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Original poster

what is a holiday exactly?

69 replies

YogaLite · 10/02/2021 17:44

So not allowed to book a holiday but what about going away to stay with family or friends?? Or even second home (or someone else's second home?)

Is it about travel or meeting people?

OP posts:

Abracadabra12345 · 10/02/2021 18:39

@lurker101

I think it’s not necessarily that we won’t be able to do it later in the year, simply the Govt can’t promise that we will, as anything can change with the virus situation. They don’t want to be have the same situation they had with Christmas, where they said we could all mix, then changed the rules after many people had made plans. By saying it’s too early to book a holiday, anyone booking is definitely at their own risk, and has no comeback against govt or holiday companies if it turns out the situation changes for the worse.

Many people had holidays last summer within the rules, I don’t see things being anything but better this year, but the govt. rightly won’t make any promises of a summer holiday.

That’s the way I read it too

JorisBonson · 10/02/2021 18:43

We got over excited and booked Tenerife in November, to go next month. That was just lining us up for disappointment 😂

Hoping we can go away in October but won't be booking until very last minute.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 10/02/2021 18:53

@StanfordPines

I haven’t booked anything yet.

If we do it’ll only be a night or two in a hotel in this country.
We were bloody lucky to get every single penny of our money back from our cancelled Easter holiday last year. I’m not risking that again

Me neither. I had two holidays cancelled last year, one I got the money back pretty quickly, the other took months for the airfare to be refunded. I may do a couple of nights in a hotel in the UK once restrictions are lifted, or possibly a week somewhere but booked last minute (if there is anywhere left).

ElliFAntspoo · 10/02/2021 18:54

@YogaLite

I recall Matt Hancock saying he booked Cornwall... hope he is asked about next time he is doing the briefing..

Ah, but the rules don't apply to those who make them, only those who follow.

Daisysflowers · 10/02/2021 18:54

Think some of the z listers are confused about what’s a actual holiday and a ‘work trip’ think they should be heavily fined.

ElliFAntspoo · 10/02/2021 18:57

@JorisBonson

We got over excited and booked Tenerife in November, to go next month. That was just lining us up for disappointment 😂

Hoping we can go away in October but won't be booking until very last minute.

Buy a big TV and a heat lamp. Lie in your front room on towels with the sun lamps on and go for a walk around Torremolinos on Google Earth.

SpaceRaiders · 10/02/2021 18:58

You can want a holiday and want schools to re-open at the same time. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.

I must say I’m absolutely desperate to get away, I’d take a ship to the moon if thy was the only place I was allowed to go. It’s the only way I properly relax and I haven’t seen my family abroad in over 19 months.

Realistically 2021 will also be a write off, even if borders were open this summer, the fact is the majority of the world are unvaccinated. Strict controls, testing, potentially isolating at both ends will make it unworkable or unaffordable for most.

monicacat · 10/02/2021 19:00

I also think the most important thing is to get children into schools. A lot of families cannot afford holidays after the last twelve months.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 10/02/2021 19:00

Ah, but the rules don't apply to those who make them, only those who follow.

There's nothing in 'the rules' to say you can't book a holiday.

NotMeekNotObedient · 10/02/2021 19:02

I'm guessing UK breaks only this summer, no mixing of households. Camping in Cornwall will do me - in fact anywhere to escape these 4 walls!

Original poster

YogaLite · 10/02/2021 19:03

@islockdownoveryet, I agree, but they can't let everyone out at once. So maybe they will extend school term and allow the rest of the nation time away in UK?

I just feel like the pressure cooker is building up to explode when restrictions are eased, even if in stages.

OP posts:

peak2021 · 10/02/2021 19:04

You can book a holiday but if you cannot go there because Covid 19 restrictions have not all been removed here or at your destination, I'd expect money back will be slow in coming (or at all if you spend any money with Ryanair if stories are correct). The comment by Grant Shapps and even by Boris Johnson (at second time of asking) were one of the few sensible things they have said.

Incyra · 10/02/2021 19:09

Was thinking in my head that this summer would be more restrictive than last summer....?

shinynewapple21 · 10/02/2021 19:09

As soon as it becomes clearer when things are opening up I will be booking a holiday . Not booking anything yet as have holiday abroad booked in June which was moved from last year . I doubt at the moment that we'll be able to leave the country by that time, at least without quarantines and negative tests , hopefully we'll be able to move that on again . And hopefully by that time will be able to go somewhere in UK.

The idea that there will be no UK tourism, for anyone , is ridiculous. Think how many people took holidays last year and there was no vaccine then. We were on different timescales too as the peak was March /April whereas were already past the peak now. Just need to hang on in there a few more weeks

PracticingPerson · 10/02/2021 19:09

If you're just going to stay with family, do you need to book?

I would make a plan, and accept that plans might have to change as sadly we are not in control.

But I am not booking anything non-refundable any time soon.

WoodSageandSeasalt · 10/02/2021 19:10

I really don’t get the fuss about booking holidays, the least bit of freedom will feel like a holiday after this shit. I’ll just be happy to see my friends again, I don’t care where.

shinynewapple21 · 10/02/2021 19:13

In answer to the OP - a holiday is me being able to travel and stay somewhere other than where I live. Hopefully by the sea; hopefully the sun will come out, and hopefully I'll be able to sit outside a pub with a drink in my hand .

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 10/02/2021 19:19

@Incyra

Was thinking in my head that this summer would be more restrictive than last summer....?

I was thinking it wouldn’t be due to a) vaccinations b) an earlier peak (we peaked in April last year and things were alright July-October, January peak this year = April-August or beyond).

Sunshinegirl82 · 10/02/2021 19:21

Yes, I've booked a week in August, booked it as soon as we came back from our holiday in July last year. Seaside in the U.K. but that's fine as DC are still young and I can't face a plane journey with them yet.

If the restrictions at the time mean we can't go then we won't go, I'm not sure why it's a big drama to be honest.

DavidsSchitt · 10/02/2021 19:24

I've booked for the uk, several breaks. All free cancellation so if restrictions don't allow then I'll just cancel them.

Most places are getting booked up now from what I can see

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 10/02/2021 19:28

I can’t imagine one being enjoyable so will wait. Crowds, masks, variants and hoping people know why SD is doesnt sound like a relaxing break.

Avondklok · 10/02/2021 19:34

Lots of borders closed to,non essential travel still, with quarantine a requirement. In Europe, til most people are vaccinated and numbers are down sufficiently that test and trace stands a chance of working, it's madness and completely selfish to even think of going abroad.

ElliFAntspoo · 10/02/2021 20:09

I'm gonna stay home and buy popcorn.

DavidsSchitt · 10/02/2021 20:22

Sounds like you'll be gleeful @ElliFAntspoo if we all have to stay at home indefinitely

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 10/02/2021 20:57

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I can’t imagine one being enjoyable so will wait. Crowds, masks, variants and hoping people know why SD is doesnt sound like a relaxing break.

I've booked places with either a garden and/or a sea view. If restaurants are open we'll go, if not we'll stay in and enjoy the view and being away from home.

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