So it’s now illegal to even have hope it optimism for the future?!

[Lissy23]

That’s how it seems reading posts on here and on social media platforms.
How dare I even think about booking a holiday in this country 5 months into the future?
Why can’t I just be grateful I have my health and I’m not lying in a hospital bed?
I should be thinking of those dying everyday, not booking something so I’ve got things to look forward to...

Well I have one break booked in April, two breaks booked in June and one in August. And yes, they’re all fully refundable. Do I expect them to go ahead? Yes to June and August. Cautiously optimistic for April.

I think what people are saying us everything us so uncertain.
Last year people lost money, had problems getting refunds.

Book, plan to do what you like but be aware with things changing so fast with this blummin virus, things nay get cancelled or postponed and there might be issues with refunds etc.

'Illegal' is a quantifiable thing. You know that, right?

Fuck them all!

I am lying in a hospital bed (not covid ) and I definitely think that you should book holidays and have things to look forward to. I bloody intend to when I get home! I'll book something for us somewhere we can move the dates if needs be and only in the UK...but hell yes.

I've noticed it too today the posts and threads have been crazy, book something , look forward to it, and if it doesn't happen...well hopefully it happens asap after!

My dh is hoping he can get away as the trips were rolled over to this year ( hobby vacations)
I said last year he should have tried to get a refund , but he is more of an optimist than I am and people did think that things would look up this year , so many have changed their plans etc.
A few people I know got away last year here and abroad so now we have the vaccines it feels weird it's now ' don't book anything'
How will this play out if you do want a refund for example? We need clarity!

I own a holiday property that’s fully booked already.

I’d be giving you a full refund if covid scuppered your plans.

I've had enough too. It does seem like those who like th quiet life with nothing going on are policing hard the idea of joy. They are quick to day all those who didn't just stay at home last summer, but had holidays and went for meals out are directly responsible for all the dead old people and even suggesting fun is evil.

Its odd when we should be hitting 25% of the adult population having had at least the 1st vaccination jab today, when we should be talking up hope, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel etc, suddenly its clear the messaging from government and many is this isn't something that will end.

There doesn't seem to be a clear end point at all and many people seem happy with that. I dont understand.

I’ve heard sales of sack cloth and ashes are up 300%. Online sales obviously.

@Lissy23

That’s how it seems reading posts on here and on social media platforms. How dare I even think about booking a holiday in this country 5 months into the future? Why can’t I just be grateful I have my health and I’m not lying in a hospital bed? I should be thinking of those dying everyday, not booking something so I’ve got things to look forward to...

Well I have one break booked in April, two breaks booked in June and one in August. And yes, they’re all fully refundable. Do I expect them to go ahead? Yes to June and August. Cautiously optimistic for April.

I'm worn out "considering" 66+ million others. So that's stopping.

I've had a shot in the arm of something I'm not altogether keen on. That's good enough as far as I'm concerned.

I booked stuff in January, shall I tell you why?

Because it stopped me having a full blown breakdown, it's given me something to look forward to, plan for, it's only here in the UK but it's what humans need, anchor points, like Christmas, Easter, summer hols, not isolated nothingness.

We could have gone away last year, so why are we assuming summer 2021 will be worse than summer 2020, when the majority of UK adults will have had at least the first jab by the summer?

I have my July and August holidays booked. I went on them last year so it seems utterly ridiculous if we cant this year.

Can we have a Thursday boo at everything that bugs us with an optional clap at the end if we are willing.

I agree with so many, we need things to look forward to!

We postponed our rather extravagant holiday last year and have booked it for this year. It isn’t until August, it is fully refundable, and who knows what may happen in the meantime.

The world does need to open up at some point, places that depend on tourism have been struggling as it is and if you are in a country where there is no welfare it must be even harder.

Oh we need to get dc1's passport renewed! I've been assuming the April trip we rescheduled from last April won't happen (annoyingly we were offered the choice of rescheduling to October half term or a full year to Easter, and decided Easter was safer - the holiday would have gone ahead at October!)

I'm going to get caught out if I don't renew now, arent I?!

Then we've got a couple of night booked at May half term in the UK. Need to make a plan for the summer. Dh wants to hold off to see if we can get to that sun lounger next to a Mediterranean pool. I want to book something in the UK to feel I've got something...

I have two trips booked too. Can't wait.

We've got our wedding booked for June - an absolutely tiny & very low-key affair but a good few hours' drive from where we live. I absolutely can't wait and am counting down the days. Nothing wrong with stuff to look forward to during this crap time imo.

Ours is a rebooking from last August to this August. Hope we can go; right now I would settle for a few days in London.

I have booked U.K. holiday at end of June, a two centre one, with the second being a family run business.
I have abandoned hope of visiting the family property in Europe for this year.
I think we need to book up holidays, for our own sanity and to try and get economy moving. I know the family run place is now fully booked and I really hope they can open so that the family can earn an income.

Technically you can hope and optimism under any circumstances of your personality is set that way. I don’t see how that could ever be illegal?!

I wish you all the best for your holidays though and hope at least a couple of them go ahead.

I've got 4 things booked (all cancellable and transferrable). Can't wait.

I don't know why it's so hard for the government to say

'We honestly don't know what the rules will be, but we know people want things to look forward to, please ensure any arrangments you make are covered by insurance or check T&Cs carefully, and there is additional risk in planning to travel with people not from your household or bubble'.

I’m not sure I’m feeling that it’s illegal, more that it’s uncertain...

Obviously the government aren’t in a position to know for definite how things will be in the summer. If they make guesses (like with Christmas) something could change nearer the time and then they are blamed for giving false hope when people have made plans.

Obviously you can choose to take the risk and book a holiday, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to go. ( Many of us have chosen to take the chance).

If you can’t go, you may or may not get a refund or be able to rebook depending on the terms of your contract. You may lose your money.

If you book to go abroad, there is a high chance you will have to pay for tests before you go and on return. There is also a high chance you will need to quarantine for 10 days on return, possibly in a quarantine hotel. There is a likelihood that the list of quarantine hotel countries will change, and that you need to be prepared to fund a stay in a quarantine hotel at short notice. (Even if your destination wasn’t on the list when you booked).

If you want to book a cottage or similar with a group of people who are not in your household (uk or abroad) there is a high chance you will have to cancel. You may or may not get a refund depending on the contract terms.

If you are aware of the above and happy to accept the possible consequences then of course it is ok to book a holiday!

However, if the government say this, they will still be blamed by people if the plans have to be cancelled or changed. Like the people who blame the government for the deaths of their relatives after Christmas Day mixing, like the government forced them to meet indoors....

I love a quiet life, hate socialising.

But we fully intend to go to Cornwall this Summer (permanent spot on a field where we leave our van). We've also booked october half term.

I need a break.

The Government said in yesterday evening,s press conference that it was too early to say wether holidays would be able to go ahead ,they didn't say they couldn't they just said it was to early ,of course they can ,t give us a clear end date because it's a pandemic ,what do people want? If the Government said yes everything will be back to normal by June the 21st and then it wasent people would be complaining about Government U turns but because they are being cautious they are being accused of changing the Goal posts 🤷

I’ve booked holidays, I am not expecting them to be cancelled. Hope is the only thing left - so you book away op. It’s so dreary listening to the lectures, just turn it off! Music on and start planning your spring and summer wardrobe!