No sympathy for people who booked a recent holiday

[fairparie]

Headlines this morning have got me cross. People who are 'devastated' that their holiday to Spain that they booked last week won't go ahead as they can't quarantine on return and lost all their money.
How stupid to book a holiday when you know it is a risk. We were going to go away and had not booked anything as was leaving it till the last minute. . We still could but I would not expect my work to pay for me in quarantine on top of two weeks away. It is understandable if I had booked before the pandemic but why should a firm pay for quarantine for those who knowingly knew it may be a risk.
I have full sympathy for those that booked before the pandemic and at least they will be insured. But c'mon how can you be upset that you have lost your money for a holiday you booked last week and now can't go on due to quarantine?

It was a risk to book a holiday somewhere like Spain, same way as anyone would be taking a risk to come to Britain on holiday from abroad. They are countries where levels of Covid-19 infection were higher than, and have dropped more slowly than, the rest of Europe. The government were clear quarantine restrictions could be put back in place if numbers rose.

I am sorry for anyone who is out of money in these difficult times but it was a risk they chose to take.

I don't know why people are not holidaying in England. Northumberland is stunning: miles of empty Blue flag beaches, Holy Island, castles, stunning countryside, great food, quiet, clean, big skies, little noise, no nightclubs/bars (apart from local pubs with beer gardens) and we've had decent weather for months.

Some miserable people on here. There are posts along the lines of 'We've had 10 holidays cancelled, 26 children's birthday parties ruined which has spoilt my children's lives, my whole extended family have lost their jobs. Lost 20 family members to Covid, forced to shop at Asda because our local Waitrose had no delivery slots and Asda don't do organic San Marzano tomatoes. It's been a complete nightmare and you are so unreasonable to suggest we knew we were taking a risk.'

That's a very good point about Leicester. I could drive there today, lick the pavements and then come back and go to a pub, restaurant or gym without a mask and nobody would stop me. But I couldn't fly to spain through sanitised airports full of screens, wearing a mask on a plane, to stay in a villa on an island that has a couple
of current cases. The whole thing is farcical.

As a nurse the last thing I will be doing in the next 6 months is taking a holiday abroad. You know why? Because there is still a world wide pandemic out there but so many people have such an inflated sense of entitlement these days that it is selfish and self centred. Yes I know people have had a hard time over the last 6 months and need something to look forward to but come on, people really need to step up now for the good of the many and stop whining ffs.
The next person who tells me they need a holiday I’ll happy swing my 7 hours a day PPE at them.

I agree but not everyone feels this way.
My next door neighbour is a paediatric nurse and is currently in Spain on a two week package holiday with her husband and children.

Can you imagine the WW2 soldiers whinging that they don’t want to be in the trenches because they haven’t had their holiday this year

How far do we go with this? moan because you can't get a food delivery, at least your not starving. Moan cause you have lost your job, well at least you have shelter. Moan because you are homeless well at least you are not dead.

Bold fail!

As a nurse the last thing I will be doing in the next 6 months is taking a holiday abroad. You know why? Because there is still a world wide pandemic out there but so many people have such an inflated sense of entitlement these days that it is selfish and self centred. Yes I know people have had a hard time over the last 6 months and need something to look forward to but come on, people really need to step up now for the good of the many and stop whining ffs.
The next person who tells me they need a holiday I’ll happy swing my 7 hours a day PPE at them.

I agree but not everyone feels this way.
My next door neighbour is a paediatric nurse and is currently in Spain on a two week package holiday with her husband and children.

@jasjas1973

Complete frustration at people who don't realise, that during a global pandemic where we've been repeatedly warned that the rules might change, that rules might change!

Why should someone being in quarantine on their return be a reason for you to be frustrated? they will no pose little or no risk to you?

How about swapping Frustration for Glee?

Well for me, Ex-husband's decision to go to Spain with his partner now means he's going to be quarantined for 2 weeks. That means it's likely I'm going to have to have the kids for another 2 weeks on my own.

I've been working 50 hour weeks, plus some 24/7 on call, trying to help 2 dc with school work (yes, even though its the holidays they've been set some work), dealing with the youngest one's PDA meltdowns every other evening. I was desperate for a break. But now, my 2 nights on a mate's sofa (first full day to myself in 5 months) are ruined because of the Ex-husband's lovely break to Spain.

I'm with the OP, this was always a possibility when they booked last minute and to be complaining about it just shows how bloody entitled people are.

@Raimona - I totally agree with your last post. How did this generation become so entitled? I really don't think some of them even understand the difference between wants and needs.

People are allowed to want or feel like they need a holiday. Bugger off!
No, they don’t need a holiday. They WANT one. That’s not an essential human need or right. I have no sympathy for anyone who was dumb enough to book a totally unnecessary holiday during a global pandemic. And this sort of “me me me” mentality is unique to the current generation - previous generations didn’t behave like that.

@GilderoyLockdown you didn't make a point you just said 'circumstances' ... I filled in some blanks and said ah maybe visiting loved ones and you said 'no I didn't say that'

I have nowhere else to go with it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

How did this generation become so entitled?

And this sort of “me me me” mentality is unique to the current generation - previous generations didn’t behave like that.

Are posters all from the same generation?

@Monzeitia

What a horrible post; I have been working as a key worker through the pandemic without taken a day off; I was so glad to be able to take a week off in August to go and see my family in Spain who I haven’t see for nearly a year The Gov told us it was safe, because I don’t work from home or Furlough I can’t quarantine on my return

The government said its safe at the current time, we have travel corridors but things may change.

It's not the governments fault you ignored the bots you didn't want to happen.

I'm sorry you aren't getting to see your family. I've loved and worked abroad and know that once a year visit means everything.

But don't pretend travel corridors shutting down was a surprise no one knew could happen.

No, they don’t need a holiday. They WANT one. That’s not an essential human need or right.

if you look that way, what people NEED is enough food and drink, and possibly a shelter. Everything else is luxury.

How far towards the bottom do you want to go?

No one cares if you have sympathy or not, but insulting others who have a life instead of being bitter like so many posters on here is just pathetic.

I've lost the name of the person who called me a media puppet but thank you! That gave me a good laugh 😂

You don't have to have sympathy, and it's natural to think "well, there always was a risk^. We all agree.

However, starting a thread about it and insulting everybody, and gloating about people's misery is out of order.

I feel sorry for people with such miserable life that they are content with some basics and never try to enjoy themselves. They end up ranting on social media like this one. They are the ones who we should pity really.

Wonder how long it will be before Grant Schaps et al follow their "instincts" and break the Quarantine?

How did this generation become so entitled? I really don't think some of them even understand the difference between wants and needs

What Generation? holiday makers being interviewed are across many generations. from Boomers to Millennials.

Bottom line is the economy has to come first or we will have no tax take and no public services, travel can be allowed with targeted and mass testing.
We have capacity for 300k but tests number 150k.

if you look that way, what people NEED is enough food and drink, and possibly a shelter. Everything else is luxury.

Exactly and you'd better shut down the economy as it functions on WANT.

You sound like an absolute peach OP.
We chose to holiday in the U.K. as there was always a risk of this happening, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have empathy for those who have lost money, can’t see the family they’ve been looking forward to seeing or can’t have the holiday they’ve been looking forward to.
My in laws live in Spain and they were due to come and visit us in 2 weeks. Of course they knew there was a risk it wouldn’t happen, but MIL was sobbing last night that it’ll be even longer before she fees to see her grandkids. Anyone who told her in that state that it served her right would be severely lacking in the empathy gene.

@Raimona

People are allowed to want or feel like they need a holiday. Bugger off! No, they don’t need a holiday. They WANT one. That’s not an essential human need or right. I have no sympathy for anyone who was dumb enough to book a totally unnecessary holiday during a global pandemic. And this sort of “me me me” mentality is unique to the current generation - previous generations didn’t behave like that.

I saw one of those montage of interviews of people affected on the news, and it seemed to be people of a range of ages.

Are you praising previous generations for their extreme moral fortitude in not booking cheap flights that didn't exist? What an astonishing act of self-sacrifice. I bet they didn't waste their money on iPhones either because they had the good common sense to ensure they weren't yet invented unlike the current lot.

And the generation thing... my MIL who is absolutely gutted she can’t visit is 67. So is it her generation that is selfish and entitled? Or mine? Or just everyone alive today?

Going on holiday isn’t ‘me me me’ - it’s nice! It’s good for our mental wellbeing and relationships. It gives us a sense of perspective and break from the demands of a domineering workaday regime.

Whether you like camping in the Highlands or a week in the sun, it doesn’t matter.

Away with you...austere and judgemental opinion. Yuck.

@Raimona

People are allowed to want or feel like they need a holiday. Bugger off! No, they don’t need a holiday. They WANT one. That’s not an essential human need or right. I have no sympathy for anyone who was dumb enough to book a totally unnecessary holiday during a global pandemic. And this sort of “me me me” mentality is unique to the current generation - previous generations didn’t behave like that.

It’s not a race to the bottom. What a shitty attitude. It’s okay to strive for something more than survival. Most people want a life rather than an existence. Maybe your life has always been shit? I feel sorry for you

www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

On 4 July our travel advice changed, with exemptions for travelling to certain countries and territories that no longer pose a high risk for British travellers. View the list of exempted destinations. We continue to advise against non-essential international travel, except to countries and territories listed. We also currently advise against cruise ship travel

We are monitoring the international situation very closely and keeping this advice under constant review so that it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British people. We take a range of factors into account. For coronavirus, this includes the incidence rate and the resilience of healthcare provision in each country. Find out more about how our travel advice works

Developments in the coronavirus pandemic remain uncertain around the world. No travel is risk-free.

When you’re abroad
be prepared to comply with measures at your destination to manage a localised outbreak. If you test positive for coronavirus you are likely to need to get treatment locally and stay there until you have recovered. If you are required to quarantine or self-isolate by local authorities, you should expect to do so in the country. You may need to stay longer. Plan ahead for any delays to your return home and the financial implications or practical arrangements you may need to make
continue to follow any updates to our travel advice for your destination

When you return
you will need to follow the rules for entering the UK. You must provide your journey and contact details up to 48 hours before you’re due to arrive in the UK
you may have to self-isolate for the first 14 days you’re in the UK. See the guidance on self-isolation for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You may not have to self-isolate when you arrive from some countries and territories. See the travel corridors list for England, and the guidance for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
see the list of people who are exempt from the English border rules

People were quick to criticise the government for acting slowly at the beginning, they have now acted quickly and people are still critical. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

@pictish

I feel bad for them. This is a shitstorm.

Dunno where the ‘no sympathy’ stance comes from...sour grapes clearly.

I have a bit of sympathy and it certainly isnt 'sour grapes'. It's the anger and indignation from holidaymakers on the news that I dont understand.

They took a risk, up to them. It really shouldn't be such a surprise that the situation has changed though. Those arriving before midnight all excited they've missed the quarantine rules wooo, no mention of well they now know theyve been in a high risk area so while they don't officially need to quarantine they will wfh and be extra cautious particularly around elderly or vulnerable relatives. Just yayy they missed the deadline!

I personally think holidays abroad should have been put on hold by the government for the full year with only essential travel allowed. Spain’s Economy is not our problem. The government should have then made a separate provision to airlines and their staff until January at the earliest. It seems madness to allow this sort of thing when we are just getting on top of it numbers wise. It is travel that caused the spread in the first place and it could do so again.

Can you imagine the WW2 soldiers whinging that they don’t want to be in the trenches because they haven’t had their holiday this year?!

Do you think that the soldiers were... happy about it? That no one ever complained? I guess it's not just critical thinking that isn't your forte, it's also history and literature. Don't worry, I'm sure you're good at something.

Ps. My nana travelled the world because of my grandfather's career and thought that one of the wonders of the modern age was that more people now get the opportunity to travel.