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.

Yes, all people ever do if they go abroad on holiday is an 'all inclusive'. How sneering can you get.

I don't give a fuck about what I managed without in the past. I'm in my 50s, it was a lot, I don't bother to remember it all because I don't live in the past anymore.

The sea is too flipping cold in this country! I'm holding fire for now but will book flights if I can. At the moment the cost of testing is just too much for a family of 5.

DH has been fully vaccinated (HCP) which may be another requirement. He'll probably bugger off without me!

@Bluetable

YANBU OP. People say life is for living and international travel will simply stop us living our lives in our own country as cases surge again. People feel very entitled to holidays (people managed without them in the past) and put them above everything.This year is not the time for international travel but too many people can't see past their all inclusive I'm afraid.

This post is typical of the snobbery and disdain about travel that I mentioned above. Complete with patronising 'I'm afraid' at the end.

@rookiemere

Because like *@PicsInRed* I didn't go abroad last year, but still ended up in lockdown because other people did. If I'm allowed to go on this Augusts's carry forward from 2020 holiday, then I will, if I'm not then I won't simple as that.

Oh and it's perfectly possible still to find reasonably priced UK holidays through booking.com provided you don't want to travel to Lake District or Cornwall and Devon.

So go for that then!

I'll be abroad.

Totally and Zafferana, thank you - really helpful in seeing slightly different ways to look at it.

For me, I have to be able to reason it out on a personal level, but also thinking about bigger issues too. I think a lot of people feel like this.

Different people weight different elements in the equation differently or include different aspects, which explains why they reach different judgements about what to do.

I don t find it helpful when people categorically state they are right an.d everyone else is wrong about this....from any starting viewpoint. In my view, it is complex, although for lots of individuals with very different views, the issue is very clear-cut and seemingly simple.

I agree that it is the governments job to make the rulings on this. They have to weight the risks and the benefits of travel. Once those rulings have been made, it is for each person to make their own choice, in the same way it is whether to go to the shops or the pub. It will be interesting to see data after the summer of how many people do choose to go, assuming some travel is allowed.

@Bluetable

YANBU OP. People say life is for living and international travel will simply stop us living our lives in our own country as cases surge again. People feel very entitled to holidays (people managed without them in the past) and put them above everything.This year is not the time for international travel but too many people can't see past their all inclusive I'm afraid.

Road trip actually.

@osbertthesyrianhamster I've got plans abroad and in the UK, I was just trying to dispel the myth that all UK holidays are terribly expensive this year, it just requires a bit more creativity over location choice.

@WombatChocolate

Totally and Zafferana, thank you - really helpful in seeing slightly different ways to look at it.

For me, I have to be able to reason it out on a personal level, but also thinking about bigger issues too. I think a lot of people feel like this.

Different people weight different elements in the equation differently or include different aspects, which explains why they reach different judgements about what to do.

I don t find it helpful when people categorically state they are right an.d everyone else is wrong about this....from any starting viewpoint. In my view, it is complex, although for lots of individuals with very different views, the issue is very clear-cut and seemingly simple.

I agree that it is the governments job to make the rulings on this. They have to weight the risks and the benefits of travel. Once those rulings have been made, it is for each person to make their own choice, in the same way it is whether to go to the shops or the pub. It will be interesting to see data after the summer of how many people do choose to go, assuming some travel is allowed.

I’m not saying I’m right. I’m saying I don’t give a shit what other people think. I’ve never really been one for virtue signalling you see.

I'm waiting for more info and then I will be booking. I need sun and something to look forward too.

@lughnasadh

The virus is just as likely to mutate in the UK. Say... Kent for instance.

It'll probably mutate to become as harmless as the common cold eventually, so perhaps he should speed things up by shooting off all over the place.

I'll travel anywhere that'll have me.

Well said! There’s an odd xenophobia when it comes to travel abroad and this virus. People seem to think that foreign lands are by definition dangerous harbourers of illness... when erm, it’s our country who’s responsible for the recent spikes across Europe.

And yet, some people seem very confident that the last lockdown was the direct result of some people’s summer travel ... rather than, say, respiratory viruses multiplying in cold weather and... Kent.

Haven’t RTFT and start with the disclaimer that unless things change significantly we’re not expecting to travel abroad this year and haven’t booked any overseas trips. Don’t much fancy the stress and hassle of travelling at the moment.

But I completely get and refuse to judge those who desperately want to get away. Personally I strongly dislike U.K. holidays; had enough rubbish, miserable, grey ones when I was growing up to last a lifetime, and while we’ve booked two U.K. breaks for later his year I’m nowhere near as excited about them as I would be if it were France or Italy or U.S.

For us, holidays are about escapism, adventure and cultural immersion and I don’t get any of those things from a U.K. break. We’re not beach people, have never done all inclusive and don’t do package holidays. It’s also not about the weather (I actually dislike excessively hot climates); we love cities, lakes and mountains, sampling local food and wine, trying out new languages etc. Also U.K. accommodation choice is much more limited and overpriced - for the cost of the week self-catering in the Cotswolds we’ve booked for later this year we’ve stayed in swanky hotels in Italy, Austria, Slovenia etc.

For me the adage ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ is very true when it comes to holidays; I like living in the U.K. well enough but for me it’s just not an appealing holiday destination.

LHR is apparently saying there will be six hour delays at border control. That's enough to keep me in the UK (or go by ferry/train instead).

I’ve not booking to go anywhere because it’s safer not to but I HATE being trapped on this island. I’d love to go somewhere else. It’s depressing here.

Also because in the U.K. we are insular and xenophobic enough, and having lived abroad myself I want to give DD the opportunity to experience different cultures, try out different languages (I studied Modern Languages at university myself) and generally have a better travelled, more cosmopolitan upbringing than I did.

I accept that foreign travel may not be possible or practical this year, but I am determined to resume holidays as normal next year.

Because by now many UK based holidays (they are not fucking staycations) are now booked or the price has been inflated so much

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

DP and I stayed at a nice hotel in the New Forest a couple of years ago - about £150 a night. Thought we might go back this autumn with DD as she’ll be the perfect age to visit nearby Paultons Park/Peppa Pig world. Looked at a double room for mid October, avoiding HT week... £800 for 2 nights. Same with every other hotel and B&B in the vicinity. It is utterly crazy.

@WombatChocolate
Why are you worried about your children picking up a mutation of the virus and infecting people back home? Would you not comply with the 10 day isolation period and carry out the required PCR tests on day 2 and day 8 when you returned from abroad?

I have family-including a daughter- and a second home abroad. I cancelled my trip to go see them this summer because I thought it would be irresponsible, and I might carry back a variant ( though I will be fully vaccinated by then). I may change my mind after reading this thread.

Because we haven't been abroad since May 2018 and this year's holiday is moved from last year as it is.

Will probably cancel in fairness, as I don't feel it is terribly responsible to go but as I will have had both jabs before then (and more than 3 weeks will have passed after the second), I have been entertaining it having previously said I wouldn't.
If it were self-contained, as others, I might well do ; but as it's on a campsite and in France, there are so many things beyond our control and all we would lose at this stage is deposit (and probably not even that).

There is also the fact that there is hardly anything available in the UK, in fact it will probably cost more to stay here. We are lucky in that we can go away and stay with family (the flip side of only having seen both my and DH's families once in the past 16 months) but I quite appreciate that others may not wish to forgo their holiday if they can't .

Because DP won't be here next summer. I would like one last holiday with him (and it would be our honeymoon).

Because life is for living and just extending life span while reducing life quality seems a shit deal.

Because I don't fear catching covid and the only people I fear for catching it have been vaccinated.

Because I cant live worrying about a mutant strain - because if that's going to happen, we cant shut the UK off so it'll happen with or without a trip away.

Because holidays are what make life worth living. We went abroad last summer and had an amazing time, wore medical grade masks on the plane, normal masks everywhere else and isolated for 2 weeks when we got back. This year we will test and isolate, so not see anyone, have our shopping delivered and only go in the garden - why would we be a risk to anyone else?

Because im absolutely gagging for a holiday.
I dont have anything booked, but if it all opens up and we dont have to quarantine then i will.

@TownTalkJewels

Sigh. Because variants of this virus will be cropping up around the world forever. The world is never going to be 100% vaccinated. The risk of bringing home a variant will always, always exist.

I’m not giving up travel forever, so it doesn’t make sense to me to give it up now.

It’s been a horrendous year and people need something to enjoy. We’ve already sacrificed enough.

This!

As it happens, I can't go abroad this year for non Covid reasons.

I'll be going this summer as long as there's no hotel quarantine as I don't want to pay for that.

What's not to get? I can't wait to get away. We don't have anything booked.