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.

We're booked to go to the Netherlands to see Family. I think on all fronts were technically allowed to travel as Dutch nationals, but not sure we can/want to pay the testing fees for a family of 4. Hoping other companies come out with similar offers to TUI.

@FreeButtonBee

We have a Majorca trip in May term (moved from last May). Can’t go to amber cohntries for leisure and Spain is not open to non citizens. So now have fight to get the flights refunded and move the accommodation

So if we can't go to amber countries for leisure will the flights be cancelled and we will get refunded ? I'm meant to be going to Spain mid June, the balance is due in 7 days.

I too am concerned that not enough protocols and systems are in place. We don't seem ready. Quelle surprise!

Portugal is already on the green list announced yesterday so I'm hoping it will be ok for Oct 1/2 term.

@FreeButtonBee do we know when Spain will reopen ?

We have a holiday to Greece booked for June - rolled over from last year. We are planning to go. We will have had both our vaccines and we will do the 10 day quarantine if necessary when we return.
@FreeButtonBee - it's not true that we can't go to amber countries for leisure. Grant Schapps would 'rather we didn't go' but I don't give a toss what he or any of his incompetent government would prefer I do!

@99victoria

We have a holiday to Greece booked for June - rolled over from last year. We are planning to go. We will have had both our vaccines and we will do the 10 day quarantine if necessary when we return. *@FreeButtonBee* - it's not true that we can't go to amber countries for leisure. Grant Schapps would 'rather we didn't go' but I don't give a toss what he or any of his incompetent government would prefer I do!

You need to check your insurance still covers you under non green circs.

This is the gov.uk site.

mber list countries and territories
What you must do if you have been in an amber country or territory in the 10 days before you arrive in England.

You should not travel to amber list countries or territories for leisure purposes

Either way I don’t think Spain will open to tourists before 28 May which when I am supposed to be travelling. So no holiday for me. I think it will open early June but I expect there may be some strategic missing out of May half term as they won’t want tons of kids descending on airports when things are so abnormal.

Yeh, no problem, we are on it with the insurance issue.
@FreeButtonBee - this is the same tactic the government have used for so much of their guidance to try and persuade us it is law - 'should not' is not the same as 'must not'

Can someone tell me what date the review of countries on the lists will be? They said it will be reviewed every 3 weeks, but is that from yesterday or from 17th May?
I've waded through Gov.uk and can't find the answer

@Thunderpunt I am also wondering about that.
Have a trip booked for half term (Greek island moved from last year). Was considering trying to move it to a green destination. E.g Portugal.... but ....seems like they are not letting UK travellers in....
Entry to Portugal is allowed if you are a returning resident. For all other travellers, entry is limited to essential purposes only if you are travelling from:

the UK or any other non-EU/EEA country, or
an EU/EEA country where the COVID-19 incidence rate exceeds 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

According to Simon Calder, the review dates are 28th May, 18th June and 9th July

@99victoria thanks! Where did you see that?? (With my flight being on 29th I am hoping hoping.....)

I read it on his Twitter @NoMoreLimbo

If you look at the Coronavirus Worldometer, Greece appears to have peaked and be on the way down. Fingers crossed for us both :)

@99victoria great! I will have a gander at that.
Oh I’m crossing fingers, legs and turning myself into a pretzel hoping and wishing.

What's everyone's thoughts on the guidance "you SHOULD NOT travel to an Amber destination for LEISURE purposes"

I take that as should not but you can, so long as you are prepared to isolate on return and do all the tests etc.

We are booked to go to Mexico at the end of May and we really really want to go, and it seems we CAN. WWYD?

I had a flight to Crete booked for early June - flexible hotel arrangements. I've moved it to mid July this morning. Apparently 60% of people in Crete are currently vaccinated and the programme is gathering pace too, which is reassuring, so I expect it to be green by then.

@Piptastic if Mexico let you in and you can deal with the amber quarantine then yes you can go. It’s a ‘would rather you didn’t but you can’ advice from government.

@Piptastic

What's everyone's thoughts on the guidance "you SHOULD NOT travel to an Amber destination for LEISURE purposes"

I take that as should not but you can, so long as you are prepared to isolate on return and do all the tests etc.

We are booked to go to Mexico at the end of May and we really really want to go, and it seems we CAN. WWYD?

This is what I need to know. We really want to visit family this year but they are in Amber. I missed what Grant Chapps said - sounds like they don't want you to go but are hoping to just put us off with all the testing/quarantine. If the country where family lives will let us in (not at the moment) I am thinking we will just go - otherwise we will be back in tiers in the winter and that is another year gone. Will never see them again at this rate!

[quote NoMoreLimbo]@99victoria thanks! Where did you see that?? (With my flight being on 29th I am hoping hoping.....)[/quote]
Me too!

According to Tui although our destination is on amber they aren’t going to be operating to that destination now so our holiday is now cancelled. Limited alternatives available which don’t suit so another summer at home beckons.

@99victoria

According to Simon Calder, the review dates are 28th May, 18th June and 9th July

Fantastic thank you - the earlier date was what I was hoping for!

Greek Island trip booked for mid June. We'll go if it's amber and comply with the tests and quarantine. Really hoping it might be green by then.

[quote NoMoreLimbo]@99victoria thanks! Where did you see that?? (With my flight being on 29th I am hoping hoping.....)[/quote]
I suspect there will be some strategic announcement on 28th given it's half term. I also recall the government said they will give airlines 2(?) weeks notice to arrange staff rotas. I suspect they'll make the announcement of the next green list on 28th May with an effective date of Monday 7th June when school holidays end. This means there won't be hoards of families jetting off at half term.

We had Mallorca booked for the start of the Scottish holidays at the beginning of July, moved from last year. Not keen to go now tbh.

We have Spain booked for mid august, then a Uk Disney cruise 6 days later, hoping Spain will be green, amber would be ok as we can pay to release after 5 days, but worried how long the results will take to come back, therefore might miss the cruise. Guess it's just a wait and see scenario.