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Original poster

Would you book to go away in the UK now?

91 replies

Thorilicious · 01/08/2020 19:35

DH has just managed to book some time off towards the end of August.
As much as we would like to go away for a week to recharge the batteries, we are aware of the R rate rising in places, and local lockdowns maybe being possible.
Are we being over cautious to consider not booking anywhere this year? Sad

OP posts:
Brunionfire · 02/08/2020 00:47

@starrynight19

Interesting about city breaks , we have one of those booked. Hopefully that will go ahead and be easier than the overcrowding of beaches we have seen.
We had an overnight city break last week. Was very surprised to find that Hotel was completely deserted, only saw 3 other people at breakfast & it would usually be very busy. City centre was also very quiet. We ate out in a well known Italian chain & were one of only 2 tables in at the time. I can’t imagine how the businesses will keep going for long like that.
ShastaBeast · 02/08/2020 01:23

We did a seaside resort and it’s absolutely rammed. Really difficult to distance and lots of people clearly don’t care. I’m relaxed about the risk so don’t mind. But it’s a stark contrast to our London suburb. We are in Wales later in the month and hope it’s more sedate, but reading this I suspect it will be similar. There’s also the confusion of us being in the area of the recent re lock down up north. So possible an area will lock down again before or while you are there. I won’t be surprised if Wales is cancelled and wouldn’t blame them.

garlictwist · 02/08/2020 06:15

I'm away now in the Scottish Borders. We are doing a combination of wild camping and bnb. We've booked all the bnbs the day before we want them and there's always been a few to choose from if you're not too picky. It's been fine.

AdoreTheBeach · 02/08/2020 06:24

We’re thinking if booking a week away in England, a few hours drive away. In September. However, with full understanding that it may not happen if virus demands lock down again or in the area we’d like to go. Not booking anything we can’t afford to lose.

We had an email from our travel insurance back in April that any holiday booked prior to a certain date was covered for Covid related issues but not new bookings so we know our travel insurance won’t cover any cancellation for this proposed trip.

We’re choosing early September as hoping good weather but more so hoping all the kids are back all in school or on line school and therefore the area much quieter, not full.

SheepandCow · 02/08/2020 06:35

You might as well. We've got people flying in and out from all over the world - including countries with lots of cases like the US, Brazil, India, and travelling across the UK to get to and from the airports. With that going on, I doubt a holiday within the UK makes much difference.

Particularly if you're driving and staying self catered accommodation, it's relatively low risk.

stairway · 02/08/2020 06:46

We are on a uk tour at the moment, currently in north wales, hotel cost under £80 for 2 nights. No face masks in shops here which is nice. Doesn’t appear busy though we are not by coast. We are just getting takeaways and visiting nt places which have timed tickets. Actually enjoying myself. We will be going up to Edinburgh which was also cheap to book and most things open. Why anyone would spend so much camping in the uk with all the rain is beyond me.

Oly4 · 02/08/2020 06:48

Yes! We’ve been away already and it was lovely and people were sensible. Have a lovely holiday. Hope you can find some availability

labyrinthloafer · 02/08/2020 06:53

You need to sit down and think 'will I feel better for a week away or a week resting at home?'

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it matters what you feel like.

Everything is a mess this year and so I've decided to holiday at home, but friends have gone away.

The important bit is you get a break from work and manage to unwind as we have a worrying winter to come!

diplodocusinermine · 02/08/2020 07:01

We're currently on a week's holiday in a tiny cottage in Scotland. Middle of nowhere, lots of rabbits for neighbours. The cottage owners were great at advising exactly what cleaning measures had been taken. We've done the week's shop at Tesco in Blairgowrie.

We plan on spending the week walking and have booked a timed slot for Glamis tomorrow.

The main difference will be that we probably won't be eating out or visiting any pubs, but no great loss.

Feels very safe. We were in two minds about going away but DH has already had to take 3 weeks pre-booked holiday during lockdown, so the change of scenery is welcome.

SteelyPanther · 02/08/2020 07:12

@countdowntonap

Where do you want to go? Plenty available on Booking.com for week on 8th Aug in Anglesey for example.
Probably because they had an outbreak of Covid on Anglesey a couple of weeks ago.
ACautionaryTale · 02/08/2020 07:13

We have a week road trip in Scottish highlands planned for September 7th - all hotels cancellable until a few days before.

Then staying for a week with relatives.

I will say that I am half expecting to have to cancel them in which case we’ll probably still go visit relatives for a week.

I know a lot of younger adults and the childless will
Be completely fucked off if they get screwed o we again just to allow kids to go back to school.

Because if they close leisure, pubs and hotels it will be then that pay the price

beela · 02/08/2020 07:18

No. We usually go away in the UK in the summer but I just can't make myself want to right now. It just doesn't sound relaxing - worrying about social distancing, having to book for attractions and meals out, games and dvds removed from holiday cottages...

I would also prefer to put our money into our own local economy right now, so we're staying home and doing local day trips (where we have more knowledge of where is likely to be rammed or not) and getting takeaways from our favourite restaurants.

ginsparkles · 02/08/2020 07:21

I was thinking about it but have now decided it's not worth the risk. As we have seen local lockdowns come quickly when they happen, so there's every chance of a local lockdown just before you go, or while your away. I'm not changing that. Will just stay at home and do whatever day things that are permitted at the time.

Proudtocare · 02/08/2020 07:29

No holiday this year. We havent managed to get a full week off together this year, but we have some days here and there at end of Aug. We are going to try and aim to visit the less known places where we live.

Oblomov20 · 02/08/2020 07:43

Already been camping once and going again next week. Was totally safe, comfortable. I don't 'get' what the uproar is all about.

I do understand that the prices of some places/hotels have rocketed to silly prices.

Pobblebonk · 02/08/2020 07:46

I would book and I have. If either the area where we're going to or where we live goes into lockdown, the booking conditions allow for cancellation. Looking forward to it.

sunseekin · 02/08/2020 07:53

I’d check I didn’t lose money if cancelled especially if a few weeks into the future.

We managed three nights away, it did us the world of good. www.airbnb.co.uk and cottages.com offer some properties with enhanced cleans and contactless check ins.

I would definitely take a look, we found a remoter beach after doing some rekkies that we were happy with.

sunseekin · 02/08/2020 07:55

We just did three nights and took why food we needed to save hassle and stress of finding the safe local options. Feel bad I’m not doing more to help grade but with three little kids don’t feel I can.

madcatladyforever · 02/08/2020 07:56

No I'm taking a year off from going anywhere. I don't think it's safe yet.
I don't want to be on a beach crowded with people.

Smileyoriley · 02/08/2020 08:03

Yes@womaninatightspot that's exactly the sort of break I will be taking at the moment. We've already got something similar booked for September which I'm looking forward to. Am aware last minute changes of plans may be needed though.....

YesThisIsMe · 02/08/2020 08:06

We’re currently in a holiday cottage in a lesser known rural inland tourist location, which we specifically picked because it wouldn’t be rammed (also because it enables us to visit elderly relatives). We’ve come from a very crowded city area (with low prevalence) so it feels quiet to us but it’s not depressingly deserted - all the pubs’ outdoor dining areas are almost full, so we can get a table but the pubs are making a living (we self-catered on Saturday night though). Lots of walks, everyone seems to be taking social distancing and masks seriously but not to the point of paranoia. We’ve been checking tourist attractions on Trip Advisor and if the recent reviews all say it’s a crowded hell hole with no social distancing we give it a swerve.

Basically it’s lovely - lots of scenery and pretty buildings to look at, naice tourist attractions aimed at the older generation and delicious (half price on Monday-Wednesday) food eaten on a riverbank or in a courtyard. Our masks are getting more of a workout than usual but we don’t really mind them.

HandsOffMyRights · 02/08/2020 08:18

We've just returned from 4 nights in a hotel at a popular UK seaside resort.

It was rammed and we did not use the beach as the hotel (which was very good, operating at half capacity,) had an outdoor pool and strict numbers.

We booked the day before and paid top whack though.

We have two weeks' holiday, another at the end of Aigust, but wanted to grab a week while we could.

I'm so glad we went as my children loved it, but as for social distancing in town, forget it!

We pre booked a couple of outdoor restaurants/bars and they were very strict again, but looking elsewhere it was bursting with people.

We won't go again as we are all spent out, but if we went again, it would be to somewhere less popular.

IncidentsandAccidents · 02/08/2020 08:22

We're on holiday in a Yorkshire seaside town at the moment. The beaches aren't too bad but the town centre and shopping areas are absolutely crammed with no social distancing at all (narrow cobbled streets and bridges). Dh and I both wore masks on our first day yesterday, which is the first time either of us have felt the need to wear masks outdoors. Thankfully, there are some lovely quieter beaches and coastal walks nearby so we'll mostly stick to those from now on. I don't regret coming because the dc are having a wonderful time and there are ways to get off the beaten track but I wouldn't want to be here if any of us were vulnerable.

CountFosco · 02/08/2020 08:32

We're not but we live in a lovely area so are just having our holidays at home this year. We've had MIL to stay with us since the start of the school holidays which has been lovely (she lives alone so officially we are merging bubbles). My extended family aren't going anywhere this summer and we're not allowed to go and see them but DH's family seem to be travelling all over Europe this year. It really varies.

SockYarn · 02/08/2020 08:37

We booked last week for October half-term. We booked the same week last year after the collapse of Thomas Cook and much later on - TC went bust on 23rd September and we went away about 12th October.

Comparing what is available right now with the choice we had last year there is definitely far fewer properties to choose from.

People still want to get away. I have missed two holidays so far this year and need to get a break from looking at the same four walls. Lots of people are not considering overseas as it's too uncertain, UK is a better bet.