Page 2 | Would you go to New York at the moment?

Morley19 · 2021-11-28T18:21:50+00:00

Just that really. Due to go on Saturday for 4 nights. Keep switching between definitely go and then not sure. I can manage work to allow time to get the pcr test on return. Just concerned about potential for things to drastically change when out there. Probably unlikely but you never know and we have seen things change very quickly before.

genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 20:02

@MrsSkylerWhite

genuinequestion21

You're extremely unlikely to get stuck though. You're not going for long and you can usually get home.

I was ' stuck ' abroad when the UK went into a lock down and it was completely fine to get back.

It's on Saturday and it's only 4 days. It's unlikely that they'll make you go to a quarantine hotel in a week.

I would take the risk.“

The UK govt buggered about for far too long before the first lockdown in March, when most people were already taking their own precautions. It was roundly criticised and it will be doing its utmost to avoid the same this time round.
Flights from 6 African countries were stopped quick sharp. If several cases appear in the US in the next few days, which is likely, it will act quickly too. When a virus mutates, it doesn’t only mutate in one country.

Please make sure you have good insurance, OP.

I would go though. This pandemic is going to last ages. I would just make sure I can pay for the quarantine hotel and deal with it, worst case.

I still think it's unlikely that within a week that will happen. But I no longer want to put my life on hold and miss out on things I enjoy. Travel being number 1.

So I would go.

Aaa456789 · 28/11/2021 20:02

We are going to New York for New Year although I feel anxious I will be gutted if we can’t go!

oneglassandpuzzled · 28/11/2021 20:26

@dabbydeedoo It would have to be absolutely dire for the UK not to let fully vaccinated and, in his case, boostered nationals return home—even if they had to isolate for longer than is now the case. I suppose there’s a risk of quarantine rules changing in NYC but he says he has insurance. We shall see.

Kitkat151 · 28/11/2021 20:26

@genuinequestion21. if you can afford the quarantine hotel and are able to take 10 days off work or work from the hotel then ok.... not many people have that option I would imagine.....that would work for me....but I couldn’t bear the uncertainty of it all so would only holiday in the U.K. at the moment

Hairbrush123 · 28/11/2021 20:40

@genuinequestion21 oh how I agree. I honestly don't think travel will resume to 2019 levels of normalcy for years globally (sorry to be glum - just my opinion). This pandemic will last for at least another two years I say so I will enjoy my life until then taking precautions.

Me personally, I always book with air miles (I know that isn't a possibility for lots of people) so if the situation changes rapidly I can just cancel for £35, try to book last minute and choose somewhere with high vaccination uptake.

I can't see a situation where the UK would stop Brits in the US coming back in the next ten days. OP is only going for four nights and SA going onto the red list has taken over 3 days since Boris' announcement.

Original poster

Morley19 · 28/11/2021 20:45

Wow thank you so much for the further replies.

So useful to get a mixed view of things.

I have good health insurance and really want to go but am just going to see how the next few days progress.

OP posts:

ChequerBoard · 28/11/2021 20:52

I think that is best OP.

As of now, I don't think the US have any identified cases of Omicron which makes it highly likely they will impose inward travel restrictions from countries that have (like the U.K.) pretty quickly.

dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 20:52

@oneglassandpuzzled but they are already doing exactly that, aren't they? Anyone coming from one of several African countries now has to do hotel quarantine, British or not.

I've travelled a few times and never felt too anxious about it because the situation was relatively stable after early summer. I knew the countries I was going to were extremely unlikely to be placed on the red list. That just isn't the case now. Switzerland put us on their red list with no notice, and our own government drastically changed the post-arrival testing process with very little notice.

I think chances are it will probably be fine, but this is the biggest sudden development since the pandemic started. It'll either ease off quickly or get much worse quickly. I would still travel to see family but I would not travel for fun right now.

oneglassandpuzzled · 28/11/2021 20:56

Oh I was referring to not being allowed home at all as being unlikely, rather than hotel quarantine. Which would obviously be a complete pain but not like being stranded overseas.

Coconut49 · 28/11/2021 21:02

@dabbydeedoo

No, I wouldn't. I've just, with a very heavy heart, cancelled a trip to Spain because everything is just way too fast changing at the moment. It might well be fine and I'll regret not going, but countries can bring in new restrictions at the drop of a hat. All it would take is an announcement while you're on the flight that anyone coming from Britain needs to quarantine for X days, and that's your trip ruined. Also if anyone on the plane tests positive for omicron, you're quarantining 10 days when you get back regardless of your own test result. I really couldn't be arsed with that at all.

I think my trip would be ruined anyway with constantly checking for updates and rule changes - hardly relaxing, is it? People will say it's always like this but it isn't - this is a very knee jerk reaction to a very new situation, after months of relative stability. My own feeling is this just isn't the time and it's better to wait and see regarding travel.

Exactly why we are going to cancel trip to Spain too. If someone on plane has Omicron, we would have to isolate for 10 days and that would ruin Xmas. The only reason we plucked up courage to go abroad was because no isolation for covid contacts and only one lateral flow needed on day 2 for fully vaccinated but new variant has changed all this !! 😠 . Definitely wouldn't go to New York.

Katjolo · 28/11/2021 21:05

No way

dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 21:08

@Coconut49 yep exact same here... would not have booked a holiday knowing I'd have to do an expensive PCR test and isolate, and possibly still have to isolate based on someone else testing positive. It's a whole new layer of faff and hassle.

Had you already bought the antigen test? I have, and feeling very pissed off that it's now useless. Such a scam.

dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 21:11

@oneglassandpuzzled

Oh I was referring to not being allowed home at all as being unlikely, rather than hotel quarantine. Which would obviously be a complete pain but not like being stranded overseas.

It's not you wouldn't be allowed home but flights and routes can change very quickly once something kicks off. There's only the one flight a week back from my destination, and any other airport within about a five hour drive has flights that are already hundreds of pounds, and that's before any further restrictions. Perhaps NYC has more options but it would be a stressful hassle to sort. I'd probably still go if it was to see family or a long distance partner or something, but for a few days away? IMO not worth it.

mizu · 28/11/2021 21:21

I'm currently on the phone trying to cancel our flights and hotel to Abu-Dhabi. Going to see family we've not seen for many years and was hoping to hop over to Oman to see a friend from when I lived there 18 years ago.

We are up and down with shall we, shan't we.....I think it's going to be too stressful with 2 children too.

Although, I have now been on the phone for over an hour............

SagittariusDwarf · 28/11/2021 21:22

I would plan to still go but would also neurotically keep an eye on the news leading up to it. I had a very stressful few days earlier this year doing exactly that before a trip to the Balearics earlier this year - Spain brought in testing requirements for U.K. arrivals the day after we booked the trip (the trip being a week later) and there was a real lack of clarity about the details of the testing requirements (type and timing) for a good few days. But as soon as we were away it was totally worth it. Can you easily change destination/reschedule/get refund at short notice if needed? I've only been booking packages during the pandemic (never used to) as find that they are the easiest to sort out of things go tits up (I had many a trip abroad cancelled during 2020).

I hope it works out for you and you have a great time!

SagittariusDwarf · 28/11/2021 21:24

@mizu

I'm currently on the phone trying to cancel our flights and hotel to Abu-Dhabi. Going to see family we've not seen for many years and was hoping to hop over to Oman to see a friend from when I lived there 18 years ago.

We are up and down with shall we, shan't we.....I think it's going to be too stressful with 2 children too.

Although, I have now been on the phone for over an hour............

Slightly off the point but can you go to Oman from the UAE? I was in Ras Al Khakmah in Oct and enquired about a trip to Oman and was told it wasn't possible due to red lists. I was gutted as would have loved to go!

SagittariusDwarf · 28/11/2021 21:25

Ras al Khaimah even...

Watapalava · 28/11/2021 22:33

You will not get stuck on a package

Package holidays automatically fly you back on the leg time that exists between announcements and law changing

It’s those on flight only etc that can’t get back as they don’t have the protection of the tour company who is responsible for them

dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 22:35

@Watapalava

You will not get stuck on a package

Package holidays automatically fly you back on the leg time that exists between announcements and law changing

It’s those on flight only etc that can’t get back as they don’t have the protection of the tour company who is responsible for them

Is there a company you recommend? I don't normally do packages but I might consider them now.

Watapalava · 28/11/2021 22:40

Tui are the best IMO

La sat year when Cuba went red they flew all their passengers home within 10 hours (well they were on a plane in that time!)

They have been fabulous for all my trips and have a very clear covid policy

Tour operators have a responsibility for you that flight only do not

dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 22:50

@Watapalava

Tui are the best IMO

La sat year when Cuba went red they flew all their passengers home within 10 hours (well they were on a plane in that time!)

They have been fabulous for all my trips and have a very clear covid policy

Tour operators have a responsibility for you that flight only do not

Oooh it would be nice to have someone else take on all the hassle and expense, that's for sure!

Coconut49 · 29/11/2021 07:33

@dabbydeedoo I booked antigen test through 'testing for all' but went for option for test not to be sent out till day of arrival back in uk - this means I can get full refund or change test. They seem a really organised company actually. They emailed me on day of Boris's announcement about changes to tests.

gagababy · 06/12/2021 10:57

Did you go ???