Travel to see family at Christmas or vice versa

[Heatheronthehill]

My family live in the south, I live in the North. We are about 4 hours apart by car. If one of us visits the other (was the plan for Christmas) whoever travelled would need to stay in an air B&B as we don’t have a spare room and they would bring the dog, we have a toddler who hasn’t seen them since July. I know it’s not the end of the world but they’ve already missed his second birthday, I was hoping we’d get to see them at Christmas and exchange presents etc.
Does anyone think there’s a possibility of travel being allowed in England (like they’ve done within Wales after their lockdown) and that air B&Bs and hotels will be open?

I’m finding the distance and separation from my parents so hard and I have pre existing depression that’s getting worse by the day.

I know nobody really knows, but just wondering opinions.

Will loads of random people speculating either way really help you though OP?

The only thing you can really do is wait and see, none of us have any secret information. It's frustrating, I get it, but we are all stuck in the same shitty ship.

There’s a possibility but no one knows really. We’re in the same situation, was hoping to travel to family at Christmas with w young baby. I think everyone is just hoping it’s allowed by then.

I’m in a similar position- have booked Airbnb already. It will entirely depend on what Tier we are in, what tier relatives are in and what tier the rental is in (3 different counties). We know we will be making a very last minute decision, also taking into account our personal attitude to breaking guidance (travel has never been the law, just guidance) at that time

Do they have to bring the dog? What about kennels?

No idea what will be allowed by then. But I wouldn't want to travel with a toddler. I think kids should get to be in their own homes with their toys at Christmas. So I would look at options where they could come to you. Travelodge take dogs.

I don't think we can plan for travel at Christmas. If it is possible it will be an unexpected bonus rather than a big disappointment iyswim.

I do sympathise whole heartedly with families who are separated like this though. I have thanked my lucky stars everyday since the first lockdown began that my adult DSs still live with us and my parents are nearby. Even when we couldn't spend time with them we could do doorstep visits.

Is there a way to manufacture a childcare need that would allow them to see DS? I don't want to think about the morality of it but that's what a few people I know have done.

@1stV45 overnight stays are not allowed for childcare bubbles so no matter how you dress it up it is just plain breaking the rules.

If we’re back to tiers by then I think it’s likely to depend a lot on what tiers you and they are in. How many would you be in total? There may be some special rule over Christmas but I’d be surprised if we’ve moved away from the rule of 6 by then.

[quote Racoonworld]@1stV45 overnight stays are not allowed for childcare bubbles so no matter how you dress it up it is just plain breaking the rules.[/quote]
Where does it say that? What if you need overnight childcare?

I know, I haven't broken any rules, have been completely by the book all the way through, but my circumstances are such that it hasn't been that hard. One man's rule breaking is another man's "common sense"

@1stV45 it’s in the .gov website rules. There is a section for overnight stays where it stayed overnight stays are banned, then gives a list of exemptions. Support bubbles are in the exemption list but not childcare (different to support bubbles).

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