Lapland 2020- anyone booked?

[Cherry321]

Has anyone booked and do you think the holidays will happen or will we be in the middle of a second wave?

Are you going to postpone until 2021 or just cross everything and hope you can fly off to the snow? I’m feeling a bit conflicted about what to do. It’s supposed to be the trip of a lifetime and I don’t want to be all stressy or for it to be not as good as other years. 🤷🏻‍♀️

We were planning to go this year as smallest grandchild is the age that middle one was when we went in 2016 but are putting it off for a year .
We were only doing a day trip but it was truly wonderful .

Yes I’ve booked and have my head firmly in the sand.... we WILL go and it WILL be fabulous lalalallaaaaa

This is probably the last year DS1 will believe.... otherwise I might think about postponing.

Yes we’ve booked a day trip early dec... I’m not feeling too hopeful!!! But I so want to go!!

Balance is due this week so I’m undecided!

They are talking about organising these trips as bubbles. People wouldn't mix with other people. They want the tourists to come and are thinking how to do it.

Maybe we will go then, I will keep the faith for a bit longer then

We’ve booked with Canterbury Travel. Our full balance is due in a couple of weeks, I asked to move it to next year and was told an outright no and she just kept reciting the same ‘we plan for our trips to still be going ahead’ over and over. She didn’t even really listen to what I was saying

Yes Canterbury Travel were quite blasé about it when I booked. “Coronavirus isn’t affecting Finland and it’ll all be over by Christmas anyway”. TBH that’s what I wanted to hear so no complaints from me.

You need to quarantine two weeks in Finland. They are trying to get round it by bubbles.

How’s everyone feeling Lapland as it gets closer? I’m not sure I want to go this year, the thought of spending all that time on coaches/planes with that many complete stranger three weeks before Christmas isn’t appealing, particularly when I can’t have more than 5 other people that I know in my own house...

We are!
I'm hoping it will be called off. Flight is 27/12.
Need a clear Covid test 72 hours before
So a test on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
And results back in time?

That's impossible!

Who have you booked with @IvySpivey? From what I can see most of the companies are offering the opportunity to switch to next year, excep Canterbury Travel who we’ve booked with. I’m so annoyed!

If it's one agent that is being stubborn, have you tried contacting someone in the media? It's impossible to stick to 'bubbles' on this sort of trip, they're downright irresponsible at refusing to budge on changes.

That’s my thinking chachacha2012, they’re claiming visitors will be in bubbles but how realistic is that? I also don’t really want to be in a bubble with a group of strangers! I live with someone who’s vulnerable (isn’t coming on the trip) so don’t want to be forced into going.

At the moment we stand to lose hundreds of our deposit if we cancel. I’m going to call them again this week for another update, I’m happy to pay to move to next year but the previous conversations we’ve had they stonewall with ‘we’re planning to go ahead as usual’

@RAINSh0wers Yes! Canterbury Arctic Adventures.
I am so sad as my sister went last year and said how fabulous it was.
We have £800;deposit to lose. But that's probably the same price as Coronavirus tests.
Sister has £600!

How can we get the tests and results over Xmas?

I understand they need to sell holidays but even if we could afford the tests as an extra expense I can't imagine we'd get them on Xmas Eve and results back on Boxing Day!

Finally Canterbury are saying we can move it to next year. She also said there should be a final decision next week and if they decide to cancel then a refund is an option. I think we’re going to hold out and see what next week brings but I’m glad there’s no pressure to go this year!

From what I understand, the rules from 23 Nov are if your trip is less than 72 hours in Finland then you don't have to quarantine on arrival. Private covid tests are £119 each at Lloyds and they take 3 days to come back so the Finnish requirement of a "less than 3 days old" test is going to be a bit tight for UK travellers. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but sounds like the 72 hr rule is aimed at keeping the Santa tourism alive this year.
I would postpone but my 2 are on the cusp of being non-believers, I don't think I've got another year.