Pre booked "Amber" list holidays. Are you going?

[Piptastic]

Just that really.

If you have an existing booking for a holiday to an "Amber" country, in the next few months, are you going to go?

I've got one booked and just curious what everyone has decided after todays announcement.

[SheriffCallie]

We were prepared to go to our amber country and pay for tests, etc but we’ve just received notification that the flights have been cancelled, presumably because of low uptake. All our accommodation is through booking.com with free cancellation so it’s not a disaster, it’s just the admin hassle of cancelling.
Feeling disappointed but pragmatic, it was always so uncertain as to whether we’d be able to go abroad. Don’t understand why the govt bothered with this traffic light system though, as it’s created so much confusion, they should just have said no overseas travel. Well, at least Michael Gove got his trip to Portugal before the rules changed, funny that .

[BG2015]

Booked for Kos, 4 of us - 2 50 yr old and 2 18 yr olds. Originally booked in 2019!

Kos will accept proof of vaccine - DP will be ok but my vaccine is via a trial so not recognised plus I think you need tests to get back into U.K.

Tests with TUI to green countries are either £20 or £60. So we would use them.

You take your tests to a TUI store if you're close to one,72 hours before.

Just hope we can go. This is the fourth changed/cancelled holiday.

[ab21]

We're in the same boat. Holidays booked to the US and Greece in early July with the hope of going on one. Testing for amber countries will cost just under a thousand pounds and green list £500 (even with two of us vaccinated). It's a lot of money but I guess that's the price of going on holiday this summer.

[853ax]

Have Lanzarote booked for August waiting closer to time to see what restrictions are there. I don't like idea of children having to wear masks on beach or booking slots in swimming pools.
Hopefully next month will hear how things are going over there.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

There are rumours of a possibility traffic light announcement tomorrow.....preparing myself for disappointment! Fingers crossed for my Greek isles. I fear my tour operator will cancel our package if it doesn't get on the green list. 4 weeks to go til we travel.

Anyone else waiting with bated breath for this?

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

Tui just cancelled my holiday to Cyprus (amber list). I've rebooked for one of the amber-but-okay Greek islands.

[ChiefBabySniffer]

What airlines are all these cancellations with?

[thelightishere]

We had a deposit down in Portugal (currently green) but are losing it as have decided not to go. Worst case would be to get covid out there and nowhere to isolate, if it's past our booked accommodation dates, without shelling out loads more. Feel so bad for the airline industry!

[userxx]

Looks like my flight has been cancelled to Spain in mid-June, unfortunately I'd hit cancel an hour before. How bloody unlucky is that. No refund for me 🙄

[ginandgingers92]

We have a holiday to Morocco booked for September. It's actually a v belated honeymoon which was rebooked from late 2020, to may 2021 -in fact I think we'd have been flying home today!- and now Sep, I'd do anything I can to go if circs allow!

[NotSure1542]

I am dying to go away ASAP but I don’t think I will this summer. The country I plan to visit is on the amber list and is closed to Europeans! If it’s still amber then I won’t go.

Depending on which country is on the green list by the time I go, I might decide to travel. I can’t be bothered with the hassle of getting a PCR test, queuing and other tedious things just to go somewhere I’m not really that crazy about visiting (like France — no offense to Francophiles). I have Mexico booked for October so I’m hoping that’ll go ahead.

[mermaidsariel]

@chocolatesaltyballs22

I am die for go to Greece in Oct and don’t know what to do. We have only paid the deposit and have found Jet2 very unhelpful.

In what way have Jet2 been unhelpful? I've found them brilliant over the past 12 months, haven't lost a penny with them and refunds have been very prompt. If your holiday isn't until October they won't be dealing with those just now as anything could happen between now and then.

I asked for clarification and whether I can have a refund of my deposit as I don’t want to have to test constantly or isolate. They just sent a generic reply saying I can cancel now if I want to. I asked if I would get my deposit back and they did not reply.

[ilovesooty]

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

We have only paid the deposit and have found Jet2 very unhelpful.

Are you expecting to give them definite answers about what will happen in October?

My late August flight is booked with them and I've received an email telling me that if my flight is affected they will let me know nearer the time. Seems fair enough to me. What definitive answers can anyone reasonably expect regarding an October booking?

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

We have only paid the deposit and have found Jet2 very unhelpful.

Are you expecting to give them definite answers about what will happen in October?

[ilovesooty]

@chocolatesaltyballs22

I am die for go to Greece in Oct and don’t know what to do. We have only paid the deposit and have found Jet2 very unhelpful.

In what way have Jet2 been unhelpful? I've found them brilliant over the past 12 months, haven't lost a penny with them and refunds have been very prompt. If your holiday isn't until October they won't be dealing with those just now as anything could happen between now and then.

I agree.

[ilovesooty]

The two places that I am booked to go to are currently amber but specifically not subject to essential travel only advice so my insurance will be valid. If the plane is flying so am I. Fully prepared to quarantine as mandated.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

I am die for go to Greece in Oct and don’t know what to do. We have only paid the deposit and have found Jet2 very unhelpful.

In what way have Jet2 been unhelpful? I've found them brilliant over the past 12 months, haven't lost a penny with them and refunds have been very prompt. If your holiday isn't until October they won't be dealing with those just now as anything could happen between now and then.

[HeyDemonsItsYaGirl]

I'm booked for Cyprus in three weeks. I'll be going unless it's illegal or goes red.

[mermaidsariel]

Due to go!

[mermaidsariel]

I am die for go to Greece in Oct and don’t know what to do. We have only paid the deposit and have found Jet2 very unhelpful.

[user8783]

Greece booked for August (pre pandemic) won't go if it's still amber. I think it's shocking we can't get a refund for amber destinations. (TUI). Happy to go if it's green.

[reluctantbrit]

We are booked to go to Spain, just hotel, moved from last year. But we won't go. It may be by then on the green list but I just don't fancy 35 degrees and wearing masks all day, potential restrictions at the hotel with meals and pool access.

It may all be well by then but the uncertainty is not good for me and DD, we both need to know what to expect.

So we are prepared to loose the money and booked a cottage in Wales instead.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

DrMaryMalone,

re your comment:-
"I'm really wanting to book a short break to New York in December for DHs 40th. We would however struggle with work if we had to isolate for 10 days on return. Any thoughts on how likely it us that USA will be on the green list come December or that Scotland will have moved to allowing test and release like England currently have?"

The other problem here is the US travel ban imposed March 2020 which has to date not been lifted for UK or European citizens. There are no indications from President Biden as to when this will be lifted either.

[Theredjellybean]

Two Amber Holidays booked, early July and late August
I will be going on both.
We are all fully vaccinated, I will happily do tests and self isolation.
It is not illegal and tui are flying so we are going.

[TheTeenageYears]

They can advise all they want but the legal ban on leisure travel was lifted on Monday and nothing was put in its place to stop people legally travelling to amber or red list countries for any reason they choose. There are other mechanisms in place which will make many people think twice - travelling against FCDO advice as red and amber countries are makes insurance virtually but not completely impossible, 10 days self quarantine on return or additional test costs for test to release and hotel quarantine for red list countries plus only allowing In citizens and residents.