Is it selfish to travel abroad at the moment?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I expect the responses will be very mixed with responses from 'yes selfish' to 'no, go', and some in between - but I am torn so will consider all perspectives.

DH and I pondering seeking some winter sun in a country that's currently on the amber list. Mentioned to some friends who were horrified and said it was extremely selfish to travel abroad, and 'just because you can doesn't mean you should'.

We will fly, stay in hotels and use restaurants, outside seating where possible. We will hire a car, and go sightseeing / walking outside as much as possible.

We've looked into the risks (obviously concerned about our own safety as well as being potential carriers to/from holiday country.)

Risks areas I see are:

• airports - but taking precautions such as masks, distancing, hand washing/sanitising after touching things, don't see the risk as being any greater than a supermarket
• the flight - this is what is worrying me most but I understand the filtration systems to be effective, along with mask wearing, which should reduce the risk. Tho I am sure if you are sat near someone who is positive, you are quite vulnerable
• bars and restaurants - will be outside as much as possible which is lower risk than being inside in the uk
• everyone on the outbound flight will either be double jabbed or have taken a test before departure. Appreciate that isn't going to mean that everyone on the plane is negative but risk is reduced.
• everyone on the return flight will have been tested 3 days before the flight. Same comment as above.

We have said we will isolate at home fully until we've done the test after we return, and even if negative will avoid mixing for a further week or so and do our own tests regularly.

Appreciate we may need to isolate at our own cost on return if the country turns red while we are out there and cover other costs not included in insurance. If it looked like the country we decide on is heading in that direction before we leave, we'd cut our losses and not go.

I'm leaning towards 'we have to learn to live with it', but equally don't to be irresponsible / selfish.

Any points I haven't thought of to help weigh it up?

The point is that the government is not saying it reccomends people to go into amber countries, quite the opposite.

I've been trying to find where it says this on the gov website but can't - can you link me to it please?

OP that's probably because it doesn't say that on the gov website and the previous poster has made it up. Why do you think they changed the rules for amber countries for fully vaccinated people?

I went to an amber country… the area we went to had 70 cases per 100k people when we were there. Our area currently has 640 cases per 100k people. I’m surprised the amber list countries let us in to be honest!

@chocolatesaltyballs22

My 'strong reason' to travel is that I need to feel the sun on my skin, read 6 kindle books on a sun lounger and eat tapas washed down with very cold wine 😎🍷😬

I cannot think of a better reason. Although the halo brigade will be along to tell you that you've condemned the world...

That is a great question, which unfortunately remains relevant to this day. For how long will this damn thing continue? I miss travelling around the world without having to quarantine or pay ridiculous prices for constant testing. Anyway, considering the high level of vaccination in several countries, I think you won't be selfish if you travel abroad. It's been two years already. Let's, as you stated above, learn to live with it. For example, I've recently returned from a trip to Germany. Before taking the train to Hamburg, I checked the www.dbfahrplan.com/de/ website and noticed that FFP2 masks were required, which improved the trip's safety. Just keep yourself informed, and you'll be fine. Good luck!