Devon-deciding whether to book some things in advance.

[PumpkinPie2016]

We are going to Devon at the end of July/beginning of August for 2 weeks. We have been to Cornwall in the past but I haven't been to Devon since I was a child. I've had some great ideas for things to do on my other thread.

With covid, a lot of places are currently book ahead only. We were/are hoping that restrictions will still end before we go, however, who knows 🤔

So, I am now trying to decide whether to book a couple of things before we go (some attractions already have bookings for July/August and it will obviously be busy!). I don't plan to schedule every day as we will do a lot of beaches/coast walks etc. But just a couple of key things.

Ordinarily, we would just be spontaneous depending on weather/how we feel but that may be risky!

WWYD? Book ahead or chance it? We go 23rd July btw and it looks increasingly likely that restrictions might remain until just before we go and then who knows.

I would deffo book ahead, just from reading othe threads and talking to friends who have been away in the last few weeks.

What's to lose? If they were activities you would want up do anyway then no money is lost.

In non covid times I took my DC to Paris and we booked the Eiffel Tower (no book, no go up it I reckon) and the Louvre, it was helpful actually as it gave a structure to a couple of the days - so they knew we had to get up and out.

I'm in exactly the same position - Devon, end of July/beginning of August. And we'll be a group of 10. We don't do attractions really, just beach and walks, but if we want to go out to eat, I imagine it's going to be difficult if we don't book in advance.

This exact thing was on the news yesterday- an official from Cornwall council or tourist board saying that you need to book stuff up to three weeks in advance as they are expecting so many visitors

DC came back from holiday in Cornwall on Friday. He had to book up to eat out every day, and sometimes rearrange his planned schedule, if he couldn’t get the restaurant he wanted on a particular day.

Thanks for all of your replies

From what you all say, I am going to book some things. We don't do loads of attractions as we like beaches/walks/pottering in towns but there are a couple of things we would really like to do e.g. our DS really wants to go to Paignton zoo - he's only 7 so would be disappointed if we couldn't get in. We also fancy a Sunday lunch at a pub recommended by the cottage owner so again, probably best I book!

Thanks again

I live in Devon, in a very popular for holidays area and it is absolutely heaving down here already so will probably only get busier. I would definitely recommend booking especially for things like paignton zoo etc. Also if everything is opened up and you have booked ahead you then get to skip queues which is definitely a win.

Ah, I hadn't even thought about being able to skip queues if everything is open and we have booked ahead!

We are going to Devon too but a bit earlier 1-21st July.
I have already booked a few restaurants and will be booking other things once I can get a long term forecast for those dates.

Definitely book. We were in cornwall last summer and had we not booked we would have been really limited in what we could do. Friends weee there at the same time and missed a few things they would have liked to do

10th!
3 weeks in Devon sounds a bit much

We were there over half term, we did book a few things and others we booked there when we were there. The one thing we struggled with was a meal on the Sunday, we found places were closed, only open over lunch or full! So if you want Sunday lunch then yes, book!

Living in Devon, definitely book ahead for attractions and any meals out. It is heaving with holiday makers already and it's only going to get busier.

Definitely book. It will be school holidays so things will sell out.

I’d book activities. I went last July and booked a boat trip, cave tour and paddle boarding. The rest of the time we did walks, pub lunches etc. We had breakfast and dinner at the hotel so that was easy. The booked activities were really good.