Support thread for those with family abroad

[Schulte]

Anyone interested in a support thread for those of us who have family abroad, and don't know if we can see them this year? I had started to feel all positive and optimistic about going back to my home country this summer to see my parents, but it's now looking far from certain and I'm feeling increasingly depressed.

I thought maybe we can cheer each other up and share the latest on border openings, how and where to get tests for travel, etc.

Anyone?

All I want for Christmas is for Mexico to come off the red list. If it doesn’t it will end up being closer to 3 years since we’ve seen our Mexican family. Worried something will happen to the grandparents. It’s so frustrating and sad.

I so hope your wish comes true

I am praying for UK over-12s to be vaccinated, if that is the norm in the EU in winter.

Me too!

@LivinLaVidaLoki, are you around? I’m due to fly to Corfu soon for a long weekend and I’m so worried I might end up in a quarantine hotel because someone on the flight tests positive. I’ve seen you on a thread saying this doesn’t happen and they don’t do contact tracing from planes… is that right? Do you have any information?

Much as I love Greece, a quarantine hotel doesn’t sound fun…

Hello, how are you all doing? I hope that many of you have been able to travel and see family over the past few months. Glad there’s no red list any more and a friend of mine came over from the US to see his mum and siblings after nearly two years apart, which was so lovely.

I guess with Christmas approaching and numbers high in many countries it’s now getting harder again so thought I’d revive this thread.

I’m hoping to see my parents just for a couple of days in December but all depends on the rules not changing again! With teenagers not getting the required two jabs here things are still looking difficult .

We also have a skiing holiday booked which is sorely needed but may or may not happen.

How’s everyone else doing?

Hello! I managed to spend a month and a half abroad this summer - lots of good quality time with my family and at seaside.
We were fully jabbed and our child is very young so we didn't have issues crossing borders.
I also got worried about potential border closures this winter due to worsening situation in many countries so I sneaked in a week long trip this half term to see parents again. It was easier to travel this time in October as many rules were relaxed (though it's probably not safer!). Heathrow airport was heaving on my way out and back - seems people were really eager to get away.
I am currently not planning any trips over Christmas - I've no more holiday left for this year and will instead think about springtime.

I’m really glad this thread has been revived. I’m struggling with the decision to go back the the uk with my family for Christmas (we live in France) I’d decided last month ago not to go because the testing requirements were outrageously expensive, 700€ just on tests. Now the prices seem to have come down but im so wobbly on whether to go or not. There are so many what if’s, the biggest one being what if one of us contracts covid, we are vaccinated but dc are 11 and 9.

I miss my family and friends, we haven’t made it back since my dad’s funeral in Jan 2020. Our family would be really upset if we didn’t make it across. Im just stuck.

That’s hard @LeNil. Would you have somewhere to isolate if one of you got Covid while you’re here? I’d be tempted to risk it but I totally understand your worries.

Is anyone still thinking of visiting family abroad this Christmas? Booked flights before new variant of course. I’ve had my booster. But DD is only 3 so I feel like she’s unprotected. So difficult to know what to do!

Hello I’ve only just found this thread, we are Brits living in Canada (here for my DH work) we have 2 sons at university in UK. They are booked to come for Christmas on 19th Dec, I’m so nervous that something might happen and they won’t make it.
It’s been so hard not being able to see them, last Christmas was so sad, we’ve been here 18 months (DH almost 2 years) and the boys have never been to Canada, my DH has seen them once for 2 days in the last 18 months.

I hope they get to you as planned!

I booked a flight to see my parents in Germany for a couple of days and then Omicron kicked off and I had to cancel again. I have no idea when I will next see them.

My brother and nephew are spending this coming weekend with my parents though so at least I know they’re going to have a lovely two days together.

I’ve sent them lots of Christmas presents and we do video calls all the time, plus when my daughter had a school concert we filmed some of it and sent the video to my parents. It all feels like a poor substitute for actually seeing them but is the best we can do right now…

We're flying to the States tomorrow to see family for the first time in 2.5 years ( well, assuming none of us test positive tomorrow and I've done all the paperwork correctly!).

I've even booked DC9 in for their covid vaccine as we are there for exactly 21 days. We arrive late Saturday night and have an appt first thing Sunday morning, then another appt a few hours before we fly home for the second jab.

We bought these tickets almost a year ago and I definitely did not think we'd still be in the thick of covid. It's been really stressful trying to figure out who needs what test and when. The rules seems to change every few days. I keep saying to the DC it'll be a Christmas miracle if we make it on the plane!

Hi @hennybeans I hope you made it?! Was it a Christmas miracle?! Our flights are booked for the states for the 21st. It’s so stressful! At the moment I believe the rapid antigen test you can get at Heathrow is accepted, just praying that doesn’t change as any test needs to be no more than 24 hours before flight so doing a PCR with a quick turnaround is a headfuck! Christmas miracle indeed.