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Covid

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Original poster

Anyone else wondering whether to cancel a December holiday?

104 replies

cloudtree · 27/11/2021 22:08

Aaaggh! We haven’t been away for two years and are due to fly to Mexico on 10th, coming back on 23rd but would now have to self isolate until pcr results were back which means in all likelihood it would mean we couldn’t see family at Christmas. I don’t know what to do.

Likelihood of things getting worse in the next four weeks also seems quite high to me

OP posts:

EileenGC · 27/11/2021 22:10

I'd go if I was happy to miss Christmas. I don't think labs will be working at 100% capacity on the 24th/25th Dec.

Is coming back a few days earlier an option? Could you move the flights cheaply/for free?

Xiaoxiong · 27/11/2021 22:15

We're due to fly to Kenya Dec 28th. If we don't go we won't see my parents, aunts, cousin, and grandfather who is in his 90s. DH is convinced we won't get there, I am burying my head in the sand...

Ylvamoon · 27/11/2021 22:15

Personally I would sit it out.

Unless you feel that a family Christmas is a must. (Obviously depending on family circumstances). In that case, have a good look at your holiday contract and travel insurance and see at what stage you are covered in regards to refund or postponing the holiday.

Original poster

cloudtree · 27/11/2021 22:16

Hmm, that’s worth exploring. I wonder if we could change to come back after 7 nights

OP posts:

Original poster

cloudtree · 27/11/2021 22:17

Looks like the TUI policy is that you can make changes within 48 hours of a change in vaccine action or quarantine rules.

OP posts:

EileenGC · 27/11/2021 22:26

@cloudtree

Looks like the TUI policy is that you can make changes within 48 hours of a change in vaccine action or quarantine rules.

Has there been a change in that? Will they class 'isolate while you wait for results' as a quarantine...?

Are the flights not changeable for free? That's basic policy in all major airlines right now.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/11/2021 22:27

We’re due to go away within the U.K., so will just see if we’re able to i guess

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 27/11/2021 22:33

Well, we're due back 2 days before a theatre trip and my family xmas.

My main question is, who is going to be checking on this? Who is going to stop people waiting for test results, going to a family thing? Surely we can just do the regular freebie LFTs and go from that?

I'm not saying that's the right thing to do, but who is going to stop it?

RuleWithAWoodenFoot · 27/11/2021 22:36

And we're driving from France. So how is that different from driving down from Newcastle or wherever? We've been on holiday in our own place, doing outdoor activities, then getting in the car and driving straight home via the tunnel. What's the difference?

More stupid rules that make no logical sense.

EileenGC · 27/11/2021 22:37

I'm not saying that's the right thing to do, but who is going to stop it?

This is my question too. Probably no one.

I won't be able to risk it as they do ask us to prove these things when I go into work, but who is going to control you visiting your aunt or going to the cinema? Probably no one.

Thewiseoneincognito · 27/11/2021 22:37

Right now it’s too soon to know for sure what the situation will be. Israel just closed their borders to foreigners, I expect others will follow soon and travel will most likely become quite difficult again IF Omicron becomes a real issue.

Personally I wouldn’t want to risk being ill abroad and not being able to travel home easily, it’s a shitty situation but you have to decide if a holiday is worth the risk.

MiddayMass · 27/11/2021 22:37

In your situation I’d be going, personally. You can have a cosy immediate family only Christmas and the holiday. Or Christmas (and it may end up one household only) with no holiday.

Original poster

cloudtree · 27/11/2021 22:37

Has there been a change in that? Will they class 'isolate while you wait for results' as a quarantine...?

I don’t know. The app seems to be letting us change to seven nights but it’s a long way to go for seven nights.

It’s not just our Christmas it would affect. DHs parents would be alone

OP posts:

Chewbecca · 27/11/2021 22:41

We’re going to the US 10th - 20th Dec. Can’t change it, it’s either go or not go.

If we can go, we will, if something crops up to prevent us going, we won’t & hope the insurance will pay - never made a claim in my life!

We had already booked and received our day 2 LFT, assume will need to buy new ones. Hope the testing companies are geared up for it & will manage 24hr or so turnarounds.

DH and I can wfh when we return so isolating is fine but I do need to take DS to a hospital appointment on 23rd so I hope to be released by then! Might book an online shopping order!

AlfieandAnnieRose · 27/11/2021 22:49

This person is
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4412444-Any-one-else-rethinking-their-travel-plans

IslaInthesun · 27/11/2021 22:50

We've just cancelled. Due back on the 22nd and don't want to miss Christmas, or spend everyday wondering if we had gone on the red list.

It's shit but a holiday should be stress free.

Hairbrush123 · 27/11/2021 22:50

I am going to Brazil on the 1st until 9th. I will be definitely going unless restrictions/Covid test stop me.
I have booked an arrival covid test at Heathrow T5 for a couple of hours after the flight lands with next day results by 22:00.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 27/11/2021 22:56

I haven't got a holiday booked for December but it has certainly put me off booking one

fucketyfuckwit · 27/11/2021 22:58

Will be going to France via the Tunnel from 21-30 Dec.

We will be going.

Even if we have to isolate at home when we get back, that's doable.

If they state we would need to stay in a hotel we will high tail it back!

Lifeispassingby · 27/11/2021 23:02

What about 10 nights?

Original poster

cloudtree · 27/11/2021 23:06

Ours is already 10 nights. The first night is travelling to the airport and the flight back spans two days.

Looks like we could currently change to 7 but im really stressed at the moment and I think I’ll struggle to relax worrying about the rules changing further

OP posts:

AntiMaskersAreTwats · 27/11/2021 23:09

My children are going on a school ski trip to Austria in December. Austria are in lockdown at the moment due to being in a state with cases. The children are due to go about a week after lockdown is supposed to end and return 2 days from Xmas. School has to cancel for us to get refunded. I’m desperate for them to cancel. Do you think there’s a high chance all countries will close borders or ask for 2 days of quarantine on entering as it definitely will be cancelled then!

EileenGC · 27/11/2021 23:12

The EU will probably not close the borders completely. They weren’t even closed during the first wave in 2020, or last winter.

How were these kids going to Austria if (I’m assuming) they aren’t fully vaccinated, in the first place?

SeaDreaming · 27/11/2021 23:15

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

We’re due to go away within the U.K., so will just see if we’re able to i guess

Same.

AntiMaskersAreTwats · 27/11/2021 23:20

@EileenGC

The EU will probably not close the borders completely. They weren’t even closed during the first wave in 2020, or last winter.

How were these kids going to Austria if (I’m assuming) they aren’t fully vaccinated, in the first place?

At the moment children under 12 travelling to Austria with vaccinated adults (which all the teachers are) don’t need to test or anything to get in. Seems bonkers to me but there you go.

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