Has anyone booked any continental holidays yet?

[Register1]

El stovey said:

Register1 said:

We will both have had our 2nd jabs by 14th June.

Whats the thinking that Turkey, Marmaris will be a good chance flying out middle of July?

Risky or go for the bookings ?

R1

I think the European destinations that will open up with the least restrictions will likely be Greece and Turkey and possibly parts of Spain like the canaries as happened last year.

Not much risk though if you book something with a decent cancellation policy?

Thanks,
Easyjet flights for both of us, £518, Loveholidays S/C apartment £190 for 10 days.
Might just go for it.

[popeyewhite]

Register1 said:

Great flights price

Presumably he's taking no bags at all, or pre-booking food or seats? IIRC it's £40 pp, each way, for 23 kg hold luggage with EJ.

[Clifford Chambers]

El stovey said:

Register1 said:

We will both have had our 2nd jabs by 14th June.

Whats the thinking that Turkey, Marmaris will be a good chance flying out middle of July?

Risky or go for the bookings ?

R1

I think the European destinations that will open up with the least restrictions will likely be Greece and Turkey and possibly parts of Spain like the canaries as happened last year.

Not much risk though if you book something with a decent cancellation policy?

Israel will be touting itself as the summer destination.

[loafer123]

Germany is now allowing travel to Majorca.

Definitely one to avoid.

[Bluemondy]

We booked flights with BA for Budapest 1st week of December, hopefully things will be well and truly up and running by then,
and a trip to Iceland in January.

If, and I think it's a big if, things are opening and looking good we may take a last minute trip somewhere close
via eurotunnel or ferry. I'm hanking for the Black Forest region of germany in July.

[anonymous-user]

Turkey looking to open up without vaccinations and possibly not PCR tests either.

https://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?c=setr...

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said:

We are working with the British authorities to ensure these necessary processes are world-class and as up-to-date as possible," he said.


Proof of vaccination will not be required.


"After 15 April, we will look at the number of cases again, we will re-evaluate the situation and then decide if we will continue to require negative PCR test results from British citizens entering the country."


"I expect there will be no such requirement from British visitors as the UK Government is rapidly and impressively rolling out the vaccination programme for the whole nation, and a significant portion of the population will be vaccinated by early summer," Ersoy added.

[paolow]

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

[Deep Thought]

paolow said:

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

What makes you think its quite a risk?

[Welshbeef]

Clifford Chambers said:

Israel will be touting itself as the summer destination.

It would be sadly all the beaches which were stunning are all ruined by the huge oil and tar spill. They believe it will take ten years to recover and restore.

[Welshbeef]

Deep Thought said:

paolow said:

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

What makes you think its quite a risk?

Possibly due to the third wave that is just starting to hit all over Europe currently.

They could have mass lockdowns making holidays not possible.

[Deep Thought]

Welshbeef said:

Deep Thought said:

paolow said:

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

What makes you think its quite a risk?

Possibly due to the third wave that is just starting to hit all over Europe currently.

They could have mass lockdowns making holidays not possible.

You'd get a refund then.

[Welshbeef]

Deep Thought said:

Welshbeef said:

Deep Thought said:

paolow said:

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

What makes you think its quite a risk?

Possibly due to the third wave that is just starting to hit all over Europe currently.

They could have mass lockdowns making holidays not possible.

You'd get a refund then.

You would but if it’s not in lockdown but infection rates are soaring you might choose not to go that’s when it’s a risk.

[paolow]

Deep Thought said:

Welshbeef said:

Deep Thought said:

paolow said:

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

What makes you think its quite a risk?

Possibly due to the third wave that is just starting to hit all over Europe currently.

They could have mass lockdowns making holidays not possible.

You'd get a refund then.

Just its a case of shifting sands - it could all be good up until the date and then a local lockdown hits, airline falls over etc etc

[popeyewhite]

Welshbeef said:

Clifford Chambers said:

Israel will be touting itself as the summer destination.

It would be sadly all the beaches which were stunning are all ruined by the huge oil and tar spill. They believe it will take ten years to recover and restore.

Some of the beaches down on The Red Sea are a worthwhile alternative. Some are still almost completely deserted. It's awful about the west coast beaches though. I think Israel has concluded the pollution was deliberate.

[Welshbeef]

paolow said:

Deep Thought said:

Welshbeef said:

Deep Thought said:

paolow said:

Booked for Europe in the summer holiday. Both of us will be innoculated (with both injections) by then but its still quite a risk.

That said the prices are so inexpensive for a school holiday break I think it is worth the gamble - 2019 prices were 2.5x the cost. If it comes to nothing I can live with that?

What makes you think its quite a risk?

Possibly due to the third wave that is just starting to hit all over Europe currently.

They could have mass lockdowns making holidays not possible.

You'd get a refund then.

Just its a case of shifting sands - it could all be good up until the date and then a local lockdown hits, airline falls over etc etc

It would potentially turn what should be fun into not so much.

Also you can only keep moving your annual leave so much in a year. If everyone in the company does this then come start of November everyone is on leave. It’s also difficult if your gets cancelled but you then try to move it forward to another date that might not be possible to take as others have booked it and min levels of staffing are required.

[Deep Thought]

paolow said:

Just its a case of shifting sands - it could all be good up until the date and then a local lockdown hits, airline falls over etc etc

Holiday companies let you change your holiday pretty much up to the date of the holiday. If it all moves the wrong direction, move it out.

If you're fully vaccinated your risk is low anyway.

OR you could spend yet another year at home and see if you can get away next year.

We've a holiday to the canaries booked end of June. Package deal with jet2. If it all gets a bit hairy we will move it out. Can't face another year with no break.

[Deep Thought]

Welshbeef said:

It would potentially turn what should be fun into not so much.

Also you can only keep moving your annual leave so much in a year. If everyone in the company does this then come start of November everyone is on leave. It’s also difficult if your gets cancelled but you then try to move it forward to another date that might not be possible to take as others have booked it and min levels of staffing are required.

You best play it safe and wait another year then.

[Welshbeef]

Deep Thought said:

Welshbeef said:

It would potentially turn what should be fun into not so much.

Also you can only keep moving your annual leave so much in a year. If everyone in the company does this then come start of November everyone is on leave. It’s also difficult if your gets cancelled but you then try to move it forward to another date that might not be possible to take as others have booked it and min levels of staffing are required.

You best play it safe and wait another year then.

You cannot keep moving annual leave

The expectation is you use your leave throughout the year is 6-7 days per quarter. If you do a two week in Aug then clearly that means Q1/4 can have less in it.

What sector do you work in where leave can be changed Willy nilly

[Deep Thought]

Welshbeef said:

You cannot keep moving annual leave

The expectation is you use your leave throughout the year is 6-7 days per quarter. If you do a two week in Aug then clearly that means Q1/4 can have less in it.

What sector do you work in where leave can be changed Willy nilly

It's not a matter of moving it willy nilly. If this summer is a no go we will move it out to later in the year. Thats hardly willy nilly.

If we are absolutely forced we will take some sort of local break stay cation over the summer and see what happens later in the year.

We will both be fully vaccinated by mid May anyway.

We sat around last year and missed the opportunity last year but don't plan to this year. Package, all inclusive holiday with jet2. Their problem if there's a travel change, their problem to get you home once you're out there. Their covid enhanced travel insurance. Fully flexible changes up to point of travel.

£80 each deposit, balance not payable to mid April doesn't seem a big risk

Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 15th March 23:02

[Welshbeef]

Deep Thought said:

It's not a matter of moving it willy nilly. If this summer is a no go we will move it out to later in the year. Thats hardly willy nilly.

If we are absolutely forced we will take some sort of local break stay cation over the summer and see what happens later in the year.

We will both be fully vaccinated by mid May anyway.

We sat around last year and missed the opportunity last year but don't plan to this year. Package, all inclusive holiday with jet2. Their problem if there's a travel change, their problem to get you home once you're out there. Their covid enhanced travel insurance. Fully flexible changes up to point of travel.

£80 each deposit, balance not payable to mid April doesn't seem a big risk

Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 15th March 23:02

Plenty of companies are making staff take holidays (even if they cannot go anywhere)

It’s for 2 reasons
1. To ensure there are no impacts to the business due to lack of resource.
2. Staff well-being - not taking any leave for 68 months and then take it all essentially at the same time is so bad. Burnout disengagement and you simply need to recharge the batteries.