Oh bollocks, I'm really nervous about my holiday now!

[stopitkenneth]

We're due to head to a French campsite in four weeks (driving all the way). We've cancelled two holidays due to COVID, Malta at Easter and Mellorca now. We decided a couple of weeks ago that we'd try for France as quarantine had lifted and I was able to get comprehensive insurance.
But now I'm really worried about needing to quarantine when we get back!

I know, I know, booking anything now was optimistic and a bit stupid. But we really REALLY want to get away (I'm frontline NHS,I need a bloody holiday). And it's hard to see how rates in France could be worse than what we've got here.

At no point have my workplace says that we shouldn't be booking holidays abroad. So if I do have to quarantine on my return, then I'm hoping they'll either support me to work from home, or I'm happy to take the two weeks unpaid. I'm hoping that because I booked it during the time that there was no quarantine, they can't come down hard on me. But I'm now really worried.
Argh!

@stopitkenneth we are in the same position! Due to go to a french campsite end of August, as well as visit my in laws who live in France. I was feeling fine about it until the Spain quarantine was introduced - I dont think we could do that as DCs due back at school. So will be keeping a very close eye on France.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

I've already said I'm not going away. Try reading. But people trying to claim a UK holiday is as good as an overseas one are deluding themselves.

While I agree that a holiday in the UK might make more sense right now, I don't we should be unsympathetic to the OP for deciding to go to France. But anyone choosing to go abroad this year has to be mindful of the risks. Both the risks of catching the virus and the risk of having to quarantine when you get home. Only the OP can decide if this is a risk worth taking.

But people trying to claim a UK holiday is as good as an overseas one are deluding themselves.

Why? Many people go on holiday for more than the sun and a beach!

@cantdothisnow1 but the issue is that no matter how you do or don't behave, and no matter where you travel in France, if numbers go up enough and UK decides to ban travel under FCO and impose quarantine, you're still subject to that.

To me the risk is much less about catching coronavirus- as I think we've been there and done that - but of ending up stranded in a foreign country and having to spend thousands to get home. Or having quarantine imposed and DS missing out on vital days at school and having to pay a fortune to the dog walker.

If you've assessed those risks, and are happy to proceed on that basis, then go for it .

[quote SwedishEdith]@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

I've already said I'm not going away. Try reading. But people trying to claim a UK holiday is as good as an overseas one are deluding themselves.[/quote]
I have read. You were dismissing other people’s suggestions of UK holiday locations and implying it was only reasonable to holiday abroad.

We should have shut the borders and allowed no holidays. I’m sure people then would have found somewhere in the UK to holiday if they wanted too.

A holiday isn’t a right nor a need. Travel helps this thing spread, it’s not just about risk assessing for yourself as others can be affected.

rookiemere where did I say I was going to follow any imposed quarantine?

The point is that it is perfectly possible to behave responsibly abroad.

It is the suggestion that it is 'selfish' to travel that I am objecting to, particularly when it was perfectly legal and within advice to book it at the time.

And whilst I will take the risk by travelling on Tuesday and will comply with any quarantine that may apply I'm just pointing out that the risk of me being a carrier on my return will be lower than the many who fail to adhere to social distancing measures at home.

sorry should say where did I say I wasn't going to comply, I'm obviously going to comply.

@alwayscrashinginthesamecar1

No, you're inferring.

But people trying to claim a UK holiday is as good as an overseas one are deluding themselves.

That depends on what you want from a holiday. We've had dozens of holidays abroad (all over the World), and we've had dozens of holidays in the UK. Plenty of the UK ones were better than foreign ones for what we wanted to do at that time in our lives.

Of course, if all you want to do is lie in the sun and drink sangria, then a Spanish holiday is better than a UK one!

I'm just pointing out that the risk of me being a carrier on my return will be lower than the many who fail to adhere to social distancing measures at home.

But higher than the majority who are adhering to social distancing at home!

[quote stopitkenneth]@TheBouquets but that didn't answer my question to you; if I had made a decision to travel to an area where the infection rates are lower than the area I live and work in, and also the potential places I could go to in the UK, is that worse than going on holiday in the uk where infection rates are current higher? I'm not sure how I'm putting all my colleagues and patients at risk by spending time in an area with lower infection rates than the area I spend my day to day life in? [/quote]
Recent infection rates in France and Spain are now higher than in the UK.

wafflecash I was just about to say the same! I've barely been out in my garden and I'm a bit of a sun worshipper!!

@Kazzyhoward I know, I'm monitoring it and obviously won't be going anywhere where I'm putting us at risk. As in the UK though, there are areas where the infection rate is high and those where it is low. I'm not going to choose to travel to a part of the UK or a part of France where the infection rate is high.

@stopitkenneth in response to your last post though would you not be more worried about catching Coronavirus whilst abroad than in the UK? I would personally prefer to be unwell in the UK- maybe this isn't logical as health care is not necessarily better but that's just how I feel.

Kazzyhoward which majority who are complying with SD at home are you referring to? Since the pubs opened on 4th I see no compliance. It's a free for all.

[quote stopitkenneth]@Kazzyhoward I know, I'm monitoring it and obviously won't be going anywhere where I'm putting us at risk. As in the UK though, there are areas where the infection rate is high and those where it is low. I'm not going to choose to travel to a part of the UK or a part of France where the infection rate is high. [/quote]
But would you travel from a high infection
Area to a low one within the uk? And expect the local population to be happy about your decision?

People doing just that in italy and Spain in March/April caused the spread of the virus.

I am in a low infection area and would really like that to remain.

@cantdothisnow1 what part of the country are you in?

We've been out for a few pub meals both at home in Scotland and when in England on holiday. At both locations tables have been well spaced out, signs up about a one way system, staff wearing masks and being very conscious of how the present things and no standing at the bar allowed.

I find it odd that we're still doing all this hand wringing about how awful the UK is with it's beer culture and not proper lockdown compared to other European countries, when our daily numbers are now lower than theirs so we must be doing something a bit better at least.

I'm monitoring it and obviously won't be going anywhere where I'm putting us at risk

Yes but you might be putting others at risk. If your rate is higher at home plus the plane, ferry or Eurotunnel etc then you’ll be more likely taking it with you!

Blood hell @stopitkenneth you're getting some stick aren't you 😕

I was reading an article earlier about someone on holiday abroad (I can't remember where) she said that she felt safer over there than she does here, there was an 'in it together' attitude, people weren't bitching, moaning and trying to get out of wearing face masks! And staff from the airport to the waiters in the hotel were really 'on it' regarding preventative measures.

I hope you get sorted Op.

@rookiemere the West Midlands, not too far from Sandwell which is one of the spiking areas at the moment.

I am shocked at the numbers who are not wearing masks and are congregating without maintaining even a meter distance (let alone 2). The children play areas in the local park are covered with masking tape but last weekend parents were letting their children play on it.

You need to bear in mind that Spain and France are seeing a rise in infections in some areas, their infection rate was much lower than ours due to their lockdowns being more stringent and them being ahead of us in terms of the start of the outbreak. It is inevitable that when restrictions are lifted cases will rise in certain areas. The death rate in Spain is still lower than here and they are locking down certain areas again and have re-closed the nightclubs (which appear to have been the cause of some of the current rise in the infection rate).

People are

I agree with you OP, the risk isn’t worsened by your journey through the tunnel.

I’d play it by ear if I were you & just keep your fingers crossed.

Everyone is going to make their own choices about going away, and if borders are open then they can. What has happened in Spain though does highlight the need to have a “just in case” plan for your return if you do have to quarantine.

My MIL lives in France and we where hoping to get over to see her in a couple of months but we aren’t in a position we can risk having to isolate for 2 weeks on return so won’t be going for the foreseeable.

@alreadytaken

First I doubt this is genuine as no front line worker I know is planning holidays abroad. They are not happy about it but not travelling despite needing a break badly.

Second if you havent already already booked a uk holiday you're unlikely to find places to take you. Not everyone has, or wants to buy, a tent. Nurses in particular need to look after their backs.

Third If you take a few days off and isolate for that time then everyone who went with you tests at the end of that time if you have picked up the virus one of you will test positive. Two weeks quarantine is necessary for people who may not do the test properly, if you are genuinely frontline you'll know if you've done it properly or not. You'll also be wearing your mask properly so not transmitting it to others as those with less experience would. The rest of your party, who are not used to mask wearing, should be sticking to 2 weeks quarantine.

Second if you havent already already booked a uk holiday you're unlikely to find places to take you. Not everyone has, or wants to buy, a tent. Nurses in particular need to look after their backs

That's why you book a place with the tents provided and already erected for you. There are many of those around and all of the ones I've been looking at have got spaces.