Going on holiday

[BEANBAG765]

Not sure how to create a poll So if you could please share your opinion.

Our holiday to a very safe destination had not been cancelled. Flight still going ahead.
We had been isolating for over a week and paid for expensive pre travel PCRs for all of us.
If our PCRs are all negative, why should we not go?
How is this fair?!?
I worked from home and hardly had seen any people all year.
We had not been anywhere for the whole year.
Desperate for some sunshine and walks.

Is it not illegal?!

We can isolate on our return. That is not a problem.
Kids are not back to school before 11th.

Why are you asking on here? Oh hang on, as from 6am this morning it's illegal for you to travel outside of Tier 4 unless for essential travel.

So it really is up to you if you want to risk it. I'm not going to tell you it's fine and a great idea - as it really isn't.

@georgedawes whoops cross post

Are u allowed to travel internationally in tier 4? I didn’t think u were - but if u get to the airport then why not - passports aren’t linked to your home address so how would they know?

I know people who have gone whilst in Tier 4 in Scotland. I think you have to have a proper PCR test and show it at the airport. Once you're there you have to do download some sort of application a bit like we have here. It's a shame to throw away all the money - if your travel company cancel you will get your money back but if they don't I don't think you will. Enjoy whichever choice you make.

btw - you can catch covid anywhere if you're going to the supermarket or going into work, public transport etc. I don't think people should be giving you hassle about this - good luck.

Your safe destination is safe because they don't have covid . Just because you tested negative doesn't mean you haven't got it, you would have to test negative every day for 7 days whilst isolating to be sure.

The virus cannot travel by itself, it uses selfish people like you to travel. No doubt the new strain will spread across the world very quickly.

Its pretty clear on the gov website.

You cannot travel abroad unless its anlefally permitted reason.

Holiday just doesn't cut it......

*legally permitted.

And thats because OP has already said she is in Tier 4.

You can't travel abroad in tier 4 unless it's an emergency or for work purposes.

You may get stopped at the airport and questioned but if you evade the police then good luck to ya.

We have a colleague who has just been stopped by police driving from Leeds to York to go to the pub. So...

NO. You are tier 4. You are not allowed to travel within the UK, let alone internationally. Same reason I'm not spending Christmas with any of my family.

I'm sorry, I'm normally pretty live and let live, but this is SO selfish.

It’s illegal.

@Santababy56

I know a couple who travelled to Tenerife in past 3 weeks - just the 2 of them for a couple of nights - leaving older teens at home,

Negative tests pre and post. 4 days after getting back 4 of their family testing positive and ill. Ambulance called out for one family member.

More likely to have caught it from their teenage children than whilst on holiday.

I do think airlines are behaving appallingly in not allowing refunds in this situations. Encourages people to do what OP is thinking of doing .

@lickingintolockdown - quite possibly.

I still don't think the OP is justified in taking a holiday abroad right now, when they're in a Tier 4 area.

A lot of countries are closing their borders for Brits now and the situation changes really quickly. I would not go even if I for some strange reason thought that I was special and deserved a holiday. International travel = spreading the virus.

I’d be worried about my return flight and I imagine British travellers won’t be particularly welcome abroad. My friend works for the foreign office and she said most of those needing to be repatriated as the pandemic first kicked in were idiots who hadn’t read the room properly or didn’t care.

@BEANBAG765

Re transport to the airport- we are driving ourselves in our own car. Everyone on that plane is meant to have tested before boarding. I think it is more risky have a stroll in my local Waitrose.

If everyone on your plane tested and then isolated until the point they board the plane, then the risk is small.

But I don't expect that happened. And if you're in an area where cases are doubling each week, the risk moves up a notch.

If you're tier 4 you can't go, end of. Other tiers you can, just be aware that the risk hasn't disappeared just because you tested negative.

Surely your home postcode is on your booking and the airline wont let you board?

@boilinthebagrice

You may be negative now, but you'll need to get transport to the airport, travel through the airport, and travel on a plane, mixing with other members of the public who potentially could have the virus. You could get symptoms in the holiday destination, potentially needing hospitalisation over there. Then you have to do the same journey home. I know all these are potential "what ifs" and we take risks going to the supermarket or sending our kids to school these days, but there is more at stake travelling abroad.

I'm the nicest possible way, it isn't wise to travel abroad just now

This.

It’s against the law. Which bit of that do you not understand?
Yes it’s disappointing. We were supposed to be going to Gran Canaria yesterday when still allowed but didn’t get on the plane as realistically travel at the moment is just plainly stupid unless absolutely necessary.

Also, I'd want to be back before 31 December. I reckon the rest of Europe are going to follow suit and close their borders to us on 1 Jan, which they can do because we'll have left the EU, no more freedom of movement.

Useful article from Which?

www.which.co.uk/news/2020/12/travel-and-holiday-rules-for-tier-2-and-tier-3-restrictions-qa/

The permitted reasons to leave a tier 4 area, or stay overnight away from your tier 4 home do not include to have a holiday.

Those who are already away need not return immediately, but must do so as soon as it is practical.

Yes it's fearfully bad luck when something you have planned is curtailed by a new set of restrictions, but companies should be refunding ier 4 residents.

If I was you I would go but I don't agree with goverment allowing it whilst they have banned people from
Basically seeing as they have enforced strict measures across the country how they can justify its ok for holidays is beyond me
So basically I could go and book a holiday abroad today and go with family
But those who have booked a uk holiday home with relatives aren't allowed , totally wrong but not your fault op

It's now illegal to go against the guideline not to travel from T4. So no you shouldn't go.

I know it's hard, we had to cancel our holiday in the summer and again autumn as we are in Leicester with no mixing since March.

The right thing is not to go.

You may get yourself into trouble if you do go, and regardless of that I would say a clear conscience would be important to me in your shoes.

How will you feel when friends, family and school teachers find out you've ridden roughshod over the law? How will you explain it to your kids- that you are somehow above the law?