Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Cancel summer holiday - Cornwall

137 replies

Seapink2 · 07/04/2020 09:16

There has been a few threads recently discussing cancelling holidays abroad this summer, what are everyone’s thoughts on their UK based holidays?

I have a holiday planned with a B&B to Cornwall at the end of July, I have not heard from the owners that they are cancelling their bookings.

Has anyone had their summer breaks cancelled?

Is there anyone here from Cornwall that knows any updates regarding letting the tourists back this summer? - I know things are all based in government guidelines and how long lock down and restrictions are going on for, just interested in the locals thoughts?

OP posts:
Daisydoesnt · 22/05/2020 07:48

Leaving aside the issue of whether Cornwall will or will not be encouraging visitors by the time of your holiday OP, I note that you said you had booked with a B&B. Have you stayed with them before? Do you know the layout of the accommodation?

B&B is much harder to offer on a socially-distanced basis than a self catering cottage. Just think of serving breakfast, common areas like reception and sitting rooms, room changeovers, the list goes on.

I'd drop them a line and see what plans they are making because, I can assure they will be thinking very, very hard how they can get back to business but in a way that is safe for them, for their staff and for guests (Somerset B&B owner here).

Original poster
Seapink2 · 22/05/2020 07:50

I’m taking a wait and see approach. Things have moved on since i first posted but I’m in two minds. Reading the opinions of the locals on here and on other places online is concerning! However i do understand where they are coming from.

My holiday isn’t for another two months and the way things have moved forward in the last week I can see by then people will come if the government allows. Yes some will cancel and wait until next year so they can have a more normal holiday but I think some will go anyway regardless of shop queues and social distancing etc. People will have make the most of it attitude after being restricted at home for so long.

OP posts:
KnobChops · 22/05/2020 07:53

Once the restrictions are lifted in England, people can travel where they want. There won’t be ringfencing for certain counties, as much as the pitchfork wielders like eliope want that.

Be careful what you wish for, missing a whole summer season of tourism will permanently kill off these towns.

Breadandroses1 · 22/05/2020 07:55

If we are allowed to stay away from home we will be going- but that's because I'm originally from there and will stay with family. Given London has the lowest rate of CV in the country (ie practically non existent) we won't be spreading the plague.

Family tell me that despite the very vocal 'close the Tamar bridge' minority most people are desperate not to see businesses go under.

I'm guessing some attractions might remain closed and you book in advance for places like Heligan and Eden.

Original poster
Seapink2 · 22/05/2020 07:56

@Daisydoesnt thanks for the advice.

Yes I stay in the same B&B every time I go. It’s quite small so I have given this some thought. I haven’t heard from them that’s there’s any change to my booking but I will email them.

Have you had to cancel any of your guests in your B&B or have you managed to work things out?

OP posts:
Daisydoesnt · 22/05/2020 08:03

In that case definitely get in touch with them @Seapink2, they will probably be very pleased to hear from you!

I had a very busy year booked with guests up until the end of June (we planned to take some time off this summer to go travelling- oh the irony of that!).

The bookings that I did have until end of June have all been cancelled, every one; either by me or by the guests. So I have not earned a penny since the middle of March. Because I don't have 3 years books I cannot claim any Govt. support.

YinuCeatleAyru · 22/05/2020 08:05

@Seapink2 does this lovely B&B usually provide you with 3 meals a day as well as any other refreshments you might need? or do you normally use cafes, restaurants and pubs too? all those places will be closed.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 22/05/2020 08:10

Add somerset into the mix. We don’t want tourists right now, also nothing is open.

MadameMarie · 22/05/2020 08:14

People really just need to stay home this year

okiedokieme · 22/05/2020 08:15

@DobbyTheHouseElk

That's not what the people relying on tourism are saying! I took a (40 mins) trip out in Somerset and the guy selling ice creams said that the situation was desperate, government support for the self employed was too low and too late, several businesses are unlikely to reopen and people's houses are on the line. They are already worried that they won't get the high spending foreign tourists. Once it's safe to travel we need to support our homegrown tourist industry.

countrygirl99 · 22/05/2020 08:19

daisydoesnt you sound lovely, I hope your business gets through this. So many of the most vocal forget about the many who slip through the support nets.
We were supposed to go to Wales in a couple of weeks, we moved the booked to next year but tbh we were planning a special holiday for a big anniversary so I don't know if we will end up cancelling.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 22/05/2020 08:23

I totally agree, once it’s safe for things to reopen...but that isn’t now.

The police and coastguards are asking people not to go to the beaches. No facilities are open and the roads are being blocked with cars parking everywhere leaving no room for emergency vehicles to get through.

Original poster
Seapink2 · 22/05/2020 08:29

@Daisydoesnt same here, I’m rooting for your business to make it!!

In regards to restaurants, pubs and cafes being closed, yes right now they are but isn’t the governments plan for the hospitality industry to open up 4th July, obviously it’s not set in stone but if all goes to plan and the government say yes then business owners are surely going to open up to survive.

OP posts:
Daisydoesnt · 22/05/2020 08:32

@countrygirl99 thank you

I don't think anyone (??) is sensibly suggesting that tourists or visitors are wanted NOW. But the OP's question was about a trip planned for the end of July. That's as many weeks away as we are from the beginning of the lockdown. In reality, who knows what will happen by then. We could be back in full lockdown mode, or we could be in a much better place with test & trace stable and working.

Some of us need to try to keep a positive outlook in order to deal with the here & now!!

Bi11abong · 22/05/2020 08:35

Hmm re that July 4th opening. One wonders if they’re going to handle that as well as the shambles that is schools opening.

Have they given the hospitality industry a heads up, legislation and instructions to start preparing/ converting???? The info re schools seems to have been unworkable and quite late.

One would expect these businesses to have strict instructions and be working hard to convert now or are they going to say open up, no changes, no inspections, no safety measures, no legislation? I suspect not.

ThursdayLastWeek · 22/05/2020 08:35

Go to Cornwall with its high R rate and bring the virus back to low R London and the South East from a coughing pitchforker?

I absolutely love this Grin

DBML · 22/05/2020 08:36

I totally agree, once it’s safe for things to reopen...but that isn’t now.

We aren’t talking about ‘now’. We are talking about in a few months time, when restrictions are likely to have been further lifted and the government actually would rather see the economy stimulated rather than frightened locals pandered to.

As soon as I can, I’ll be going and doing as I please and I don’t care if I’m welcome or not.

Daisydoesnt · 22/05/2020 08:39

Yes @Seapink2 (and thank you for your good wishes) the govt did tell us a few weeks ago that 4th July was the earliest possible date for the re-opening of the hospitality industry.

I stand to be corrected but as far as I understand hotels, B&Bs, self-catering cottages etc should not be taking any bookings for arrivals before 4th July. Existing bookings up until 4th July should be cancelled.

So this is all a moot discussion anyway for holidays up until that date; who knows what will happen after that.

ThursdayLastWeek · 22/05/2020 08:40

I’m interested to see what the infection rates will be like down here after this hot week and weekend.

We went to a local beach and were able to pretty much socially distance but because the tide was in it couldn’t have handled many more people. We'll stay away this bank holiday I think.

I suspect the consequences of that will inform our tourism future this year.

Bi11abong · 22/05/2020 08:41

And surely if social distancing is still in place only a third of the normal numbers will be able to stay in these places a la schools.There are going to be a lot of disappointed people unless the whole thing is going to be done and dusted by July which is highly doubtful. How are they going to monitor all this?

That said going by their normal behaviour they’ll throw in new measures then leg it as regards practicalities and fall out. BJo won’t be anywhere to be seen when the shit hits the fan as per normal.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 22/05/2020 08:42

But people are here now. As I said upthread. The beaches are full. The roads have been gridlocked for miles. The police are out in force asking people to stay away. They have said repeatedly they are turning away cars that are registered out of the area.

Look on beach webcams. You can see for yourselves. No facilities are open. No pubs or cafes. No shops.

The SW has an elderly demographic as has been said many times. People are frightened. We don’t have the hospitals to cope.

KnobChops · 22/05/2020 08:45

@DBML I’m pretty sure the business owners down there will be very welcoming of you. I bet a lot of them are furious with all the paranoid shite being put out there on social media by people who probably never have to leave their homes.

Alwayscheerful · 22/05/2020 08:45

@Daisydoesnt
You can claim sick pay from day one one if you need to self isolate or if you have symptoms.

Flossie44 · 22/05/2020 08:45

I live in Cornwall. In fact, the beach cafes appear to be open. These sell take away food.
The beaches are absolutely rammed with people unable to social distance. The beauty spots are also incredibly busy currently.
And yes we would love our tourism industry to be thriving once again, we are proud of our locality and are thrilled to share it. However NOT at a cost to our local residents. Everyone I speak to in my village is concerned as to the thought of visitors arriving over the summer for their holiday. And then leaving us with the aftermath, of not only the usual annual litter, but now covid19.
Please come back to holiday here...but only when we are though this.

Bi11abong · 22/05/2020 08:45

It will be a whole lot worse in July/ Aug. People have time off booked, schools will be out, foreign holidays cancelled and it’s obviously an absolute priority that everybody has a beach breakHmm....

It’s going to be awful. Bet they do zilch, these areas have never been a gov priority as regards services, transport or anything else. The gov priority will be Londoners visiting their second homes and getting a beach break.