Is anyone feeling nervous about their 21/22 ski trip?

[StolenAwayOn55thand3rd]

I realise that I'm probably being silly. I fully recognise that covid has made me a bit irrationally anxious about crowds, busy places, etc. So on that note... We have a large and normally busy resort in France booked (booked pre covid and shifted from last year to this). We're going to a catered chalet with DH's family which includes his child free siblings who will want to go out partying.
I'm a bit worried about ski resorts being covid hotbeds this winter (remembering Whistler last year) and what will happen if we end up with it - we won't be able to travel home presumably so where will we stay? Not to mention the possibility of actually getting ill, though DH and I are both vaccinated so I know that's unlikely.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else is having similar thoughts or if I'm being really foolish.

We are not going to book France again, their lightening 'new' rules with no notice whatsoever and the anti British sentiment from the government down has really put me off, despite the ease of travelling there. We are looking at Switzerland for half term.

We don't really know what way it is going to go, omicron might be milder and there may be a new variant that pops up that isn't so mild. Omicron might be mild in the young and healthy but still have the capacity to kill others. There is not enough data. It makes travelling with confidence really difficult.

@reallyagain

Hopefully - given their own numbers it's senseless surely

You need to give it another day or two to make that call..

If the French numbers are an artifact of the massive pre-Christmas testing rush and then they drop again then there is a case for continued restrictions…I have to say I suspect there isn’t going to be a drop.

If there isn’t a drop then you make a valid point and I think there will be increasing domestic pressure for some relaxation on the restrictions on tourism.

Unfortunately taking control of borders is always going to be an emotive issue.

I see no anti British sentiment. I see standard treatment of a third country outside the EU with a different approach to covid, vaccination of children, and very high case rates. People are obsessed with Macron being anti British but don’t look at all the restrictions/testing our government placed on foreign citizens visiting the U.K. @Fairylights25 perhaps you haven’t been following Switzerland quite so closely but last summer we had to cancel our holiday with a few weeks to go as they imposed a fortnight quarantine on all unvaccinated visitors (ie our children) with no notice at all. Then in early December the Swiss immediately banned visitors from the U.K. and this even impacted people trying to fly via GVA for a short time. Both bans have been changed since but the point stands. Countries do what they think they need to to protect their own populations against new variants or high case rates. Not worth taking it personally!

Correcting my own error, of course it was a ten day quarantine imposed by the Swiss including on transit passengers (not an outright ban) but for those looking to take a holiday the effect was the same…

France have more cases than us! Many more thousands, so it is utterly stupid to bring in any restrictions.

And more pathetic still to instruct French border guards to prevent citizens with residency the right to drive across France. I am not interested in going to France for sure after their antics this year! It is deeply offensive. I will go anywhere else where we will be welcome and looked after - and we always have an amazing time in Switzerland.

Remember UK has the 'isolate to your results are back rule' too so we aren't exactly welcoming tourists with open arms!)

Well I have just booked a family holiday to Italy on the 22nd Jan - have everything crossed that the rules remained as is . Just now waiting on the certificate for my double vaccinated 12 year old !

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Remember UK has the 'isolate to your results are back rule' too so we aren't exactly welcoming tourists with open arms!)

Yep, asmany Brits resident abroad will attest the rules were asymmetric the other way, so to speak, for most of 2021 but suddenly, only now, it appears any asymmetry is being noticed..

Also France is not alone in imposing restrictions at v short notice…..

We are very much in two minds here. While the French restrictions remain we can’t go on our half term trip to Austria as we need to drive for 45 minutes across France. But even if they’re lifted, I’m not sure I can bear the tension and testing. We’ve managed two overseas trips in the last two years and both were affected by changes/lockdowns/quarantines, and I think I just can’t face it again,

BUT the kids are so keen and excited.

I'm looking at Tenerife accommodation for Feb half term at the minute.

Discovered basement bargain flights there with Ryanair and Spain seems a lot more welcoming than France at the minute.

We're planning on going to the indoor ski slope tomorrow so at least we'll get some snow action !

Spain have introduced masks outside, I am not sure if you are aware of that rook? I think that is why the holidays are so cheap

www.marketwatch.com/story/spain-to-re-introduce-mandatory-masks-outdoors-amid-record-surge-in-covid-cases-01640240627

Anyone travelling to Abu dhabi and ME in general should also read the very heavy restrictions required to stay there.

I am hoping by Easter things will have eased everywhere, and we can enjoy the snow and sun before it is too late.

Thanks @Fairylights25 . Unfortunately we can't really delay until Easter - which would be the best scenario- due to DS exams, but actually maybe it's something I need to investigate more seriously.

Spoke to DS yesterday- he's very keen to go skiing and so are we. He got his second vaccine last week ( he's 15) so if the French lift their UK ban it might be possible. Accommodation needs to be cancelled by 28th Jan for a full refund but Easyjet flights can be moved until the last minute.

I've booked the ski hire packages anyway as they are fully cancellable until a day before.

Not cut out for this are we/aren't we for a holiday, it sucks all the joy out of it and we didn't go to the snowdome as DH wasn't that keen and it's an hours trip each way.

We are meant to be going to France on Saturday and thought it was off pending the review today. French government have just announced they are going to be reducing restrictions! Now stuck waiting further info and in a limbo where hotel won’t refund etc as we could be there on Monday but not Saturday. I think this is now worse than just full cancellation.

@AppleTree16

We are meant to be going to France on Saturday and thought it was off pending the review today. French government have just announced they are going to be reducing restrictions! Now stuck waiting further info and in a limbo where hotel won’t refund etc as we could be there on Monday but not Saturday. I think this is now worse than just full cancellation.

Link courtesy of another poster, another thread.

www.thelocal.fr/20220105/covid-19-travel-restrictions-between-france-and-uk-set-to-be-eased/

Worth considering the possible timescale and the rumours that it will be a gentle relaxation of rules, possibly starting with easing travel for those traveling for professional reasons.

Good luck

Do you think this frees up skiing then?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59977978