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Original poster

Should we travel?

56 replies

Sultanainasalad · 15/12/2021 21:01

Flights are booked to go to Ireland. DH thinks we should re-schedule flights, there's no need for essential travel, what if we get it when we are there and get stuck for 10 extra days (adults both boosted, but 2 kids under 6) etc.

We had to cancel at this late stage last year. Family at home will be so very disappointed if I pull out. Will miss seeing their only dgc, won't really understand.

I feel very torn and am unable to make a decision. Not sure what I've looking for - any words of advice really.

OP posts:
Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 15/12/2021 21:55

All being well we are going Thailand on Sunday. We have cancelled 6x. I'm going, I need this break now.

Willyoujustbequiet · 15/12/2021 22:20

I think with the dawn of omicron you'd have to be mad to fly atm.

mowly77 · 15/12/2021 22:36

Only you can decide, what is your gut instinct? Personally, I'm planning on going to the US next Tuesday – before we get locked down again in January. My parents, siblings ,entire family are there & we have the only grandchild in the family. One of my sisters and my brother & other relatives haven't seen her for two years. She's 3. She was a baby last time they saw her. I'm just praying we don't test positive at the airport.

If we have to isolate on return so be it. If we have to stay in the US longer so be it. I'm lucky in that I can work from anywhere. It will break both my heart and my families' to miss another Christmas together.

theSunday · 15/12/2021 22:38

We’re flying abroad next week (fingers crossed) visiting grandparents and family

orangina01 · 15/12/2021 22:39

This isn't about "being mad if you fly". I'm flying (hopefully) on Sat to take my children to see their elderly, vulnerable grandparents for the first time in two years. Our family has been so broken by being separated, and this matters hugely to us. I just hope it will be okay. So many tears and uncertainty but I will hope for the best.

Really only you can decide how much it matters to you and the others involved.

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 15/12/2021 22:42

Yep I agree @orangina01

I lost my Grandad to covid in feb yet he would still want me to love my life. Broke my leg in 3places in June and I was stuck inside all summer. I'm getting out of here and seeing the world and family again xx

BHX3000 · 15/12/2021 22:56

@Willyoujustbequiet

I think with the dawn of omicron you'd have to be mad to fly atm.
It’s less mad than sending kids to school or taking the bus into town every day.

At least on the plane you have the best filters on the market, people wear their masks correctly and everybody is tested or vaccinated, for the vast majority of destinations. Plus contact tracing. That makes it as safe as it gets.

Nannyamc · 15/12/2021 23:01

Cases in ROI are 1387 per 100000 higher than UK . Higher restrictions annouced on friday see what the announcement us then

Tinysnickers · 15/12/2021 23:10

We have just cancelled flights to see the inlaws. The stress of trying to keep up with constantly changing travel requirements and rebook tests was immense.
But ultimately what made us cancel was the crazy covid numbers today which which will be even higher when we were due to fly in 8 days, and the risk of us getting covid from airport or flight and infecting the parents in law. So sad about it but it just felt like too big a risk Sad

CointreauVersial · 15/12/2021 23:13

Well, we are also booked to travel to Ireland next week. DH is Irish, and the DCs haven't seen their cousins or grandparents in about three years. They are pretty desperate to go, so if we can stay Covid-free, we will go. Would we have planned the trip if we knew Omicron was coming? No, probably not, but we'll take our chances.

I'm not hugely concerned about the risks to our health particularly (all double-jabbed or boosted) and obviously we will be tested before travel and will monitor once we're there. In terms of us catching it out there and getting stuck, I'm also not worried (family in a rural area), and there is of course no testing to come back to the UK.

I think the one thing that might scupper the trip is if Ireland introduce more restrictions on mixing or travel. They closed the door to UK travellers until July this year, so it wouldn't surprise me if they close it again.

OP - I guess it boils down to.....what aspect of the trip exactly is your DH most concerned about?

seome1984 · 15/12/2021 23:24

Go, the chances of you having ever to isolate within the CTA are very slim.

Original poster
Sultanainasalad · 15/12/2021 23:24

Thanks cointreau he is mostly concerned about

  1. this decision hanging over our head and ruining the run up to Christmas. If we cancel now we can focus on making nice plans for the kids.
  • I think it's a bit late for that now, we are here, debating it now so close to Christmas.
2) getting stuck over there. If we catch it, or just show symptoms before the flight back.
  • it's not the end of the world, we can stay with family. But as I mentioned up thread, it has been a very stressful 6 months for us. He is very much looking forward to some time to relax in our home too. He would find it hard if our whole Christmas break was spent there.
OP posts:
WhistlingBrooks · 15/12/2021 23:29

Pondering over the same situation myself, except that the whole family have had Covid in September so feel like going ahead with our travel plans.

RoseValleyRambles · 16/12/2021 00:13

Can you compromise and truncate your trip? If you can do just a day or two, your can do short sharp quality time but minimise the chance of getting pinged/getting symptoms while there? Not ideal, but may mean this can keep everyone happy.

buddhasbelly · 16/12/2021 00:57

I'm due to go to North America start of the year. I'm gearing up for it to be cancelled. It was to see a family member I haven't seen in so long.

My worry is getting covid over there or the county going on the red list and then paying for a quarantine hotel. I swing between going and not going but feel it's more unlikely than likely I'll be going.

pollysshoe · 16/12/2021 01:24

When do you need to know?

The next few days will tell how things are going to be. Can you set a deadline of Friday or Sat to decide?

If cases keep doubling in 24h the 10 thousand cases today will be 10 million by xmas day and lockdown happens. If things slow then we continue as things are.

SilverBelle · 16/12/2021 02:14

Can you get medical treatment in Ireland should you need to, for Covid or anything else?

If so, go now. Who knows what next year or next month will bring (or take away from us)…

liveforsummer · 16/12/2021 04:28

I'd go, who knows how long this will go on and you'd potentially have to go without seeing family. Surely there's worse things that could happen than having to isolate for 10 days in Ireland. I'm sure there will be plenty cancelled accommodation so perhaps if the worst happens you could book somewhere on a cheap last minute deal with a garden to isolate if you can afford it.

ichundich · 16/12/2021 05:02

We have cancelled ours; it's just too big a risk with the requirement to test negative before re-entering the UK and potentially having to stay over there for several additional weeks. Plus I think even more restrictions will be brought in before the end of the Christmas holidays. My mum is devastated though.

Beakerandbungle · 16/12/2021 06:40

I do feel for you OP. Personally I’d go. I had to make a similar call recently ( slightly different reasons) to take my kids to see my mum. It was a massive hassle and - like your DH - meant I missed out on some down time that I desperately needed ( single parent/ SEN kid). It has made a huge difference to my mum though and also to my kids to see her - actually how much it meant to my kids really surprised me. Which sounds terrible but I think not having seen my mum during this time I’d almost forgotten how much it means to the kids! Anyway I came back tired and stressed but I was glad I’d done it for all of them.

I’ve also had surprise non covid illness in my family this year, which I think helped me realise time really is short ( I have health anxiety so was very cautious re covid!).

Brighton5555 · 16/12/2021 07:34

We are . Flying January 11th, already postponed once … keeping everything crossed ! Currently both x2 vaccinated and will both have had booster by end of year, travelling with child under 6 who is exempt …

Lottapianos · 16/12/2021 07:41

We're due to fly to Ireland next Thursday and have every intention of going. Both fully vaxxed and boostered, and so are family on the other side. Haven't seen them all in 2 years, so if not now, then when?! The only thing that will stop us is a positive test. As others have said, no test requirements for return to UK so no chance of getting stuck there. Good luck OP, the uncertainty is bloody awful

Bubblty · 16/12/2021 07:54

It is a completely personal decision at this point. If you are prepared to go and can deal with it if you catch covid out there then go ahead. No one can really tell you your personal covid threshold.

I personally wouldn't as I am happy to have christmas in February or whenever if needed but some people aren't, especially those who have faith.

ichundich · 16/12/2021 08:16

@Lottapianos

We're due to fly to Ireland next Thursday and have every intention of going. Both fully vaxxed and boostered, and so are family on the other side. Haven't seen them all in 2 years, so if not now, then when?! The only thing that will stop us is a positive test. As others have said, no test requirements for return to UK so no chance of getting stuck there. Good luck OP, the uncertainty is bloody awful
Is this different for Ireland then? Because you do need to test prior to travelling to the UK from other other EU countries.
Lottapianos · 16/12/2021 08:27

'Is this different for Ireland then?'

Yep, we're part of the Common Travel Area