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?

When we come out of this, travel will be very different.

The previous abundance of flights will be gone, think 70’s/80’s. Business travel won’t happen, therefore less requirement for flights. Some countries will be very cautious about visas and entry - especially those with a suffering health system. Far flung holidays will be for the very rich.

We, as a country, will spend holidays in the Uk. We need to spend holidays in the uk for our economy. It’s beautiful here, take advantage of it. We are unlikely to get foreign visitors either so there will be plenty of availability.

"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?"

No but it's possible verging on likely that during December we will be in a second lockdown if you look at what happened with Spanish flu.

You sound determined to book a holiday so go for it

@Bringer yes, I’m sure it will be a while before everyone starts to feel normal about travelling again.

So I’m sure some people won’t be travelling as soon as flights start operating again.

However I know lots of people have been offered vouchers/alternative dates for travel so will be travelling sooner rather than later so they don’t lose those vouchers, even if it’s not ideal.

Depends on how much you want to travel really I think.

@Bouncingbomb and @Wordofwarning will be interesting to see the impact on travel behaviours.

Will people be booking UK holidays if restrictions are eased over the summer, as they are perceived to be lower risk? And then will that change behaviours longer term, if people feel that they don’t have to necessarily travel overseas to have a nice summer holiday?

I will lose a few hundred quid on an exodus holiday that I need to rebook by September but never mind because I want to see the world settle down before I travel properly again.

All being well I will decorate the rest of my house and replace the carpets I haven't replaced. I am fortunate that I don't expect it to impact me financially other than if it impacts XH when he won't pay me.

@crustycrab as far as I’m aware the government hasn’t actually been able to predict the peak of the current wave of infections, let alone accurately predict that there will be another peak in December, can you share where you got the idea that’s it’s likely to be in December? I’m not saying it won’t happen, and I’m actually interested, not trying to come across as argumentative.

Other countries may follow china’s example and close the border to foreigners.

I probably won't book a UK holiday. I did buy a new tent last year (camping stuff was sold on divorce) that we haven't used so if the weather is nice I will use that here and there.

Other things I will do are things like a hotel on the Northumberland coast or Scottish coast for a weekend.

Trouble is that people will quickly become fed up of the English weather. I paid £1000 for a beautiful cottage for a week in Northumberland last summer (slept 2) and it rained all week.

Can I ask when people think U.K. travel will be ok again? We are supposed to be going from Scotland to the south coast in the middle of July to stay with family. Do you think it's likely?

I think you’re dreaming re a December trip.

Incidentally I’m hoping this will mean people travel less and support their own economies with domestic travel. Far better for the planet.

I live in Spain and we are currently being told that hotels will remain closed until September/October time and we will not be opening the borders to tourists til then.

We’ve decided that we won’t go abroad this year when we usually go 4 or 5 times, including to our own property.
Even if restrictions are lifted I would be worried that the virus is still around and I dint want to increase our chances of getting it by going to airports.
The only thing actually booked is Spain in June for DH and his friends but I doubt he will go

I noticed that Elephant Hills in Thailand is having a big sale right now for bookings through September, and I am sooooo tempted to do it. DH gave a flat ‘no’ though, as if we contract the virus there we would likely not get the same care we will get at home. He’s probably right, but it’s so tempting! 😢

If we go anywhere this year it will probably be to the US as my brother who lives there is getting married in the summer. Hopefully restrictions will be loosened enough for us to travel by then.

We have a lakes hotel booked very end of May. Not sure that will Likely happen now but can change it.

We were planning Poland in September but have decided this year is going to be very uncertain for months with regards to foreign travel. Airlines and countries having different methods for lockdowns and dealing with this. So have knocked that on the head.

We may get a couple of short uk breaks in if we are lucky.

Cancelled our holiday for August. If a vaccine becomes available it will be the later part of 2021 so I really don't think anyone is going to be going on holiday this year or next, maybe the year after (2022) if lucky and countries are starting to recover.

I already have a 4 day holiday booked with forest holidays in December . Will just have to see what happens nearer the time . Worst case scenario I will be refunded I imagine if everywhere closes again

Thanks, it’s really interesting to hear others opinions!

I know, none of us can predict what will happen but I’m interested that some people (@BlobbaGob for example) think the whole travel industry will be shut down for 2020 and 2021, whereas others are optimistic for travel later in 2020.

Obviously some of the airlines and travel companies are optimistic as they are taking bookings for later in the year and I’m sure there will be offers to be had for those willing to take a risk (@Linguaphile maybe those offers will still be there when restrictions do start to be lifted as they’ll want to get bookings in ASAP?)

I guess it’s to be expected that we will all have different predictions as this is all completely unprecedented.

Personally I still think we may have on-off restrictions here, depending on case numbers, rather than a complete, long term restriction on overseas travel. I also think different countries will be in different positions at the same time, so for example at a certain point in time you may be able to travel to X country but not Y country.

We will have to wait and see though.... I’m going to be cautiously optimistic and buy a travel guide book to day dream about my next holiday, might book hotels with free cancellation - but won’t be putting any money down just yet!

We booked in January to go in December. Have paid in full on a credit card. I'm trying not to think about it yet.

@Sounsociable at least you have plenty of time. If it’s cancelled outright you should get your money back. And it’s good it was booked on a credit card as that gives you extra protection. Where had you planned to go, just out of interest? (Helps support my daydreaming of future holidays...)

I was meant to go to Japan yesterday. As soon as it’s ok to travel again and things are open again il be booking and going! I’ve got flights to New York hooked for Christmas as well (booked ages ago) hoping up be able to go but sure If it got cancelled we get the money back no big deal - obvs be a bit sad if I can’t go! Am optimistic though - I can’t see the world being able to go like this for 8 more months

We are cancelling our August trip to Thailand and Malaysia and won't be booking anything else until there's a vaccine widely available - maybe second half of 2021. Having trouble getting any of the money back - got about £250 back out of £4.2k so far and not very hopeful of getting that much more back. Even the refundable are refusing to refund in some cases. If the airlines don't go bankrupt - a big if atm - we may get credit notes from the flights but if vaccine isn't out could be worthless. Hoping we will eventually get a refund on EVA Air flights to and from Bangkok, Taiwan has said it will bail them out but AirAsia , it's the Ryanair of Asia. Travel insurance won't cover as stands as no country specific warnings despite if you travel you would spend 14 days in quarantine and it says you may not be able to get back. Refusing anyone with a temp on flights.

@KaptenKrusty that’s a real shame about your Japan trip. I hope you manage to go soon.

@KoalasandRabbit I’m not sure if you’re too far along the process with cancelling, but I’ve seen a lot of advice to hold off cancelling if you can, to see if the provider cancels for you. I get that you might not want to go regardless, but say if you waited til June/July, you might find that the provider cancels an August trip and gives you a refund. Hope you get your money back anyway.

Even if borders are open, no way I'd be risking being stuck in a metal tube in close proximity to a couple of hundred other people, nor in a security or gate queue inches from other people.

Social distancing will be with us for at least a year. Airports simply can't operate on 2 meter distance between people and I won't be going anywhere that can't do that, whether allowed or not.

Has anyone looked into travel insurance cover? I can imagine a limited amount of international travel may be allowed within a year but even if you were desperate to go (I'm not) it would be interesting to know what cover is available. We booked annual insurance in Feb just before many companies stopped offering cover for Covid as back then we were due to visit Slovenia in May. Wouldn't surprise me if they find a way to wiggle out of covering us if we decided to fly at a much later date...

Thanks Swiftier We've booked everything directly, we definitely aren't going even if travel is allowed then and I've initially seen who would allow a cancellation now and refund which was 1 taxi company in Thailand and Heathrow airport carpark. Hotels all won't refund and won't refund closer either though 2 allowed a date change within 2020 but that's no use to us and not sure when would be OK to go. But the 2 airlines which is £3.2kish may give credit notes closer to the date, maybe start of July but depends on when these are to if they are worth anything - atm they are for around 10-12 months from travel. You have to pay difference and if vaccine isn't out we wouldn't go and if they go bankrupt we aren't covered at all. There is a possibility EVA will give a complete refund if they cancel flight in August. But also possibility companies will go under. Strangely it was the wealthy hotels who were least helpful though maybe that's why they are wealthy.

Travel insurance we have three lots of travel insurance as overlap in 2 annual policies plus Air Asia insurance plus the schools one for cancelled school trip and currently none will pay out. It's very limited when they pay out and they keep adding further restrictions to claims they won't allow. One has stopped all claims relating to coronavirus whenever you bought policy. Other one only pays out if FCO advises no travel to that country 48 hours before travel, is you are offered a refund or credit note they won't pay out even if you can't use it. If you are put into quarantine or refused flight it says phone they and they will consider if they can help. It says flights inbetween are not covered.

All flights are currently temp checking and refusing anyone with a temp who is now being taken into quarantine at their expense. Everyone entering both countries from UK currently has a 14 day quarantine but FCO has no country restrictions just its global ban. Lots of people are stuck there atm having flights cancelled and not refunded and having to get visas extended. Countries are charging for any hospital / medical treatment, our insurance currently covers that but the general quarantine it may or may not, says sometimes will, sometimes won't.