Page 13 | Summer holidays abroad?

TheRedBalloon · 2021-03-20T11:08:50+00:00

I've just been reading that various Sage members have said international travel is unlikely this Summer. We booked our holiday for the end of July to the Canaries (booked it last Summer.) Just wondering has anyone else booked for abroad and still expects to go, or is it more likely to be cancelled? DH and I have both had our first jabs and will have had both in May/June. We booked through TUI so I know we'll get a refund but the thought of going away has kept me going through lockdown! (I know this is trivial compared with the illnesses / deaths due to the pandemic)

IcedPurple · 21/03/2021 10:38

The country my parents came from is now suffering immensely from the effects of climate change but generally speaking those from richer countries are happy to swan around depleting the earth's natural resources because "they need a sunny holiday"

Tourism is also a huge part of the income for a lot of poor countries too. And even if everyone stopped going on 'sunny holidays', climate change would still continue.

I don't drive. Do I get to wag my finger at all those who do, and demand that they travel everywhere by bike or public transport like I do? Or accept that people have different priorities and lifestyles?

EasterIssland · 21/03/2021 10:38

@Zig4zag

I think anyone booked to go abroad this year is a bit silly. You could wait and get last minute if everything opens but to book now is just silly.

Im Spanish. Before the government announced the 17th of may the flights for July were around 150-200. Now they’re 500. If it doesn’t go ahead easyJet refunds me. In silly for wanting to pay as little as possible?

Totallyfedup1979 · 21/03/2021 10:42

@SoundOfFalsetto

Some of you are vastly lacking in imagination and don't know much about your own country. I moved to Suffolk and it is where my DH is from. He took me to all the beaches along the coast and then to Norfolk and I couldn't believe how beautiful it was, even better than Devon and Cornwall. We had a week there last year and it was fabulous. We are staying in the UK this year and have a great road trip organised which is jam-packed with things to do.

I will never go on a package holiday to Greece or Spain again. They are just crap. Last year there were people on here who were begging for the summer to end in Aug and Autumn to begin early as it was too hot. The weather in the UK has got significantly drier and the summers are quite hot.

Some of you may end up really disappointed. Overseas travel may not happen and then there will be nothing left in the UK to book.

I love very close to the Gower in Wales. Arguably one of the most beautiful coastlines in the UK. We stayed on the peninsula last summer when our vacation got cancelled and in fairness, day 1 was fairly enjoyable and novel.

After that though, the weather was hit and miss. The holiday was boring and expensive. It was not what we are used to.

But then I agree with you that package holidays to the Med are crap too.

This country can never compare to diving the warm reefs off the Florida Keys; horse riding through the Florida panther filled swamps; taking an airboat around the Everglades; open water shark diving off Jupiter; collecting shark teeth in the heat and sunshine of Venice beach; family fun in the theme parks and water parks; eating Gideons Cookies or Dole whip Floats; canoeing the clear blue crystal river and having manatee swim right up to you.

Holidays in this country are utter bollocks in comparison.

May17th · 21/03/2021 10:42

@Zig4zag

I think anyone booked to go abroad this year is a bit silly. You could wait and get last minute if everything opens but to book now is just silly.

It’s you that’s being a bit silly. Some of us have had incentives to re book our holidays. Lots of people are cancelling their holidays and not bothering at all for this year and some are wanting to re book again for later in the year.

Either way prices have shot up and the hotel I had booked in 2019 is now not affordable as it was a holiday for May 11th and now I have had to pick a complete destination and move it to August which is always more expensive than a May holiday....

Some of us work frontline and have to book our holidays in advance.

One thing is to not want or agree with holidays. But it is not down to you to start telling others to book a last minute holiday!! Some of us cannot afford to do that and work commitments won’t allow last minute annual leave requests never mind in a pandemic.

Jayparrot · 21/03/2021 10:43

I don't drive. Do I get to wag my finger at all those who do, and demand that they travel everywhere by bike or public transport like I do? Or accept that people have different priorities and lifestyles?

Neither do I. I do think there is a valid conversation to be had there too.

The time for respecting that people have different lifestyles and priorities is long past. The fact is that unless you want your children to suffer (a lot more than they are already), major lifestyle changes need to be made by all of us.

If you accept that then carry on as you are

Jayparrot · 21/03/2021 10:44

canoeing the clear blue crystal river and having manatee swim right up to you.

I imagine not so fun for the manatees who are dwindling in numbers and also frequently getting killed because they are hit by tourist boats.

Lentillover1900 · 21/03/2021 10:45

@Jayparrot

You say you go abroad
Where to?

Jayparrot · 21/03/2021 10:45

Largely Europe by train, but I haven't been since DS was born, so five years ago now.

ballsdeep · 21/03/2021 10:46

We are getting married in Greece this year............ Can't see it happening though! Everytjme I get hopeful, a minister comes out and says no

Zig4zag · 21/03/2021 10:46

If it was already booked prepandemic and shifted then of course that's not silly.
But fresh bookings just now is.
I am not booking to go home at the moment until it is over. At this point the prices should start to settle down too.

VaVaGloom · 21/03/2021 10:49

Here’s the latest from today: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/covid-19-summer-holidays-under-threat-as-brits-told-we-cant-be-blind-to-rising-cases-abroad-12252321

Lentillover1900 · 21/03/2021 10:49

* The time for respecting that people have different lifestyles and priorities is long past.*

@Jayparrot - I think this says all I need to know about your approach to issues

IcedPurple · 21/03/2021 10:50

Neither do I. I do think there is a valid conversation to be had there too.

I bet you have lots of friends who do though. Do you lecture them and tell them they need to stop driving for the sake of the planet?

The time for respecting that people have different lifestyles and priorities is long past. The fact is that unless you want your children to suffer (a lot more than they are already), major lifestyle changes need to be made by all of us.

I don't have children. Those who made the lifestyle choice to have a child and raise them in a first world country obviously need to cut down their carbon footprint drastically because they sneer at others.

If you accept that then carry on as you are

I absolutely do not need your permission to 'carry on' and in any case, since I haven't reproduced, I don't drive and other than a few trips abroad a year - usually for work reasons - I lead a pretty low carbon lifestyle.

What actual sacrifices have you made in this regard? Clearly you don't much care for international travel so that's not one. What have you actually given up that you feel yourself in a position to lecture complete strangers about the need to 'make changes'?

Jayparrot · 21/03/2021 10:50

think this says all I need to know about your approach to issues

In what way?

Totallyfedup1979 · 21/03/2021 10:50

@Jayparrot

canoeing the clear blue crystal river and having manatee swim right up to you.

I imagine not so fun for the manatees who are dwindling in numbers and also frequently getting killed because they are hit by tourist boats.

They are very curious creatures Jayparrot. The Crystal River is a very large area and very few people are there. Maybe a handful is the most I’ve ever seen. The manatee could very easily stay right out of the way and very few canoeists would approach them as it’s illegal to harass them. But they will come to you and if you get into the water, they will choose to swim alongside you. It’s quite magical and an amazing privilege. Perhaps you should try it?

Jayparrot · 21/03/2021 10:51

They are very curious creatures Jayparrot. The Crystal River is a very large area and very few people are there. Maybe a handful is the most I’ve ever seen. The manatee could very easily stay right out of the way and very few canoeists would approach them as it’s illegal to harass them. But they will come to you and if you get into the water, they will choose to swim alongside you. It’s quite magical and an amazing privilege. Perhaps you should try it?

Yes they are curious creatures, all the more reasonable people should stay away.

Manatee are endangered. Tourism is a huge issue for them. I'm sure I would love to see them but I wouldn't for that reason.

Thewiseoneincognito · 21/03/2021 10:52

[quote VaVaGloom]Here’s the latest from today: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/covid-19-summer-holidays-under-threat-as-brits-told-we-cant-be-blind-to-rising-cases-abroad-12252321[/quote]
Sadly some here would still take their chances for a week in Benidorm.

‘Lerrus in, wiv ad ar jabs’ ’

Zig4zag · 21/03/2021 10:53

May17th. I think, you are unclear on what I meant by minute booking. I interpret last minute booking as you have already got the time if work and you just book the flights and hotel closer the time to going.

All open, all good
Still restriction, spend your holiday at home.
I have to book holiday in advance too.

IcedPurple · 21/03/2021 10:54

*Sadly some here would still take their chances for a week in Benidorm.

‘Lerrus in, wiv ad ar jabs’ ’*

The snobbery is appalling.

It's so obvious that some people here have a real hatred of those who enjoy an affordable holiday abroad once a year, and are using 'the environment' and 'variants' as a way to indulge themselves.

Totallyfedup1979 · 21/03/2021 10:55

@Jayparrot

They are very curious creatures Jayparrot. The Crystal River is a very large area and very few people are there. Maybe a handful is the most I’ve ever seen. The manatee could very easily stay right out of the way and very few canoeists would approach them as it’s illegal to harass them. But they will come to you and if you get into the water, they will choose to swim alongside you. It’s quite magical and an amazing privilege. Perhaps you should try it?

Yes they are curious creatures, all the more reasonable people should stay away.

Manatee are endangered. Tourism is a huge issue for them. I'm sure I would love to see them but I wouldn't for that reason.

Oh well, I guess you’ll miss out then.

Btw most manatee killed in Florida are killed by motor boats in the ocean or ports and not by canoeists.

itsgettingwierd · 21/03/2021 10:56

@PradaBallbag

Such snobbery on her about people who prefer foreign holidays. As if you're somehow superior if you holiday in the UK.

Notice that 'news' has completely disappeared from the headlines today.

I "prefer" a summer holiday.

As a single mum to a disabled child I love my AI week in the sun.

But I also realise it's a luxury and haven't thought about it being high in priorities of what needs to happen after the past year

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/03/2021 10:56

@IcedPurple

*Sadly some here would still take their chances for a week in Benidorm.

‘Lerrus in, wiv ad ar jabs’ ’*

The snobbery is appalling.

It's so obvious that some people here have a real hatred of those who enjoy an affordable holiday abroad once a year, and are using 'the environment' and 'variants' as a way to indulge themselves.

Absolutely.

The irony is, it wasn't people going to Benidorm that brought the virus back to the UK in the first place. It was the middle classes on skiing trips in Italy.

VaVaGloom · 21/03/2021 10:57

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/21/uk-minister-hints-covid-rules-on-foreign-travel-could-extend-to-summer

Government going on record about need to protect the vaccine programme rollout by being cautious with international travel (good news!) Official timeline is to complete by end of July I think- although if they are offering 40s/30’s first vaccinations in May then surely 2nd vaccinations won’t be completed until August?

Longdistance · 21/03/2021 10:58

We’re not going abroad this year and we go about four/five times a year away. We’ve booked the IOW for May half term, that’s about it so far.

Jayparrot · 21/03/2021 10:58

It's so obvious that some people here have a real hatred of those who enjoy an affordable holiday abroad once a year, and are using 'the environment' and 'variants' as a way to indulge themselves

I dont hate anyone but do you really think that the impact of international travel on climate change is a conversation we shouldn't be having because people enjoy sunshine and seeing manatee?