Is anyone booking a holiday for later in the year?

[Swiftier]

Our June holiday was cancelled, the only other time we can go away is December which is good in a way as it’s a while off so gives us plenty of time to see what happens, I’m thinking we can always book a hotel with free cancellation etc. Just wondering really whether anyone is hopeful that fights and holidays etc will be back to normal this calendar year?

I don’t think I’d book December... they still aren’t sure if this will be back in flu season.

We were due to get married next month and go on our honeymoon; we’ll try to rearrange that but only if it can be summer/autumn, I think.

Our Easter holiday was cancelled but I'm not booking anything else until flying/ travel is permitted again. No one knows when that will be- we could be on lockdown in December to protect NHS resources over winter?

The simple answer is that nobody knows. If you're able to book fully cancellable then go for it. If it includes flights then be aware that the travel industry is trying to change legislation so they can give people vouchers rather than flights.

We've just booked a UK place we've stayed at before for July, but as we've been before we don't need to pay unless we can actually go. It's great to have something to look forward to and if it doesn't happen- well we've not lost anything.

We had 2 holidays booked - both to the Far East - well before all this happened. One departing 21 May - no chance! - and the other mid November.

Hoping the November one goes ahead but the world won’t fall apart if it doesn’t.

Just hoping we manage to receive refunds at some point in the future. Both ATOL protected.

Interesting. I know, of course, nobody knows what will happen or can predict how this will go... Just wondering what others’ opinions are really, out of curiosity. I think we might book hotels which we can cancel and just wait to book flights until nearer the time. Even last minute, although that might mean they’re more expensive.

If we still aren’t able to travel at the end of the year, this is going to have a really catastrophic impact on the tourism industry. I mean, surviving for a couple of months without income might be doable but for the best part of a year?

@Rafflesway yes our December plan was for the Far East too.

I had April and August booked before this happened and had planned (but not booked) a December trip to the same place as the April trip. I have moved the April trip to December. No idea whether I'll actually be able to take both August and December trips, but will get my money back if flights are cancelled I'll get my money back and if (Go forbid) the airline (easyJet) goes bust I'll be able to claim on the credit card.

The simple answer is that nobody knows. If you're able to book fully cancellable then go for it.

If "back to normal" means the industry back to where it was in say, Dec 19 by Dec 20 (i.e; fully recovered in 12 months) then the general opinion of almost everybody who is in the flying side of the travel industry/airlines " is not a cat in h*s chance".....but what the industry will actually look like I agree nobody knows..less choice of flights? more expensive? Cheaper??? Dunno.

We are getting married and honeymooning in sept. So far we have been told all will still be going ahead but we are 80% sure it will all be cancelled nearer the time. Really hope we are being pessimistic and will be gutted if it doesn't happen

We've booked flights for late September to Thailand via Istanbul. I'm not worried yet and still confident we can go, but obviously who really knows

@notimagain I guess for me, I’m wondering more whether there will be holiday options, so whether flights will be running, hotels open etc.

I definitely agree with you that there will be a long term impact on costs and availability.

@annonymousse and @ShellsAndSunrises fingers crossed for your weddings and honeymoons.

Thank you 😊

I'm really thinking anyone who books a holiday before a vaccine is available is wasting their time or a bit nuts. A vaccine won't be available for 12-18 months and there's a real chance even if this wave abates that there will be two more like Spanish flu (and bear in mind the second wave was worse than the first). The likeliest time for a second wave - winter.

Yes you can book something you can cancel but as none of us know where we’re going to be with this by December, personally we’re not bothering. Getting the airline part of our May holiday is proving to be a faff & I just don’t want the potential hassle again! Sadly, can’t really see us going anywhere this year and I don’t want to book anything till we’re over the hump of this. On the more positive side, with money saved from commuting costs etc, putting quite a bit of money aside for a big, blow out holiday when we can!

Should have read ‘getting the airline part of May holiday back’!

Anyone that thinks they might be able to go on holiday abroad this year is mad! Even next year is doubtful.

As pp said, it will take a good few years before this virus is largely under control and even this will vary from country to country.

We normally go away at least 3 or 4 times a year but I've accepted in my mind that we won't be going anywhere for quite some time.

Those that say they think there’s no possibility of going away this year, do you really think the government will enforce a lockdown for the rest of the year?

Several government advisors have made noises that they recognise that the impact of a lockdown could be serious - the impact on the economy and jobs etc.

Also the WHO position is that travel restrictions can be beneficial early in a pandemic to buy time so that governments can prepare health services but aren’t as beneficial in the longer term management of a pandemic.

No airline could survive for a year without any income. Nor could the hotels and other tourism based businesses.

I completely agree it looks like it will be over a year before the virus is under control but I’m not sure that means we won’t be able to travel for more than a year.

For example, I think it’s possible that there will be cyclical relaxing of restrictions depending on case numbers and NHS capacity rather than full restrictions for months and months on end. So travel might be intermittently possible over the next year or so.

Just to add, I’m genuinely interested to understand those that there will be no international travel allowed this year.

I'm with you swiftier .

I thought the curtailment measures were around slowing the spread as we can't eradicate the virus until there is a cure. If we continue with the current level of lockdown - unless we do it until there is a proper vaccine which could take 12-18 mths - all we're doing is pushing the problem down the road and in the meantime decimating the economy.

I think there will be variable levels of restrictions for different countries for 12-18 months and that means that some travel will be permissible based on that. I also think that they'll really push through getting the test to confirm who has had it, and for those who have then the restrictions level will be lifted as if you're not going to catch and spread it ( note that is an if) then you'll be allowed out.

I think anyone booking a flight anywhere at this point in time is a tad optimistic because we just don't know what's going to happen, but I do think certain flights will be going later this year ( keeping my fingers crossed for my September Budapest trip, although my June Dublin trip to see Duran Duran isn't looking promising).

Even if there are flights later this year would you really want to go somewhere abroad and risk being stranded or infected because there is a sudden spike in transmission/infections in your area? Travel restrictions might suddenly be imposed as has happened recently and I very much doubt any insurance policy would cover you.

I do agree that it very well may be possible to travel later on this year but I wouldn't want to take the risk, particularly as different countries are handling the pandemic in different ways and some are much better prepared and equipped.

Good luck to you if any of you do decide to travel if restrictions are lifted.

@Amboseli I think the risk of further restrictions would mean a careful consideration of destination.

For example, you’re more likely to get stranded if travel restrictions are imposed and you’re several days travel from an international airport, compared to if you’re staying in an international city with several flights home per day.

With the travel restrictions imposed in March, travellers were given warning to get home. I think those that got stuck were mostly in more remote/less well connected areas.

I don’t think the risk of being stranded would prevent me from travelling, personally, but yes, it would make me think carefully about logistics and have a plan in case things did change.

It's hardly a jolly holiday wherever you go with the threat of rolling lockdowns/evacuation flights/resentment from local people, even if you can get insurance.

Holidays are about emotion, about how you feel. It'll be a long time - a very long time, before inessential flying feels like a carefree, guiltfree and stressfree pleasure. Maybe it never will again.

Well we have two trips booked End of Oct/Early Nov... Both Oct half term... One a long weekend for myself and DH, and a trip to Barcelona with DC for an event which has been rearranged from next week. Luckily for that trip we have been able to rearrange flights and hotel free of charge.

Fingers Crossed but nothing we can do either way but wait and see.

No - I won’t be booking a holiday this year. I will spend the money at home instead. If it all settles down I will have a few weekends away in nice hotels in the UK.