Am I the only deluded one clinging on to a tiny bit of hope for our July holiday?

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Yeah I know it's selfish to be worried about holidays what with everything else which is going on, but I've already had to cancel one at Easter. I'm sure there are a fair few of us who can't wait to get away. We're booked to go to Spain mid July, staying in a private apartment so no shared accommodation/hotel to worry about. Spain are starting to ease restrictions. I think they are going to need tourism to start up soon as long as they can be sure it's safe.

Is anyone else still holding on to a tiny bit of hope for a summer holiday? I really can't be the only one, can I?

Patronising twat, he can go fuck himself. I'm fairly certain you wouldn't see him down Centerparcs or Butlins under normal circumstances. How dare he dictate to people!

@smogsville, I'm wondering the same... have a week self catering in France booked for first week of August. We were planning on going via the tunnel but haven't booked the crossing yet.

We have until the beginning of June to cancel the gite free of charge... I am swinging between thinking there is absolutely no chance of going and that it might actually be doable.

It is pretty self contained with lots of walking etc so even if restaurants, cafes etc were closed it would still be worth while going - but I don't want to put my family or anyone else at risk by travelling.

Do you think uk holiday parks will be open?

@DateLoaf, I thought exactly the same. What a complete twat. Not just patronising, but also utterly meaningless. What about small, lavish international holidays? Or big, low-budget international holidays? Or big, lavish domestic holidays?

As Simon Calder pointed out, go where you want just make sure you come back via France to avoid quarantine.

Simon Calder might want to look a bit harder at the rules for entering France before offering that advice.

@cheeseismydownfall sounds like we have a v similar hol planned. Eurotunnel then drive to Brittany. Of course it'll be far from end of world if we can't go but we spent quite a bit of time finding the place and we're quite looking forward to it.

To Matt Hancock's point I don't think it counts as big or lavish (our ride is a second hand Skoda) but who knows?!

He’s talking shite on all sorts www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-hugging-new-friends-until-coronavirus-vaccine-is-found-says-matt-hancock-kgjxbxq6w

Aye right.. old friends can’t infect you, just the newbies?

God. He's as colossal a fuckwit as Bozza.

My mil business is a camper van business in Portugal. We are hopeful of an ok summer. Especially as it's not a hotel, Portugal is very spacious and we've been voted top 10 of safest places to visit this year in 2020. Tourism is essential in our economy and I think it is possible to do things safely, with a new normal.

I’m watching place in the sun a lot!

@chocolatesaltyballs22

Patronising twat, he can go fuck himself. I'm fairly certain you wouldn't see him down Centerparcs or Butlins under normal circumstances. How dare he dictate to people!

^This 💯% well said. No need to make out so many ppls once a year break is a lavish extravagance. What a twat.

We're thinking positive about our 10 days in Greece in Sept. Fully cancellable atm.

Hope you get your holiday @WhiteChocTwix. I'm due to take my daughter to Corfu at the end of August. Rearranged holiday from Easter. We all need a break after all this.

I think he used the phrases he did so as not to completely rule it out as once they do that, the holiday companies are fucked. That’s why the use words like “unlikely” and dress it up like every holiday is some lavish party in Barbados for a month.

If he said “ No holidays abroad will be happening until at least October” then the travel companies are in the shit. It’s bad enough for them as it is but that would be the final nail in the coffin.

Realistically if Furlough is in place until October and we still can’t see our own families indoors, then holidays abroad are not going to be happening. It’s nice to dream and wish as I do when watching place in the sun but can you really see things changing much in 2 months?

I don't think it's going to happen. In any case after the holiday you will need to be in quarantine for two weeks. But nobody will be checking apparently.

@chocolatesaltyballs22 I hope you and your DD get to Corfu. My bro went last year and he loved it! Corfu always makes me think of my family and other animals.

@TP67 DH and I discuss this alot on our daily walks. We would think that realistically BA would only operate our particular flight in Sept if UK tourists are being let in, hotels are open and there isn't a requirement to quarantine when we get there. That's a lot of "if's". However we have 3 months to go so I'm trying to think positive for now. A lot can change in 3 months.

I just wanted to wake this up to see if anyone else is feeling more optimistic this week? Italy are apparently basically lifting their travel bans (from EU, Schengen and UK and a couple of others) from June 3rd with no suggestion that I've seen of quarantine on arrival, and I'd be surprised if Spain, France etc. don't follow suit in time for July. That leaves UK quarantine as the biggest roadblock, and who the heck knows what's going on with that. The EU tourism ministers said yesterday they'll do "everything they can" to enable tourism this summer just yesterday, and talks seem to be moving quite quickly.

Fingers crossed!

Obviously this is all dependent on us not all being floored by a second wave, and probably on us demonstrating a good enough track and trace programme that other countries trust us enough to let us in.

@WhiteChocTwix Meant to say, I love that book! The adaptation is nothing like as good.

The Magenpies

Simon Calder has also reported that the Spanish islands are planning to open to British tourists in June

Travel Insurance?

The EU tourism ministers said yesterday they'll do "everything they can" to enable tourism this summer just yesterday, and talks seem to be moving quite quickly

Encouraging isn't it? I've no doubt the UK will drag its feet, whine and delay as usual, but as others who've been badly hit by the virus start to reopen the pressure from the travel/leisure industry will become overwhelming

I'm lucky in that my Florida trip isn't until September (I moved it from June), but what once seemed a pipe dream no longer looks quite so hopeless

Corfu always makes me think of my family and other animals

Another fan here - in fact I'm going to have to drag it out for a re-read now

We have our fingers crossed for a premier inn break in london late july. No idea what will be open at that stage but everything else i had booked has had to be cancelled.

Oh Madeline I'm sure that'll be absolutely fine! Unless you're coming from abroad and worried about quarantine? I'm absolutely sure restaurants will be functioning in some capacity long before then, and I reckon by then museums etc. will probably just have capacity management where you book a slot or queue, like smaller attractions like the Yorvik Centre always have. Won't be back to normal of course, but I'm sure it'll be a perfectly enjoyable break.

I'm actually feeling a tiny bit hopeful for July now, and definitely more hopeful for Sept. Yes, I do have travel insurance which covers Covid!

Thanks for resurrecting the thread @QuimReaper - lot has definitely changed since I originally posted.