Summer holidays 2020
Discussion
clio007 said:
Turkey is around 13.7 per 100k so still a while away.
I would guesstimate that it would be added at some time in mid-october looking at the trend
Don't.I would guesstimate that it would be added at some time in mid-october looking at the trend
I wanted to be on a flight there today to cold beers and boats. the guys I was going with fannied out 3 weeks ago 'in case'.
Be interested to hear from those that have been on holiday, be it a week in the sun or city breaks abroad as to what it's actually like 'out there' 
I'd get on a flight tomorrow if I knew the destination was as 'normal' as it was a year ago, don't mind it a bit quieter in the fight for sunbeds but I don't want one choice on the all you can eat buffet and a roped off pool.
What are restaurants like in the major European cities, pre-booked tables only, or are walk ins welcome?
Are hotel breakfasts the normal buffet or is it a bowl of cornflakes in your room?
I'd get on a flight tomorrow if I knew the destination was as 'normal' as it was a year ago, don't mind it a bit quieter in the fight for sunbeds but I don't want one choice on the all you can eat buffet and a roped off pool.
What are restaurants like in the major European cities, pre-booked tables only, or are walk ins welcome?
Are hotel breakfasts the normal buffet or is it a bowl of cornflakes in your room?
Had a week in Switzerland (Interlaken region) late Aug/early Sept. Eurostar and TGV to get there, overnight transit in Paris on the way back.
Switzerland - masks everywhere, sanitiser at the entrance of all shops/establishments/supermarkets. Social distancing in all pubs/restaurants. Track and trace in place - no filly outy, no service. Felt safe and calm out there. Everyone playing by the rules and being sensible with it.
Paris - complete s
t show. Felt very vulnerable, no social distancing, no track and trace that we could see, masks seemed to be optional and if worn it seems under the chin is de rigeur. The hotel was better - breakfast buffet was replaced by table service.
Eurostar - couldn't fault their measures, one row in about 3 or 4 in use.
TGV - masks compulsory but no social distancing on the train.
UK Form - duly filled out prior to return. Not once asked for it or evidence we'd completed it by UK Border at Eurostar checkin. No subsequent follow up either.
Switzerland - masks everywhere, sanitiser at the entrance of all shops/establishments/supermarkets. Social distancing in all pubs/restaurants. Track and trace in place - no filly outy, no service. Felt safe and calm out there. Everyone playing by the rules and being sensible with it.
Paris - complete s
t show. Felt very vulnerable, no social distancing, no track and trace that we could see, masks seemed to be optional and if worn it seems under the chin is de rigeur. The hotel was better - breakfast buffet was replaced by table service.Eurostar - couldn't fault their measures, one row in about 3 or 4 in use.
TGV - masks compulsory but no social distancing on the train.
UK Form - duly filled out prior to return. Not once asked for it or evidence we'd completed it by UK Border at Eurostar checkin. No subsequent follow up either.
raceboy said:
Be interested to hear from those that have been on holiday, be it a week in the sun or city breaks abroad as to what it's actually like 'out there'
I'd get on a flight tomorrow if I knew the destination was as 'normal' as it was a year ago, don't mind it a bit quieter in the fight for sunbeds but I don't want one choice on the all you can eat buffet and a roped off pool.
What are restaurants like in the major European cities, pre-booked tables only, or are walk ins welcome?
Are hotel breakfasts the normal buffet or is it a bowl of cornflakes in your room?
I flew out to Dubrovnik for 8 days the same weekend Croatia was added back to the quarantine list. Felt a lot more normal than here to say the least, I can't speak for hotels as I booked an AirBnB so had a whole 2 floor apartment to myself, restaurants were fine, you could come and go as you please and masks were only needed in shops/public transport. Bars in the old town were heaving come evening and the cable car to the top of Mt Srd was very popular during sunset. I only went to the local beach once but it was pretty packed. I'm more of a "sit in the sea" type rather than a tanner, but was also travelling solo. All in all it done wonders for my mental wellbeing and would go back tomorrow if I could.I'd get on a flight tomorrow if I knew the destination was as 'normal' as it was a year ago, don't mind it a bit quieter in the fight for sunbeds but I don't want one choice on the all you can eat buffet and a roped off pool.
What are restaurants like in the major European cities, pre-booked tables only, or are walk ins welcome?
Are hotel breakfasts the normal buffet or is it a bowl of cornflakes in your room?
raceboy said:
Be interested to hear from those that have been on holiday, be it a week in the sun or city breaks abroad as to what it's actually like 'out there'
I'd get on a flight tomorrow if I knew the destination was as 'normal' as it was a year ago, don't mind it a bit quieter in the fight for sunbeds but I don't want one choice on the all you can eat buffet and a roped off pool.
What are restaurants like in the major European cities, pre-booked tables only, or are walk ins welcome?
Are hotel breakfasts the normal buffet or is it a bowl of cornflakes in your room?
Turkey. Kemer. Actually forgot Covid was a thing apart from masks in the buffet and that’s what everyone talks about! I'd get on a flight tomorrow if I knew the destination was as 'normal' as it was a year ago, don't mind it a bit quieter in the fight for sunbeds but I don't want one choice on the all you can eat buffet and a roped off pool.
What are restaurants like in the major European cities, pre-booked tables only, or are walk ins welcome?
Are hotel breakfasts the normal buffet or is it a bowl of cornflakes in your room?
Detail back on previous posts. But it was brilliant.
Robertj21a said:
princeperch said:
For one reason and another I've booked flights to Turkey at the end of may/start of June 2021.What do we think the chances are that my holiday will go ahead without needing to go into self isolation on return in 9ish months time?
Nobody will have a clue at present.raceboy said:
Be interested to hear from those that have been on holiday, be it a week in the sun or city breaks abroad as to what it's actually like 'out there'
We did 9 nights in Puglia at the start of September and by God it was wonderful. Most towns were small so we stayed in 5 different places, a mix of apartments, B&B size places and larger hotels. We live and work in London and ride the tube to work a few days a week at the moment so our risk appetite might be different to yours.BA flights were fine although the back of my ears was getting sore after having a mask on in the taxi, in the airport, in the plane and in the airport. Probably be me but I'd look at getting a mask that ties around the head next time. Vast majority of people on the plane are abiding by the mask rules although you get knobs everywhere. No booze in cattle class was no fun and the BA lounge was table service.
We rented a Fiat 500 or similar and got a free "upgrade" to a Fiat Panda.
Can't blame The 'Rona for that though.Mask rules in Italy are you have to wear them inside all places except when sat at your table which I find really sensible. After a couple of days it just becomes second nature to put your mask on when going inside. Probably 90% of people are respecting these rules. You also have to wear a mask between 6pm and 10pm outside for passeggiata.
All breakfast was either table service or stand in line and tell the man what you'd like type rather than buffet.
Tourist numbers seemed pretty high, irritatingly so on a weekend. Vast majority of them were Italian.
We are booked to go to Kos on the 10th October but I have noticed that the 7 day infection rate in Greece has increased to 20 today (been hovering around 18 for a while).
Even though 7 Greek islands are already on the quarantine list, do we think that this statistic will force the Government to simply put Greece as a whole on the list?
Even though 7 Greek islands are already on the quarantine list, do we think that this statistic will force the Government to simply put Greece as a whole on the list?
Humpy D said:
We are booked to go to Kos on the 10th October but I have noticed that the 7 day infection rate in Greece has increased to 20 today (been hovering around 18 for a while).
Even though 7 Greek islands are already on the quarantine list, do we think that this statistic will force the Government to simply put Greece as a whole on the list?
Although the 20/100k is the benchmark, it doesn't seem to be the end game. Denmark, for example, escaped the naughty list last week.Even though 7 Greek islands are already on the quarantine list, do we think that this statistic will force the Government to simply put Greece as a whole on the list?
We have just come back at the weekend from a week in Italy, everyone on the plane had a mask on no probs (ba) and the service was great, just cabin crew passing a bag with a bottle of water, pack of biscuits and some crisps to everyone.
In Italy you had to wear a mask in shops which wasn't a problem and also after 6pm in places like beach promenades. Near perfect compliance that we saw in our resort.
Overall felt very safe but also VERY quiet.
In Italy you had to wear a mask in shops which wasn't a problem and also after 6pm in places like beach promenades. Near perfect compliance that we saw in our resort.
Overall felt very safe but also VERY quiet.
blue_haddock said:
Overall felt very safe but also VERY quiet.
I moved to my house in Spain to escape WFH in dreary England early(ish) days of covid. Aside from those few weeks between flights re-starting and quarantine then being introduced its very quiet. My area is fortunately populated by many year-round residents so its not entirely dead, but the vibe feels more like it does in mid-winter than it did in mid-summer. Sad to see in some ways, lovely in other ways 
One odd thing was that I took a flight last week to Copenhagen where my partner's family live. The flight from Spain to Denmark was empty, but my return flight was almost full. My partner today flew from Denmark to the UK and reported the same. Perhaps the Scandis are deciding enough is enough and are off to enjoy their jollies.
Edited by Shnozz on Tuesday 22 September 19:11
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