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Original poster

Why do people want to go on holidays abroad this summer? (Not travel to family)

515 replies

WombatChocolate · 16/04/2021 13:47

Given we have put in huge efforts to reduce the virus in this country over many months, I struggle why people (not the holiday industry) are so keen to whizz off for a couple of weeks of sun, when we know the virus is surging in parts of the world.

What is this about?

The only thing I can think of which makes any sense to me is that they have already booked, or had a booking carried forward from last year and fear losing the money. Somehow they would rather go than sacrifice the money and that has led to large numbers wanting to go.

We all know that mutants will come into the country through travel and it’s impossible to keep them out, so why do people want to go so much?

Is it that they just love a sunny holiday so much they don’t think about the possible consequences? Is it that they do t want to lose the money? Is it that they are jabbed and so don’t believe their travel can have any consequences? Is it that they don’t know about levels of virus around the world? Or is it that because the holiday industry wants to open up (very understandably) they have been influenced by them?

I really understand people who have family abroad, how difficult the travel issue is for them and I do understand why they want to go and often feel they must go. I’m not asking about that. It’s just the standard holiday I’m interested in, because I don’t really get it.

Anyone who has thoughts about it, or is keen to go and feels like saying why.....many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

OP posts:
PomLikeTheBattle · 16/04/2021 23:18

Don’t forget that extra hair shirt tax @herethereandeverywhere

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 16/04/2021 23:51

I want to go somewhere where the weather is better than here, where the foodie more interesting. I booked a trip in the middle of Jan when I was having a bad day. It's for the first week of the summer holidays and we'll go unless we really can't. Red list or 10 days quarantine being in the 'can't' list.

namechangeaga1ne · 17/04/2021 01:57

One thing is for sure having read a lot of this thread, covid is very divisive! Some people are very defensive about their choices as they differ to the OPs - the OP has stated her (or his!) view, said she is interested but not judging other views but has been slated. There are many shades of grey, but on so many of these covid boards people on either side of the divide are quick to shout "lockdown lover" or "covid denier". The reality is, there are many things we do that impact each other - Covid has highlighted it and made us ultra aware of how our actions impact each other and everyone has different tolerances to that and different life circumstances etc.

bert3400 · 17/04/2021 02:08

@WombatChocolate I live in Spain and desperately want to see my family and they want to see us. My mum has been vaccinated, my dad has been vaccinated - my adult son hasn't. Would I stop him from coming, hell No . If people 'at risk' have been vaccinated what is the problem ?. My son is 30, the chance of him getting a severe case of Covid are so tiny it's not even worth thinking about . Also people need to start living again ...shutting yourself away for years on end has a massive negative effect on our mental well being .

osbertthesyrianhamster · 17/04/2021 02:13

@namechangeaga1ne

One thing is for sure having read a lot of this thread, covid is very divisive! Some people are very defensive about their choices as they differ to the OPs - the OP has stated her (or his!) view, said she is interested but not judging other views but has been slated. There are many shades of grey, but on so many of these covid boards people on either side of the divide are quick to shout "lockdown lover" or "covid denier". The reality is, there are many things we do that impact each other - Covid has highlighted it and made us ultra aware of how our actions impact each other and everyone has different tolerances to that and different life circumstances etc.
Oh, please, it was passive aggressive twaddle couched as 'interested' 'not judging' (hence, the 'not travelling to see family') but someone too long here to pull the 'I don't understand' card. There's no defensiveness in saying I don't give a shit, I like it so I'm going, it's cheaper. A lot of 'us' and 'we' in your post. Speak for yourself.

Personally I no longer give a fuck about all this regarding Covid or what other people do regarding it. There, see, fixed it.

MercyBooth · 17/04/2021 03:14

I think a holiday welfare fund would be great, especially for families with young children and the disabled

There already is one. Its called the Family Fund.

MercyBooth · 17/04/2021 03:23

@LondonWFuck Im the opposite way round. The hairdressers is important to me. I had my cut and colour this week and i feel like me again. I dont go on holiday. But us all going back to doing what is our thing helps the economy which is in dire straits at the moment.

StayingHere · 17/04/2021 04:12

I love holidays op. Really love to go away and relax, have sun, not cook and clean. But I do understand where you are coming from, I think summer travel will put us back to school closures next year.

jgw1 · 17/04/2021 07:17

If the important thing is supporting the economies in holiday destinations, then is it also important to support the economies where for example cacao is grown by paying a proper price for it?

Mumof3dogs · 17/04/2021 07:33

B

Alfaix · 17/04/2021 07:37

UK holidays are not relaxing. We had fun last summer, with a lot of effort and expense, but we didn’t relax.
I’m hoping to lie on a sun lounger reading for a fortnight while DS9 (proper water baby) plays in the pool. In lovely warmth that you never get in the UK.
We haven’t booked yet, waiting until June (we have 2 weeks off in July). Both Dh and I have already had both jabs.
It’s time for life to start again imo.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 17/04/2021 07:40

@herethereandeverywhere I find it weird too. It's like the more miserable people are the more thw deny themselves, the more points they are getting for something....not sure what? A shout out from Chris Witty? A blue Peter badge ?
Sadly it's becoming the normal thing that people not enjoying life means the virus will go away, when actually anything we do or don't do will have very little effect on this virus until it's either vaccinated out or run it's course.
The government have run with this idea that naughty people will stop the good girls and boys from getting out of this sooner and actual grown adults seem to believe it , it's shocking
The virus will circulate when the hosts start circulating simple as that , no matter how many rules people have stuck to throughout lockdown .
The question is , how long do we want to put life off for ?

MaudesMum · 17/04/2021 07:44

Because I want to sit outside a bar in a European city and watch the world go by. Because I want to see beautiful architecture and art. Because I want to wander down intruiging backstreets and peer into fascinating shops. Because I want to be warm. Because I want to eat different food and drink interesting wines.

marilenagrace · 17/04/2021 08:03

When do people think it will be acceptable to travel abroad again ?

Neonprint · 17/04/2021 08:10

@marilenagrace

When do people think it will be acceptable to travel abroad again ?
When other countries have cases at a level below ours now, have vaccinated a significant amount of their population and we have more idea about the protection the current vaccines give to new variants.
Neonprint · 17/04/2021 08:11

@MaudesMum

Because I want to sit outside a bar in a European city and watch the world go by. Because I want to see beautiful architecture and art. Because I want to wander down intruiging backstreets and peer into fascinating shops. Because I want to be warm. Because I want to eat different food and drink interesting wines.
Do you not think most people want to do that though? Just like in lockdown I wanted to do that stiff here and see my family.
marilenagrace · 17/04/2021 08:13

@Neonprint surely that's the whole point of the traffic light system. You can only travel freely to countries that have their shit together. If you wait until everyone has their shit together, you'll be waiting a very long time.

It's unacceptable to expect people not to go abroad until then.

jasjas1973 · 17/04/2021 08:13

@marilenagrace

When do people think it will be acceptable to travel abroad again ?
When govts allow foreign travel. You'll get away with breaking LD rules but you can't travel abroad for a holiday unless they say so.

Ferry company taking balance of ticket in 3 days, do i cancel or take a chance? trip is 22/6.... gut feeling is cancel.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 17/04/2021 08:48

@jasjas1973 dont cancel
Either wait it out or transfer to another date now while prices are relatively low
If you get to the date and you can't travel you'll be offered a refund anyway. If you cancel now and the trip still goes ahead you won't get rebooted for love nor money

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 17/04/2021 08:48

Rebooked +

fluffi · 17/04/2021 09:45

I'm normally cautious around covid but I do think the dangers of imported variants are being overblown by the media, assuming we can get everyone over 16 vaccinated with at least 1 jab by summer then even most vaccines will provide some level of protection for the variants as they will look similar to the immune system.

UK holidays expensive (sometimes more expensive than abroad) and weather isn't guaranteed which means you can't just relax in the sun as many people have said. Sitting indoors or going out in the rain is not fun. Also abroad I'm more likely to switch off from work due to timezones, switching off data roaming and patchy wifi Wink.

I'd love to go abroad and get some sunshine this year. I won't be going abroad this year, not because I'm worried about importing variants, but I am worried about late notice changes in rules esp around quarantine and sharp border closures that would trap me abroad and that would stop me enjoying my holiday.

fluffi · 17/04/2021 09:47

I can totally see how people want to go abroad after the last year though. Most people I know have been trapped inside, working all the way through, often with higher workloads and need a real break!

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 17/04/2021 09:50

People don't need to justify this kind of decision. In the same way I don't have to justify my desire for a really good cup of coffee and eggs on toast. Why shouldn't people want to get on with their lives?

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 17/04/2021 09:51

[quote marilenagrace]@Neonprint surely that's the whole point of the traffic light system. You can only travel freely to countries that have their shit together. If you wait until everyone has their shit together, you'll be waiting a very long time.

It's unacceptable to expect people not to go abroad until then. [/quote]
Not really. It’s a pandemic and holidays are not essential whatsoever. A health service and people’s lives are though.

Plenty of ways to rest and relax without going abroad.

marilenagrace · 17/04/2021 09:53

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss how long though ? What's an acceptable level of deaths for us to be allowed to travel again?

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