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Holidays

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

Original poster

Go now or wait?

28 replies

dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 21:04

I'm feeling super stressed about the news re the new variant and the travel changes coming into force. My gut feeling was that I should cancel my holiday planned for next week, and just wait and see how things pan out. I wouldn't lose too much money if I cancelled right now - flights can be changed for after Christmas and hotel is free cancellation, so I wouldn't be much out of pocket.

However, it also feels like things might be starting to get much, much worse again, and we could even be looking at very harsh travel restrictions possibly lasting months. I remember how awful and lonely I felt during the long, long lockdown in the first half of this year and I'm wondering if it might be worth just biting the bullet and going now, getting the change of scenery and satisfying my travel cravings before months more of not being allowed to travel, or it being made much more difficult.

What would you do?

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 27/11/2021 21:05

Where are you going?

PuddingOfTheXmasType · 27/11/2021 21:06

I'd cancel

Porthia · 27/11/2021 21:06

Yes depends where and what you are doing.
My instinct would be to sod it and go since who knows what’s around the corner!

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 21:15

@TokyoSushi

Where are you going?
Southern Spain
OP posts:
Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 21:15

@PuddingOfTheXmasType

I'd cancel
Why?
OP posts:
Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 21:16

@Porthia

Yes depends where and what you are doing. My instinct would be to sod it and go since who knows what’s around the corner!
I'm going to Spain and the plan was to do a Spanish course at a school there. Classes are held outdoors and it's still warm enough to have coffee etc. outdoors so minimal indoor mingling. My biggest worry is getting stuck there because UK closed borders or someone on my flight out was positive or some other problem.
OP posts:
BlowDryRat · 27/11/2021 21:20

I'd go now. We were in lockdown for ages from Christmas 2020. Enjoy it while you can.

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 21:23

@BlowDryRat

I'd go now. We were in lockdown for ages from Christmas 2020. Enjoy it while you can.
That's what I'm thinking. Maybe it's a now or never sort of situation.

Then I start worrying about actually catching this variant and getting sick (would be just my luck, after isolating myself two weeks after booster thinking I'd finally be well protected!) or the borders closing and having to scramble to get back, or being stuck there! It all feels so scary again, and uncertain, after months of relative stability.

OP posts:
rookiemere · 27/11/2021 22:30

I wouldn't go OP, We're in Barcelona now and i'm reeling from the change to LFT to PCR with no notice and mostly the isolation until we get the results. I booked the PCRs this evening but goodness knows when they'll arrive.
I get it's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but honestly I wish we had never come. I like to be organised and in control and you just can't predict this situation. My gut feel is it's gong to be bumpy until at least Christmas, maybe find somewhere nice in the UK to go.

Hairbrush123 · 27/11/2021 23:07

I would go while you can. Traveling through a pandemic is never easy and who knows when you’ll be able to travel again?! I am going away on the 1st and will go unless government restrictions stop me.

I don’t think we will ever see complete lockdowns like we witnessed in March 2020 again - even with this VOC, there will always be flights back home from Spain. Just might not be from your preferred airport. It’s not like you’re going to somewhere different to get to to start off with!

Hairbrush123 · 27/11/2021 23:08

@rookiemere

I wouldn't go OP, We're in Barcelona now and i'm reeling from the change to LFT to PCR with no notice and mostly the isolation until we get the results. I booked the PCRs this evening but goodness knows when they'll arrive. I get it's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but honestly I wish we had never come. I like to be organised and in control and you just can't predict this situation. My gut feel is it's gong to be bumpy until at least Christmas, maybe find somewhere nice in the UK to go.
You could book a PCR test at the airport and get tested there-and-then when you arrive
rookiemere · 27/11/2021 23:11

@Hairbrush123 you're right we could get tested at the airport, but it's £80 per person versus £43 for postal, plus the £20 pp i've already spent on the redundant lateral flow tests.
I mean fair enough- first world problems - but it's an expense we'd not planned.

Hairbrush123 · 27/11/2021 23:14

@rookiemere know how you feel! I paid £18 for a lateral flow test that is no longer needed and they don’t do refunds! Frustrating but I suppose it could be worse.

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 23:37

@rookiemere

I wouldn't go OP, We're in Barcelona now and i'm reeling from the change to LFT to PCR with no notice and mostly the isolation until we get the results. I booked the PCRs this evening but goodness knows when they'll arrive. I get it's a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but honestly I wish we had never come. I like to be organised and in control and you just can't predict this situation. My gut feel is it's gong to be bumpy until at least Christmas, maybe find somewhere nice in the UK to go.
Yeah....it's a pain, isn't it? It must be really hard to enjoy your holiday with all this sudden drama going on, needing to sort PCR tests and whatnot. I could technically sort one right now but a week suddenly feels like a very long time...Switzerland have very suddenly just banned UK residents from entering without a test and 10-day quarantine, and everything feels so up in the air again.

When are you due back?

OP posts:
Clymene · 27/11/2021 23:50

Can you afford to isolate until you get a negative PCR? If you can , id go now. I doubt the situation is going to get better. Winter was always going to be worse with being indoors more but with omnicrom thrown into the mix, all bets are off

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 23:56

@Hairbrush123

I would go while you can. Traveling through a pandemic is never easy and who knows when you’ll be able to travel again?! I am going away on the 1st and will go unless government restrictions stop me.

I don’t think we will ever see complete lockdowns like we witnessed in March 2020 again - even with this VOC, there will always be flights back home from Spain. Just might not be from your preferred airport. It’s not like you’re going to somewhere different to get to to start off with!

I felt like this until I saw the news about Switzerland suddenly banning UK residents and it just hit me how quickly things can change. There are so many knee jerk reactions right now that it's completely possible that by the end of next week, it will be an automatic ten-day quarantine for anyone coming from abroad regardless of PCR result, or Spain suddenly ban us at the last moment or whatever else. It seems to be complete hysteria, and the last thing I want amid hysteria is to be stuck in a foreign country struggling to get home and then stuck quarantining for days on end.

I had a Plan B of just getting an earlier flight home if things started to tits up but for some reason the flights to London from ALL the airports, even those that are quite a long bus or train ride away from where I'd be staying, are sky high right now. I'd have to fork out 300-400 quid for a new flight, on top of possibly having to pay the rest of my accommodation if I left early. I don't think my travel insurance would cover anything that was technically a 'choice' or done to avoid a quarantine. I'm really irritated that I had literally just paid for my easyjet seats and booked my airport transport right before the press conference but that's nothing compared to the hundreds or thousands I could lose if my trip didn't go to plan.

It's so frustrating. I'm absolutely kicking myself for not just going last week. I thought I was doing the right thing by waiting for my booster to kick in. Won't be making that mistake again.

OP posts:
Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 27/11/2021 23:57

[quote Hairbrush123]@rookiemere know how you feel! I paid £18 for a lateral flow test that is no longer needed and they don’t do refunds! Frustrating but I suppose it could be worse.[/quote]
I wonder if we can still use them in the future? Weird how quickly things change...just a few days ago the news was that they were considering dropping travel testing altogether and now here we are.

OP posts:
Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 00:02

@Clymene

Can you afford to isolate until you get a negative PCR? If you can , id go now. I doubt the situation is going to get better. Winter was always going to be worse with being indoors more but with omnicrom thrown into the mix, all bets are off
I can, but in the past few hours I've gone from being annoyed about the PCR to being genuinely concerned about being stranded abroad or forced to quarantine for ten days regardless of the test result. I don't think I'd enjoy a holiday where I was checking my phone multiple times a day to see what the latest rules were and if I needed to rush home. Absolutely gutted but I've just been unlucky with the timing.
OP posts:
SnowfallSnowball · 28/11/2021 00:07

I’m flying to Barbados on the 12th, there’s no way I’m staying here for another Christmas. Travel is still allowed so I’m off! The PCR coming back is a faff but it doesn’t have to be done until we get back so I guess you can order it whilst away and then take it once you return home or even order it before you fly out.

Kitkat151 · 28/11/2021 00:23

@SnowfallSnowball

I’m flying to Barbados on the 12th, there’s no way I’m staying here for another Christmas. Travel is still allowed so I’m off! The PCR coming back is a faff but it doesn’t have to be done until we get back so I guess you can order it whilst away and then take it once you return home or even order it before you fly out.
The 12th is over 2 weeks away...anything could happen in that time....maybe you won’t be going....no one really knows yet.....things are ramping up fast
Lineofconcepcion · 28/11/2021 00:25

I have lots of friends living in Spain, I did until this summer, and I would go. Have you looked at flights from Gibraltar in case you have to come back. Gib to Gatwick even for the next day don't usually go over 100 unless its xmas.Theres easyjet, BA, plus loads from Malaga or Seville.

SnowfallSnowball · 28/11/2021 00:48

Thanks @Kitkat151, well no one has a crystal ball to know what might happen! I’m just hoping my holiday won’t be cancelled and if I’m stranded over there I won’t be too upset 🤷🏾‍♀️

Original poster
dabbydeedoo · 28/11/2021 01:17

@Lineofconcepcion

I have lots of friends living in Spain, I did until this summer, and I would go. Have you looked at flights from Gibraltar in case you have to come back. Gib to Gatwick even for the next day don't usually go over 100 unless its xmas.Theres easyjet, BA, plus loads from Malaga or Seville.
Yep...flights are already over the 200 or 300 euro mark from lots of those places, and that's BEFORE any kind of announcement about mandatory quarantine or closed borders. Even Gibraltar is £140ish. Madrid prices are beyond ridiculous.

I felt comfortable a few days ago with my Plan B of just being able to book a new flight and come home, but I don't now. Have just spoken to a friend of my partner's who is in the know and he reckons this is going to get much, much worse very quickly. There's a chance I'd still be fine but it's looking unlikely I wouldn't have some kind of problem.

OP posts:
TheAntiGardener · 28/11/2021 01:31

I’d go. I have a holiday booked - first one since 2019 - for February and am concerned things will be greatly more restricted then and for some time after. I have to say that after the last two years of not travelling because I was worried about getting stuck, something changing, etc., I’m now far more bothered about seizing an opportunity to get away. If I had the option of bringing my trip forward to now I’d do it.

I would just think about things like insurance, how things stand with work if that’s relevant.

saleorbouy · 28/11/2021 08:47

As someone who travelled (flights) throughout the previous lockdowns as an essential transport worker I would stay at home.
Countries can change their requirements at anytime and this can mean significant extra costs, airlines stopping services due to scheduling / capacity issues.
The costs of flights and testing will increase as demand dictates, so be prepared to pay significantly more or be stranded.