Summer holidays 2020

[PushedDover]

Jaguar steve said:

Split coast region and the offshore islands is a great cruising area. Done that several times. Not sure about the weather late Sept though.

Interesting - I have done a week there once, mid-September. Only charter where we wore hoodies, and had a day below decks for the rain.

More than bad luck ?

[Jaguar steve]

PushedDover said:

Jaguar steve said:

Split coast region and the offshore islands is a great cruising area. Done that several times. Not sure about the weather late Sept though.

Interesting - I have done a week there once, mid-September. Only charter where we wore hoodies, and had a day below decks for the rain.

More than bad luck ?

All our charter trips in Croatia have been in June before the peak season and before it gets too hot. I think we've only had a few spits of rain in all the days of wall to wall sunshine. Rarely enough wind to make sailing interesting though and on the last charter we had ten whole days of glassy flat calm.

Was going to try sailing the Ionian this year but that's not happening now

[elise2000]

PushedDover said:

bump - Update on the Yacht Charter. Toying with taking it late September, Croatia.
Drive there. NorthWest UK to Split is 24hrs non stop.
RIsk during a drive there is low. Supplies on board and go self isolate for two weeks floating in the med.......

Genuine planning being formed with the lads. (not withstanding four flights at £300 equates to a lot of Fuel and on board beers)

It’s a great drive down- done it many times. The best way we’ve found to do it is take an evening eurotunnel, then spend the night in Calais or just over the border into Belgium. Next day blast through Germany and stay at treffen in Austria- nice hotel called hotel educare. Then finish off the drive the following day.

[elise2000]

Jaguar steve said:

Split coast region and the offshore islands is a great cruising area. Done that several times. Not sure about the weather late Sept though.

Split until early oct is normally still nice and warm.

[Downward]

Old O Leary at Ryanair says he is re starting travel from July.

Assuming the countries allow this ?

What a mess. Flights are already booked and filled for July and August so it’s going to be interesting.
Some countries may allow flights from the UK but not sure why they would. Oh and he doesn’t seem to think us having to isolate for 14 days when we arrive back after our 2 weeks holiday will be a problem. Not sure how my employer will react to this. Seems like it’s a no win situation for a holiday that no one will enjoy or wants at this present time.

[GT72]

Downward said:

Old O Leary at Ryanair says he is re starting travel from July.

Assuming the countries allow this ?

What a mess. Flights are already booked and filled for July and August so it’s going to be interesting.
Some countries may allow flights from the UK but not sure why they would. Oh and he doesn’t seem to think us having to isolate for 14 days when we arrive back after our 2 weeks holiday will be a problem. Not sure how my employer will react to this. Seems like it’s a no win situation for a holiday that no one will enjoy or wants at this present time.

Presumably that's just a cashflow decision, all the flights they'll be running will have been booked and paid for months ago. If they cancel the flights they'll have to pay back the money. I have visions of planes taking off with a handful of passengers. Either that or they'll allow passengers to move the booking, whilst retaining their cash and cancel the flights last minute.

We have Easyjet flights booked in August - we've cancelled the villa we'd booked and have every expectation that Easyjet won't cancel the flights and we'll therefore need to move our booking. Or if they do cancel they'll do so 24 hours before departure.

[PushedDover]

annnnd how will the Insurance Policies be, making bookkings now under the cloud of COVID ?

[BevR]

Matt Hancock said:

“And the conclusion from that is that it’s unlikely big lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer. I just think that’s a reality of life.”

Artcle here


That is going to send an awful lot of local travel agents, hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions etc... under by the end of the season.

[75Black]

BevR said:

Artcle here


That is going to send an awful lot of local travel agents, hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions etc... under by the end of the season.

The issue I have with that article is he's speaking on behalf of other countries which so far haven't ruled out tourism this summer season. Portugal for example is planning to be fully re-open by July, and flights in late August are aplenty and very cheap to the Algarve for example with plenty of rooms in hotels on Booking.com, or even AirBnB..and well, I'm quite tempted.

[elise2000]

I think with this quarantine thing they’ve underestimated the number of people who won’t be working over the summer. I think there’s many like myself who will go away for a couple of weeks and easily be able to self isolate for a couple of weeks on their return.

[NDA]

elise2000 said:

I think there’s many like myself who will go away for a couple of weeks and easily be able to self isolate for a couple of weeks on their return.

And there will be many saying they will isolate - but won't bother.

[GT72]

75Black said:

BevR said:

Artcle here


That is going to send an awful lot of local travel agents, hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions etc... under by the end of the season.

The issue I have with that article is he's speaking on behalf of other countries which so far haven't ruled out tourism this summer season. Portugal for example is planning to be fully re-open by July, and flights in late August are aplenty and very cheap to the Algarve for example with plenty of rooms in hotels on Booking.com, or even AirBnB..and well, I'm quite tempted.

What happens if you do go and contract CV-19? Insurers have already said they won't cover CV-19 claims, would you have to pay for any hospital treatment privately?

I'm pretty relaxed about catching CV-19, if I'm honest I would rather I get it sooner rather than later. However, I'm not sure I'd fancy catching it in a foreign country where I'd potentially have to pay for any medical treatment myself.

[elise2000]

NDA said:

And there will be many saying they will isolate - but won't bother.

Yep.

Not sure how this quarantine thing works with the exception for if you’ve been to France. What if, like me, you’ve come from France but were in several other countries beforehand? You’d hope they’d be checking this.

[Bill]

GT72 said:

What happens if you do go and contract CV-19? Insurers have already said they won't cover CV-19 claims, would you have to pay for any hospital treatment privately?

I'm pretty relaxed about catching CV-19, if I'm honest I would rather I get it sooner rather than later. However, I'm not sure I'd fancy catching it in a foreign country where I'd potentially have to pay for any medical treatment myself.

Or there's a spike in the country you arrive in and the lock you down. Or while you're away the government works out people aren't isolating like they should so you get shut in an airport hotel for a fortnight on your return.

[alfabeat]

Greece is really pushing for a quick return to normality to save its tourism sector: https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2020/05/12/greec...

[Coolbananas]

GT72 said:

75Black said:

BevR said:

Artcle here


That is going to send an awful lot of local travel agents, hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions etc... under by the end of the season.

The issue I have with that article is he's speaking on behalf of other countries which so far haven't ruled out tourism this summer season. Portugal for example is planning to be fully re-open by July, and flights in late August are aplenty and very cheap to the Algarve for example with plenty of rooms in hotels on Booking.com, or even AirBnB..and well, I'm quite tempted.

What happens if you do go and contract CV-19? Insurers have already said they won't cover CV-19 claims, would you have to pay for any hospital treatment privately?

I'm pretty relaxed about catching CV-19, if I'm honest I would rather I get it sooner rather than later. However, I'm not sure I'd fancy catching it in a foreign country where I'd potentially have to pay for any medical treatment myself.

Getting it in the Algarve? We had 412 cases and 14 deaths across the entire region. Stuff all.

However, while tourism is very much encouraged from next month, we do have strict social distancing rules to keep it that way.
1. A mask is compulsory in any public venue - shopping, hotels etc. Cheap, easy to get hold of.
2. 2m distancing mandatory and enforced everywhere. It isn't like the UK where people are ignoring en-masse.
3. Gloves optional, some provide.
4. Sanitiser largely optional, some provide and encourage others enforce. In restaurants it will be mandatory I understand. They reopen from the 18th.
5. Hotels and B&B's etc will have their own rules to abide by.

The beaches are currently being debated. Whilst they will be open from June 1st, councils are deciding how to enforce the 2m rule. They have proposed hiring security to work alongside lifeguards, running ropes and literally creating pockets you can sit in, counters to work out how many people have entered so that a shut off limit can be reached and timed visits. All a bit up in the air but suffice to say, it won't be simply go to the beach and expect crowds - but surely actually nicer too.

I predict August will still be a busy time here, Portuguese from up North and Spanish tourists will flock to the region as will many from all over Europe with holiday homes here. The question will be how many come from the UK, Ireland, Holland etc. and the expectation isn't high but all very much welcome.

[EddieSteadyGo]

GT72 said:

What happens if you do go and contract CV-19? Insurers have already said they won't cover CV-19 claims, would you have to pay for any hospital treatment privately?

I'm pretty relaxed about catching CV-19, if I'm honest I would rather I get it sooner rather than later. However, I'm not sure I'd fancy catching it in a foreign country where I'd potentially have to pay for any medical treatment myself.

I think this is going to get to the top of the government's list as we get into summer, presuming the relaxation of the lockdown goes to plan.

As you say, insurance companies are not covering covid for trips booked after mid March. We had two weeks of skiing in Easter booked and we have claimed for that. Plus we have two weeks in Disney planned in August which we may also have to claim for. However, after that we will be on our own.

I have spoken to the owner of the chalet we plan to rent for a few weeks over next winter, and said a condition of our booking will be that the covid risk has to be with them. I've explained that anyone else who might book will have the same problem - if it flares up over winter no one will be covered as things stand. They are thinking what they want to do...

[anonymous-user]

EddieSteadyGo said:

GT72 said:

What happens if you do go and contract CV-19? Insurers have already said they won't cover CV-19 claims, would you have to pay for any hospital treatment privately?

I'm pretty relaxed about catching CV-19, if I'm honest I would rather I get it sooner rather than later. However, I'm not sure I'd fancy catching it in a foreign country where I'd potentially have to pay for any medical treatment myself.

I think this is going to get to the top of the government's list as we get into summer, presuming the relaxation of the lockdown goes to plan.

As you say, insurance companies are not covering covid for trips booked after mid March. We had two weeks of skiing in Easter booked and we have claimed for that. Plus we have two weeks in Disney planned in August which we may also have to claim for. However, after that we will be on our own.

I have spoken to the owner of the chalet we plan to rent for a few weeks over next winter, and said a condition of our booking will be that the covid risk has to be with them. I've explained that anyone else who might book will have the same problem - if it flares up over winter no one will be covered as things stand. They are thinking what they want to do...

Are you sure that’s correct? Aren’t different companies doing different things? Or is yours due to your age or health or something?

Are you just not covered due to current foreign office advice? Or has your insurer stated that even if the foreign office change advice they still won’t cover you?

Seems like a good way for some insurers to make some money bearing in mind hospitalisation is so rare for most people.

Presumably they could base it on your age etc?

[EddieSteadyGo]

El stovey said:

Are you sure that’s correct? Aren’t different companies doing different things? Or is yours due to your age or health or something?

Are you just not covered due to current foreign office advice? Or has your insurer stated that even if the foreign office change advice they still won’t cover you?

Seems like a good way for some insurers to make some money bearing in mind hospitalisation is so rare for most people.

Presumably they could base it on your age etc?

I'm certain as it applies to my travel insurance. I'm not certain whether every insurance company is following the same approach.

With my policy, I checked specifically. The first part is easy - anything booked when the Foreign Office has advised against it, isn't covered, if you can't go ahead for that reason. That's pretty standard I think.

However, specifically for covid, let's say you can't go for example because suddenly next December a town starts applying movement restrictions due to covid. That's unlikely, but also possible, I think. If the trip was booked before 16th March, with my policy you could claim. If booked after 16th March, it isn't covered.

This is what I think the government will need to get to grips with once the more pressing issues have been dealt with. Otherwise many people I think will choose not to travel due to lack of travel insurance cover, rather than because of the actual risk.

[anonymous-user]

Sure but I meant the bit where you said everyone would have the same problem to the chalet owner. Presumably it depends on their insurance?