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!

I don't understand someone going to France and not planning to eat out. It's like buying a bar of chocolate and just licking the wrapper.

Yep, that's why I didn't even think about a holiday abroad this yr. No point.
Same here!

@Coffeecak3
Which dept is the red one?

We are planning to travel to France for 2 weeks in Aug. It was booked last year as was a trip to NY in October. I could cancel and lose my deposits or wait for FCO to advise no travel and get refunds/vouchers. Or I could go. The French holiday is in a remote hilly area primarily for cycling. We are driving and self catering. NY on the other hand will be cancelled but we have to play the waiting game.
I’m neither selfish or stupid. Just booked both hols in 2019 pre-Covid but call me names, judge me. I can take it.

clara10 - the OP booked only a couple of weeks ago, so your situation is not remotely comparable, and comments on this thread aren't aimed at people in your circumstances.

the cases up in france.

I am a contractor in a role that would otherwise make me a key worker (my workplace doesn’t define contractors as KW)

I’ve had two half days off since Christmas. No leave in Jan or Feb due to big projects and no time for any leave since.

I’ve now been told that I must take a week in August and I’m dammed if I’m spending it in the same 4 walls looking at the same rain.

I did shield for the first few months but it was having a really negative impact on DH and DS mental health so we’ve had to relax it a bit.

We’re still being very careful, but I just can’t see how crossing the channel on the shuttle in the car magically increases the risk, so we are going camping in France for a long weekend, where at least it is forecast to be warm and sunny. Up here in the North West it’s forecast to be miserable all week as it has been for the last few weeks.

We’ve chosen the tunnel as I do see flying as an increased risk, we’ve planned the holiday to be as careful as possible, I just can’t buy into the risk being magically different because you have crossed a border.

If we have to quarantine it doesn’t matter a jot because DH has already lost his contract, DS’s nursery were being so ridiculous that I pulled him out in June and he isn’t going back until he starts school in September and I’ve been working from home anyway.

Go, have a great time and enjoy some sunshine.

I am so fed up of the sanctimonious bullshit and holiday snobbery.

Holidays matter more to me than almost anything. I don't care about my house, have an average car and don't buy expensive clothes precisely because I want to travel and go on trips to nice places. I know it's a global pandemic (thanks for the reminders) and I know that living in the SE allows you to spend significant amounts of time in the sun. However each individual has their own circumstances and makes their own assessment. Here it is forecast for lashing rain for almost every day in the next fortnight. I'm working full time and my children will spend too much time indoors on social media and watching tv. When I do get time off I have opted for a UK holiday that involves me driving somewhere quiet. I am not going abroad. I am beyond sad about it as it's a holiday I have looked forward to for ages. I am also not judging those who might just want a bit of a fucking break from all of this. A sense of some normality however artificial or short lived. Yes it's a risk but I understand why they are taking it. Also the Transport Minister (who one would hope has some understanding of risks on travel) is in actual Spain.

I'm just saying that I get how hard it is to let go of the idea of a holiday. Even in a pandemic. Even though it's obviously trivial in the grand scheme of things. Even though others are not.

[I don't understand someone going to France and not planning to eat out. It's like buying a bar of chocolate and just licking the wrapper.]

Maybe they want some warm weather, or to see the scenery, or fancy a swim in the sea, or to spend some time with their family in a place that's easily accessible from the UK without going by plane. Maybe they're not the same as you.

@Iamtooknackeredtorun good post, I am the same.

I'm sure it's a character deficiency, but I feel almost crippled without a holiday to look forward to, and am really hoping I get at least one of my booked long before covid European weekend breaks in September.

We did have a lovely UK break, but even that was tainted by all the rhetoric about closing the English border ( we live in Scotland) . We do have a couple of nights booked in Perthshire with friends, but I got completely attacked by midges in the garden yesterday so dread to think what that will be like when away.

I get that there is a pandemic going on - it's hard to miss - but the sanctimonious, gloating tones of some posters suggest its more of a puritanical anti holiday stance with the added excuse of covid to give it some weight.

We usually have a few hols a year and I always book 6 months or more in advance.

We lost our euro holiday in May but thank fully got a full refund

We are currently enjoying the Isle of Wight for a week and it's been lovely
Weathers been ok Only one day rain.
Peaceful and so nice to have a change of scene.

We are also booked for north Devon late august.

I urge you to look at the uk for hols

I get that a lot is booked up but some are nervous about travels at all so there maybe cancellations.

@whenwillthemadnessend thing is a lot of people booked to go abroad before all this was a thing, and their money is now tied up in holidays that may or may nor go ahead, or in vouchers for future holidays from the travel companies.

It's the uncertainty thats so frustrating. If I knew that European mini breaks weren't going ahead and I'd get a refund or at least a credit, then I'd be happy to book a nice UK luxury cottage or hotel, but I can't as I genuinely have no idea what's going to happen. NB I realise thus is #firstworldproblem

OP, people on MN love being sanctimonious. Go and enjoy your holiday. You aren’t breaking any rules!

The shuttle is very safe, people aren’t allowed out of their cars so there’s no ‘mingling’. No need to stop in service stations on the drive (as you correctly pointed out, most French service stops are just a loo and some picnic tables outside anyway). We took all food for the journey.

In France everyone wears masks indoors, and at the markets.
If you do want to eat somewhere, practically all cafes have outdoor seating anyway, so you wouldn’t have to be indoors.

We have come here for the weather, the scenery, the food. The beaches aren’t as crowded as some parts of the UK so it’s easy to stay away from others.

We are not stupid, we have been stuck at home for months, its not good for the DCs physically or mentally, we all needed a break. When we get back DH can work from home, and I am not due back to work until September, so if we have to quarantine that’s fine.

I was actually worried we wouldn’t be welcome in other parts of the UK - I read that some places aren’t welcoming tourists - and signs like ‘go home DFLs’ (down from Londoners) don’t inspire me with joy really. We did look at a U.K. break but there was very little available for July.

When I go back to work in September I know it’s going to be pretty stressful and hard work so I am taking the opportunity to relax while I can.

I don’t see what the difference is between driving from Newcastle to Cornwall or driving from London to Burgundy. It’s roughly the same distance, same number of stops.

Much of this holier than thou holiday Puritanism is fear rather than virtue.

People need to stop seeing catching the virus the only risk. You are also at the mercy of sudden decisions by governments here and abroad as just demonstrated by the Spain fiasco.

Sure, but that’s up to the individual, not MN holiday committees.

I haven't seen this elsewhere-apologies is already posted by someone, but I won't risk visiting France a time soon. Cases rising, so risk getting caught up in lockdown or quarantine.

www.fr24news.com/a/2020/07/france-could-be-placed-under-second-lockdown-if-cases-continue-to-rise-pm-warns.html

Why is it that having a different opinion is sanctimonious or puritan? Calm down with the hyperbole.

I think it is really silly to go on holiday and even sillier to moan if you lose the money from it because your flights were cancelled or whatever. What is sanctimonious about that?

Well I think it’s silly to moan about people moaning about holidays.

It’s not the difference of opinion at issue, it’s the judgement allied to that opinion.

I'm another one that doesn't plan to eat out when/if we get to France.
We don't have a lot of money and budget very carefully. That's why we didn't book in England - it was a lot cheaper to go to France. And where we've booked will be quieter/less people/safer.

The thing nobody seems to be mentioning is the mental strain of these last few months. Whether we have a second wave or not, Winter is going to be difficult for sure.

Our feeling was that we needed a break from work and being squashed in our tiny flat. The kids needed space and some freedom. We all needed a bit of time to let go and gather some strength for the next leg of what's to come.

I agree Pontypridd. The last few months have been really hard, all of us working from home, trying to homeschool, DCs have spent far too much time staring at screens. September is going to be very hard (I work in a school). I need to recharge.

But according to the rules of Mumsnet it’s perfectly fine for me to go back to work in a building in winter, with hundreds of children, (and if I complain about it then I am selfish), but not drive in summer to France where I won’t be mingling with anyone except my own family....

By the way, the rise in cases in Spain has been linked to crowded bars/nightclubs, and seasonal fruit pickers living in cramped quarters.

Fingers crossed, there will be blips but no big peak / quarantine situation. I think driving all the way to France especially if you were able to get insurance was a realistic dream - really hope it comes true for you and without the quarantine too. Thanks for everything you’ve done and are doing.

@Squidsister yes interesting about the increases in Spain.

Major increases pretty much always seem to be down to a specific root cause that is a policy making decision e.g. opening night clubs or down to unacceptable working or living conditions- I think Leicester is an example of that.

If you distance, wear the mask when required, practice good hand hygiene, and self quarantine if you get any symptoms, then you as an individual are unlikely to be contributing to any increase regardless of where you are.

lifeafter50 Macron is talking about local / regional lockdowns not a national one. Much like we have here.

France, like Spain, has seen spikes due to specific situations, I believe the spike in Mayenne has been linked to an abattoir for example.

A major issue for holidays in France is the fact that they will reciprocate any quarantine arrangement which will rather defeat the point of being on holiday for most.

Apart from the quarantine risk!

And the risk of a local and/or regional lock down so that you are stuck there and can't get back home.

We have got so used to travel being absolutely routine, it's taking a while for that mind set to change.

Looking at the latest updates from France you would be mad to go op. Even the French PM is now asking people to stay away, I am not sure what more can be done to convince you if that is not enough...