Has anyone booked any continental holidays yet?
Discussion
Welshbeef said:
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.
Absolutely.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.
And i havent said otherwise?
That doesnt mean companies cant / arent being flexible, where possible, given the current environment.
And surely even IF someone books, its cancelled, their companies cant facilitate it being moved to later in the year then they're entitled to a full refund anyway, then just have a stay cation.
As i said, if people have concerns about risk / cant ensure their employer can facilitate it / want to wait, thats fine.
Deep Thought said:
Absolutely.
And i havent said otherwise?
That doesnt mean companies cant / arent being flexible, where possible, given the current environment.
And surely even IF someone books, its cancelled, their companies cant facilitate it being moved to later in the year then they're entitled to a full refund anyway, then just have a stay cation.
As i said, if people have concerns about risk / cant ensure their employer can facilitate it / want to wait, thats fine.
Yes but the point is “Summer holidays” are generally June-Sept and parents with school age kids. So parents will be highly tied to the 6 weeks in Aug and then IF dates get pushed back and back it means maybe Jul-Sept or even narrower. As such demand will be extremely high to book so possibly lower availability and clearly for those staff who never go in Aug as they realise it’s pricy and maybe want a holiday with fewer children about. This in turn replicates to work more people wanting the same time off .... it doesn’t work. And i havent said otherwise?
That doesnt mean companies cant / arent being flexible, where possible, given the current environment.
And surely even IF someone books, its cancelled, their companies cant facilitate it being moved to later in the year then they're entitled to a full refund anyway, then just have a stay cation.
As i said, if people have concerns about risk / cant ensure their employer can facilitate it / want to wait, thats fine.
I mean would you nip over to say Greece in mid November if it was a choice of that or staycation as you’d already booked up earlier in the year and unfortunately your dates have been cancelled /pushed back.
Last year we had such an issue also impacted with furlough meant actually a lot of staff wanted leave but couldn’t due to others already booked it up and no cover.
Welshbeef said:
Yes but the point is “Summer holidays” are generally June-Sept and parents with school age kids. So parents will be highly tied to the 6 weeks in Aug and then IF dates get pushed back and back it means maybe Jul-Sept or even narrower. As such demand will be extremely high to book so possibly lower availability and clearly for those staff who never go in Aug as they realise it’s pricy and maybe want a holiday with fewer children about. This in turn replicates to work more people wanting the same time off .... it doesn’t work.
I mean would you nip over to say Greece in mid November if it was a choice of that or staycation as you’d already booked up earlier in the year and unfortunately your dates have been cancelled /pushed back.
Last year we had such an issue also impacted with furlough meant actually a lot of staff wanted leave but couldn’t due to others already booked it up and no cover.
For the avoidance of doubt - i'm not proposing this as a nationwide one size fits all solution, its just what happens to be work for my wife and i. I mean would you nip over to say Greece in mid November if it was a choice of that or staycation as you’d already booked up earlier in the year and unfortunately your dates have been cancelled /pushed back.
Last year we had such an issue also impacted with furlough meant actually a lot of staff wanted leave but couldn’t due to others already booked it up and no cover.
And likewise for many, i would have thought it would be a matter of booking the leave, booking the holiday and if it gets cancelled (usually at 6 weeks notice typically going by current cruise / holiday cancellations) then the person would ask in their company either could the leave be moved, and if not then take the refund from the travel company and have a stay cation instead.
If that doesnt work for some people then they'd be best holding off booking a foreign holiday again until there is absolute stability again which may be next year or beyond.
Edited by Deep Thought on Tuesday 16th March 14:45
digital green passports - announced today by EU.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
z4RRSchris said:
digital green passports - announced today by EU.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
U.K. don’t even make these yet. UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
How long will 25million new green passports actually take to produce?
z4RRSchris said:
digital green passports - announced today by EU.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
We are told by cruise lines this year that only vaccinated customers will be welcome. So that will be no UK families with kids and the vast majority of the European population.UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
No mention that the chances of vaccinating their considerably younger, worldwide based crew in time for Summer is getting ever tighter.
Consultation in the UK for vaccine passports doesn't even report until mid April?
Time is running out.
z4RRSchris said:
digital green passports - announced today by EU.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
So log on to a website or app and plug in your details then?UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
Welshbeef said:
z4RRSchris said:
digital green passports - announced today by EU.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
U.K. don’t even make these yet. UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
How long will 25million new green passports actually take to produce?
Uggers said:
z4RRSchris said:
digital green passports - announced today by EU.
UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
We are told by cruise lines this year that only vaccinated customers will be welcome. So that will be no UK families with kids and the vast majority of the European population.UK punters will have to apply for one, and supply proofs, to the country they intend to visit.
The Digital Green Certificate will contain necessary key information such as name, date of birth, the issuing Member State and a unique identifier of the certificate, the EU announced.
No mention that the chances of vaccinating their considerably younger, worldwide based crew in time for Summer is getting ever tighter.
Consultation in the UK for vaccine passports doesn't even report until mid April?
Time is running out.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56427830
Deep Thought said:
So log on to a website or app and plug in your details then?
Deep Thought said:
So log on to a website or app and plug in your details then?
See above, you make it sound so easy. And expecting millions of doddery old folk to have to figure this all out before their cruise? Deep Thought said:
First paragraph says it's either proof of vaccine, proof of recent neg test or proof of recovery.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56427830
So £800 for a family of 4 for PCR tests. An easily forged printed sheet showing negative PCR, or proof of vaccine? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56427830
Proof of recovery? Where do we even start with that one?
Honestly I'd love to see all this happen but let's be realistic here. Multiple legal issues UK and EU, IT issues, political issues. All to be planned, agreed upon, implemented in 3 months? amongst a background of a 3rd wave in a largely unvaccinated EU?
Something will be fudged but all this talk that this easy to use IT system will be in place for Summer 21 based on past performance is pie in the sky stuff to me unfortunately.
Hol said:
I have one more booked pre covid in 2019 for July this year that I am waiting to see if it is cancelled.
If it cancelled, that will make three holidays out of three in total, although the other two were long haul.
I am on three for three now, for everything that was booked pre-covid.If it cancelled, that will make three holidays out of three in total, although the other two were long haul.
Had an email yesterday that the Family cruise to the Med in July has been cancelled.
1. Wedding Anniversary trip to Caribbean - Oct 20
2. Wife's and my Birthdays in Cancun - Feb 21
3. Family Med Cruise - July 21
The good news is that I have saved close to £20k in holidays over the next two years with all three being rescheduled.
Deep Thought said:
Honestly I'd love to see all this happen but let's be realistic here. Multiple legal issues UK and EU, IT issues, political issues. All to be planned, agreed upon, implemented in 3 months? amongst a background of a 3rd wave in a largely unvaccinated EU?
The UK will push for a GP letter, which can be uploaded, i highly doubt the EU will accept something so easily forged.
What would work is a A digital KYC, passport photo check against face, dob, NHS number, then it pulls your data from the NHS database. turns your app green. But this would mean sharing NHS data with the EU etc etc etc .
minefield.
Register1 said:
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.Whats the thinking that Turkey, Marmaris will be a good chance flying out middle of July?
Risky or go for the bookings ?
R1
Not much risk though if you book something with a decent cancellation policy?
Easyjet flights for both of us, £518, Loveholidays S/C apartment £190 for 10 days.
Might just go for it.
Me and her
Marmaris EasyJet flights £420 with baggage.
Hotel £120 (Non refundable)
June 17th for a week.
z4RRSchris said:
Deep Thought said:
Honestly I'd love to see all this happen but let's be realistic here. Multiple legal issues UK and EU, IT issues, political issues. All to be planned, agreed upon, implemented in 3 months? amongst a background of a 3rd wave in a largely unvaccinated EU?
The UK will push for a GP letter, which can be uploaded, i highly doubt the EU will accept something so easily forged.
What would work is a A digital KYC, passport photo check against face, dob, NHS number, then it pulls your data from the NHS database. turns your app green. But this would mean sharing NHS data with the EU etc etc etc .
minefield.
Will be down to each EU country as to what they want, of those options to be the entry requirement.
I still think for most countries it will be proof of vaccination OR neg test before travel, which seem to be able to be facilitated by the app.
ro250 said:
z4RRSchris said:
turkey have however jumped the gun and said we can come with no test, no passport no quarantine.
Sounds sensible 
Why would this year - given we will almost certinaly be in a much better position by the summer - necessarily require stricter controls, IF they dont feel they need them?
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
My OH is NHS and they have these restrictions and even before Covid hit, you had to take X days each quarter so it didn't all get bunched till the end of the year.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
Then Covid hit and they put restrictions in place for certain staff (my wife being one) on how much leave you can take and before you knew it it turned into a complete mess. Many would say why should I be forced to take leave now when I can't actually do anything and I can understand that. My OH tends to take a few hours here and there and then block books for holidays but even that can get fiercely competitive as we have school age children
One of my colleagues is a nightmare for managing his leave and leaves it all up to the last minute causing headache for everyone
We are fairly flexible as a department on leave. Anyways, my OH didn't want to risk abroad despite easy cancellation/insurance etc etc, so we have Haven in Yorkshire, Norfolk cottage and Butlins for October half term.
The one I am concerned about the most is Butlins as we are back in seasonal flu season and that could be at risk of lockdown 4!
However for 2022, I'd like to go back to going abroad as the UK holidays are quite stressful for us as parents. We'd like to be able to go somewhere where we can sit by a pool and watch the kids in the sun. That certainly won't be happening at Butlins in October (If it goes ahead!)
I am member of a FB holiay group and the amount of people who ask 'should I book a holiday' is staggering? I still think any holiday booking this side of winter is very risky. Who knows if you might have to isolate? Airline could go bust etc etc.
France certainly looks to be dire state and there is talk of DLP not opening up till late summer. The amount of money that place is hemorrhaging must be staggering.
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