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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think travel wouldn't be that bad?

53 replies

lockitdown · 07/12/2021 06:54

We would like to go abroad for Christmas but are so confused. Despite what seems to be a few warnings here and there, friends flights being cancelled, the apparent hassle of testing and "beverley goldberging" by people we know (i.e "I knew of a party of 9 golfers who went to portugal, they all got covid and 2 died") ......according to my social media, everyone seems to be travelling freely.

I find it really confusing. I know social media isn't always telling me the truth but why does it look like people from other parts of the world are travelling happily and easily? Destinations are supposed to be shut but travel companies are still selling holiday packages (e,g Morocco).

AIBU to think the whole travel thing is being purposefully made to be confusing? Has anyone gone anywhere and is it worth it and just how easy is it?

OP posts:

Original poster

lockitdown · 07/12/2021 06:55

Sorry! I didn't think I added a vote to this.

OP posts:

HelloDulling · 07/12/2021 06:59

It depends on where you want to go, whether you have children aged 12-18, and whether you are vaccinated.

There are lots of hoops to jump though, but it’s possible. I wouldn’t describe it as travelling freely if you have to book several PCRs for before/during/after a trip.

Original poster

lockitdown · 07/12/2021 07:16

@HelloDulling

It depends on where you want to go, whether you have children aged 12-18, and whether you are vaccinated.

There are lots of hoops to jump though, but it’s possible. I wouldn’t describe it as travelling freely if you have to book several PCRs for before/during/after a trip.

True. 2 adults 1 under 18..adults boosted and teen double vacc'd.

OP posts:

DazedandConcerned · 07/12/2021 07:38

It is easy to some destinations. My friends have decamped to Egypt for example. Anyone double vaccinated can just enter the country with a health declaration. To return you need to test 48 hours before return and before day 2 after arrival. I did this in July and August when travelling. You can take an lft with you and upload results to get your fit to fly certificate.

Just one example of how easy it can be.

Original poster

lockitdown · 07/12/2021 07:47

@DazedandConcerned

Just one example of how easy it can be.

Oh wow, we have been led to believe Egypt is one of the areas to avoid as it may go red. I would love to go.

OP posts:

rookiemere · 07/12/2021 08:03

If you wanted relatively easy travel Sep/Oct was the time to go. I'd avoid going anywhere now until the fuss around Omircron dies down.

Ozgirl75 · 07/12/2021 08:12

My parents went to the Caribbean- they’re there right now, and it was fine. Had a test before they went, and they’ve got a test booked for the day or so before they come back.
They’re triple vaccinated and generally healthy though but they said the process has been much easier than they expected.

EasterIssland · 07/12/2021 08:14

Ive got friends in Lapland , Iceland , Martinique , Jordan , mexico and italy currently
I think you’ve to be prepared to last minute changes if so then you shouldn’t have many problems.

Fairylights25 · 07/12/2021 08:20

You need to be prepared for last minute changes, have contingencies in place and be prepared to stump up for the red list quarantine hotel. If you are desperate to travel you will find a way, and the endless running negative news channels are unlikely to change your mind.

We are supposed to be flying out next week, if the flight is on and the borders are open we will be going. Some people have more of an appetite for risk, are double or triple vaccinated, had covid and think what the hell. Life is passing us all by as we sit and wait for the next variant.

Bagamoyo1 · 07/12/2021 08:21

I think if you’re a fully vaccinated adult with a flexible job and no other particular commitments, it’s not too bad. But young teens are basically pretty screwed at the moment. And if you had a job that you were expected to return to, you wouldn’t be able to risk a last minute quarantine hotel stay.
And you need to be prepared for it all to go wrong at the last minute, meaning you either couldn’t get there, or you couldn’t get home, if you tested positive.
For most people, it’s proving too much risk and hassle I think.

Fallagain · 07/12/2021 08:23

Travel in covid times is always going to require a bit more effort and its going to be more risky to travel over winter/early spring over the next 5 years.

toomuchlaundry · 07/12/2021 08:24

Does travel insurance cover the cost of quarantine hotel if your destination is suddenly put on the red list?

Cocomarine · 07/12/2021 08:26

I know a fair few who are travelling at the moment, have just been or are going. All of them are annoyed by additional cost but able to afford it. So the PCRs aren’t going to put them off at all. None of them see PCRs as much hassle at all, it’s just a cost.

DazedandConcerned · 07/12/2021 08:27

@lockitdown book a package. If it goes red they’ll fly you home. But given the spread of Omicron here I doubt they’ll are North African countries to the red list. I was in Egypt last December and felt super safe. Mask and glove wearing is massive amongst the staff. And all staff are vaccinated. The Egyptian government insisted anyone working in tourism must be.

Fairylights25 · 07/12/2021 08:31

Insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of quarantine hotels in this country if your holiday destination turns red over night.

Omicron may well spread quickly, so it might be an idea to get your travelling done soon, as Jan and Feb have the potential for a new wave after Christmas at least in Europe, unless you can stay wherever you are to early spring.
Also worth checking out there is good healthcare at destination country in a worst case scenario, you do not want to be 100s of miles from a good medical facility that could save your life if you are affected badly by covid.

Theyweretheworstoftimes · 07/12/2021 08:34

Dubai might interest you. You need a negative PCR to enter. They are not interested in vaccination status.

You can get a PCR to return cheaply and the doctor will come to your hotel. Test results come back in about 6 hours.

Currently you need a PCR on day 2 on return.

You must wear a mask everywhere outside your hotel room. You can take it off at the pool and lying on the beach. Everyone wears a mask properly in Dubai.

Tal45 · 07/12/2021 08:37

Omicron is already here and spreading fast so really it's all a pointless waste of time - but still, someone's making lots of money from all these tests. Glad we went in October rather than now.

Tal45 · 07/12/2021 08:39

Oh and don't trust any company to get your PCR test back in 12 hours, we've made that mistake before. Have it done as early as possible.

BitBroken · 07/12/2021 08:39

I went to a red country and it was fine. They make it seem more scary that it is (the travelling)

Just make sure you do your research into the counties requirements.

Newgirls · 07/12/2021 08:44

You do need to check the specific country eg Morocco is not accepting tourists

The cost of quick PCRs is quite high - £80-120. You need to isolate in the UK on return until the result is back - ok as long as you don’t need to go to work straight away.

I went to Spain recently and the airport was a breeze. You have to fill in the Spanish passenger locator form and show that on arrival. Bit of a tedious form but do-able.

notimagain · 07/12/2021 08:45

@lockitdown

As others have said a lot is destination specific, plus you need to factor in logistics/accommodation if you do get caught because you either test positive and/or country you are in goes red away from home/base/family.

A solo traveller/couple of adults with work flexibility may well find it worth traveling, OTOH others who potentially might have family in tow and are restricted by work/school dates…

TreborBore · 07/12/2021 08:47

I don’t think it’s purposely confusing. The holiday companies want to sell you a holiday. But the UK government wants to control what people who’ve travelled outside the UK bring with them. And countries outside of the UK can make the UK red list at any time. If I was childless, could work from anywhere and the destination had good healthcare, I’d risk it. Personally I think it’s too much hassle as I’m not any of those things.

EvilRingahBitch · 07/12/2021 08:54

It'll probably be fine, but it might go tits up if you test positive or your destination gets red listed. It's like saying "I always buy travel insurance but my mates never do and they've always been fine, am I wasting my money?" Not quite as severe because being unexpectedly stuck in a quarantine hotel for two weeks would only cost you a few thousand whilst not buying travel insurance could stick you with a bill for millions but it's the same sort of thing. Different people have different tolerance for risk (and if you could happily continue working from quarantine or a foreign country if necessary then it's less of a worry).

rookiemere · 07/12/2021 09:03

They have limited capacity in quarantine hotels- particularly as UK fully open for inside travel - so I would think it unlikely that there would ever be a requirement to quarantine in a hotel if you came back from say Spain or France.

Snoken · 07/12/2021 09:03

I have travelled back home to Sweden to see my family, and it's not been bad at all. Having said that, I would not book a holiday abroad as I would be worried about testing positive on the PCR you do before returning to the UK and being forced to stay in a country where I have no ties, nowhere to live etc potentially for months. My DS had covid in September and still tested positive on a PCR end of November even though he recovered nearly three months before that.

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