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Original poster

Who's currently cancelling their holiday to Portugal then?

436 replies

diggingatrench · 03/06/2021 16:55

Sad
OP posts:
Abraxan · 03/06/2021 18:47

And as for 'holidays aren't essential' - tell that to those working in the industry. My friend's son is a pilot. He did his first flight in many months last week or two ago. Looks like it may be stopping again soon now though. So back to not working again.

jgw1 · 03/06/2021 18:48

@Orf1abc

They are only doing what they said they would do... change countries status if things were going in the wrong direction.

The case rates in Portugal and England have both increased by c. 35% in the past week. The government tell us they see nothing in the data to suggest we should stop easing lockdown, then in the next breath they claim to have significant concerns about Portugal.

They can't have it both ways!

Have you been paying attention to the government lately, they like to make sure that they have things at least two ways around, sometimes more.
shakingstevensfan · 03/06/2021 18:48

This is shaping out like last summer.

singsingbluesilver · 03/06/2021 18:49

I cannot believe that people think the purpose of having the vaccine is so they can go on holiday. Selfish does not even begin to describe that attitude.

OliveTree75 · 03/06/2021 18:50

@singsingbluesilver

Sorry, but no sympathy. Why on earth book a holiday abroad this year. I am desperate to go to France but I am prepared to wait until it's safe. And you CAN get a holiday in the UK at a reasonable price if you look. I booked one yesterday for the end of August. I know it's not the same. I know the weather isn't guarenteed, but for goodness sakes it's a holiday. There will others.
Your idea of "reasonable" might be very different to others.
Needanewhat · 03/06/2021 18:50

However it seems that's just too bad because only Covid matters

It isn't that "only covid matters", it is that if you don't take steps to contain covid (new variants that is) then everything else is fucked anyway. Ffs. How are people STILL not understanding this after eighteen months of this shitshow?!?!

It was perfectly simple. All we had to do was extend restrictions (not all restrictions, but certainly non essential international travel) until ALL adults in the UK had been offered both doses of a vaccine. That would have slowed down transmission considerably and allowed us to keep a lid on any new variants. As it is, we did what we've always done, opened up too quickly, and now we are reaping the reward.

And no I am not a lockdown lover and no I do not want to "lockdown forever".

noodlezoodle · 03/06/2021 18:54

It's pointless to say that having the vaccine doesn't allow you to get back to normal life - of course it does, but only half the country has been vaccinated so far.

It's pretty simple - unvaccinated people will continue to get infected and spread the virus, which is why we still need to be cautious.

singsingbluesilver · 03/06/2021 18:54

Reasonable to me?Well I have booked two holidays in the UK for the summer for less than my holiday in France usually costs, so yes, reasonable.

Needanewhat · 03/06/2021 18:55

It's pretty simple - unvaccinated people will continue to get infected and spread the virus, which is why we still need to be cautious.

This is so simple to understand that I am struggling to decide if the people who don't seem to get it are either incredibly stupid or deliberately being obtuse.

NannyAndJohn · 03/06/2021 18:55

Cases are starting to rise exponentially and all people are worried about are their precious foreign holidays.

This is exactly while we'll end up having yet another lockdown very soon.

Fleurty · 03/06/2021 18:56

@Needanewhat

Why people would even have booked a holiday abroad this year is beyond me

It was obvious it was going to go tits up

This comes across as quite smug, a lot of people have rescheduled holidays they couldn't take last year. I was due to go in a few weeks having moved a holiday initially booked in september 2019 for the 3rd time. My booking isn't eligible for a refund, only date and destination changes.
Watermelon222 · 03/06/2021 18:56

@Abraxan

And as for 'holidays aren't essential' - tell that to those working in the industry. My friend's son is a pilot. He did his first flight in many months last week or two ago. Looks like it may be stopping again soon now though. So back to not working again.
It does worry me that many pilots haven’t flown for months, I hope they’re not too rusty when they go back to it.
Puzzledandpissedoff · 03/06/2021 18:57

Surely you have a vaccine to keep yourself and those close to you healthy? I don't see going on holiday as the only reason to have one

In theory, yes, but that may be at risk from the endless "mutant variant" headlines and the increasing realisation that vaccines can only do so much

Everyone's got a tipping point, and at some stage it only takes one more disappointment for folk to say "What the hell's the point?"

singsingbluesilver · 03/06/2021 18:58

I'm afraid some people want to have their cake and eat it. They want their children back in school. They don't want them to have to wear masks. They don't lobby for teachers to have vaccines. They wear their mask as a sling under their nose in shops. They have the vaccine only because they think it will entitle them to holiday abroad.

I have EVERY sympathy with people with family abroad. I have no sympathy for people missing out on two weeks of sea and sun holiday.

moynomore · 03/06/2021 18:59

@noodlezoodle

It's pointless to say that having the vaccine doesn't allow you to get back to normal life - of course it does, but only half the country has been vaccinated so far.

It's pretty simple - unvaccinated people will continue to get infected and spread the virus, which is why we still need to be cautious.

But the majority of those not yet vaccinated won't get very sick and need hospitalisation. Thus, the NHS is protected and so is granny. So why can't we get on with getting back to normal?
Abraxan · 03/06/2021 19:00

@singsingbluesilver

Reasonable to me?Well I have booked two holidays in the UK for the summer for less than my holiday in France usually costs, so yes, reasonable.
Are they like for like? Because that's not my experience so far.

My summer holiday to Cornwall and Devon for two people is costing more than last year's French holiday for 3. The hotels on France were of a higher quality as to the one I'm staying in in Cornwall (availability was a big issue this summer.)

As said earlier, I flew to Scotland this week. It cost over £200 return each. If id gone my train it was going to cost me around £350 per person. My hotels have cost on average £150-200 per night. Dd is flying to Portugal this weekend - less than £40 return. DD's hotel is costing her just over £200 for 3 nights. Hotels of same 'rating' standards, both including B and B.

Hoppinggreen · 03/06/2021 19:00

We were flying to Portugal to go to Spain but are now changing it to go direct to Spain, no need for a fit to fly cert and we had already allowed for tests to return home quarantine so for us it’s fine
Feel for people having to cancel holidays though

MrsDoctorDear · 03/06/2021 19:01

@Recycledblonde

I think this is about keeping cash in this country primarily.
I agree with this. Boost our economy at the expense of the airlines and tour operators.

It's a joke. Letting any fucker in but nobody out.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 03/06/2021 19:01

But the majority of those not yet vaccinated won't get very sick and need hospitalisation

What if your child/sibling/best mate was one of the unlucky minority?

Abraxan · 03/06/2021 19:01

It does worry me that many pilots haven’t flown for months, I hope they’re not too rusty when they go back to it.

I thought the same when talking to my friend.apparently they have simulator 'flights' every so often as a refresh.

moynomore · 03/06/2021 19:02

I also don't get the undying sympathy for those with family abroad versus those wanting a holiday. I live an 8 hour flight from my mum and a 12 hour drive from my dad because I chose to move from my country of birth to the UK.

Our era of mobility comes with sacrifices. I haven't seen my parents since 2019. I miss them dearly, but I made the choice to leave them. Well, my dad left first for retirement. I know there are situations where people have no choice but to move away, but, 9 times out of 10, it's a choice like any other with consequences.

moynomore · 03/06/2021 19:03

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

But the majority of those not yet vaccinated won't get very sick and need hospitalisation

What if your child/sibling/best mate was one of the unlucky minority?

I'd feel the same way if they'd died in a car crash or from cancer. Very, very sad, but unlucky as you say.
Abraxan · 03/06/2021 19:04

Recycledblonde
I think this is about keeping cash in this country primarily.
I agree with this. Boost our economy at the expense of the airlines and tour operators.

If this is their lamb I wish they'd be honest about it and say that. Least we could plan accordingly,

June2021 · 03/06/2021 19:04

@HideousKinky

"Rebranding grin"

Brilliant Grin

Needanewhat · 03/06/2021 19:04

But the majority of those not yet vaccinated won't get very sick and need hospitalisation

The modest vaccine escape present in the Indian variant has the capacity to cause a high rate of serious infection even in the double jabbed, if case rates in general are permitted to skyrocket.

And of course plenty of those vaccinated have only had the first vaccine.