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Original poster

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

203 replies

ThursdayWeld · 14/05/2021 10:06

... 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

OP posts:
Florelei · 14/05/2021 13:23

Apparently the holidays are back on!

randomlyLostInWales · 14/05/2021 13:23

See now they look smart -presumably they'll have bought before prices increase to reflect the lowering of risk.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 14/05/2021 13:23

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

I have no sympathy. I don't really think overseas holidays this year should be a thing at all. One summer without is hardly a huge sacrifice in the scheme of things, particularly if it stops new variants from mutating and bringing further issues to our shores.
I agree.
rooarsome · 14/05/2021 13:27

I have sympathy. My friend's husband has been told his cancer cannot be cured and can have life prolonging treatment only, and so they booked a holiday for them and their young children.
Not everyone had the luxury of saying "it's only another year."

Needawantaholiday · 14/05/2021 13:29

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

SunshiningBetty · 14/05/2021 13:30

Pity

littlepattilou · 14/05/2021 13:30

@ThursdayWeld Agree. Not a scrap of sympathy from me either. You really do have to be pretty dense to rush to book a holiday abroad in this current (covid) climate.

And nope, I am not glad that people are losing money and having these holidays abroad cancelled, but I am not sorry either. Why the fuck should I feel sorry for them? Confused

My sympathy and empathy is reserved for people who actually deserve it... Like the millions of people suffering in India and Israel right now. And the multiple 100s of 1000s of UK citizens who have lost everything in the pandemic; their home, their job, and their livelihood. And in some cases, their relationship, their dignity, and their good health. (Physical AND mental health!)

I do NOT feel sorry for some pillock who has lost money, after rushing to book a fucking fancy holiday, during a pandemic!

littlepattilou · 14/05/2021 13:31

So the holidays are back on. I don't give a fuck.

Like I don't care if they're cancelled again either.

Original poster
ThursdayWeld · 14/05/2021 13:34

Well that's nice for them now! Grin They can put their compensayshun #sadfaces away.

And all of you who think I was somehow criticising people for going on holiday, perhaps reread my OP?

As for me not understanding what it's been like for people in a pandemic - yes, you're right, I am, uniquely, the only person in the world who has not been affected by the pandemic Hmm

OP posts:
Tambora · 14/05/2021 13:49

@TheFuckThatIGave

I think anybody booking a foreign holiday this year is a bit silly tbh. Just give it a miss for another year, the world won't end
Couldn't have put it better myself.
motherloaded · 14/05/2021 13:54

Don't worry haters, people enjoying a lovely break (paid when prices were lower) won't have any sympathy for us poor sods stuck in grim, grey and overcrowded Blighty wishing we were gone away too! Grin

NoMLMbots · 14/05/2021 13:58

Oh dear how sad must ones life be to rub hands in glee and jump up and down in excitement and rush off to post on MN about those very silly people that just wanted a holiday, or maybe visit friends and family In Portugal...

I don't want to be THAT person

NoMLMbots · 14/05/2021 14:00

@rooarsome

I have sympathy. My friend's husband has been told his cancer cannot be cured and can have life prolonging treatment only, and so they booked a holiday for them and their young children. Not everyone had the luxury of saying "it's only another year."
Oh my.

I really hope it's not cancelled and they can enjoy their holiday together.

EssentialHummus · 14/05/2021 14:01

I really can't find the sympathy for this, I'm sorry. We're in the middle (hopefully "late middle", but still) of a global pandemic. We travel, the virus travels. We have no idea if there will be a Portuguese (or Canadian, or Madagascan...) variant this time next week. I'm sorry we've all had a shit year and that holidays in 2021 look uncertain but really, this isn't the time for it.

I don't begrudge people with terminal diagnoses etc wanting to spend time with their loved ones, but let's be honest that that isn't what's fuelled sales of package holidays to the Portuguese coast.

NoMLMbots · 14/05/2021 14:01

@hitsvilleuk

What I'm really not liking is the covert schadenfreude going on where people are taking delight in people's inability to travel and the troubles of the travel industry as a whole...

I agree with this

Some people are twits and others may have their own reasons.

We have a holiday in July in Europe - not booked this year ( I would have been wary) but rolled over from last year and i'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll go if I can but accept the directives.

Indeed.

Some very spiteful and jealous people out there.

SofiaMichelle · 14/05/2021 14:14

@Alondra

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.

What's the relevance of 2018?

There are very few countries on the green list for entry to the UK, and that list currently excludes ALL of the top sources of UK tourism (USA, France, Germany, Spain, et al) so tourism into the UK is going to be severely curtailed this year.

There's nothing stupid about my remark. Yours on the other hand...

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 14/05/2021 14:40

After agreeing to host the Champions League final..it was only a matter of time before holidays were given the go ahead. Course different circumstances and think people been told have to home after but still thats 12,000 fans from the UK on one day..

Hope people enjoy their holidays! Lovely Country

BonnieDundee · 14/05/2021 17:23

I do have sympathy. I'm not booking a holiday myself this year but I can feel sorry for anyone who thought they had something to look forward to and now don't

Topseyt · 14/05/2021 19:19

@rooarsome

I have sympathy. My friend's husband has been told his cancer cannot be cured and can have life prolonging treatment only, and so they booked a holiday for them and their young children. Not everyone had the luxury of saying "it's only another year."
Absolutely this, and I am so sorry for your friend and her family. I do hope they get their well deserved holiday.

It really makes me angry when people just smugly and blithely say there's always next year, there's always tomorrow etc. Not for everyone there isn't. All of my Dad's tomorrows ran out in March this year when he died. Not everyone has all the time in the world left.

Oblomov21 · 14/05/2021 20:26

Apart from today, with the Bolton - India crisis, I see no reason why Portugal won't make an announcement in time.

In time people will be able to holiday.
Or ruse the travel industry will collapse.

moynomore · 15/05/2021 11:37

@motherloaded

Don't worry haters, people enjoying a lovely break (paid when prices were lower) won't have any sympathy for us poor sods stuck in grim, grey and overcrowded Blighty wishing we were gone away too! Grin

Absolutely!

itsgettingwierd · 15/05/2021 11:43

@Londonmummy00

It should have been made very clear at the announcement that these ‘green list’ countries will have their own rules and to please check before booking a flight/ hotel.

We looked at Singapore briefly (didn’t book) before MIL text it wasn’t letting us in.

It is.

It's been as clear as mud for the last year and actually even longer.

I've never ever booked a holiday - even in Europe without reading the foreign office advice for that country.

If you are travelling abroad you have to be responsible for making sure you do it right. If you can't I doubt travelling abroad is a good idea for you.

LondonWFuck · 15/05/2021 13:10

"Clear as mud" does not mean clear.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 15/05/2021 15:37

I've booked this year as a lot of my family are in Greece and I miss them dearly. I've booked in the knowledge that I may have to cancel it or move it and we have covered ourselves financially so we don't lose out. If I can't go...Will I feel sad or disappointed? Yes. Will I complain about it? No because we were aware of the risks when booking.

Regarding the "you can't get away from Covid" comment upthread....maybe not but there is something wonderful about being in new surroundings and finding a nice little place to eat or drink and not be turned away because you didn't have the foresight to book it 6 months ago.

The lack of Spontaneity is what sucks the joy out of it for me.

LivinLaVidaLoki · 15/05/2021 15:40

@bert3400

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 Angry
@bert3400 Absolutely!

Thanks for you