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Original poster

Will you book a UK summer holiday?

110 replies

Rollergirl11 · 01/02/2021 11:04

Now is the time I usually book our summer holiday abroad but I don’t think that will be happening this year. I’ve been toying with booking somewhere in the UK instead and was going to spend the next few weeks looking.

Then I was reading in the Sunday Times travel section yesterday that travel experts predict that UK holiday accommodation for the summer will be completely booked up by Easter. So I went ahead and booked the place I’d been looking at.

Do you think they’re right and will you be booking something in the UK?

OP posts:
PumpkinPie2016 · 01/02/2021 16:27

We haven't booked Summer this year -would usually book Devon/Cornwall but have decided it will be summer at home. Day trips etc. if possible.

I have booked the Lakes for Oct half term but that's a regular for us and we know the lady who owns it quite well so there will be no issues with refunds etc if needs be.

DarceyDashwood · 02/02/2021 07:49

We have booked a week in a cottage for August in this country. We wanted a specific cottage (stayed there before and loved it) so decided to book early to make sure we got the cottage and the week we wanted. If we have to cancel we have to cancel - had two holidays lost last year so are quite laid back about that sort of thing now! But we already decided that abroad wasn’t for us this year regardless of the Covid situation at home because of the wider uncertainty of abroad travel so wanted to make sure we got this cottage and week should the situation allow. Fingers crossed!

Twixmasdilema · 02/02/2021 07:59

Yes, booked Lake District cottage for summer yesterday. Abroad seems too.much trouble!

Silkiechickscat · 02/02/2021 08:06

I've booked a couple of nights away in what I thought was May half term but actually turned out to be the week next to it Blush but expecting that to be cancelled. Hard to tell though as infection rates are coming down and depends when school reopens.

Summer I expect we will go to UK again as won't all be vaccinated and I don't want covid testing to fly (and would then lose all money for holiday) / threat of being quarantined abroad. We had an Asian holiday planned last year, a bit of which got moved to this year but just cancelled that. A bit more got moved to 2022 but even that not sure about.

I'm waiting for some money before booking and discussed with DH and we've provisionally decided UK but not 100% whether to wait it out to last minute and see what's on offer abroad.

Hophop26 · 02/02/2021 08:16

Booking levels are up considerably here, difficult to know how much is due to marketing spin and how many will cancel if going abroad becomes a realistic option. Most holiday let’s etc locally would usually have max 10 weeks booked up at this point of the year, many have the whole year booked from Easter already!!! We may need to leave home and go elsewhere for the summer if we are going to be massively descended on!!

Silkiechickscat · 02/02/2021 08:29

I just checked and where we went last year and loved was booked up all summer apart from one week and it would let me book that for a £50 deposit plus £35 insurance so I booked it. Price is up £300 on last year as we did same week last year though we got 10% off at the end as some facilities closed so they said before we went they'ld give us 10% off which was very kind of them. I know they are people who would refund us if issues due to covid and loved the swimming pool. I hope the swimming pool is still hour slots not a free for all full of small kids as it was lovely having it to ourselves and I want to be able to swim. I'll be glad if the theme park is closed again and we get 10% off and less people, was a very good deal last year with whole 50 acres to ourselves.

MsTSwift · 02/02/2021 08:44

Holding out for Europe. We live in the south west in a beautiful city with our own hot tub so seems mad to spend a fortune replicating that in the uk. We got away properly last year and it was fantastic.

whenwillthemadnessend · 02/02/2021 08:57

I booked last year as I couldn't bear the thought of nothing again so we have a week in April 🙏 a 5 day break to jersey in may hope that goes ahead and a week in august. No foreign trips tho obviously.

daisychains8 · 02/02/2021 09:01

I've booked 2 weeks in a beautiful cottage on the Cornish coast end of July. I am hoping like mad that it goes ahead.

SlipperyLizard · 02/02/2021 09:42

We’ve got a week booked in August that was bumped from last year, I’m hoping it can go ahead (will be two households).

The holiday park has massively increased its prices compared to what we paid last year, it will be interesting to see if anyone is prepared to pay that much to stay a week in the UK.

Silkiechickscat · 02/02/2021 10:06

I've seen lots of shocking price increases though still seem to be getting booked up and tbf they've had a massive hit on income. Our one was up £300 but seen others double last years but at least this year will have low travel costs and no refunds to get. Just finally got £200 more back from last year's Thai one, that's been a 9 month fight.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 02/02/2021 10:14

I’ve got 2 UK trips for our family booked now via Airbnb - both with free cancellation so low risk.

I’ve got a weekend in May booked which was originally last year for us and another family staying together - I’m not sure what to do about that. I think it’s likely that travel will be allowed at that point but much less certain about whether 2 households mixing would be.

Countrylane · 02/02/2021 11:59

We went camping in Cornwall in Storm Francis last year. Fuck holidays in the UK, quite frankly.

SaltyTootsieToes · 02/02/2021 12:21

I think with how things are going, nothing can be counted on. So no, it would be unrealistic to book something now for the summer.

Closer to the time, if we can, I will book perhaps air bnb anywhere so it’s a change of scenery.

Flying anywhere would be irresponsible as if we use last summer as a learning experience, things with the virus can change quite quickly. If the virus is still rampant , flying anywhere is just bloody selfish.

HesterShaw1 · 02/02/2021 13:32

@Countrylane

We went camping in Cornwall in Storm Francis last year. Fuck holidays in the UK, quite frankly.
Sympathies

Doubly bloody annoying that the weather in Cornwall was relentlessly perfect for three months in the first lockdown.

Alwaysandforeverhere · 02/02/2021 13:42

We have one in Norfolk rolled over from last year, Dorset but ima going to cancel that one don’t feel like going that far. Plus a new trip to Norfolk booked. Both Norfolk are deposit only pay on arrival so we shall see.

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 02/02/2021 13:49

Doubly bloody annoying that the weather in Cornwall was relentlessly perfect for three months in the first lockdown.

I have a place in Cornwall that looks directly out onto the sea - like, 50m away. The 4th July - first day we were allowed down there, it was so foggy we couldn't even see the sea.

I've booked a gamble Eurotunnel ticket for the school summer holidays.

Silkiechickscat · 02/02/2021 15:00

We got lucky and got beautiful weather in Devon this year but there did seem to be a short window and people who went later in August got rubbish weather. So I booked same week as last year. We don't like heat so fine for us and got around 25C each day.

Silkiechickscat · 02/02/2021 15:02

Though gone for a place with indoor pool again incase weather isn't great and as miss swimming a lot. Though last year we were first day allowed so hope they are open again.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 02/02/2021 15:08

As long as it’s not raining relentlessly I don’t mind British weather. We’ve been lucky that we’ve never had a horrific week on any of our holidays though I’ve never planned more than a couple of days camping, just in case!

Oysterbabe · 02/02/2021 20:41

One of the reasons we booked June half term rather than summer holidays is I think August can be quite rainy nowadays.

Meowmeow20202 · 02/02/2021 21:16

@TupilaLilium

We did. Just for a change of scenery to look forward to. We booked a beach house only 40 minutes away because the teenagers don't want to come (fair enough) and we can be close. We also remain in our own health board.

I still have vouchers for a campsite in the south of france from last year. I am not counting on getting to use those, but I hope.

We did similar. Booked haven thats an hr away.
cjpark · 02/02/2021 21:23

Nope. Ive booked 3 weeks abroad. We live in 'Cornwall and try to get out of the county in August. I'm hoping we are allowed to travel otherwise we'll stay at home and do early morning or evening beach visits.

MirandaMarple · 02/02/2021 21:47

I was hoping to re-book the camping trip I lost last year and it's already booked up. I suspect tent sales have rocketed.

baffledcoconut · 03/02/2021 01:05

No. I don’t want to spend ludicrous amounts of money for somewhere in the uk. We’re waiting until abroad is an option. Holidaying in the uk doesn’t do it for me. And after being stuck here for a year I want a real change.