Advising against ‘elaborate’ summer holidays, even in the UK

Lissy23 · 2021-02-08T19:20:42+00:00

[[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brits-warned-against-elaborate-summer-23464800]] Just saw this on twitter, after I read something about it on another thread on here. I thought they were pushing for uk holidays this year to boost tourism? Also even last summer we could go away in the UK? Surely with the vaccine things will be much better by summer. I’m really confused by it all.

jellymaker · 08/02/2021 19:22

It's a tough one as I also keep hearing that the self catering places are going fast. We have booked for a week in August today. Just hoping that it will go ahead

Athinginitself · 08/02/2021 19:23

I think the reality is they just dont know what will happen, its impossible to know at this point. If people booked holidays that then had to be cancelled on the back of their comments there would be uproar. I personally think a holiday in this country is very low risk but its impossible to be certain of anything at this point.

Trumplosttheelection · 08/02/2021 19:23

Ignore it. The economy has to get moving. There will be a summer with holidays.

User7458 · 08/02/2021 19:26

Matt Hancock said about it on the briefing, I think he meant mainly arranging holidays with other families, he also mentioned across borders, that is probably because of different rules in the 4 nations I would have thought.

Original poster

Lissy23 · 08/02/2021 19:28

I’m booked to go away with my parents, brother and sister in law in July. They’d all be vaccinated by then, even my brother and his partner as they’ve had it already due to their occupations. I thought it would be ok by then haven’t seen them all since last July.

OP posts:

Porcupineintherough · 08/02/2021 19:29

Well if by elaborate they mean multi household holidays with people coming from all over the country then surely common sense would tell you that that sort of arrangement is more vulnerable to changes in circumstances?

Porcupineintherough · 08/02/2021 19:31

Sorry OP that wasnt aimed directly at you. But yes, the more households involved the more fragile the arrangements. I hope you can go ahead.

borageforager · 08/02/2021 19:34

Makes me want to cry. I’ve been pinning my hopes on being able to see people by the summer. Don’t care a bit about going abroad but by golly I want my kids to have a week camping with their cousins so much.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 08/02/2021 19:36

With the variants there may be restrictions in place with regards to areas and group gatherings. I can’t imagine multiple households will be able to stay together indoors. Outdoors maybe with the rule of six as before.

speaksofty · 08/02/2021 19:38

I actually don't think we should be booking holidays with mixed households either. Not this year.

We are not out of the woods, most of us if we are under fifty won't even be vaccinated. As sad as it is, now is the time to plan carefully. We can still see friends and family borage but I guess it will be like last summer, mainly for a few hours outside being careful with toilets etc.

BeautifulStar · 08/02/2021 19:38

Makes me want to cry. I’ve been pinning my hopes on being able to see people by the summer. Don’t care a bit about going abroad but by golly I want my kids to have a week camping with their cousins so much.

But who would know or care? If you book separate accommodation what is the difference between you being there with just your own family and your dc’s playing with other kids from another family/tent?
We’re going to Cornwall in July and my dsis has booked another accommodation for herself and her dc’s. They cannot control or police this! Even if you only booked one accommodation, no one is going to check or care if there is only one household or not - how would you even prove it if asked? It’s utterly bonkers.

Eccle80 · 08/02/2021 19:39

I think it is just saying that it is too early to know what situation we will be in or what the restrictions will be, so advising against booking larger groups etc until there is more certainty.
Though as a family of 5 I hope we aren’t limited to the rule of 6 all summer

Lelophants · 08/02/2021 19:39

People assuming multiple houses can mix are being a bit silly. For one household I think booking is fine, as long as you have a decent cancellation policy and/or are happy to lose a bit of money.

Original poster

Lissy23 · 08/02/2021 19:40

@speaksofty what about people like me who live miles away from their families? And all of them will be vaccinated by then, except me and my 2 year old. Surely there’s very little risk there?

OP posts:

Kazzyhoward · 08/02/2021 19:41

@User7458

Matt Hancock said about it on the briefing, I think he meant mainly arranging holidays with other families, he also mentioned across borders, that is probably because of different rules in the 4 nations I would have thought.

All common sense really when people don't know what restrictions will be in force this Summer. Seems a bit unwise to book holidays with other families etc or to plan to cross any border (even within the UK).

Kazzyhoward · 08/02/2021 19:43

@BeautifulStar

Makes me want to cry. I’ve been pinning my hopes on being able to see people by the summer. Don’t care a bit about going abroad but by golly I want my kids to have a week camping with their cousins so much.

But who would know or care? If you book separate accommodation what is the difference between you being there with just your own family and your dc’s playing with other kids from another family/tent?
We’re going to Cornwall in July and my dsis has booked another accommodation for herself and her dc’s. They cannot control or police this! Even if you only booked one accommodation, no one is going to check or care if there is only one household or not - how would you even prove it if asked? It’s utterly bonkers.

Spectacularly missing the point of mixing restrictions there aren't you?

The whole point is to reduce points of infection. Mixing of families, especially in confined places like hotel rooms/holiday homes, etc is very high risk of transmission of the virus.

It's not a matter of whether you'll be caught or not, it's a matter of protecting yourself and family and those you come into contact with.

speaksofty · 08/02/2021 19:45

Op you can stay close to your family - in a hotel or a cottage nearby but staying overnight or going away with mixed households I am sorry to say is not likely. I am now planning to meet my parents that also live a long way away at a hotel possibly, but we will have completely separate rooms now and take much more care. Although they are freaking out a bit about the SA variant, so I am not even sure they will want to see us

It is endless, it feels pretty endless. Even if we settle for BBQs outside again, and day trips instead - that is all we can do, it will be an improvement compared to now at least.

inquietant · 08/02/2021 19:46

[quote Lissy23]@speaksofty what about people like me who live miles away from their families? And all of them will be vaccinated by then, except me and my 2 year old. Surely there’s very little risk there?[/quote]
It's not just about you and your relatives, it's about public health.

If you live in different areas you could be in different tiers for example.

If there were a surge in a new variant, their vaccine wouldn't be effective.

It might all be ok - but July is five months away so no one can predict. Five months ago was September - we had only a few cases of the Kent variant then?

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 08/02/2021 19:47

The reality is we can all guess and think this or that but we won't know until nearer the time
I have booked a place fo stay with friends in sept its large and we can sd if need be and I will be going unless we are in lockdown as we will have to get back to some kind of normal soon , im not prepared to live like this for ever

inquietant · 08/02/2021 19:49

I'm not saying it will be bad btw.

But honestly - would you bet your house that it'll all be fine? I wouldn't because I have no idea. No one does.

What we are all getting to grips with is - no one has a scooby.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 08/02/2021 19:50

Too many people on here telling people what they should and shouldn't do for rules they don't know if they will or will exist.
If people are happy to take the risk and book a holiday , thats up to the m.

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 08/02/2021 19:54

Besides we took that long to close to certain countries and borders are still open to a degree , if they let people come and holiday here then they can't expect people not to
Holiday in uk with friends ,

FloralCarpet · 08/02/2021 19:55

[quote Lissy23]@speaksofty what about people like me who live miles away from their families? And all of them will be vaccinated by then, except me and my 2 year old. Surely there’s very little risk there?[/quote]
Then you arrange to stay nearby but not mixing households inside. I know it’s shit, i haven’t seen my parents since last July so we’ll book a cottage near their house. We don’t know what’s coming so the risk is you plan a holiday and then have to cancel.

inquietant · 08/02/2021 19:57

If people are happy to take the risk and book a holiday , thats up to the m.

Yes, but I think it might be a bit silly doing so after the Deputy CMO has just said on national telly that it isn't a good idea to book.anything elaborate yet.

It was a pretty strong hint that it could go either way.

speaksofty · 08/02/2021 19:58

Sometimes things improve very quickly, as they did last year.

We need to take the chance to enjoy our lives as soon as we can this time. No hanging around, book in the fun - see family and friends, make the most of the spring and summer. It might not be perfectly ideal for many reasons, but it will be better than nothing.