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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Will you go abroad?

89 replies

Lolarosemama · 04/05/2021 03:59

DH and I have been discussing our holiday booked for France in July and we’re just not sure.

Whilst we’re desperate to go on holiday, with rates unpredictable once things start opening up again, and officials saying foreign travel will still be ill advised even when it’s legal, it feels almost irresponsible to go? I don’t know. What’s your stance?

OP posts:
KateWinceyette · 04/05/2021 04:05

Nothing booked and not planning on going abroad. I miss "abroad" but will hold out for one more year (hopefully!).

If I had family I hadn't seen for over a year, I might go.

ItsCokeFFS · 04/05/2021 08:16

France is very likely to stay orange (as far as the UK is concerned)

Yes, you can come but you will need a negative pcr test before you leave the UK.

You will then need to purchase 2 pcr tests to be done on days 2 and 8 of your return to the UK. These are not cheap.

You will also need to self isolate for 10 days. You can have a day 5 test to early release, but this has to be bought seperately to the day 8 test.

We are very much hoping that these rules will change as we have relatives in the UK that we haven't seen for over a year, but it's not looking likely!

hopeishere · 04/05/2021 08:19

No. Too much hassle with tests and quarantine at the minute. Plus all the people who ended up rushing home last year to beat the quarantine, it looked so stressful.

I'd rather wait a year. Or even October.

Twizbe · 04/05/2021 08:19

Not going to bother until later this year when we've been vaccinated.

Besides DD doesn't have a passport yet lol

CagneyNYPD · 04/05/2021 08:20

If I can legally travel, I will. But only to a green list country. Have got flights to Florida booked for Aug 2nd. DH and I will have had both doses of te vaccine. I am keeping everything crossed. But if US goes on the Amber list, I will move my flights to next year.

KarmaNoMore · 04/05/2021 08:23

No, I wouldn’t. I don’t think I would enjoy it much anyway not knowing which areas tend to get over crowded over there or not knowing how to access proper medical service abroad if needed.

Chemenger · 04/05/2021 08:23

I am hoping to go to the US in August, depending on what the rules are by then. DH should be back working there by then and we have an apartment there so slightly different from a standard holiday. I would be working remotely at least part of the time.

bettybyebye · 04/05/2021 08:25

We have flights booked to Portugal at the end of July (last years holiday postponed) and we will absolutely be going if it goes ahead

KateWinceyette · 04/05/2021 08:29

Dud anyone go to Spain last year? Dud you have to wear masks?

WhatHaveIFound · 04/05/2021 08:32

@KateWinceyette

Dud anyone go to Spain last year? Dud you have to wear masks?
I went to Spain for work last year. Masks had to be worn, even outdoors in Barcelona.
Hoppinggreen · 04/05/2021 08:33

I am going to a couple of conferences in Prague and Portugal in September and hopefully Spain for a holiday in October but don’t plan to go this summer

ivfgottwins · 04/05/2021 08:34

We Holiday a lot in Israel ....more than happy to be on the first flight there 🤣

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 04/05/2021 08:36

Yes, we will go abroad as soon as we know which countries are classified green.

Parker231 · 04/05/2021 08:37

Definitely going on holiday but only to green countries as work wise we can’t isolate on return.

Chewbecca · 04/05/2021 08:37

Summer - no, too much hassle and worrying the traffic light will change.

We have a December holiday booked which I am keeping my fingers crossed for.

massistar · 04/05/2021 08:38

DH's family are in Italy and come the summer we won't have seen them for 18 months so we're desperate to go. I think we'd drive though if we're allowed.. not sure I'm up for airport stress and queues. We should have had both vaccines by then so might need tests for the kids.

EversoDelighted · 04/05/2021 08:39

Not even considering it this summer.

ItsCokeFFS · 04/05/2021 08:45

@massistar

DH's family are in Italy and come the summer we won't have seen them for 18 months so we're desperate to go. I think we'd drive though if we're allowed.. not sure I'm up for airport stress and queues. We should have had both vaccines by then so might need tests for the kids.
If most of mainland Europe remains orange then you will need to do 10 days self isolation on return to the UK.
minniemomo · 04/05/2021 08:48

We are booked for September, event might get cancelled in which case we'll probably stay in the U.K.

iminthegarden · 04/05/2021 08:58

Yes we will go to France in July.

QuentininQuarantino · 04/05/2021 09:25

Yes, I live in an EU country and will drive around and visit two or three others - I’m vaccinated and there will be an easy eu “green card” they’re arranging. If I can get to the uk I will, but I’m not paying for 3 tests per person or quarantining. It’s a shame as all my family is there but the cost of all those tests adds up to a Disney holiday next year.

zafferana · 04/05/2021 09:29

Yes, if we're allowed to travel and can do so without quarantine either end. We have a trip to the US booked for August and fully intend to go if we can.

There was an interview this morning with Prof. Neil Ferguson (aka Prof. Lockdown) on Radio 4 and he said that as long as infection rates in the place you're going aren't worse than they are here there's no reason why going abroad is any riskier than staying at home. He was on at about 7.40am if you want to listen to it on Sounds.

AuntieStella · 04/05/2021 09:35

Not this year. I'm happy to holiday here - still lots of the UK to explore

Zodlebud · 04/05/2021 09:45

We have a trip to Asia booked for July (shifted from last year which was originally booked November 2019!). It was to be a total dream holiday but we won’t have had both doses of the vaccine before we are due to depart plus I doubt they will be on the green list. If it’s safe to go then of course we would love to BUT one of the countries is compulsory mask wearing at all times outdoors unless sat on a sun lounger or eating. Bearing in mind this is a sightseeing trip, can you imagine what it would be like having to wear a mask in 30 degree heat for 7 hours a day?

Also, with the extra checks required on the return to the U.K., I don’t much fancy standing waiting to go through border control etc for 7 hours after a 13 hour flight.

It’s not just is it “safe” to go but would it actually be a pleasurable experience? For our trip absolutely not.

beachsidecafe · 04/05/2021 09:58

I have booked an overseas trip for this summer, and I would have said yes I can't wait, but I am now seriously reconsidering.

There are a number of concerns that I have that I can not find decent solutions too:

  1. Airport halls are going to be packed, and risk is going to multiply many times over of catching covid. Ditto packed flights.

  2. New variants are a real cause for concern.

  3. Green countries suddenly switching to amber or red whilst we are there, what happens then? We can't stay in the quarantine hotel for weeks on end due to work commitments. I am not sure we would cope in a cramped room in Heathrow for ten days either. Claustrophobic and extremely stresssful.

  4. Compromised hospitals and health systems overseas, even if they are dealing with relatively low numbers of covid. The impact is still there should we need healthcare.

  5. DC catching covid whilst we are there - I would be very scared if they were very ill or even moderately ill whilst away from home (they are teens)

  6. One of us testing positive before flying back and either being confined to one room in the hotel for 10-14 days and then still testing positive for many weeks later as the virus lingers in the system. Not being able to get home and being stranded.

  7. Borders closing either in UK or in holiday destination. Repatriation flights are simply not going to happen again. We are literally on our own if we choose to go.

  8. Compromised experience. How relaxing is it going to be? Masks, sanitising, watching the news constantly for updates and not feeling able to fully relax. Does not seem worth it to me at the moment.

It is one thing looking at the websites and imagining how lovely it will be, another thing entirely facing packed arrival halls full of people from all over the world, massive queues, hours waiting for checks and endless stress of tests, masks and all the rest. It feels like a recipe for disaster this summer. I am not sure I can face it now.