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?

'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.'

I know. It's a good thing people coming from a country with a spike have to quarantine!!

I came back from Spain over 2 weeks ago and I'm really glad I went. I had a hard time during lockdown stuck in a 1 bedroom tiny flat with no garden or balcony. The windows wouldn't open more than 30cms and the weather was very very warm back then. My mental health went down the drain. DH and I argued everyday. DH took a massive hit to his businesses and also started to show signs of depression. My bil lives in Spain and has a lovely home and we only booked our flights there and back and hardly spent any money. This holiday literally saved our sanity to enter a country where people were happily dining, shopping, holidaying and out and about. It felt good to see normal although we wore masks but it felt good. I feel sorry for many people right now.

DH had a glimpse of hope with the new airbridges as his business relies on tourism and Spanish tourists being the main visitors to his business and now that's down the drain. So it's not only holidaymakers that are suffering right now, it's also many businesses in the UK that are relying on foreign tourists that are going to suffer as it will put off many tourists from other safe zones to visit our country just in case a last minute 2 week self isolation is imposed.

I personally think holidays abroad should have been put on hold by the government for the full year with only essential travel allowed

I agree with this but they didn't, in fact they encouraged people to book holidays to save our tourist economy, not Spains.

They should close restaurants, pubs and gyms now for the exact same reasons, but they won"t, until we get out spikes and its too late.

I'm sympathetic to them too.

So they took a risk, and it didn't pay off. That's upsetting to anyone. Why be so smug that you didn't take the same risk? They chose a different path to you, and it didn't work out - why not be generous with your sympathy? It's going to cost them a lot, whether money or lost days or not being able to visit family or whatever, and there's no reason they shouldn't be unhappy with that. I would be. That's different from saying they shouldn't have to pay, that their work should pay, that rules shouldn't apply to them etc. They did take a risk. But I still have plenty of sympathy for people who hoped life might be back to normal and they would be able to do it.

It sounds very smug and jealous and 'I told you so...' towards someone whose decision was different. What about those people who have been and come back already, and it was fine? Should they be saying 'I told you so' back, because they picked the right time to go, when you might not have?

It's pretty awful to have a looked forward to holiday end like this, ending up costing much more than you had hoped, and of course I'd be sorry for them.

It was obvious there'd be ongoing issues with lockdown and quarantine. There are plenty of nice places in the UK. No one desperately needs a holiday abroad in the middle if a pandemic so more fool you if you booked one.

Have you tried to book a holiday in the UK recently? Accommodation is sold out everywhere so its only those that had already booked earlier in the year going that I can see. Anyone who was planning spain will struggle to find accommodation and the prices are insane.

@esvee - if they lock down the Lake District and English people can’t go on their holidays there, come back and be sanctimonious about that too, won’t you? It’s not like there isn’t fair warning if you look at local infection rates.

We were going to go away and had not booked anything as was leaving it till the last minute
These are your own words from your first post.
Why are you slagging off people who have done the same?
You’re really mean

Newbiehere123

glad at least someone enjoyed themselves, as you should.

Some posters on here are either martyrs and haven't set foot out of their house since March - looking at the bitterness, it's hardly doing anything for their mental health
or complete hypocrites!

Wow some really nasty posts on this thread, full of personal abuse. Some of you could do with looking up the law surrounding malicious communications. If I was op, I’d be taking some of these posts further. No need for it. Why is it people feel they have immunity to be abusive, offensive and personal online? I have news for you, you don’t.

The post could have been worded differently, but I see your point. Boris was clear, he would put the breaks on at any time. Which is what he has done. People knew the score, they were clear and I’m no cheerleader of this government.

To go abroad in the middle of a pandemic, when we were warned he could slam the breaks on is not necessarily wise. The quarantine is to protect the UK from another spike. It is what it is and it’s not exactly surprising. Everyone had a rough time, no one is entitled to a foreign holiday at the risk of everyone else.

@Raimona actually no. My nana had two yearly holidays as a little girl. One on Scarborough and one in blackpool. She certainly would not have enjoyed a bus trip to Brighton. She hates stoney beaches.
My families Moto has always been work hard and make the most of your time off. Life is too short to spend it in the garden.
Most people have adapted and have changed their plans this year.
This pandemic is a new occurnace and everybody is dealing with it differently. There's not really any right or wrong way as long as you follow the rules.

If booked after Covid hit then the person booking took the risk knowing it may not pay off. If not happy to risk the money or quarantine then why book in the first place?

No one needs a holiday, they are a want. Plenty of places to have a break if so desired without leaving the country.

The virus needs people to pass it on. All but very essential travel should have been stopped for the year rather than allow it to spread further.

And actually, despite having booked a holiday in the U.K. due to the risks involved with booking abroad, I’m really not looking forward to it. I’ve heard too many stories of locals abusing tourists and telling them they’re not welcome. Luckily I’ve booked somewhere in the middle of nowhere where we don’t actually have to see anyone if we don’t want to.
Wish we’d stuck with Spain!

I would think the quarantine exemptions are still in place ie key workers are exempt from having to quarantine for 14 days if they have confirmation from their employer. Won't cover everyone in the family..kids for eg. But it's a comprehensive list
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss - you think anyone is ever happy when their risks don’t pay off?! It’s somewhat bizarre you should expect people to be happy about it and telling them off for being upset, imvho.

@SantaClaritaDiet

Newbiehere123

glad at least someone enjoyed themselves, as you should.

Some posters on here are either martyrs and haven't set foot out of their house since March - looking at the bitterness, it's hardly doing anything for their mental health
or complete hypocrites!

I'm neither bitter or a martyr. If I book a holiday abroad between now and a vaccine I will do so knowing it could be cancelled or quarantine may be needed if there is an increase in cases. HTH.

@LuluJakey1 I'm presuming that's aimed at me as the last paragraph of your post is very similar to mine although exaggerated.
I have booked a holiday in this country. Not Northumberland, a bit further south. I am allowed something to look forward too. My kids have had a shit time over the last year.

Everyone knows the risks when booking a holiday. However, it is unfair that FCO hasn't said people shouldn't travel to the Spanish islands yet they have to quarantine on return. That is what's unfair as these people now can't claim their money back from insurance

This pandemic has really brought out the bitchy, sanctimonious smuggery in a lot of people. And an astonishing amount of “why on earth” hindsightery. Why would anyone call people stupid and have no sympathy because they’ve lost money and are disappointed that their holiday is cancelled? How is this a “serves them right” situation?

Oh, but you have OXYGEN and you aren’t fighting a world war in mud wearing itchy khaki so why are you complaining!

My boss is currently in Spain. She’s one of the most senior nurses in my trust and her DH is a doctor. It’s absolute bollocks that no nurse would ever be so stupid (and I take your 7 hours in PPE and raise you 13)

People are knackered, bereaved and stir crazy and now have people calling them stupid and are smugly happy their holiday has been cancelled.

If I’d had got the leave and enough money I would definitely have considered booking a quick holiday in the sun. My kids have had a shit 6 months with both their parents working overtime and not seeing anyone else. They’ve really had to step up with housework and cooking and the older ones have done a great job of looking after the little ones and home educating while we have been under enormous pressure. It would have been lovely to have a “proper holiday” and I think it’s really nasty that if we’d booked anything people would be smirking that we didn’t get to have it. And we haven’t had it nearly as bad as some families, we’ve had Covid and dh has lost a lot of money in his business but we aren’t bereaved and my job is secure .

Honestly sick of hearing the phrase 'in the middle of a pandemic'

Why is a UK holiday apparently some magical risk-free option ? It isn't, also UK holidays aren't necessarily that cheap.

I've just been on a foreign holiday, got back a few days ago, tested negative since arriving back and absolutely fine.

I took a very small risk because everything in life is a risk, even staying at home forever is a risk, you could have a fire, fall down the stairs, anything.

Also, those who think we shouldn't get on a plane again until 2027. If no tourists go to any of these places, there probably won't be any industry to go to eventually.

Do think jealousy comes into it too.

@AnastarziaAnaqway I agree with UK holidays being ridiculously expensive. We got a price for a caravan at Filey which was double that of eurocamp on the Adriatic coast in Italy.
Combined with having to pay for days out it's ridiculous and answers the question why people prefer to go abroad.

I took a very small risk because everything in life is a risk, even staying at home forever is a risk, you could have a fire, fall down the stairs, anything

The problem is that millions of people are taking this small risk, and some will bring back CV and infect others. It's not just about you not dying, presumably you don't want the economy to collaps further, losing jobs, schools closing, cancer treatments being postponed et cetera. It's about the bigger picture.

The virus doesn't spread, people spread the virus. Every single persons actions matter for tge outcome of the whole.

You can't compare it with the risk of falling down the stairs, because that only effects you.