Will you visit the UK this summer? (covid)

[Taiyo]

I'm British, but I live in my husband's home country with our 2 young kids.

I haven't been back to the UK since covid started as this country has strict hotel quarantine on return, which I'm just not prepared to do with 2 young kids.

It's now been lifted, so we can do quarantine at home, so I should be ready and happy to go to the UK, but I'm just so worried about the covid situation in the UK at the moment and the airports closing.

A lot of people say omicron is just like a slight cold, but my mum says quite a few people have told her that they were really quite sick with it and obviously some people are still dying (my parents are high-risk).

I just wonder if anyone else is hesitating to travel to the UK for similar reasons?

Also, I know there is a covid section and I wondered about posting there but I really wanted to hear what people who live abroad think as I think people in the UK maybe have a different perspective on things.

We're going in June.

I can understand your fears, I fully expect to get covid while abroad (we're going to a few places) if we don't beforehand. It seems to be really really common to catch it while travelling, I guess you're more likely to visit crowded places and just get out and about more.

We're insured and have contingency plans in place, not much more we can do!

Without knowing where you're from I think it's unlikely countries will start imposing quarantine again if they've already stopped. The trend worldwide seems to be towards relaxing restrictions or letting them go altogether.

I visited last month due to a family emergency and will have to go back again shortly. I didn’t encounter any delays-my flights were fine, although the cabin crew was short-staffed on one flight. I had to see several people and be in a hospital setting several times due to a sick relative, but I managed to stay Covid-free. I did mask up and washed my hands/used hand sanitizer a lot, essentially followed all the recommendations.

I think you’ll be fine, OP, and if you haven’t seen family members for a long time, I think it’s important to go. It made me realize how much I missed them, even though we keep in touch, and I’m glad I went. I’m massively behind at work now and stressed, but I don’t regret it. 😄

We are going in July. Haven't been since August 2019, so can't wait!

OP, covid is everywhere including in the countries that have had really strict rules--unless you are in China right now. You're going to catch this anyway. I would head back and see family. You won't get this time with your family back, and who knows what will happen next year.

The airports are not closing! Busy and a bit chaotic, but perfectly open.

Thanks!

Flight prices have gone up a lot. They were 4,000 pounds but now 7,000 pounds for us all 😥

Re-entry is really strict. We need a PCR test before we can fly back from the UK but they are very particular about the type of PCR test, the wording on the form etc. If there is a mistake, we will be returned on the next flight or have to quarantine.

My main issue is that if one of us tests positive on re-entry, then we will be sent to a COVID hotel for up to 2 weeks where we will not allowed to leave. This is the part that I’m really worried about because it will be hard with the kids. My parents say there is a lot of COVID where they live.

I also realised my passport has almost expired and I’m worried about the time taken for renewals at the moment.

But I really do want to go though. 😔

Totally understand your reticence - it’s not even about actually getting covid, it’s about getting stuck and the financial cost, it’s about getting it and not being able to see the people you travelled to see

for what it’s worth we went Christmas 2020 and summer 2021, we’re actually moving back this summer and it was a stressful and weird (particularly as we landed 2 days before the cancelled Christmas) but we stayed safe and we saw the people we needed to see. In some ways it was prob better than now because everyone was used to testing before seeing each other and masks were still mandatory in places, I would be more wary now of taking the risk and catching it before flying home and getting stuck. But then a lot can change between now and the summer too…

Booked for the end of June and can't wait. I've not been home for 2 years and finally can. I am very excited and not being put off.

We're doing a passport renewal for my son right now, in Azerbaijan - we've been told it takes 3 weeks, which actually seems pretty good to me.

That’s good! The website said up to 10 weeks but applications from abroad could take longer.

I live abroad and went back to the UK for a few weeks this month. I did get covid, but it was fine and Was just a couple of days feeling poorly. Im still glad I went and it was easy to get back into country where we live. You can't stay away forever!

I do get what you are saying but we can’t fly back home unless we all have negative PCR tests and these are strict, so we can only get them done in the city we fly out from which is 2.5 hours drive away. And they have to be done within 72 hours of flying.

So, basically, we drive down, do the PCR tests and drive back. The next day, we can call and get the results and if they are all negative, we can drive down the next day and fly home. We then need to do a PCR test at the airport on arrival and if those are clear, we can go home where we have to quarantine for 3 days and do another PCR test. If that one is clear, then we’re free. But, if anyone tests positive during this process, we kinda screwed and can’t come home until we all test negative, which I heard can take weeks after getting COVID.

Its a ridiculous system and I’m hoping they’ll do away with it, but this is basically what’s making me the most scared to travel to the UK at the moment. It’s tough!

I do get what you are saying but we can’t fly back home unless we all have negative PCR tests and these are strict, so we can only get them done in the city we fly out from which is 2.5 hours drive away. And they have to be done within 72 hours of flying.

So, basically, we drive down, do the PCR tests and drive back. The next day, we can call and get the results and if they are all negative, we can drive down the next day and fly home. We then need to do a PCR test at the airport on arrival and if those are clear, we can go home where we have to quarantine for 3 days and do another PCR test. If that one is clear, then we’re free. But, if anyone tests positive during this process, we kinda screwed and can’t come home until we all test negative, which I heard can take weeks after getting COVID.

Its a ridiculous system and I’m hoping they’ll do away with it, but this is basically what’s making me the most scared to travel to the UK at the moment. It’s tough!

I do get what you are saying but we can’t fly back home unless we all have negative PCR tests and these are strict, so we can only get them done in the city we fly out from which is 2.5 hours drive away. And they have to be done within 72 hours of flying.

So, basically, we drive down, do the PCR tests and drive back. The next day, we can call and get the results and if they are all negative, we can drive down the next day and fly home. We then need to do a PCR test at the airport on arrival and if those are clear, we can go home where we have to quarantine for 3 days and do another PCR test. If that one is clear, then we’re free. But, if anyone tests positive during this process, we kinda screwed and can’t come home until we all test negative, which I heard can take weeks after getting COVID.

Its a ridiculous system and I’m hoping they’ll do away with it, but this is basically what’s making me the most scared to travel to the UK at the moment. It’s tough!

I wouldn't bother if I were you.

There are obviously too many hurdles for you and you are stressing about it therefore you won't enjoy the visit and will be panicked the whole time.

Things in the UK are chugging along pretty much as normal now. Yes people are getting Covid and most are totally fine. Things are not grinding to a halt. If you're fully vaccinated you have to start living a normal life at some point.

I'm guessing you are in a country that has very little experience of Covid (NZ for example). So stay put.

Some horror stories for you... I'm in Singapore and only went at Christmas because they changed the rules so that if you were positive on arrival back here you had to isolate at home for 5 days, which seemed like a reasonable amount. In the end, around 50% of my colleagues had to do this (25 people) as they were still testing positive from infections up to six weeks earlier! They tested negative on departure from the UK, but the SG test was more sensitive. If this might be the case where you are and the result is hotel or facility quarantine, I wouldn't go. Too risky. We actually only stayed for 5 days in the UK at Christmas and then went somewhere wih much lower covid rates as we didn't want to risk the cost of being stuck away and missing work. I then went again at Easter, caught covid, and had 8 days in bed of a 10 day holiday. Rubbish!

Having said that, many airlines (KLM and SIA for sure) are doing guaranteed flexibility and free changes for covid reasons, so you can eliminate some risk that way. Covid is also basically going to be around for ages, so you can't wait it out. Its also quicker to do a passport renewal in the UK as you can do it in person. I also know a ton of people who've been to the UK and not had any problems, so you could well have the same experience!

It's really tough though when in a strict country, I get it. The worry about quarantine or getting stuck and the financial worries and stress alongside that are huge. Hopefully the country wherever you are were at least slacken off on the hotel quarantine requirement as that might make it feasible. Good luck!

I am in the opposite situation than you. I live in the U.K. but want to go back to my home country.
I can related to your worries about PCR etc… as this is what I had last year when I wanted to travel back.

The way I see it, you gave two issues.

• the issue of rules changing, needing negative PCR tests etc… It’s stressful and you have no way to mitigate for that. Hard to say if the rules will change again for the worst apart from the fact things are finally SLOWLY settling down again here. So by the summer, I’d hope it will be better.

• thé Covid levels in the U.K. I wouldn’t worry about your parents. Seeing there are no rules here anymore, they are likely to catch covid from anywhere and I’m not sure you would increase the risk for them by taking the plane and coming to see them. But that means that just right now there are still many cases and you might not feel ‘as safe’ if you are used to everyone wearing masks etc….

Having said all that, you haven’t seen them for two+ years. And I know I’ve made that my priority.

@Taiyo I’d be careful about number of cases.
Number if cases are not recorded anymore here. The one thing that is still reliable is hospital cases and these are going down (started with the start of the school hills) so it’s NOT linked with a decrease of cases because of the school hols.

I’d say the chances of catching it on the plane or through the airport are pretty high, and it depends on what you want to do in the U.K. just staying with family/outside attractions fine. Going into any cafe/pub etc then you are taking the risk. I completely get you don’t want to quarantine when You fly home/risk missing your flight, people in the U.K. won’t get what that’s like in other places.

Sorry, don't know why that posted so many times.

I'm in Japan, so opening up borders isn't a huge priority here.

I think waiting until next year might be safer, but I thought that last year, so who knows?

One possibility is that the government may relax entry after the summer holidays, so we could just take 2 weeks off in autumn and go then when it's quieter, but my mum will definitely give me shit for only coming over for 2 weeks.

They could come here, but Japan still isn't issuing tourist visas yet. So, actually, they can't yet.

It really sucks, doesn't it?

I wouldn't go in your current circumstances, if you need to be home and out of quarantineby a certain date. If one of you is infected, it could take weeks (and weeks!) for everyone else in your group to catch it and have a clear PCR on the other side.

I'm flying tonight against my better judgement, it feels like they'd onto care if people get it. Where I am, we take care not to spread it and still have some restrictions. I need to see my parents and also have to sign for a house purchase I am not exactly looking forward to it. I wouldn't fly economy at the moment, I am lucky that Qatar Airways have all suites now so the proximity to coughers is minimised and yes I know its the air recycling also but I always get a cougher or vomiter

One huge difference between my recent trip and your potential trip is that there’s four of you going and I was alone-so if I’d tested positive, it would only have been me isolating.

As you say, it’s much harder when children are involved. I’d have sucked it up and I brought my laptop so I could work remotely if the worst happened. I can understand your dilemma. 💐

It's a horrid situation OP. I got caught up in a red list rule change and had to do hotel quarantine. It was a shocking and deeply traumatic experience. Could you be flexible enough to plan to say here long enough to test negative, should you catch covid?

Is there no cases of covid in japan then ?

It's hard for me to take a lot of time off work and definitely puts pressure on my co-workers. If I have to, I have to. I do feel most countries are starting to open up, so hopefully Japan will open up more too. They are just more cautious about things, I guess.

But, it's hard because my parents are getting older and I don't know if I will ever see them again and you just don't know how the situation will progress with covid, whether things will get better or worse.