AIBU to have no sympathy for people who rushed to book holidays in Portugal...

[ThursdayWeld]

... and are now moaning because Portugal haven't set their travel rules yet?

As soon as the UK announced that Portugal was on the green list, some people booked flights and holidays. Without checking whether Portugal would actually let them in... And now they're whingeing about it in the press!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57107154

@paralysedbyinertia

I presume that most people understood that they were taking a risk when booking, no?

No, it wouldn't occur to some people that they would even have to consider it. It's the kind of attitude that comes from having a passport that means you can go almost eveywhere without restrictions.

It's not a question of sympathy OP. People are craving normalcy, travelling with their families, having a week's break on a beach with great weather....if you don't understand it, more fool you.

There is also common sense. If you book a holiday abroad you need to be aware that their own regulations are going to apply and is always smart to check the consulate's webpage and not fully trust airlines or travel agents.

I think most of Europe is going to be open for tourism roughly from June onwards but there are still negotiations going on in the EU about a common approach - accepting only fully vaccinated people/ PCR tests or allowing people from countries with highly levels of vaccination like the UK to enter freely. Until a decision has been made better check with the consulate of the country you want to visit.

The Portuguese governmen has just issued a press release saying Brits can holiday there. Saw it on Twitter.

@MakkaPakkasSpongyThing

I feel more sympathy for the people in Portugal who rely on income from tourists. You could argue that there should have been more clarity, but nothing is clear. Things are changing on a daily basis.

@MakkaPakkasSpongyThing

I feel more sympathy for the people in Portugal who rely on income from tourists.

With the billions upon billions of pounds of public money that's gone into furlough payments, I think we could do with as much of that money as possible staying in the UK.

The Portuguese government should support its citizens itself, if they need help whilst this is going on.

/my2p

Just to go off on a tangent again, anyone travelling from the UK to France (if it goes green) will need to be aware of the following (the attestation costs 30 euros!):

from the French Embassy London .
For those of you that wondered whether an “attestation d'accueil” was required for U.K. visitors to your home in France please see the reply below from the French Embassy in London.
Dear Sir/ Madam,
All foreigners when entering France should be in a position to produce to the Immigration officer the following documents:

1. Motive of stay in France:

• for tourism: hotel reservation (in the absence of a hotel reservation, the traveller has to prove that he possesses means of living of at least 120€ per day – see point 2, documents from a travel agency ;
• for a professional visit: letter from the employer, invitation from a French firm or organization ;
• for a private visit: “attestation d'accueil” delivered by the “mairie” ;

1. Means of living (cash, traveller's cheques, valid international credit card...) along with an insurance certificate covering all medical, hospital and funeral expenses, which may be incurred during the entire period of your stay in France, including repatriation costs on medical grounds ;
2. Guarantees of return: return ticket.

Cordialement/ Regards, MT Consulat Général de France à Londres/ French Consulate General,

We’ve normally booked ours by now, last year was absolutely amazing to get away to Portugal and there’s a potential need to go for work, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.

I’d rather stay here than go to a region I’d not choose to stay in that would cost me 60% more to stay in and area that’s far more developed

I would ordinarily book, but like Christmas, it was clear that this was always going to be a shit show.

We are due to go to Portugal on 3 June. It may happen or may not. We were meant to go to the Caribbean at the end of May but that was cancelled, hence Portugal.
Ok, disappointing, but as all money for cancelled trips is returned, it is not too much of a problem.
BA were brilliantly prompt over refunding Caribbean money.

I think we could do with as much of that money as possible staying in the UK

What a stupid remark. The UK was the 10th biggest global tourist destination in 2018 with over 200 billion pounds to their GDP. If everyone around the world holidaying in the UK thought like you and stayed home, trust me, your economy would feel it as well.

I think anyone booking anything at the moment needs to accept it as a gamble, including within the UK. However I also think that the way the green list thing was announced by the government and all its fanfare was very much ripe for misunderstanding.

Portugal has agreed to let UK citizens in from 17th. Not so stupid now!!

They are allowed in. Just been announced.

I am very boring and sensible risk averse so it wouldn't have occurred to me to book a foreign holiday this year.

My sympathy goes towards those whose loved ones live in other countries and those whose livelihoods depend on travel and tourism.

I would love a holiday abroad, but I have to manage my expectations like most of us are doing, and have booked an airbnb in Wiltshire instead.

Breaking news from the BBC, Portugal are letting UK citizens in from 17th May.
So good news for those that have booked.
Personally, I will not book any abroad holidays this year, but I do have some sympathy for those that have booked...

Not that much sympathy, no. If people are not bright enough to realise that the UK government doesn't control Portuguese borders, then that is their look out.

Bit embarrassing OP!

Just been announced that they’re letting Brits in 😎

We were due to go at half term - the flights rearranged from a cancelled holiday last year. We have now rearranged this holiday due to the cost of the tests to enable us to go and also the uncertainty as to whether they will let us in and the growing concern over the Indian variant. Test to go, then test in Portugal to come back then a further test when were home. looking at around £600 for the four of us.

@Twinkie01

Portugal has agreed to let UK citizens in from 17th. Not so stupid now!!

Brilliant!

Enjoy your holiday people, I wish I had booked one too!

I was due to go to Portugal on 29th May, rolled from last year and I cancelled and got a refund a few weeks ago due to the ongoing uncertainty and questions regarding testing/vaccine passports etc

I'd rather wait a few months and see how things are going before deciding if a holiday is a good idea

But they may well have been holidays booked for last year, which were 'rolled over' to this year.

@Heatherjayne1972

I have sympathy for people who need to go to Portugal to sort out holiday let’s/ second homes that type of thing Not so much for holiday makers

Yesterday someone told me that a one way plane ticket to Portugal with BA is £500
And the budget airlines that were £40 ish pre covid are now several hundred pounds
If that’s true that’s appalling

So youhave sympathy for those with second homes, but not those who want a holiday??

And why is it appalling that tickets are expensive??

"British tourists will be allowed to enter Portugal from 17 May
Portugal’s tourist board has confirmed that UK holidaymakers will be allowed to enter the country from Monday, PA reports."

I wish I was one of them going frankly. Can't wait to go on a holiday. Oh and going on holiday keeps airlines and holiday companies afloat and keeps thousands upon thousands in jobs here and abroad.

It's not all about 'going on holiday' . Some of us want to see our families. I haven't seen my adult son in 18 months ....Covid has actually bought out the most judgemental side in people, not just regarding travel but all sorts of things. If you feel safe to travel, travel. If not stay at bloody home, but stop making people, who want to travel feel so shitty about it