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

[WombatChocolate]

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.

@WombatChocolate

So is it that people think their personal actions won’t impact them and an increase in rates is inevitable, so they might as well just enjoy themselves, even if they are contributing to the worsening rates....because other people will too and it cannot be prevented?

I suppose it’s a bit like the arguments for why people don’t want to turn to green options and continue to engage in loads of flights or disposable fashion or whatever....because of the argument they alone can’t make a difference and other people aren’t bothering, so they might as well continue polluting too. I do understand it is a rational, if depressing argument.

Thanks to those who shared already. I’m interested a number mentioned their reasons for wanting holidays (absolutely what I asked about) but some gave those outside of the Covid context...as if Covid was of no consideration in it at all. Just wondered if that is the case or not really.

Just stop faffing around and go ahead and call people 'selfish'. You know you wanna.

I didn't go abroad last year, like a good little girl, seemingly every other fucker did and I'm not making that mistake again.

This isn't going away any time soon or Boris' coterie aren't willing to let go of control so I'm taking my hols where and when I can get them.

I don't!

Had second jab today and ds has his first next week. So by august we would be fully vaccinated.

However ...... I have no desire to book something and be out there and rules change or lose money because rules change, or have to isolate in a hotel or even have to isolate here on return. 7 day holiday and 10 days isolation. I'd rather the other way round! Plus I couldn't afford the quarantine hotel if the country went into the red zone. (I pay the same as that hotel for a week in Spain usually).

If the rules have changed by mid August (unlikely!) I may book something last minute.

Doing anything in the UK is expensive, logistically difficult and close to impossible if you don't have a car. Plus the weather is shit. So, shit transport, shit weather and a rip off. That said, we're not going abroad because on balance I don't think it's wise. But we're not holidaying in the UK either because it's shit and a rip off. We've booked October and Easter 2022 abroad instead and hoping to book summer 2022 too.

I definitely won’t be going to visit family.
I’ll be going for pleasure. 😉

Because it's fun. Because by now many UK based holidays (they are not fucking staycations) are now booked or the price has been inflated so much. Because the world needs to keep on moving.

Why are you so sure that going on holiday abroad is more likely to spread the virus than going on holiday in the UK? Surely it depends where you go.

My holiday to Sorrento has been cancelled; had 3 options-deposit refund, move date or choose a different holiday. Should have gone mid August. Booked again for next August 2022. We booked it in 2019 for last summer but it was cancelled then too.
To be honest I am quite relieved.

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

Doing anything in the UK is expensive, logistically difficult and close to impossible if you don't have a car. Plus the weather is shit. So, shit transport, shit weather and a rip off. That said, we're not going abroad because on balance I don't think it's wise. But we're not holidaying in the UK either because it's shit and a rip off. We've booked October and Easter 2022 abroad instead and hoping to book summer 2022 too.

This. We're going to see family abroad and combine it with a holiday there.

Because I like getting up at the crack of sparrows to bag a sunbed
I like to lie in the sun for hours on end, topping up my pre-melanoma.
The joy of being able to sightsee at the coolest time of the day. Chasing the shade.
Freezing cold aircon.
The extreme poverty lurking just outside the perimiter of most resorts.
The countless starving dogs and feral cats roaming around.
I love the warm buffet food. Especially when its the same thing served up at breakfast lunch and dinner -
Same shit different packaging.
The sheer amount of greed and gluttony of the all inclusive.
All the hanging round at the airport.
Being squashed upright in an economy seat for hours on end.8
I love going abroad 🤣

FrozenDaisy - interesting you say people will wait. Waxon, interesting that you think people would sacrifice the holiday if it meant more restrictions as a result.

These are how I feel too, but those up thread clearly don’t. They don’t want to wait or don’t feel it will make any difference if they go or don’t go.

It’s interesting to see how much what individuals and their families want is the driver and how much consideration people are giving or not giving to bigger picture stuff. I think it’s always the way, but I forget lots of people aren’t terribly interested in impacts beyond themselves if their actions, or only even see immediate impacts to themselves either and can’t relate later consequences to things that happened earlier.

Interested to know if all those keen to travel ASAP and sure they will do it, have felt restrictions have gone on too long generally, or government involvement in all this has been too high.

I do understand that if it’s allowed, is allowed and no-one is doing anything ‘wrong’ in terms of any rule-breaking if it’s allowed. It’s no different to going to the pub in May or whenever we are allowed in, even though some people won’t feel happy to go. Ultimately within the rules, it depends if you feel happy and comfortable to do something...if you do, you do it and if you do t you don’t. But where does this sense of the impact on a wider situation fit in?

Our camping holiday abroad had been postponed from last year to this year. We will be going in our own car and stay in our own tent. We will be following all social distancing rules in the other country. The campsite already warned us that we wouldn't get a refund if we decided not to go. The U.K. is probably mostly booked up by now and chances are it's much more crowded in a U.K. resort because people are staying in the country.

Hoseasons are charging five and a half grand for a week in a fucking caravan this summer. That alone would entirely explain why people prefer to go abroad.

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

Hoseasons are charging five and a half grand for a week in a fucking caravan this summer. That alone would entirely explain why people prefer to go abroad.

Fucking hell!

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

Hoseasons are charging five and a half grand for a week in a fucking caravan this summer. That alone would entirely explain why people prefer to go abroad.

Bloody hell!

@SuziQuatrosFatNan

Hoseasons are charging five and a half grand for a week in a fucking caravan this summer. That alone would entirely explain why people prefer to go abroad.

Why anyone would ever want to go to hoseasons is beyond me the amount they charge

@lonel

Why are you so sure that going on holiday abroad is more likely to spread the virus than going on holiday in the UK? Surely it depends where you go.

Exactly. I’m not sure why people seem to think going to a restaurant in Italy is somehow more ‘dangerous’ than going to a restaurant in Cornwall.

Tbh, I would settle for a dirty weekend away in a nearby city hotel with DH. Some of us are easily pleased 😂

As you can see in not a fan of the typical British holiday abroad.
I've done so many of them over the years.
Been there. Bought the t shirt.

It’s interesting to see how much what individuals and their families want is the driver and how much consideration people are giving or not giving to bigger picture stuff. I think it’s always the way, but I forget lots of people aren’t terribly interested in impacts beyond themselves if their actions, or only even see immediate impacts to themselves either and can’t relate later consequences to things that happened earlier.

Oh do give over with this patronising nonsense. Who do you think you are?

People have been asked to look at 'bigger picture stuff' for a full year and more. Many have suffered greatly, with damage to their livliehoods, mental health, children's education, feeling lonely and depressed. And now you want to lecture them about not taking a week's holiday in the sun after this shitshow of a year?

Go ahead and camp out in your back garden for a holiday if you like. It doesn't make you a better person.

@IcedPurple

It’s interesting to see how much what individuals and their families want is the driver and how much consideration people are giving or not giving to bigger picture stuff. I think it’s always the way, but I forget lots of people aren’t terribly interested in impacts beyond themselves if their actions, or only even see immediate impacts to themselves either and can’t relate later consequences to things that happened earlier.

Oh do give over with this patronising nonsense. Who do you think you are?

People have been asked to look at 'bigger picture stuff' for a full year and more. Many have suffered greatly, with damage to their livliehoods, mental health, children's education, feeling lonely and depressed. And now you want to lecture them about not taking a week's holiday in the sun after this shitshow of a year?

Go ahead and camp out in your back garden for a holiday if you like. It doesn't make you a better person.

This!

And as pointed out, you can pick up the virus here, too! Who knew?

@IcedPurple

It’s interesting to see how much what individuals and their families want is the driver and how much consideration people are giving or not giving to bigger picture stuff. I think it’s always the way, but I forget lots of people aren’t terribly interested in impacts beyond themselves if their actions, or only even see immediate impacts to themselves either and can’t relate later consequences to things that happened earlier.

Oh do give over with this patronising nonsense. Who do you think you are?

People have been asked to look at 'bigger picture stuff' for a full year and more. Many have suffered greatly, with damage to their livliehoods, mental health, children's education, feeling lonely and depressed. And now you want to lecture them about not taking a week's holiday in the sun after this shitshow of a year?

Go ahead and camp out in your back garden for a holiday if you like. It doesn't make you a better person.

Chill out! You sound like you need a holiday 😅

I haven't got a holiday abroad booked but I totally understand why people have. Its cheaper, warmer, more exciting!

As someone who isnt eligible to be vaccinated I really do fear a massive wave of a vaccine resistant mutation from people holidaying abroad.

But things need to start moving again, the travel industry is on its knees and allowing holidays abroad is going to be a massive boost to the hundreds of thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it. We cant hide away forever, its nuts. Enough is enough.