Can I go home a couple of days before the 23rd?

[Wednesday89]

I live in a tier 2 zone in Hampshire and my parents live in South Wales. My husband, baby and I are going there for Christmas under the rules they announced. I was then reading that people in tier 2 are allowed to go to Wales so I thought me and baby would go to my parents a bit earlier than planned so we have more time there. I'm finding the rules confusing so I'm not sure this is okay? Side note: my family in Wales isolate and only go for groceries and the same for me too. We're not mixing with other households.

Are the rules not that you cannot meet indoors until 23rd though?

No not ok. You’re in tier 2 and no matter where you go in the UK you have to act like you’re in tier 2 so you aren’t allowed to stay in other people’s houses. You are allowed from 23rd to 27th as that’s the Christmas bubble period but not before that. You can travel to their area before that as travelling is allowed but no go in their house, or anywhere inside with people not from your household.

Will anyone know if you go a few days early? Will it be safer for you to travel a few days earlier rather than the same day as everyone else?

No, I'm afraid not. I'm in the same boat, my mum's also in South Wales and I'm in tier 2 in the Midlands. It'll just be me and my preschooler this year as I'm not risking the motorway carnage on 23rd/27th.

But the gov rules says that you can stay with people in your extended household bubble? This counts for across boarders too. Yes it would be much better to go a few days before the 23rd as I'd rather not have my 5 month old stuck on motorways for hours.

How are you in a bubble?

Are you actually in a bubble with them though?

Doesn’t sound like you’d be within the rules if you went earlier. However If it were me personally I’d go a few days earlier anyway.

You can form a bubble as you have a baby under one I think?

I have a child under 1 so my household can form a support bubble with another household no matter if its in England or Wales.

It depends what sort of bubble you mean.

If you mean a Christmas bubble - they don't come into effect until 23rd December, so you can't go into their house until then.

If you are a in support bubble with your parents, because you have a child under 1, then you can mix the two households freely and you can go and see them when you like.

@Wednesday89 ah right well I think you can see them whenever if your in a support bubble with them then.

Yeah, that's how it looks to me. Just read through the rules again it seems like I definitely can. It's just all a bit confusing sometimes!

Aren’t the tiers going to be reloaded at on 15th? Might be worth waiting until then before you make plans in case there are changes.

@Wednesday89 they are not your under one support bubble if you live in Hampshire and you live in Wales! Is your mum really popping round to watch your baby for a couple of hours while you nap?
Just because you can find legal loopholes doesn’t make it ok.

Bubble or not I would go up earlier. The rules are so arbitrary when it comes to Christmas - you’d be seeing them anyway for the 5 days over Christmas so surely it makes no difference if it’s a couple of days earlier? I reckon quite a few people will be doing this, as it also saves travelling on what will be the busiest days of the year.

God, who cares? What difference does it make if you travel on the 21st or the 23rd? None.

I’m also from South Wales and planning to head up on the 20th.

We stay in a self contained apartment so won’t be mixing households until the 23rd but will be seeing family outside.

I would go if I were you OP. Before MD lifted the ban on travel ban I would have said not but now things are different.

They’re not your bubble though are they? You live hours apart
Go if you want you are clearly justifying it in your head anyway so why ask?

Goodness sake just do it. Asking on this site your get people who love to be anal and those who arnt as strict. The rules are rubbish anyway.

Yeah, I now remember why I stayed away from this site thanks to the helpful people.

@IncludeWomenInTheSequel

God, who cares? What difference does it make if you travel on the 21st or the 23rd? None.

And this is why the rules should never have been relaxed for xmas. Give people an inch they'll take a mile.

If it's ok at xmas, what's the difference between doing it at NY. If you can have 3 households what's the difference if we have 5. If we can have 3 households one day what's the difference if it's a different 3 the next day.. If we saw people at NY then it won't matter if we have a family gathering and a few friends round for a birthday party at the end of Jan. Of Valentine's day party...why not?

For some people it'll be never ending. A colleague of mine threw a big engagement party last night, we're in tier 3! She says it's fine because everyone can mix soon anyway!

Just do it. Officially it may not be official - but who will it harm (no one, if you’re going on 23rd anyway) and who will it help (your baby, primarily). I would.

@Wednesday89

Yeah, I now remember why I stayed away from this site thanks to the helpful people.

Because people are telling you how things are rather than what you want to hear?

I agree that the rules shouldn't be relaxed over Christmas. I don't want to mix. But let's be honest, there is literally NO difference or impact in what the OP's suggesting. Who's going to stop her?

If you child is under 1 and they are your bubble go for it and enjoy some company!