Holidays Abroad

[BooksChocolateAndSleep]

Will you? Would you?

DH and the kids "desperate" for a holiday abroad like most people and he wants to book something for August, Canaries/Balearics probably. I'm a bit more cautious as I have been through this whole thing but my god a week in the sun with the kids sounds amazing! He would book it today but I don't know.. Not sure what I'm scared of, the plane maybe? Catching Covid on the way out there and then being unwell and also what happens if you catch it on the way out there? How do you get home?!

So holidays, are you going abroad? Would you if you had the opportunity?

Do it! We are booked to go to Ibiza end of July and I can’t wait, if Ibiza comes off the green list we will go to the next available and appealing place. Anything beats spending thousands on an overpriced holiday in the UK with the crappy weather and listening to people talk about covid everywhere you go!

The big consideration for any travel at the moment is can you manage to quarantine on your return if the status is changed to Amber? If you can work from home etc. as we could, then I'd go for it

Or quaranteening abroad should you be unlucky enough to test positive once there. Or accessing healthcare should you become ill with covid.

One of the biggest risks I think is destination countries changing requirements last minute. I'm actually surprised anywhere is allowing brits at the moment considering cases are higher than ever across parts of the UK.

Happy holidays @IsabellesMissingSock! 🍷🍷

Yep. Off to Majorca in August. Unless it goes on the red list, we are going no matter what.

Also booked for Balearics in August. Can’t wait

If you book on Cheapdealz.com you'll probably lose your money , none of my clients have lost their money so financially there's no risk if you do it properly. Booking a week in advance might be tricky this year due to all the paperwork and tests involved.

One of the biggest risks I think is destination countries changing requirements last minute. I'm actually surprised anywhere is allowing brits at the moment considering cases are higher than ever across parts of the UK.

As someone living in a US tourist hotspot, I'm quite relieved that the US is not currently letting in people from the UK. I'd like to see cases much lower in the UK and a majority of adults fully-vaccinated before the borders are reopened to UK tourists. Either that or only open the borders to fully-vaccinated people coming from the UK.

Yes yes yes

I am SO jealous of all of you that are away at the moment! The weather here is dire.

Just been reading through all of the replies and currently have dh sitting here saying "I told you so"! I think we will sit down and have a look tonight once the kids are in bed and see what we can find. We normally get a villa as dh has two older kids who come along but they aren't this time and none of the villas are really offering great cancellation deals so I think we would go with a hotel package deal, I think he said there are a couple of holiday companies offering full refunds if the country stays on amber or the chance to move the dates if one of us can't travel due to Covid so that might be best. I'm still nervous but my god the thought of seeing somewhere other than where I live along with some sunshine is tempting!

Paul Charles (travel consultant who's frequently on TV) tweeted this today:

I’d advise consumers to lock in deals today before prices go up - and travel firms bring back some sales staff from furlough - as tomorrow the government is likely to announce a vaccine dividend for the fully-jabbed from 19 July.

Govt announcement now due to be tomorrow (according to The Sun anyway), so maybe you should be booking something tonight OP! A package is a really good idea, much safer than separate flights and villa at the moment.

Greece isn't looking good ATM. Particularly Crete, where cases are rocketing

Our holiday to Greece was rolled over from last summer and is booked for mid-Aug. We are double vaxxed, our DC young, so if they change the quarantine rules then yes, we'll be going.

It isn't just about what this country (UK) does. Its about what happens with the rules in the country you're visiting too.

The continent does not have the same high rates of vaccination as the UK and the Delta variant is now causing numbers to climb. Look at what's happening in Crete. They have had huge increases in numbers in the last week but vaccination is low. This means they face more lockdown measures then we do, to protect their health services

I am not myself.

If you do, you should be able and prepared for quarantine, which may be imposed at your destination if not once you return home.

I don't blame your DH and DC wanting to go, especially if this is the one year where you can go to some places with fewer of the type of 'Brits abroad' who are an embarrassment to this nation.

In Majorca now. Was straightforward getting here and bliss being here. Didn't give it a second thought on going or not.

We booked a week before.

Yup going in the summer to see family. If things change over there whilst we are there it's not really an issue as almost everything we need is already on their property.
The only reason we won't be going aside from UK restrictions is if my consultants advice no. Teen can travel back earlier if needs be for isolation to return to school and the the break from each other will do us both some good tbh.

We are (hopefully) off to Greece in a couple of weeks. We are both double jabbed, can isolate if needs he and DS (10) will be on summer holidays. Just need Boris to turn Greece Green now !!!

Not booking until the very last minute but if we can go somewhere we can. We have a week off booked mid September and by then all 4 of us should be double vaccinated.

First choice would be Sicily but I've been Googling where will actually take us so Jordan and Israel are on the list too!

Anyone who's actually abroad at the moment...please can you talk me through booking your pre-departure and day 2 tests? I've booked a green list hol with 2 kids in 2 weeks and I'm not v organised and could do with step by step instructions!

I'm just to pull out of Majorcan August trip - I hope our friends will forgive us . Lots of reasons:

1. Cost of tests for the 3 of us is around £500 - thats with DH and I being double jabbed

2. Main issue is what happens if one of us tests positive over there. Uk cases are rising not falling. Also once you test positive no guarantee how long it will be before you test negative again so you might not even be able to get back after 10 days

3. DS due back to school day after we get back ( Scotland) so can't risk it being Amber

4. Cases are rising in UK and Majorca- highly likely Majorca goes Amber ( fine if your DCs are 12 or under with new rules, not so good if not) or they stop letting in Brits

If I was due to go next week I'd probably go for it, but things seem to be getting worse not better and it all seems risky and not enjoyable.

Mind you you could book Easyjet flights which can be moved to next year, and a cancellable apartment or hotel so you don't need to make your mind up until nearer the time.

Going in the morning to Greece
Bookwd with tui... Can cancel anytime if your circumstances change or if the country changes on traffic light system.
They have a brilliant deal on tests.. £20 for green country, £50 for Amber.
Its all pretty straightforward

@Annabellerina

Anyone who's actually abroad at the moment...please can you talk me through booking your pre-departure and day 2 tests? I've booked a green list hol with 2 kids in 2 weeks and I'm not v organised and could do with step by step instructions!

This is from gov.uk and what you need for your return. What you need for your departure depends on where you are going.

(sorry, should have said assuming you are in England)