Summer holidays abroad?

[TheRedBalloon]

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)

I think it’ll be similar to last year. The odd few will get away in between borders closing and quarantine restrictions. I’m waiting for next year, I can’t be bothered with the uncertainty.

So much for vaccines being the route of this shit.

It’s hard to know but I’m holding off booking anything in Europe after today’s news

It’s more the threat of variants that are more prevalent in EU than the vaccine issue

It’s not going to happen. Things are getting worse again in Europe, the last thing we need is lots of brits catching it on holiday & bringing it back here.

@likeamillpond

It was madness to book to go abroad this year anyway.

A lot of people will have had holidays moved from last year, I did.

I think they'll all go into lockdown from now till the summer holidays which is a good chunk of time to get it under control, vaccines will continue, numbers will be low by the summer holidays and people will be able to go abroad.

@willibald

So much for vaccines being the route of this shit.

They are the route out, but not enough people have had them yet.

Only if you're really dim.
Just because something is "allowed" doesn't make it compulsory.
Lockdown relaxation at Christmas caused the spikes in January

m0therofdragons if we ever get there we'd be "neighbours" ... my friends are actually in Venice, on the island!!

So much for vaccines being the route of this shit

That's why I can't believe we're stuck saying the same things as last year. Yes there are variants, but there always will be, so unless common sense prevails we'll be in the same position for ever ... which would suit the doom-mongers, but might not be a lot of use for economies

@notrub

Well - ONE scientist who happens to be a member of SAGE has said he doesn't think Brits should go abroad this summer. He's right in the sense, with a European 3rd wave in full swing, it will present a big risk to the UK, but whether or not the government chooses to act is another question. Personally I can't see it - they've a history of following advice 2-3 months too late when hindsight shows them how daft they were to ignore it in the first place.

So my bet is that hols this summer are on and around September time the gov suddenly start imposing restrictions AFTER the damage has been done.

I completely agree with you, unless they’ve learnt their lessons from last year....

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

Only if you're really dim. Just because something is "allowed" doesn't make it compulsory. Lockdown relaxation at Christmas caused the spikes in January

I know it wrong. I really do.

But posts like this genuinely make me smile and chuckle. It’s just the image I have of the posters, furrowed brow, cats bum mouth, furiously tapping away.

We had booked a villa in Provence for June this year. Now swapped over to June next year. Even if permitted this year I wouldnt want the risk of local lockdowns, quarantine at either end, hotels en route being closed/restricted (we will be driving).

Still got two weeks off in the summer to eat delicious food, potter about etc. Even get to sleep in a comfortable bed (my own)!

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Can anyone tell me what the long term answer to international travel is? Surely there will always be new variants or new viruses

Yes, there will always be variants and new viruses coming along - so basically, they either cut the endless panic or accept that there'll be millions more unemployed

Considering travel was possible last summer without a vaccine I'm not expecting a major problem this year, though some countries may be more open than others

I have 2 holidays booked, one for August one for December. Although if love them both to go ahead I can't see the August one happening.

It's not about being able to go last year.... last year there was no vaccine programme... so essentially there was no good work to be undone and also no talk of new varients.. the South African variant is under control at the moment because of surge testing as we know where the little pockets are pipping up...you open tourism up and all of a sudden those few little pockets become 100s of pockets and its then easily out of control.. do the UK want to risk their world leading vaccine roll out so people can go on holiday? No I doubt they do. I'm expecting a huge touism bailout for the summer to keep companies afloat... people are right tho some airlines or travel agents will go bust and new ones will come about once this is all over. It isn't great but certainly not the end of travel and tourism.

For me personally I would give up my holidays this year if it meant the UK would fully open and never go back into lockdown again.

I have a holiday booked for August. I did last year as well, but by the time August came around countries were closing up again and quarantine periods being introduced so the “travel corridors” last year didn’t last very long. Remember all those people rushing back from France before the quarantine kicked in? I would worry about that happening again.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to go, but I’m less hopeful this week than I was last week.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

Only if you're really dim. Just because something is "allowed" doesn't make it compulsory. Lockdown relaxation at Christmas caused the spikes in January

No, this is completely untrue.

B117 was the cause of the big rise in cases in December and January.

Europe is now getting their B117 wave. 80% of cases in Switzerland are B117. The good news is that it is so transmissible it will rip through Europe and fade away again fairly quickly, like it did in the UK.

DS will turn 1 in September. He hasn’t met any relatives yet as they all live abroad. I’ll be devastated if we can’t go this summer. As it’s to see family, we’re happy to self-isolate (in both directions if necessary) which I expect most holidaymakers wouldn’t be.

I expect some form of travel corridors, or different rules for different countries (hotel isolation, home isolation, just a negative PCR, etc) depending on how different countries are doing. I doubt there will be a complete ban on travel, as missing the whole summer season would be so bad for the tourism industry which is already struggling.

It’s a good point. Covid will always be around and there will always be the threat of new variants...

Despite cases soaring in Turkey, they are saying they will open their arms widely to British tourists this summer and anticipate that PCR tests will not be a requirement either.

I am absolutely desperate to go on holiday. We've not booked anything and it's starting to sound more and more unlikely. I do see the reason in not 'allowing' us to go, if we can get straightened out here in the UK, it would be a real shame to mess it all up with people bringing in different strains from overseas. Doesn't mean I'm not really disappointed though!!

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

Only if you're really dim. Just because something is "allowed" doesn't make it compulsory. Lockdown relaxation at Christmas caused the spikes in January

No it didn't, as has been widely reported

I thi

@MarshaBradyo

It’s hard to know but I’m holding off booking anything in Europe after today’s news

It’s more the threat of variants that are more prevalent in EU than the vaccine issue

It's not news though. It's one man's opinion. And the press have got fuck all else to write about so they've jumped on it.

Originally booked European holiday for end of July 2020, moved it to July this year. I am fairly sure it'll be moved again to 2022.

I am truly fed up of it all now, yes I know we saved lives and the NHS but my DCs have missed a year of school, they're teenagers and the are just starting with their independence. I am trying to remain positive but I am really struggling and want 'normality' back.

It's not news though. It's one man's opinion. And the press have got fuck all else to write about so they've jumped on it.

This is always the case. Beginning to think we are running out of stuff to talk about.

I did put elsewhere it was one scientist and not sure on government position. Cba retyping that time. But yep we don’t know yet.

Regulations set to change May 17 iirc and review before then so will see.

Last year we were still in lockdown with a long way to go. We had no vaccines and we were able to go abroad in the summer.
I do not believe this year could be any worse than last.

I think the media like to doom monger as it creates revenue. People watch more. It’s cruel and I’m boycotting the news.
All it takes is one scientist to say ‘holidays might not go ahead’ and the media are all over it.

I’d be very surprised if all holidays are off this year and if I can go on mine, I’ll give you all a wave from the plane.

If we don’t start travelling soon, we may not have a travel industry left, so just like people think opening the schools is worth the risk...open those borders and let me have a fabulous vacation in the sunshine.