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Original poster

2 week Quarantine re-introduced when returning from Spain

682 replies

Motheroftwofeline · 25/07/2020 17:50

Just heard this on breaking news.

From midnight tonight? Bad news for anyone who is there now and due to travel home. We were supposed to be going at the end of August and now I’m limbo about what to do!!!

OP posts:
BarefootHippieChick · 27/07/2020 19:24

No sorry piggy I didn't, was too shocked at actually getting a phone call to think straight 😁

Uhoh2020 · 27/07/2020 19:28

@mrpumblechook

Oh OK then confused can tell how often you book flights, No such thing as last minute cheap flights anymore especially at peak times like we are in now.

Just because I don't book flights nine months in advance it doesn't mean I wait until the last minute.

So when is the official correct time to book flights according to the pumblechook rule book? As clearly so many are getting it really wrong and Hmm
Piggywaspushed · 27/07/2020 19:36

No worries barefoot!!

On my calculation 4.5 months before travel would not have been a good time to book this year at all.

mrpumblechook · 27/07/2020 19:51

So when is the official correct time to book flights according to the pumblechook rule book? As clearly so many are getting it really wrong and

I have often found April to be cheapest. This site says analysis found Europe flights to be cheapest 71 to 80 days in advance on average.

www.opodo.co.uk/best-time-to-book-flights/

Piggywaspushed · 27/07/2020 19:58

but you couldn't (or wouldn't) have booked in April this year.
Bit of a pesky pandemic situation.

EasterIssland · 27/07/2020 19:59

@mrpumblechook I just checked how much costs my flights for my November holiday (we are 70 days away from November as of today ) back in January I paid 1.5k. If I wanted to buy it today it would cost me 2.7k. Bear in mind we’re in covid world and I’ve seen companies trying to make it cheap so people would fly ...

Sorry but I’d rather continue doing what my experience tells me to do rather than what a website does.

Uhoh2020 · 27/07/2020 19:59

[quote mrpumblechook]So when is the official correct time to book flights according to the pumblechook rule book? As clearly so many are getting it really wrong and

I have often found April to be cheapest. This site says analysis found Europe flights to be cheapest 71 to 80 days in advance on average.

www.opodo.co.uk/best-time-to-book-flights/[/quote]
Good for you I shall remember that for the future 👍

EasterIssland · 27/07/2020 20:03

My parents bought tickets for visiting me this April from Spain back in September as soon as they were released. They paid 180. That evening my sister decided to join them. It cost her 300. I didn’t see those flights going any lower than 300...

Another example of why I’ll get the tickets as soon as I can afford them even if there is a risk of something going wrong.

Piggywaspushed · 27/07/2020 20:04

My SIL is an American travel agent and has all these secret formulae for booking flights, including the best day of the week -but claimed blissful unawareness of the US's global travel ban and the infection rates in Florida. However, we are back in a world no where package holidays may not be the most economical always, but they make better economic sense

mrpumblechook · 27/07/2020 20:05

@mrpumblechook I just checked how much costs my flights for my November holiday (we are 70 days away from November as of today ) back in January I paid 1.5k. If I wanted to buy it today it would cost me 2.7k. Bear in mind we’re in covid world and I’ve seen companies trying to make it cheap so people would fly.

The 71 to 80 days applies to Europe not Japan. According to the website flights to Asia are often cheapest 26 to 30 days in advance.

EasterIssland · 27/07/2020 20:08

Japan would be 2k next month.(I just checked) It was around 1.5-1.7 back in January when I did check for when to go

EasterIssland · 27/07/2020 20:14

Btw @Piggywaspushed have you seen the advice for the travels to Balearic ? Not recommended anymore as of today
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53560759

mrpumblechook · 27/07/2020 20:16

Japan would be 2k next month.(I just checked) It was around 1.5-1.7 back in January when I did check for when to go

You would have to check the price in October for it to be comparable. I don't think you can assume the the price this year will be similar to other years anyway. Things are very different at the moment and while some things are cheaper than usual other things have increased in price greatly.

Piggywaspushed · 27/07/2020 20:48

Thanks Easter, I have. My hol is to mainland, not that I am going!

EasterIssland · 27/07/2020 20:56

Sorry I confused you with someone else then :)

Jengnr · 28/07/2020 08:35

I’m in Spain right now. We flew out Saturday morning, when the FCO were still saying it was ok and there were no quarantine restrictions.

Until the flight took off we were still unsure if it was going ahead (we’d already had one cancelled) and we gave it a lot of thought but we didn’t want to lose the money and the area we are in is a low risk one. We’re in a family property so we didn’t have to worry about the hotel cancelling etc. We’re also both wfh and have been throughout so quarantine will be inconvenient as it may scupper our childcare plans and we won’t be able to do our hobbies it really isn’t the end of the world and, on balance, is totally worth it.

We’ve followed the rules the whole way through and will continue to do so. Tbh, where we are feels much safer than a UK holiday would have, people are wearing masks, respecting space etc.

So I may well be stupid and/or selfish like so many people are suggesting on here but I’m alright with it. :)

We usually fly with Easyjet and I find it’s cheapest to book flights as soon as they are released. I set an alarm for every hour from midnight on release day and book them as soon as they come out. Got some proper bargains that way!

Hoppinggreen · 28/07/2020 12:45

Were the FCO saying it was ok? I thought it was essential travel only

notimagain · 28/07/2020 13:10

Were the FCO saying it was ok? I thought it was essential travel only

Not on Saturday morning, when Jengnr says they left the UK.

The advice changed to ""essential travel only" on late Saturday PM or early evening..I don't have an exact time.

Alex50 · 28/07/2020 13:43

@Jengnr have a lovely holiday, enjoy every minute, I’m glad you got there.

Delatron · 28/07/2020 14:54

I’m in the same situation @Jengnr
Flew out Saturday morning to Menorca where there are few cases and rate of infection is far lower than the U.K.

In a private family villa and we are eating in. Using the pool here.

Supermarkets feel safe, sanitizer on the way in and out. Masks compulsory everywhere. Chatting to a local and they have a very good track and trace system here too. It’s nothing like mainland Spain and the localised areas of spikes.

Will quarantine as advised but I think I’d have more chance of picking it up on the tube or in my local town...

itsgettingweird · 28/07/2020 15:38

Anyone else having to be very selective in what tv they watch?

I'm not sure it's great for my BP watching people say "if we had known this can happen we wouldn't have booked and gone"

Have they literally climbed out from under a rock after winter hibernation Confused

It's different if you've booked before all this (as i did and mine was cancelled a few weeks ago)

But seriously - there are people who booked a week or so ago and genuinely seem surprised quarantine could be re imposed.
All the info was out there on FCO website, from government and also cases in all countries so you could check before hand.

I think despite it being just areas of Spain the government have made the right call. We've had 10 cases in 25 days test positive after returning from Spain. And we've also now got evidence our original epidemic in U.K. cake from ray rope due to the actions (or inaction!) of closing borders and because of half term ski trips.

Hopefully those who think "it won't happen to me" now realise if you book a holiday in the midst of a pandemic there is a continual risk.

That's not to say I begrudge anyone going or judge them. But people need to just be aware of the risks and not act like a injured party of the risks increase.

Vinoonasunnyday · 28/07/2020 16:47

The Spanish are apparently heading to the islands this weekend for their August breaks - that was the worry that the island situation will change

This weekend gone and this one coming are the main weeks Spaniards visit their islands

Jengnr · 28/07/2020 17:06

@Hoppinggreen

Were the FCO saying it was ok? I thought it was essential travel only
Yeah. Once Spain went onto the ‘allowed’ list the FCO advice changed. Then changed back again about six hours after we landed Grin

I’ve had the update emails coming from gov.uk for weeks to make sure we were doing the right thing.

Thanks to everyone who wished us a lovely holiday. It’s baking hot and the gin is cheap and plentiful.

Our circumstances are fortunate in that we are both working from home and have good family support so we can get shopping and stuff. The kids are going to have to miss a couple of activities and I’ll need to rearrange a non urgent appointment but it’s only two weeks so we can suck it up. Not everyone is as lucky as us in that regard and it’s going to be pretty shit for some people. :(

Piggywaspushed · 28/07/2020 18:49

Any other VillaPlussers on here might want to check the website.

I am now getting a full refund. Phew.

Freeekedout · 28/07/2020 19:44

Fantastic news. Pleased for you Piggy 😁