Brazilian Variant- could affect travel?

[likeamillpond]

Listening to the radio this morning it seems there is a lot of concern about this particular one.
People getting it twice
Not sure if the vacinne is that effective against it.
It's a real possibility that the government will tighten up on travel in general.
Anybody regretting the mad rush to book a foreign holiday?

Imagine what we could do for our recovery if we all spent our money here all summer?

It would be very helpful indeed!

@Whatafabulousday

i don't trust BJ.

You think he's doing it for the LOLs

Trust is the wrong word. I think he's done alright under the circumstances and wants whats best for the country. I doubt many would have done much better.. I just find his glass half full at all times a bit irritating. It's ok to tell it like it is. We're not children who need to be nannied. Or maybe we are?

I don't find holidaying in the UK as enjoyable though. I'd rather keep the money for when I can go and do something I do actually enjoy, apart from el cheapo campervan trips to stave off the worst of the boredom if nothing else is possible.

Well, in France 1 in 20 cases are suspected to already be South African or Brazilian variant, hence the localised lockdowns, and Germany closing it's borders with the Moselle.

We seem to making so much fuss about these new variants, but they are pretty common in the rest of Europe already (and that's without the huge genomic testing we are doing).

in spain 50% of the cases are the British variant

@MyOldSelf

We have cancelled 3 foreign holidays in the past year. Now, we have only booked UK until this is all over.

I know people are desperate for a holiday but if the weather is like the past 5 years our summer will be lovely and we will be one of the few countries with little restrictions due to our vaccination program.

Imagine what we could do for our recovery if we all spent our money here all summer? We could turn this shit on its head.

Agree

@MaxNormal

I don't find holidaying in the UK as enjoyable though. I'd rather keep the money for when I can go and do something I do actually enjoy, apart from el cheapo campervan trips to stave off the worst of the boredom if nothing else is possible.

Out if interest, what don't you find enjoyable?

I don't find holidaying in the UK as enjoyable though.

I do get that going overseas is really nice. I used to live in the Far East and I've done a lot of travelling. I just don't think traveling abroad is going to be as enjoyable this year. SD'ing in hotels, masks on planes, and limited things to do because other countries are not where we are with the vaccinations. It looks like our summer is going to be pretty normal.

I've booked a UK trip, planning days out and I am buying a new BBQ. Now all I need is good weather.

It’s important to remember as well, for a lot of people booking travel it’s to see family they haven’t seen for over a year due to Covid. Skyscanner reported 69% increase in flight bookings the evening Boris announced the roadmap - 2nd most booked destination Pakistan, 5th most booked destination India. Given the limited tourism to Pakistan, and India’s current border restrictions to non-citizens or non-OCI/PIO these are likely to be people planning to see missed family members. I can’t blame anyone who hasn’t seen their family in over a year for booking flights as soon as possible and being willing to spend time/money in quarantine for it.

Out if interest, what don't you find enjoyable?

A few things. It doesn't feel different enough. I also like really hot, dry weather. Largely because we like campervanning and France/Spain are about a million times easier for this. Really good, reasonably priced campsites that almost always have spaces, and plenty of aires/free stops with water top up and emptying facilities. Campervanning in England is not a welcoming, cheap or easy experience and Scotland is rammed now.

Then scenery. I like really really big mountain ranges and mediterranean and and dessert landscapes, or huge forests. Historic towns and villages that aren't all rammed within an inch of their lives. So again that's a lot more achievable in nearby European countries than here.

I've made myself feel sad now. I hope we can go this summer.

FFs desert landscapes not dessert! Although I like dessert too.

We've already made the decision not to go abroad this year. We've plenty of things we'd like to see and do in the UK. But we've always done a mixture of home/abroad holidays. in 2019 we had 3 foreign holidays, in 2018 we had 3 UK holidays. It's just what we feel like doing at the time really.

I think you have to get mentally prepared for doing different things. We'd never go anywhere in the UK with the intention of sunbathing or swimming for example. If we're lucky with the weather and find ourselves near a nice beach in the UK, then we'd do it - a nice surprise/bonus. For us, UK holidays are for countryside walking/cycling, museums, castles, city breaks, animal parks, Eden Project, steam railway trips, lake boat trips, etc.

As there was no DEFINITE date of lockdown been over with, I think, unless you’ve got a cancellation clause covering you, it’s daft booking a foreign holiday this year, not unless you’re prepared for it all to go tits up!

I’ve booked a short UK break for August but I’m open minded that there’s a chance things might change. I haven’t spent thousands though, with a chance I might have to quarantine on my return, can you imagine being stuck in a hotel room with dc for two weeks afterwards! Nightmare scenario!

@MrsScarlett007

As there was no DEFINITE date of lockdown been over with, I think, unless you’ve got a cancellation clause covering you, it’s daft booking a foreign holiday this year, not unless you’re prepared for it all to go tits up!

I’ve booked a short UK break for August but I’m open minded that there’s a chance things might change. I haven’t spent thousands though, with a chance I might have to quarantine on my return, can you imagine being stuck in a hotel room with dc for two weeks afterwards! Nightmare scenario!

But even if we had a definite end date, that only applies to the UK. Other countries will have their own rules, restrictions, etc, over which the UK has no control and very limited influence.

@MrsScarlett007

As there was no DEFINITE date of lockdown been over with, I think, unless you’ve got a cancellation clause covering you, it’s daft booking a foreign holiday this year, not unless you’re prepared for it all to go tits up!

I’ve booked a short UK break for August but I’m open minded that there’s a chance things might change. I haven’t spent thousands though, with a chance I might have to quarantine on my return, can you imagine being stuck in a hotel room with dc for two weeks afterwards! Nightmare scenario!

Most of the airlines are allowing changes or requesting a voucher for free. Qatar even allows you cancelling last minute and getting your money back

Some dessert landscapes for you max!

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=529112917296998

There is no way I am going abroad this year, too much potential for hassle.

Does anyone not question...compliance is deteriorating and a new variant appears....not saying it doesn't exist but I think the risk level is slightly exaggerated somewhat

@Beaniecats

Does anyone not question...compliance is deteriorating and a new variant appears....not saying it doesn't exist but I think the risk level is slightly exaggerated somewhat

No. I think this is the stuff of conspiracy theories.

New variants are appearing from time to time. We have a period of uncertainly when we do not know whether there are significant difference to transmission, severity of disease or immunity escape.

It's inevitable that sometimes that period will overlap a time when some country or other has other social (levels of mixing in nice weather) or legal (actual alteration to rules) changes going on

It’s not a new variant, its been reported on since January, it’s just the first time it’s been noticed in the U.K. but given the time taken for genomic sequencing it’s not uncommon for there to be a delay in this.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00183-5/fulltext