Would you holiday abroad right now, with Omicron about?

[strawflower]

If you had a holiday abroad booked for just after Christmas, would you take it or cancel?

Thinking of risk of having to quarantine somewhere dodgy if you came down with Covid.

Did another post on this but I think it was too waffly, hope this doesn't break guidelines to post again.

No I would defer it , until numbers of whichever variant were at a lesser number.

I only would if I could afford to potentially quarantine in a hotel there, take the time off work if that happened, and could deal with daily changing restrictions at whatever destination. For me personally all of those things are too risky and would spoil a nice holiday, so I wouldn't.

Yes

I would go if visiting family or friends but not just to a location I had no connections in.

I wouldn't worry about catching the virus, but I would worry about maybe being stranded or having to quarantine. Also, depending on where you're going there could be a risk of lockdowns or restrictions which might impact on your enjoyment of your holiday.

I really miss travelling and would love to be getting on a plane tomorrow, but if I were you I'd cancel or defer is possible. I just wouldn't enjoy a holiday with all the above hanging over me.

We were supposed to fly out tomorrow, but for me there's too much uncertainty, so I cancelled it about a fortnight ago. Feel more relieved than disappointed tbh.

I personally wouldn't at the moment unless you are prepared for the country you are travelling to closes their borders or that you may have to self isolate for 14 days on arrival.
Saying that, I travelled a few weeks ago, pre Omicron and in September where I had to travel by car to Italy, ( as daughter was going to Uni), but had to change my route 3 times, as various countries had restrictions.
Up to you, but be prepared. Netherlands are currently in Lockdown and France and Germany have essentially closed their borders to UK.

Visiting family and friends yes, a holiday no as go through the airport and flying you’ll likely pick it up and then quarantining in a grotty hotel abroad won’t be fun, but staying with relatives for an extra 10 days if everyone is happy is fine

No, because of the general faff factor, and the risk of having to quarantine rather than because covid itself

Thanks guys. It's to Lanzarote, where they need the tourism, so less worried about them locking down but that's definitely a very real possibility. But v worried about being sent to a random, possibly horrible hotel to essentially be imprisoned if we tested positive. Shame as it's the last chance to have a family of 3 holiday before new baby comes along but I think probably most sensible to delay til later in 2022.

I'm even more scunnered because ours was a winter city break/Christmas market trip. And after checking the webcam this morning, to add insult to injury, they've got snow. 😭

Only to my own property not to a holiday home

@Justmuddlingalong sorry to hear that! but glad you feel relieved! I spent ages stressing, getting maternity clothes sorted and sorting tests yesterday and have just now realised it's too risky to get that much loved dose of sun before the new baby comes! Oh well, we'll survive! 😕 just disappointing

I am due to fly to Lanzarote in January. If the plane is going and I am allowed in, I am going.

I would. Triple vaxxed. Omicron could get me right here in UK as easily as abroad.

I understand your point about quarantining but as long as I'm not putting anyone vulnerable at risk. I prefer to go about normal life as much as possible. Otherwise - what's the point of getting vaccinated? The virus is here to stay. Forever.

I probably would, tbh it seems like we all have way more chance of picking Omicron up here in the UK than elsewhere at the moment.

I'd be a bit concerned about potentially having to quarantine there if they're testing before returning, but if you would lose money to cancel now then I'd go and chance it.

@hivemindneeded and @LittleMysSister I absolutely want to live my life normally at this point and I was totally planning to go but you have to test to come back and a positive test would mean being imprisoned in an unknown Spanish hotel room for 10 days! 😬

I can’t wait until this is just a normal bug like flu where you’re allowed to travel even if you’re ill! It’s gone on long enough!

Fortunately jet2 have said we can rearrange for a reduced admin fee - so not losing the money. So it’s just a question of gambling on not catching it or not…

What I’ve learnt in this pandemic is to seize travel opportunities when you can (if you can cope with pre travel stress and testing).

My friends have just pulled a blinder, headed off skiing just as Austria reopened. Slopes are empty and they’re having a whale of a time.

There will always be a quarantine risk. We went to Lanzarote at half term and had a wonderful time. That was before omicron though. It’s personal preference but I think travel will be tricky for some time to come.

Unless the purpose of your trip is to see family, is it worth it?

Lots of places shut and new tough restrictions in place or likely to be in the near future which will limit what you can do there.

Probably not. Not because I'm sacred of catching it, but just because the likelihood of something happening which will impact in terms of time and money
e.g. being ill (esp teens who have not been boosted) and ending up in quarantine/hospital abroad

• the cost of extra tests/ changed flights/ extra hotels etc for four of us soon mounts up into £'000s

No

Yes

No, not worth the hassle. Just had a work trip cancelled and I have never been more grateful as it's an utter ball ache to travel right now.

If it were just me going or me and DH/me and a friend, then I would definitely go. I wouldn't take our 3 small DC with me though, due to the hideous thought of having to quarantine with them in another country!