When do you think we will be able to go on holiday?

[Siw2020]

This post is basically me dreaming.

DP & I are both NHS HCPs currently working on covid wards in separate cities. DP has had the 1st dose. I am yet to be vaccinated.

We are finally getting married (having postponed from last summer) in a very small microwedding this summer after having been together almost 10 years and engaged/making wedding and honeymoon plans for about 4 years. While our plans have totally changed, we didn't want to keep waiting to see how covid pans out (as also conscious of body clock and want to start a family).

Realistically when do you think we can go on a honeymoon abroad? We don't do holidays abroad often (even before covid) so were always planning on a big splurging experience for honeymoon. Perhaps one of the Caribbean islands or Indian ocean islands etc - a beachy holiday on an island far away.

When do you think this can realistically happen?

I just stopped looking for one in June because I just don't want to book something and not know if I can actually go until the day. I think we will be allowed in may ish to be honest but i think lockdowns will be on and off so just can't plan until it's under control

I keep hovering over the book button for Las Vegas in October, however, I'm fearful the US will want proof of vaccination and don't trust this government to have me vaxxed this year. We have a European holiday booked for August (booked Jan last year) and I'm feeling a bit more hopeful for that, I'm hoping places heavily reliant on tourism will settle for a negative test within 72 hours.

Nobody knows how it will all pan out this summer. I would arrange your micro wedding and nearer the time just see what the latest travel advice is. You sure deserve the break and I am sure you will get to go somewhere, but who knows where. To avoid disappointment I would just wait and see.

When will your destinations have been able to vaccinate their populations?

i honestly dont think it will be before next year. we are nearly a year in and in a worse situation

I think UK or your own particular country in UK will be ok from Easter or May onwards. Europe I'm thinking June onwards. Suspect figures might go up again in Autumn so I'm thinking July - September is your best bet - like it was last year, but with vaccine so hopefully safer and less prone to change.

We were planning on the USA in August as we had a concert rearranged but I really can't see it happening.

I think by summer Europe will be fine. Some people have been going on holiday all through this. My neighbours have just returned from Tenerife some how.

We are thinking ok in the UK this year and thinking maybe ok to go abroad June 22.

Europe from this summer if you've had the vaccine. Further afield maybe later.

Yes exactly @HairyFloppins - we know people who somehow have managed to be travelling throughout the pandemic.

We've been saving a long time (since engagement) for our honeymoon, and since the pandemic started have tweaked our plans due to it such that a lot of the wedding funds are being transferred to an extra special honeymoon. I just feel like I can't allow myself to get excited you know?

Wedding is going ahead this summer, even if it means just us to signing at registry office. The plan to is TTC soon after as can't afford to wait too long really/don't want to but this also means no honeymoon (like we imagined) - No way would we want to in the next year or two (if we conceive/have a little one) take them when they are so young to a hot island holiday.

I know there are bigger problems in the world, but from a selfish point of view I really really want to go away for a solid 2 week holiday to an island. Just us 2 newly weds. No babies. No pregnancies so we can both have a drink.

Am I mad to think this might be possible in July...
I have looked at flights to exotic destinations and somehow you are able to book (??)
I wonder if it will be cheaper to book now than when (if) the rules actually allow us, the flight prices will ramp up I imagine.

I think it's certainly possible OP but 50% at this point, and if you can't defer to a later date due to TTC then I think it would be a bit risky to book at this point.

Everything looks incredibly bleak at the moment, but IF the vaccine rollout is scaled up as fast as the government are claiming it will be (and that’s a very big ‘if’), millions of people will be jabbed every week by next month. Hospital admissions & deaths should then start falling very quickly, and restrictions on our lives can be progressively rolled back through the spring. Life really could be back to something resembling normality, including having holidays, by the summer.

Obviously, if the government fuck up, or if new covid mutations emerge which the current vaccines can’t tackle, we could still be in the shit...

2022

I don’t think you’ve got a hope of it happening this summer.

Perfect scenario op. You get married, have a nice honeymoon on an island like Guernsey or Jersey, or even La Toja in Spain which is like an island. La Toja will be as expensive as Caribbean and imo nicer. Jersey/Guernsey lower key but if you conceive straight away will give you money in yr back pocket for two to three years in Nice seaside cottages in the UK - perfect for chidlers.

If youre thinking the Carribean wouldn't you be looking at winter time anyway, or you'll potentially hit hurricane weather - i would book Jan/Feb 2022. Somewhere in Europe I would go for Sept or Oct, but not sure of that would be hot enough for beach weather.

Years. Five years. More probably. If ever.

Thanks everyone.

I know I am dreaming...

In some ways, I would almost prefer to risk it/get it something booked just on the off chance that we are allowed.
Will be really disappointed if we are allowed to later on but have missed the boat.

I am thinking of possibly just booking flights - no accomodation/finer details as that can always be sorted later and accept that I am gambling with £1000-£1500. Although I do think most airlines are offering free postponement etc if gov guidelines change.

It would make me feel slightly less gloomy.

You’ll have to cancel it though, which is worse imo. Then the faff of getting the money back.
I don’t think we will be holidaying even in the UK for quite some years.

Congrats OP.

I would go ahead and take the risk for July/August. Personally I would book flights then do the hotel separately where you can pay there and cancel it a few weeks beforehand if necessary.

People went on holidays abroad last summer, with no vaccine even close to completion, so I'd be amazed if travel were impossible this summer. However, you could still be dealing with last minute cancellations and restrictions on what you can and cannot do once there, so you'd have to ask yourself if it's worth splurging on travel at the moment or waiting until it's more relaxed.

Will there be any airlines left by next year? Plus with the new Green Agenda, flying will be become very expensive with new taxes. I’m glad I’ve seen the world already. DD will have to to be content with holidays to France via ferry.

@Fragileandcomposed

5 years?! I really hope not. I think you are ok within the UK if you choose carefully? There are lots of lovely rural, remote places in the UK. I suppose it also depends on other factors like your age/health etc and how much risk you're willing to take.

We are in our 30s with no health problems so at this stage in our lives, would take the risk of a once in a lifetime long haul holiday/honeymoon before hopefully TTC and not being able to go abroad for years.

Soon I hope as I want a very difficult person in my life to piss off back to the country they routinely live and work in despite not being a National from there.

I would have only an idea of where to go in the summer but not book anything, other than perhaps the time off work.

Once you have the vaccine may be the answer if it is outside the UK.

@Fragileandcomposed 5 years, catastrophising much?! A perfect example of the absolute nuttiness on mumsnet sometimes.