AIBU - Summer Holidays

[DadAManger]

I know I can expect sensible and erudite comments here, as opposed to my local paper forum...

AIBU to think that this year, we are just going to go without our annual summer holidays? Cases - including of newer and more unknown variants - are up all across Europe. I love travelling as much as the next person and have family that would love to get away. But given the advantages we have gained here in recent months due to so many of us getting vaccinated and dealing with the lockdown, are we opening the floodgates to stepping back to another lockdown? I have friends that are almost psychotic at any mention of their 2 weeks in Spain, Turkey, Germany potentially being blocked this year. AIBU?

For the sake of clarity, I don’t usually holiday in the UK and I have been lucky enough to travel widely regularly. I was asking whether this year only, people would probably avoid it - definitely not seeking any joy or shaming those that can afford holidays abroad, because that is certainly me in normal times...

I find the rather aggressive argument about travel jobs needing to be protected at all costs hard to be honest - what would the poster have us do, book a holiday overseas at the local travel agency and bring back variants of Covid just to keep money coming in for that business sector? Surely if we see a surge in cases again, mixed with new varieties from outside the UK, then lockdown will follow again and many more jobs will be threatened...again. That includes the many, many who work in pubs, restaurants, retail within the UK too?

@DadAManger

I don’t think anyone in the travel
industry wants international travel to start until it is safe ( well i hope not )
But it is an industry that has been forgotten about during the last year
Take a high street travel agency
They done get paid until customers travel - no money in 2020 and looks like not much will be taken in 2021 - how can they survive ?

Many retail , restaurants were able to operate online and start up deliveries yeah not what they are used to but still bringing in income

Once shops / restaurant/ pubs open back up they will be over run with custom and money will be made again

Travel when it eventually opens will not see a surge by everyone some people will not want to travel / feel safe to travel it is a long road to recovery 😞

@Crumpsly

Sometimes I think people who holiday in the UK just want to ruin everyone else’s foreign holidays. You stay in the UK if you want to, I’d rather go abroad where I can enjoy the warm weather and outdoor activities not be crammed into a dome at Butlins or an indoor pool. Covid is in the UK already, including mutations - see the Kent strain.

Spot on.

Shock horror, some of us don't go abroad for a holiday anyway!

Unfortunately everyone staying in the uk has pushed up prices for all of us, so I'm a bit peeved about that.

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

I don't think holidays outside the UK should be allowed this year.

The UK has done so well with vaccines while many other countries (popular holiday destinations) are struggling with a 3rd wave and new variants.

I think getting the rest of the economy up and running, catching up on NHS waiting lists and getting our right to see family/friends domestically back should take precedence

Some peoples' family live abroad.

Well for starters, it’s not just this year is it. I had two holidays cancelled last year (the second was rebooked dates for the first).

I have worked non-stop throughout the pandemic for the emergency services and it has absolutely broken me. I am absolutely exhausted, mentally drained and becoming very run down. I caught Covid at work. I need something to look forward to, and that something is a week in the sun sat by a pool/on the beach sipping cocktails and having a break from all things Covid. I have a week booked somewhere hot for the end of august and like a PP, if the flight is going I will be on it. It is not selfish to crave our old normal 🙄

@IfIHadAHeart

Well for starters, it’s not just this year is it. I had two holidays cancelled last year (the second was rebooked dates for the first).

I have worked non-stop throughout the pandemic for the emergency services and it has absolutely broken me. I am absolutely exhausted, mentally drained and becoming very run down. I caught Covid at work. I need something to look forward to, and that something is a week in the sun sat by a pool/on the beach sipping cocktails and having a break from all things Covid. I have a week booked somewhere hot for the end of august and like a PP, if the flight is going I will be on it. It is not selfish to crave our old normal 🙄

Amen to that! We went abroad last year to see family. It was far less hassle last year. But oh, well, will go again this year, too.

Most people I know are planning for a UK break. I'm still hopeful that it might be possible to go abroad in August but will hold off booking anything until nearer the time. People went away last summer and as long as you're prepared to pay for tests and isolate when you get back ( which we are) I think you will be able to go to some places

Some peoples' family live abroad

...hence my use of the word domestically!

I don't think the travel industry will survive an other year without any decent income.
My prediction is, we will be allowed to travel over the summer to popular tourist destinations.

What is the end game? Do you think the variants will magically disappear if we wait till 2022? Or should we just keep the borders shut forever. Also, the traffic light system for tourism is idiotic because regardless of the local infection/vaccination rate, people from all over the world could potentially travel there and mix.

You do you, others will do themselves. 'We' can apply to your own family, others will decide for themselves

I hate this attitude.

It’s all very well saying you’d be happy to go abroad, but at what cost? Flights cancelled (again) trying to get refunds or rebooking, unsure if that will be full filled! Then what if the country goes in the red list or flights are stopped last minute and you’re stranded (again?) what if holiday insurance doesn’t cover COVID abroad, how will you pay for hospital treatment? Then when your there are they actually open? Still need masks? Need to pay for tests on the door or for activities? No fun in the clubs or packed out evenings entertainment? Nice make marks around your face when you get home?

So it’s not a case of ‘you do you’ we are all in the same position, wanting to travel and fearing it’s not worth the hassle.

I have booked 2 hols and going whatever happens. None are packaged ones, so you can 'flex' them as needed. Had enough of the government bullsh*t.

One thing which is sad, is that even if holidays are "ALLOWED" (hate this word), then not many families would be able to afford them because of the stupid testing costs that our government is not prepared to either reduce or allow people to use free NHS tests (most paid their taxes to support NHS already). Test on departure from the UK - £60-120 per person, test before departure back to the UK £50-120 per person, then the BOMB - mandatory tests that MUST be booked before your check into the flight back to the UK - £170-350 per person from 5 years old ( can be booked from a government approved providers only!!!) For a family of 4 that's a large amount for just tests. The government could have reduced the 'mandatory' tests to a bare minimum to say £25-30 per person, but they don't want to do it. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY....it's not about the virus anymore! I am so angry with them.

@SpringtimeSummertime

Has anyone actually booked their yearly holiday abroad? Tui are taking bookings I believe. Not from me.

Yes I rebooked as it’s been booked since 2019. TUI need to take bookings other wise they will be out of a job!

@user1493413286

It’s all I keep reading about in the news and I would have loved to have gone on holiday abroad but it’s not the end of the world and I don’t understand why we can’t just accept that it won’t happen this year.

This

I was meant to be going to a wedding abroad but gutted as I am it wasn’t sensible to go

I have booked to go and see my dad and rest of my family as I didn’t last year, because I was trying not to be ‘selfish’ and because ‘we are all in this together’ bs. I have not seen them in over 16 months and will go if we can. I have also booked a holiday abroad and will go on that as well. Agree with the above- this is all about the money, money, money. I’ve followed all the rules and have been to work throughout. It’s all wearing very thin.

Some people have family living abroad. Not seeing mine for another year and a half is not acceptable to me.

@BluebellsGreenbells

You do you, others will do themselves. 'We' can apply to your own family, others will decide for themselves

I hate this attitude.

It’s all very well saying you’d be happy to go abroad, but at what cost? Flights cancelled (again) trying to get refunds or rebooking, unsure if that will be full filled! Then what if the country goes in the red list or flights are stopped last minute and you’re stranded (again?) what if holiday insurance doesn’t cover COVID abroad, how will you pay for hospital treatment? Then when your there are they actually open? Still need masks? Need to pay for tests on the door or for activities? No fun in the clubs or packed out evenings entertainment? Nice make marks around your face when you get home?

So it’s not a case of ‘you do you’ we are all in the same position, wanting to travel and fearing it’s not worth the hassle.

'We' are not all in the same position. Some are dual or more nationals, have property and assets abroad and even now may travel. Some are travelling to countries where they don't need insurance to access care or have alternative plans in place due to being dual or more nationals or other situations. Not all are going for traditional holidays featuring clubs or evening entertainment at a facility.

And some may decide it's not worth the hassle of returning to the UK.

Totally

I have my holiday booked for end of July (USA) and I have another booked for October and I’m considering one for Christmas too.

The booked ones were rescheduled from 2020.

If I’m able to, I’m going. Happy to pay for tests. Happy to quarantine on return. Happy to stay at the destination longer, if return test is positive.

I have comprehensive insurance in place. All of my bookings are 100% refundable or I can rebook to a later date.

So I don’t really see the issue?

By the summer I’ll have been vaccinated and I am very much looking forward to a vacation.

“Sensible and erudite answers”? On the COVID board on MN? Know any other good jokes? This place has been “doomer central” since March 2020. This place is home of “milk is not an essential item!”, bleached shopping, people scared of joggers breathing on them as they pass, “welding people into their homes is a good idea” and other such gems.

Of course people will be wanting to go on holiday. There’s nothing “psychotic” about wanting to live a regular, free life. We are not granny killers. We are free, intelligent people who are capable of making our own risk assessments. If you don’t want to go on holiday, don’t go. But don’t assume everyone who doesn’t live with your level of fear is mentally disturbed.

@BritWifeinUSA

“Sensible and erudite answers”? On the COVID board on MN? Know any other good jokes? This place has been “doomer central” since March 2020. This place is home of “milk is not an essential item!”, bleached shopping, people scared of joggers breathing on them as they pass, “welding people into their homes is a good idea” and other such gems.

Of course people will be wanting to go on holiday. There’s nothing “psychotic” about wanting to live a regular, free life. We are not granny killers. We are free, intelligent people who are capable of making our own risk assessments. If you don’t want to go on holiday, don’t go. But don’t assume everyone who doesn’t live with your level of fear is mentally disturbed.

Couldnt have said it better myself 👆🙌

@pixie09

I have booked 2 hols and going whatever happens. None are packaged ones, so you can 'flex' them as needed. Had enough of the government bullsh*t.

One thing which is sad, is that even if holidays are "ALLOWED" (hate this word), then not many families would be able to afford them because of the stupid testing costs that our government is not prepared to either reduce or allow people to use free NHS tests (most paid their taxes to support NHS already). Test on departure from the UK - £60-120 per person, test before departure back to the UK £50-120 per person, then the BOMB - mandatory tests that MUST be booked before your check into the flight back to the UK - £170-350 per person from 5 years old ( can be booked from a government approved providers only!!!) For a family of 4 that's a large amount for just tests. The government could have reduced the 'mandatory' tests to a bare minimum to say £25-30 per person, but they don't want to do it. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY....it's not about the virus anymore! I am so angry with them.

It could be worse. You might have been obliged to isolate, with your entire family, in a hotel room for two weeks at both ends at your own cost. My country does this - it's costly but it works.

having a break from all things covid just isn’t a realistic possibility.

The testing before departure. Masks everywhere. Social distancing - except in a plane, because that’s alright eh?. Testing before returning to the uk. The possibility if the colour classification of your destination changing at any time before departure or while you’re there means that all of a sudden you’ll need to quarantine on your return - at home round because good result if you’re able to work from home, but it could be £1700 per person in a hotel not of your choosing.

While I’d love to have a break from all things Covid, this virus has spread worldwide making that an impossibility for the time being.

TristantheTyrannosaurus

That’s ok for you then isn’t it? Aren’t we talking about the general holiday population?