Where would you go in January?

[megustalacerveza]

I have loads of annual leave to use up and have no idea what to do. Obviously things seem very unstable again now and so booking a holiday abroad is probably not sensible, but I live on my own and the thought of wasting my precious annual leave sitting in a draughty flat with nothing to do is unbearable.

Would you go away and if so, where do you think would be a good bet? I'd love to go somewhere sunny and just completely relax. I have thought of the Caribbean or Mexico but am a bit wary of getting stuck there or having a hard time getting back. Also considering the Canaries or southern Spain. I'm fluent in Spanish so no language barrier if I needed to sort stuff out urgently or stuff went wrong.

I'm single, no kids, triple vaccinated, have (I think) decent travel insurance and an emergency fund of a few grand in case things went tits up. What would you do?

Seville. We sat in the park there on New Years Day 2020 in t shirts drinking wine. Beautiful interesting city, glorious climate, gorgeous food.
A revelation. Would love to go back.

@cptartapp

Seville. We sat in the park there on New Years Day 2020 in t shirts drinking wine. Beautiful interesting city, glorious climate, gorgeous food. A revelation. Would love to go back.

Haha, weirdly enough that's exactly what I'm thinking as my top choice! Only thing is it's a city break kind of vibe and I'm wondering how nice it would be if Omicron turns out to be a thing and masks have to be worn on the street and so on...I was all set for Mallorca in May this year but not the thought of walking around outside with a mask on :( (happy to wear them indoors of course!)

It's hard, and so tempting, but I am not sure in your shoes I would go outside the UK.
What do you normally enjoy doing on holiday?

I've just come back from the Caribbean, twice in recent months . January is peak time as the weather is lovely. There were plenty of people there but there are still bargains to be had due to Covid. I stuck with resort holidays because they're generally not much affected by local lockdowns. In countries I've looked at, hotel bars and restaurants can stay open if the hotel is open, regardless of lockdowns outside the resort. In one place I stayed, a lockdown was applied while I was there which meant that all bars and restaurants elsewhere were closed, though you could still get takeaways. We were still able to hire a car and explore. In another, apart from face masks and hand sanitiser at the buffet, you'd never know anything was different. The trips have enriched my life and I'm very glad I went. Planning another too.
If I were travelling alone, I'd look for a large resort so I could chat to people, and I'd go on Tripadvisor and plan lots of excursions. I'd book my holiday with a large travel agent or holiday company so there was more protection / flexibility.

@Cornucopia55

I've just come back from the Caribbean, twice in recent months . January is peak time as the weather is lovely. There were plenty of people there but there are still bargains to be had due to Covid. I stuck with resort holidays because they're generally not much affected by local lockdowns. In countries I've looked at, hotel bars and restaurants can stay open if the hotel is open, regardless of lockdowns outside the resort. In one place I stayed, a lockdown was applied while I was there which meant that all bars and restaurants elsewhere were closed, though you could still get takeaways. We were still able to hire a car and explore. In another, apart from face masks and hand sanitiser at the buffet, you'd never know anything was different. The trips have enriched my life and I'm very glad I went. Planning another too. If I were travelling alone, I'd look for a large resort so I could chat to people, and I'd go on Tripadvisor and plan lots of excursions. I'd book my holiday with a large travel agent or holiday company so there was more protection / flexibility.

Yep, this is what I was thinking! If I was at a resort and could use the pool, sunbathe and go to the beach, it makes things easier than trying to do a city break when things are closed.

Whereabouts did in the Caribbean did you go? I've considered St Lucia and Barbados. I don't mind taking a test before going but I don't want to do one after arrival.

I went to Antigua and Jamaica. Considered Barbados but a couple of months ago they had a horrible system where if you tested positive for Covid once there, you were sent to a "quarantine hospital" that was like a prison camp. That may have changed now. By contrast, in Antigua I met someone who had developed mild Covid while on holiday there and she was confined to her hotel room and was generally well looked after. She was, fortunately, able to extend her stay and enjoy a normal holiday after quarantining. If you test positive in Jamaica, you isolate in your hotel room or private accommodation.
Tests were not required on arrival in either Antigua or Jamaica.
I have visited Seville over New Year too! My family wasn't as keen on it as other places we've visited as there was so little green space, but it was a nice city to explore on foot. A sensitive teen found the smell of the old drains a bit much but I didn't think it was bad, and the food was brilliant. Cathedral rooftop tour was a hit.
Depends if what you crave is natural beauty or culture and history.

@Cornucopia55

I went to Antigua and Jamaica. Considered Barbados but a couple of months ago they had a horrible system where if you tested positive for Covid once there, you were sent to a "quarantine hospital" that was like a prison camp. That may have changed now. By contrast, in Antigua I met someone who had developed mild Covid while on holiday there and she was confined to her hotel room and was generally well looked after. She was, fortunately, able to extend her stay and enjoy a normal holiday after quarantining. If you test positive in Jamaica, you isolate in your hotel room or private accommodation. Tests were not required on arrival in either Antigua or Jamaica. I have visited Seville over New Year too! My family wasn't as keen on it as other places we've visited as there was so little green space, but it was a nice city to explore on foot. A sensitive teen found the smell of the old drains a bit much but I didn't think it was bad, and the food was brilliant. Cathedral rooftop tour was a hit. Depends if what you crave is natural beauty or culture and history.

Thanks for the info! What was Antigua like? Do you think it would be OK for a woman alone?

Ah yeah, I forgot Seville has little green space. That is a bit offputting. I think I crave anything that isn't my flat, at this point! So desperate just to get away.

Antigua apparently has a low crime rate and lots of Brits who live there say this - I believe them. Driving around felt very safe (OK roads not great but I wasn't scared of crime). The historic English Harbour area would be a good base I think, for someone wanting to explore solo as there's lots to do. Boat trips in Antigua are great. You could go to the sailing school there - it's a charity which raises money by providing teaching / trips for tourists, then teaches local children sailing and swimming for free.

The capital, St John's, is not a tourist town, but a busy, working town with a lot of bustle. Although it has a good reputation, I would not have felt safe exploring there alone.

I'm in Barbados at the moment, highly recommend. If you are vaccinated and have negative pcr before coming then you don't test again on entry. It feels very safe, masks everywhere, even outside (aside from swimming or on your lounger) and everyone adhering. Temperature checks and hand sanitising on entry to restaurants, shops etc. Its not very busy and the weather, water and scenery is an absolute antidote to the past couple of years and UK winter.

Barbados is lovely and would be very safe for a single woman travelling alone. Haven't been during the pandemic though. I would highly recommend Sugar Bay which is an all inclusive resort. Lovely friendly staff, and small enough that you would get chatting to other guests.

@TWmover

I'm in Barbados at the moment, highly recommend. If you are vaccinated and have negative pcr before coming then you don't test again on entry. It feels very safe, masks everywhere, even outside (aside from swimming or on your lounger) and everyone adhering. Temperature checks and hand sanitising on entry to restaurants, shops etc. Its not very busy and the weather, water and scenery is an absolute antidote to the past couple of years and UK winter.

I'd love to go to Barbados, but masks outside is utterly pointless and would put me right off. I felt a bit frustrated about all the hygiene theatre tbh. I'm trained in this area and have worked on a Covid research team, and hand hygiene & temperature taking really isn't where your emphasis should be. The most ridiculous situation was in Antigua airport arrivals, where hundreds of people were kept queueing close together in a packed space indoors while their Covid paperwork was checked carefully, temperatures taken and, I kid you not, hands sanitised twice only a few metres apart. Ventilation on aircraft has been designed to minimise infection risk; that in airports, not necessarily! But the Caribbean is amazing during our winter, so it's worth the effort

Yes I get all that, I too work in health care. It's more the point to me that it's being taken seriously and to be honest I feel fortunate to have been able to come so am happy to wear a mask outdoors or whatever if that's their rules! Each to their own though.