking adult, do you really just go by permission and absolutely no thinking for yourself. It's bizarre.

Assume you are staying at home then, doing all your shopping online and not visiting cafes, restaurants or any other non- essential places. Limiting meet ups with friends to huddling outside? Because unless you are continuing to live that way, you have no right to criticise other adults as you are also doing things which you can, doesn't mean you should.... .
It's offensive to suggest we're not thinking for ourselves. The amount of research I did before flying to convince myself I was not putting myself and others in any greater danger than going about my usual business at home was unreal.
Those of us who can think for ourselves ARE analysing risk. How we come to a different conclusion than those who call fliers selfish is up for debate. The person I know who is the most vocal about selfish adults travelling has no research to back up her views. She just 'feels' it is wrong. Well her 'feeling' isn't enough to persuade me I'm afraid.

What's funny is that people who do their shopping online and order takeaways are fine with exposing other people to covid constantly. This is what my friend is like. She will proudly boast about how she hasn't left the house in a week without even thinking about how the chef who cooked her takeaway was standing in a tiny crowded kitchen, probably having taken a packed bus or tube to get there, but somehow I'm the selfish one for going abroad.

I don't think anyone who has said people shouldn't be travelling has come up with a single compelling reason as to why not. I've also done extensive research and I also don't think there's any more risk in flying abroad than there is in staying in the UK and going out and about as usual. In fact, I think the risk is much lower.

Being honest, given that a huge number of people are double jabbed, this is the best we're going to get with regards to getting rid of covid. So if you don't go on holiday now, you never will.

Enjoy yourself.

Take precautions, but enjoy yourself.

I don't think anyone who has said people shouldn't be travelling has come up with a single compelling reason as to why not. I've also done extensive research and I also don't think there's any more risk in flying abroad than there is in staying in the UK and going out and about as usual. In fact, I think the risk is much lower.

I agree totally having witnessed the practically 100% mask wearing compliance, and other precautions like hand sanitizer on every table in bars & restaurants. Then go to the supermarket in this country and it's like nothing ever happened. Flights are the least of our worries!

Go for it! I'm off to Mexico on Tuesday for 11 nights . Cannot wait!!

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

- Exactly puppup25. Same as the bleating "but we're allooooooowed". You're a fucking adult, do you really just go by permission and absolutely no thinking for yourself. It's bizarre.

Assume you are staying at home then, doing all your shopping online and not visiting cafes, restaurants or any other non- essential places. Limiting meet ups with friends to huddling outside? Because unless you are continuing to live that way, you have no right to criticise other adults as you are also doing things which you can, doesn't mean you should.... .
It's offensive to suggest we're not thinking for ourselves. The amount of research I did before flying to convince myself I was not putting myself and others in any greater danger than going about my usual business at home was unreal.
Those of us who can think for ourselves ARE analysing risk. How we come to a different conclusion than those who call fliers selfish is up for debate. The person I know who is the most vocal about selfish adults travelling has no research to back up her views. She just 'feels' it is wrong. Well her 'feeling' isn't enough to persuade me I'm afraid.

*Wearing a mask going shopping *Getting take away from places near us that have opened and tipping as much as we can, answer the door with mask *Still doing zoom meet ups.

Risk is from the DCs because they'd miss out from not having school/preschool. Other 'risk' is optional,pub night isn't worth it when we have vulnerable family members. So we do what we can to avoid it and avoid passing risk to other people. I don't know what the person working in the shop/pharmacy/wherever I have to go to has or who they live with. There's a hell of a lot of people working away 'behind the scenes' if you want to call it that who are keeping things going for everyone. We're doing what we can because, as mad as it sounds, covid didn't get a print out of what's allowed and what isn't. I've family and friends in many different countries so we do chat about the different approach places have taken and what's advised. Last year, whenever it seemed tough or bad the general consensus was 'well at least we're not in the states or UK' because of how it came across.

It's not travel for work, family or anything worth weighing up the risk that seems mad. It's the 'oooooh but we always have some winter sun' brigade that just seem bored of accepting reality that seem a bit off to me. I'm not saying they're awful people or selfish pricks or anything like that, it's just mad to watch from outside.

@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?

Life must continue; please book a holiday for yourself.

@RuggerHug but some people genuinely do suffer from SAD, myself included. This year's lockdown was absolutely bleak. I remember going for a walk some time in February with tears streaming down my face, just feeling so utterly hopeless. I gave up two years of my life to protect the elderly and vulnerable to the detriment of my mental health, so why don't I finally get to do something that would help me? You seem to think the 'winter sun brigade' are careless and thoughtless, but what about people who genuinely can't cope with the endless grey skies and need a boost to get through the next few grim months?

We went to Ibiza in July and Alicante October. No one is stopping me travelling now if the flights are on and the countries im going to are fairing better than us. It was amazing to get away, go for it.

It's the 'oooooh but we always have some winter sun' brigade that just seem bored of accepting reality that seem a bit off to me.

Actually I think it's just a different view of 'reality', rather than 'being bored of accepting' it.
It is a reality that I shared a home with two key workers who had COVID thanks to their not being able to work from home. We took sensible precautions and the other two of us did not contract COVID, in spite of being more vulnerable due to age and having to share a bathroom.

I cannot see how travel is putting me or anyone else in a worse position than going about our daily lives at home . Things HAVE changed since last year, it is time to move on whilst still taking precautions and behaving sensibly.

Clearly if we had CEV family members, we would take a different view.

[quote dabbydeedoo]@RuggerHug but some people genuinely do suffer from SAD, myself included. This year's lockdown was absolutely bleak. I remember going for a walk some time in February with tears streaming down my face, just feeling so utterly hopeless. I gave up two years of my life to protect the elderly and vulnerable to the detriment of my mental health, so why don't I finally get to do something that would help me? You seem to think the 'winter sun brigade' are careless and thoughtless, but what about people who genuinely can't cope with the endless grey skies and need a boost to get through the next few grim months?[/quote]
That's different and I'm sorry, it's been shit for loads of people. I was talking about the people who just can't face reality. Your health, work and family are different.

I don't have a problem with anyone going abroad.
We haven't been for ages due to budget - now finances have improved but we haven't braved it yet!
However several people i know who have been away (for holidays rather than seeing family) have whinged and moaned about the faff, stress and expense of testing /filling out all the forms etc. I am a bit with that - thats one of the things that puts me off - because I think its a hassle!! But its a known hassle and its one you sign up for if you choose to go abroad (similarly if one chooses to stay in the UK we can't really be surprised if the weather is a bit crap, or tourist places are heaving!)

I have travelled lots. The virus is endemic.

I was travelling throughout the pandemic; COVID did not affect me because I did not let it.

I do what is best for my well-being and family, not what ill-informed friends or the government tell me to do.

YANBU OP. I've travelled (within restrictions and when allowed) throughout. We've just come back from a gloriously restriction free Denmark and are in the process of booking two more trips for next summer, one short and one long haul. Neither DP or I have at any point had covid and I am just not prepared to sit here in a bubble and watch our lives pass us by, as the industry I love and that is my livelihood falls away from beneath me.

If people don't travel now then the travel industry worldwide WILL collapse (along with all the other industries that support it or rely on it) and that will be it, no more affordable holidays for anyone for many years, unless they can afford private jets and privately rented homes. People who live apart from family just won't have the option to visit, it won't be possible or at least not without long and expensive journeys.

In the many destinations that rely almost solely on tourism the impact will be very much worse, no income, no jobs, no infrastructure, no hope. It's not about 'just waiting until it's all over' because by that point it will be too late.

@Exhausteddog

I don't have a problem with anyone going abroad. We haven't been for ages due to budget - now finances have improved but we haven't braved it yet! However several people i know who have been away (for holidays rather than seeing family) have whinged and moaned about the faff, stress and expense of testing /filling out all the forms etc. I am a bit with that - thats one of the things that puts me off - because I think its a hassle!! But its a known hassle and its one you sign up for if you choose to go abroad (similarly if one chooses to stay in the UK we can't really be surprised if the weather is a bit crap, or tourist places are heaving!)

I moaned about the day 2 test and needlessly long and complex UK PLF because I think they're unnecessary and pointless. I still did them but it was a totally avoidable hassle. Switzerland has a nice simple PLF with no convoluted questions and they just asked me for that and my vaccine certificate. No messing about with tests or nonsense. It doesn't have to be painful.

The Swiss airline staff checking documents at the gate were smirking at the audacity of the UK to be asking for all these forms and certificates when the UK has one of the worst covid rates in the world and no mask wearing and I did find it hard to disagree. All those 'precautions' and then you go home on a packed tube from the airport full of maskless people coughing and sneezing?

My biggest covid risk has never been having a holiday abroad.

It's work. I teach. None of my pupils are vaccinated. There are no masks. There is no social distancing. The windows open a tiny bit only. The children come to school coughing and ill regularly. Many are in right now despite having parents and siblings at home with covid and sharing a bedroom with them. Most aren't being tested.

School is where I almost certainly picked up covid last year. I'm CV but was expected to work in close contact without masks or SD, across the whole school every day. Covid put me in hospital and I'll be taking medication for life as a result of it.

So yeah, I weight up the risks and the balance came down in favour of a holiday abroad for me and my family. The risk to me and from me felt pretty low, for travelling.

I don't and won't feel guilt for enjoying a holiday abroad this corner half term. It was bliss. And I'm hoping to go somewhere else nice and warm in February half term too.

I don't have a problem with people travelling but it's too much hassle for me, with testing and forms and vaccine passports. I had a lovely trip to the Channel Islands in October.

I am a bit at the amount of business travel that's kicking off again though. If you managed with Zooms or Teams for the last 18 months, what's the issue now?

@ColinTheKoala

I don't have a problem with people travelling but it's too much hassle for me, with testing and forms and vaccine passports. I had a lovely trip to the Channel Islands in October.

I am a bit at the amount of business travel that's kicking off again though. If you managed with Zooms or Teams for the last 18 months, what's the issue now?

Draconian mindsets imply one must be physically present inside the workplace to work.

I love being able to work remotely!

I can't believe some people are still going with the - why yes of course if you have relatives you can travel, but if you just want a holiday then you are selfish- it's not 2020 any more !

We went to Tenerife October half term - I'd cancelled an August Majorca trip as worried about the level and cost of testing - and my abiding memory is of DS15 with a look of pure joy on his face as he dived into the water park wave machine with his pals ( lots of other reprobate families at his school). He has had a rubbish 18 months and whilst we had good fun on UK breaks, it was so wonderful seeing him enjoying himself so much.

Fair enough no travel before vaccines and with obvious new variants. Sadly it looks like the situation will continue to fluctuate and I'm not prepared to put our lives on hold any more.

@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.

These are all the reasons that our me off . Also if you happen to catch Covid while abroad some of the Asian countries have very strict quarantine rules. I think it is 3'wees quarantine in an official facility in HK if you test positive. I wouldn't fancy that on my holiday!!

If you pick the country so there are minimal restrictions and you don't mind the extra faff with vaccine passports and Covid tests ( and many people don't mind) then I'd say go for it

Go, go. Go. What are you waiting on? We've been going on holidays for months now. Just back from one European country, and off to another soon. Got lots booked for next year already!!
Ignore the miserys who never went on holidays before the pandemic anyway.

@ImInStealthMode

YANBU OP. I've travelled (within restrictions and when allowed) throughout. We've just come back from a gloriously restriction free Denmark and are in the process of booking two more trips for next summer, one short and one long haul. Neither DP or I have at any point had covid and I am just not prepared to sit here in a bubble and watch our lives pass us by, as the industry I love and that is my livelihood falls away from beneath me.

If people don't travel now then the travel industry worldwide WILL collapse (along with all the other industries that support it or rely on it) and that will be it, no more affordable holidays for anyone for many years, unless they can afford private jets and privately rented homes. People who live apart from family just won't have the option to visit, it won't be possible or at least not without long and expensive journeys.

In the many destinations that rely almost solely on tourism the impact will be very much worse, no income, no jobs, no infrastructure, no hope. It's not about 'just waiting until it's all over' because by that point it will be too late.

That's how I see it too. People like my friend seem to just expect cheap flights and package holidays just to be there when she decides it's safe enough, but they won't if nobody is using them. Now we have effective vaccines and testing, the risk from covid is extremely low. I would no longer consider it unethical to travel to a poorer country like Thailand or Mexico because I think at this point, the risk of poverty through a collapsed tourism industry is much worse than the covid risk. I'm triple vaccinated and if a negative PCR is needed to get on the plane, the risk from me to them is almost zero.

@Suspiciousmind20

Yes. Book lots of flights. Who gives a shit about our pending extinction as long as we get our fly and flop. Entitled much?

That sort of hysterical nonsense just sends me straight on to skyscanner.

God I haven't stopped travelling - we have been to France, Italy, Portugal, Montenegro, Greece, Spain and are heading to the US at Christmas. Plus travelling to the US for work next month. I don't understand the fear but then I have been very relaxed this whole pandemic. Life is for living and travelling!