Holidays abroad are illegal from Monday

[Dugee]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9389921/Ban-leaving-UK-amid-new-coronavirus-laws-force-week.html

Along with any other unnecessary travel abroad.

I’m from the boomer generation who didn’t do foreign family travel as children. My first experience of a package holiday was with my mum in my 20s. It just wasn’t a thing when we were children. We went camping in Cornwall, Wales or Scotland. So I have never really had that “must have a holiday abroad” mentality.
We are fast approaching retirement and are really looking forward to spending our time travelling around the UK, although a bit p**sed off that for the next few years it’s going to be packed with staycation tourists.
I consider it a very selfish attitude to moan about human rights and restrictions currently in force when compared with many countries around the world. We do appear to be a very insular group on MN.

@Angrymum22 ok, so because you personally are happy with UK based holidays, other people are “insular”?

Is it not insular to be of the opinion that 'Well, it was good enough for me, so it has to be for you, too!'

Person who goes on holiday only to island falls others insular 🤷🏻‍♀️

Calls

I think you are making a sweeping statement there saying everyone on Mumsnet is insular.....

Perhaps in its literal form yes. But in reference to being totally unaware of the global situation regarding the pandemic, no.
The “ I’m not happy with the rules because it directly impacts on my god given right to spend my hard earned cash on my annual holiday” brigade do seem to populate mumsnet.
We were planning a holiday in South Africa this year. It would be totally wrong to travel to a part of the world where vaccination is unlikely to be available to every individual, and although we will be vaccinated who knows if a new variant may arise that would put that country at further risk.
I am happy to put our travel plans on hold until the world is a safer place for everyone with regard to Covid.
Having seen the genome data regarding the introduction of the virus into this country 12 months ago foreign travel for purely selfish leisure purposes is indefensible.

I can imagine that there will be far fewer young people choosing to do GCSEs, A levels and degrees in modern languages now that school language trips and even family holidays to France are banned. A whole generation of school children are missing out on other educational trips abroad too.

I hope that a short period of restrictions on foreign language trips and holidays doesn’t stop students taking exams in foreign languages. The U.K. is already bad enough at languages.

@Parker231 It isn't short. There were no trips last year (given that the majority would be Easter/summer term). There won't be any this year and I doubt many schools will plan anything for next year while the government is banning travel. That is three school years when exchanges and other trips won't have taken place.

The entitlement on this thread. I'd rather you all stopped burning a ton of fossil fuels to globetrot on a whim, covid or not. Plenty of people in this country can't afford to get the passport for ID purposes let alone take international holidays, even in retirement age or before having kids. If you have two weeks to spare and money to burn how about using it to help others who are struggling instead of racing to see who can be Covid Mary and destroying the environment while you're at it.

@ProfessorSillyStuff you are well named.

Say what you like, I'm entitled to my opinion, and I won't be the only one who feels that way. Try walking a mile in other's shoes before you dismiss them.

@ProfessorSillyStuff

The entitlement on this thread. I'd rather you all stopped burning a ton of fossil fuels to globetrot on a whim, covid or not. Plenty of people in this country can't afford to get the passport for ID purposes let alone take international holidays, even in retirement age or before having kids. If you have two weeks to spare and money to burn how about using it to help others who are struggling instead of racing to see who can be Covid Mary and destroying the environment while you're at it.

Nah. I'd rather use it to see family abroad. You do you, though.

@ProfessorSillyStuff

Say what you like, I'm entitled to my opinion, and I won't be the only one who feels that way. Try walking a mile in other's shoes before you dismiss them.

No, thanks.

@ProfessorSillyStuff

Say what you like, I'm entitled to my opinion, and I won't be the only one who feels that way. Try walking a mile in other's shoes before you dismiss them.

No thank you

Fingers crossed for turkey this year!

I have to say, I am wondering how people are going to go on holidays at all this year...

Because let's be honest, the number of places available to go somehwrein the UK is restricted as it is so I doubt that EVERYONE will be able to find somewhere. Add to that the fact dates are restricted for a lot of people due the school hols.

What we are saying is that many peopole just won't be able to go away at all. Maybe it's not a given after all and we are all lucky to be able to do that. BUT at the same time, many people do need a break and to go away somehwre different, if only to break the feeling of being 'emprisonned' for most of the year.
On a MH pov, this could also have some big impact.

@ProfessorSillyStuff

The entitlement on this thread. I'd rather you all stopped burning a ton of fossil fuels to globetrot on a whim, covid or not. Plenty of people in this country can't afford to get the passport for ID purposes let alone take international holidays, even in retirement age or before having kids. If you have two weeks to spare and money to burn how about using it to help others who are struggling instead of racing to see who can be Covid Mary and destroying the environment while you're at it.

I’m pretty sure a trip abroad once or twice a year (pre covid) is small fry in a global pollution sense compared to how others live. I play my part where I can but would not give up that in usual times.

Also the “help others” message is all well and good, and I’m sure plenty of those who travel abroad will already be doing this on a regular basis, but everyone also needs to relax and recharge their batteries, otherwise they’ll be needing help themselves!

Regarding this year, I’m really not sure. While it’d be nice to go abroad- I completely understand why this is not a good idea, especially with the current numbers. (And likewise people from abroad travelling here).

I’ve said it before, but if they could find a way to ensure people properly quarantine on re-entry to the Uk, then I think it would be much safer.

Do I trust them to find a safe way and implement this? No unfortunately ....

Weird thing is people are still going. I have friends who have just gone to Spain via France. Got there no problems at all. They’ll come back the same way. They said London was absolutely empty but Paris was heaving. Absolutely stupid and don’t agree with it at all but it’s easily done if you want to.

@ParadiseIsland

I have to say, I am wondering how people are going to go on holidays at all this year...

Because let's be honest, the number of places available to go somehwrein the UK is restricted as it is so I doubt that EVERYONE will be able to find somewhere. Add to that the fact dates are restricted for a lot of people due the school hols.

What we are saying is that many peopole just won't be able to go away at all. Maybe it's not a given after all and we are all lucky to be able to do that. BUT at the same time, many people do need a break and to go away somehwre different, if only to break the feeling of being 'emprisonned' for most of the year.
On a MH pov, this could also have some big impact.

Agreed. We have a caravan, we can go on 12th April BUT all communal facilities are closed which means unless you have a caravan or camper it’s impossible to go to a camp site until those things open.

“Weird thing is people are still going. I have friends who have just gone to Spain via France. Got there no problems at all. They’ll come back the same way. They said London was absolutely empty but Paris was heaving. Absolutely stupid and don’t agree with it at all but it’s easily done if you want to.”

That’s totally irresponsible but sadly doesn’t surprise me, we seem to have no idea who is entering and leaving the country and if they have a good reason. Surely the government and border control should know.

Do you know their reasons for going and how they managed it? And are they likely to quarantine on return? Based on numbers I think France should be on the red list...

Weird thing is people are still going. I have friends who have just gone to Spain via France. Got there no problems at all. They’ll come back the same way. They said London was absolutely empty but Paris was heaving. Absolutely stupid and don’t agree with it at all but it’s easily done if you want to.”

There were less than 20 flights from Heathrow yesterday. Busiest airport in the UK for a very very significant margin. I believe the third biggest in the world.

So clearly very very very few people are international travelling.

@ParadiseIsland

I have to say, I am wondering how people are going to go on holidays at all this year...

Because let's be honest, the number of places available to go somehwrein the UK is restricted as it is so I doubt that EVERYONE will be able to find somewhere. Add to that the fact dates are restricted for a lot of people due the school hols.

What we are saying is that many peopole just won't be able to go away at all. Maybe it's not a given after all and we are all lucky to be able to do that. BUT at the same time, many people do need a break and to go away somehwre different, if only to break the feeling of being 'emprisonned' for most of the year.
On a MH pov, this could also have some big impact.

I agree with this. I've been looking to book a couple of short breaks in the U.K. this summer (June-August) and there is very little availability, plus the prices are extortionate. So people who don't book quickly and can't afford it just won't be able to go on holiday at all - probably for the second year running

Having said that, I'm really hoping that the ban on international travel will be lifted in a few months. I'm wondering if they did it now to stop people going away over the Easter and May half term holidays. But maybe by the summer holidays they will change the rules 🤞🤞🤞

There are plenty of exemptions so people will find a way. I'll be among them.

we seem to have no idea who is entering and leaving the country and if they have a good reason. Surely the government and border control should know.

They certainly do know who is entering - I certainly get the impression that now that numbers coming into the UK have dropped to a relative dribble, certainly through the airports, "Border", police and others are now able to do their job properly.

I know somebody who recently entered the UK legitimately for work purposes from France via Heathrow. They were processed by Border and during their quarantine were rung at least once a day by the authorities and also had the police knocking at their door to confirm they were isolating correctly in the location they had stated on their Passenger Locator Form.