To want to delay holiday

[WWYDholidaycovidcrud]

My DH has covid. Symptomatic and in contact with someone with it so tested as works in health in close contact with often vulnerable people. Coughing and chills but up and about, not bed ridden.

DC and I are negative testing at the moment. I have heard this variant is mild.

Holiday tonight. Driving and shared hotel rooms for 3 days/nights and then a week in a cottage with separate rooms so don’t have to share a bedroom anymore. No shared transport or accommodation with anyone else so just us as a family breathing in germs.

I am perimenopausal, having problems with digestion and kidneys. I get hit hard by anything going around and struggle to shake it off.

If we go, chances are DC and I will get it. Even if it’s mild, I am not keen on being miles from home and feeling really ill. He will try and look after me but he’s scatty and will forget basics - like if he says he will bring me water he will forget for an hour or more.

But, we haven’t had a holiday since 2019, we are desperate and have been so looking forward to it. DC super excited. Old enough to manage if we are poorly - can fix own food etc.

We might not get it and he might recover quickly of course. No predicting that.

I am tempted to delay and shorten the holiday. Stay at home with him in the other bedroom until he’s negative. I think insurance should cover it. But DC would be sooo sad. Or do I risk it and suck it up if I do get it? I’m not one of these robust people that bounce back quickly from colds. They can linger. But also I’m really excited about going away. So genuinely torn.

I know it’s not really AIBU but DH is gung ho and ready to go. Doesn’t want to cancel and has vaguely waved away my concerns so it’s hard to talk it through with him. Curious to hear perspectives.

You don't have to stay stuck if you feel unwell though, you can always come home?

We could go without him but then if I come down with it I’m on my own with DC and in a country where I speak a little of the language but not much. There is a lot of driving between different stops. If I’m too ill to drive what then? I think the only option is we all go, we all stay or we all delay. Splitting isn’t an option thinking about it.

True. Lots of driving though. Two days worth if we push it.

Oooooooo. Hurrah. Not that you were ill (sorry to hear that) - but that it wasn’t too bad and didn’t spread. That’s good for you guys but great to hear.

This is my fear. I’d then spend a week feeling ill stuck in a car or hotel room.

But this could happen on any holiday at any time, whether someone close to you has covid or not. There will always be bugs going around. At the moment your DH feels well enough to go away and you and the kids are fine. It seems pointless to cancel a holiday you've all been looking forward to just in case you get ill. You could postpone the holiday and when you're due to go next time one of you could be ill again, that's just life unfortunately.

Does insurance still cover people for Covid?

Personally I would rather risk being unwell on holiday (which can happen to anyone at anytime anyway) than risk missing half my holiday for absolutely no reason 🤷‍♀️

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Good plan.

So prep; lots of balsam tissues, Vicks, my own water bottles, download films onto iPad, my own pillow, paracetamol, vitamin tablets. What else?

This is all what iffs so I would go

Yes. If we delay and I am fine that would be gutting.

Just go. If you had a cold you'd go. Even if you feel a bit ropey, at least you'll be somewhere different and able to relax.
Oh, and don't waste your time testing anyone else - it's completely pointless.

Yes. True. But then I imagine getting really poorly and thinking ‘what an idiot, I knew this was a possibility!’ 😂 But I think we will go and prep for the worst as previous poster suggested.

You're getting yourself very stressed and worked up over something that may not even happen, which says you probably need a holiday more than ever.

Just go. If you get sick, deal with it when it happens, but don’t ruin your holiday for yourself and your family based on nothing.

Pack a box with an emergency covid pack.
Bottles of water, a few snacks, medication, masks, tissues, gel, wipes, whatever you may need.
Use hand gel frequently now and on the journey and have the car fan on fresh air not recirculate.

He tested as he works in health with vulnerable people. I guess though if he hadn’t we’d be none the wiser.

But equally imagine staying at home and all being completely fine. What a waste that would be.

Most insurance doesn't cover covid unless too unwell to travel.

Stop testing. People don't test for 'flu which is much worse for many.

I'd cancel and save what you can for a break later in the year. The prospect doesn't sound like it's going to be any fun for anyone.

It would be mad to cancel/shorten/postpone a holiday on a what if. IF you get it, which you may not, IF you feel worse than he does - neither of those may happen, if they do you deal with it then. There are always bugs going around and you can’t live like that. DH feels fine. Just go, chuck some painkillers in your luggage and focus on enjoying yourselves!

Ha ha. Yeah. I do. It’s not nothing though. Last time I had covid I was literally unable to move, eat or drink much for three days. It took me weeks to fully recover. So having all that in different country and in the car all day and different hotel rooms is an hideous thought!

I’d just go. You already live together so you may or may not get it - I wouldn’t bother trying to keep separate now.

Dh and I got Covid while on holiday, fortunately only 2 hours drive from home. We were staying in an air Bnb but had the children in bed with us as they don't sleep well away from home.

We drove home with the windows open in the car wearing masks. The kids didn't get it.

I would suggest driving on roads where you can open the window, but it sounds like you might be doing a lot of motorway driving.

So true.

@WWYDholidaycovidcrud but you're not sick and may not even get sick 🙈

So it is based on nothing.

Right. We will go. I’ll pack a ‘survival bag’. I might book an extra room tonight just so we get good sleep without him coughing. Then we will just crack on.

Thank you all. I think the mixed response has really helped as it’s obviously not a clear cut decision. But at least if I do get ill and it’s awful, I have it full consideration.

so much catastrophising... I don't tick like that. Just stay all at home then. Problem solved. not sure why you posted in the first place.