Throwing in the Towel
Discussion
Insert Coin said:
And April can be like July, that’s the trouble.
Why don’t we get seasons anymore? It all just blurs into one giant clusterf
k.
Is that real or just rose tinted what-nots?Why don’t we get seasons anymore? It all just blurs into one giant clusterf
k.I remember summer holidays in the 1980s being mostly wet in Norfolk or Cornwall, with standard kit being a windbreak.
vaud said:
Is that real or just rose tinted what-nots?
I remember summer holidays in the 1980s being mostly wet in Norfolk or Cornwall, with standard kit being a windbreak.
I’m old enough to remember hot summers and cold, snow covered winters, the seasons were more defined as I remember them.I remember summer holidays in the 1980s being mostly wet in Norfolk or Cornwall, with standard kit being a windbreak.
Not a chance am I going with how confusing the test situation is and how inept this country is, it will be just my luck il have a false positive or not turn up.
Not to mention all the restrictions that will be in place when you get there, I went to a tui sensimar adults only in Zante last year and the buffet was a nightmare, the staff where all behind screens and you had to shout what you wanted though tjem them wait for them to pass the plate to the next person. Ate out most nights in the end ( although some places just made you wear gloves at the traditional buffet)
Portugal are totally mad with this mask wearing on the beach, imagine all the blue fibres stuck in your sun cream. No thanks
Just gonna enjoy the UK this year, weather might not be guaranteed but at least the uplift isn’t £600 on tests!
You can also bet that just like last year, brits will go abroad, the cases will rise in that county cause of it and it will be straight on the amber list
I may still go closer to Christmas if no tests are needed and the
Risk of going up and down the list is gone and restrictions are all gone, other than that no chance
Not to mention all the restrictions that will be in place when you get there, I went to a tui sensimar adults only in Zante last year and the buffet was a nightmare, the staff where all behind screens and you had to shout what you wanted though tjem them wait for them to pass the plate to the next person. Ate out most nights in the end ( although some places just made you wear gloves at the traditional buffet)
Portugal are totally mad with this mask wearing on the beach, imagine all the blue fibres stuck in your sun cream. No thanks
Just gonna enjoy the UK this year, weather might not be guaranteed but at least the uplift isn’t £600 on tests!
You can also bet that just like last year, brits will go abroad, the cases will rise in that county cause of it and it will be straight on the amber list
I may still go closer to Christmas if no tests are needed and the
Risk of going up and down the list is gone and restrictions are all gone, other than that no chance
Short memories, some people. Think back to this time last year, weather wise. May had a record breaking 266 hours of sunshine. One year later and it seems it's all forgotten and a short spell of jet-stream induced poor weather means it's always like this.
We've been trying to take my goddaughters away to their favourite Centre Parcs for some time. It's been cancelled/shut/moved three or four times since this mess began.
Hopefully the re-re-re-rescheduled booking will be able to go ahead next month. At least by then the eldest will have finished her exams and will be able to switch off and be a teenager instead of a work laden student.
But as for going abroad? Nah, cannot be arsed with all of that. Seeing pictures of passengers on board a plane having to wear a mask for the flight looks an uninviting scenario. And that's before the testing/quarantine nonsense - potentially at both ends of both flights.
We've been trying to take my goddaughters away to their favourite Centre Parcs for some time. It's been cancelled/shut/moved three or four times since this mess began.
Hopefully the re-re-re-rescheduled booking will be able to go ahead next month. At least by then the eldest will have finished her exams and will be able to switch off and be a teenager instead of a work laden student.
But as for going abroad? Nah, cannot be arsed with all of that. Seeing pictures of passengers on board a plane having to wear a mask for the flight looks an uninviting scenario. And that's before the testing/quarantine nonsense - potentially at both ends of both flights.
Mrs and I managed a two week, two centre holiday to Italy last summer, driving down to Tuscany and Umbria, getting back on schedule just before the borders shut. Perfect timing.
We have again booked another two week, two centre holiday this summer in Italy in late July and the first week in August. Free cancellation on accomodation up to a week before departure, and free postponment/ transfer of ferry bookings, 24 hrs notice required, right through to December 22. Thus zero risk. Even if delayed, the ferry tickets will not be wasted.
The Mrs has had two jabs, and I have my second tomorrow.
Given that the borders within Europe, especially Italy and its neighbours, have already opened up that means that there willl be no problem getting through internal EU borders, the only problem will be getting back into the UK and who knows what situation the govt will be in by then. Probably basking in the glory of a brilliant vaccine roll out, minimum cases and barely any deaths.
As Europe is about 4 to 6 weeks behind us in the vaccination programme, I cannot see the UK Govt stopping double vaccinated UK residents re entering the country from France that will, at the beginning of August, be at a similar vaccination/ infection level that the UK is likely to hit come June 21st when our final unlocking is due to happen.
A traveller location form will probably be the only requirement. As it was last year when the situation was a lot worse.
I confidently expect all EU potential holiday destination countries, desperate for our holiday spondoolics, to welcome vaccinated or even non-vaccinated Brits to grace their beaches, tavernas and water parks as the Portugese and Spanish govts are already doing. Watch all the other tourist starved countries follow their lead.
Europe is already open.
It's about time the Brits took advantage. It would be most unwise of the government to unjustifiably get in the way.
We have again booked another two week, two centre holiday this summer in Italy in late July and the first week in August. Free cancellation on accomodation up to a week before departure, and free postponment/ transfer of ferry bookings, 24 hrs notice required, right through to December 22. Thus zero risk. Even if delayed, the ferry tickets will not be wasted.
The Mrs has had two jabs, and I have my second tomorrow.
Given that the borders within Europe, especially Italy and its neighbours, have already opened up that means that there willl be no problem getting through internal EU borders, the only problem will be getting back into the UK and who knows what situation the govt will be in by then. Probably basking in the glory of a brilliant vaccine roll out, minimum cases and barely any deaths.
As Europe is about 4 to 6 weeks behind us in the vaccination programme, I cannot see the UK Govt stopping double vaccinated UK residents re entering the country from France that will, at the beginning of August, be at a similar vaccination/ infection level that the UK is likely to hit come June 21st when our final unlocking is due to happen.
A traveller location form will probably be the only requirement. As it was last year when the situation was a lot worse.
I confidently expect all EU potential holiday destination countries, desperate for our holiday spondoolics, to welcome vaccinated or even non-vaccinated Brits to grace their beaches, tavernas and water parks as the Portugese and Spanish govts are already doing. Watch all the other tourist starved countries follow their lead.
Europe is already open.
It's about time the Brits took advantage. It would be most unwise of the government to unjustifiably get in the way.
We have 12nts booked Gran Canaria end of July - still optimistic. Our last holiday was April 2019 (we had Florida booked for April 2020).
Working from home and being self employed I've probably had 5 days off (outside of weekends and bank holidays) since April 2019 so could really do with the break.
Working from home and being self employed I've probably had 5 days off (outside of weekends and bank holidays) since April 2019 so could really do with the break.
captain_cynic said:
I want to travel but there is no point, even within the UK, until we have a clearer picture of what is happening. Too many factors with covid or the govt could change at very short notice.
I'm keeping an eye on things but I don't reckon we'll be able to plan anything until at least July.
Better off saving money and staying in.
Username checks out! I'm keeping an eye on things but I don't reckon we'll be able to plan anything until at least July.
Better off saving money and staying in.
Nickbrapp said:
Portugal are totally mad with this mask wearing on the beach, imagine all the blue fibres stuck in your sun cream. No thanks
This has been mischievously reported by our tabloid press. The rule is that you have to wear a mask while entering and exiting the beach, not while sitting on it.Nickbrapp said:
...
Portugal are totally mad with this mask wearing on the beach, imagine all the blue fibres stuck in your sun cream. No thanks
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Stop spreading misinformation. Portugal are totally mad with this mask wearing on the beach, imagine all the blue fibres stuck in your sun cream. No thanks
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Here in Portugal many beaches have access via boardwalks and stairs - where people pass one another in close proximity. The mask rule is that when accessing a beach via a pinch point entry such a these, masks are to be worn until you are on the beach and can find a place that is at least 1.5m from the next person, couple or family group.
I can access the beaches where I simply walk straight onto the beach and avoid those pinch point areas without needing to use a mask.
If people choose to wear a mask on the beach, that is down to them, they don't have to. Half my cycling team are GNR, the very people who are helping enforce the rules and just yesterday I was doing MTB with one of them and we rode straight onto a beach, no masks required.
I have yet to wear a mask when not inside a shop. If wearing one outside bothers people, it is easily avoidable, just keep away from congested areas and access beaches away from boardwalks, stairs etc.
I've finally asked Tui for a refund. I was supposed to be going to Jamaica last year in July. Then Goa for Christmas, then Dominican Republic for Christmas, then Tanzania for Easter and finally Tanzania for October.
They've had £11.5k of my money for well over 12 months now. And I have no confidence that much will be opening up worldwide thus year. Yes, we might get a week in Zante in August, but no big getaway.
What gets me is this constant need for testing. And, no I won't derail this thread, but surely if you have had two jabs, why the need to test before you go, come back and a all that? We know we aren't going to eradicate Covid, we have to live with it. It's largely under control now or heading that way.
They've had £11.5k of my money for well over 12 months now. And I have no confidence that much will be opening up worldwide thus year. Yes, we might get a week in Zante in August, but no big getaway.
What gets me is this constant need for testing. And, no I won't derail this thread, but surely if you have had two jabs, why the need to test before you go, come back and a all that? We know we aren't going to eradicate Covid, we have to live with it. It's largely under control now or heading that way.
Genuinly don't know. Iv two weeks off end September and nothing booked yet. Also considering we york again for 3/4 nights in nov/dec since america seem to be sensible. Dont wear masks with two jags. Yes pls. Obviously depends on this stupid traffic light stuff. Might end up down south instead.
So in reality I'll pay more and book with a week to go somewhere I can go, otherwise I'll probably miss out on everything again. Cant even go to my local Miller n Carter for a steak until.... end of September. Booked out 7 days a week.... what a joke.
So in reality I'll pay more and book with a week to go somewhere I can go, otherwise I'll probably miss out on everything again. Cant even go to my local Miller n Carter for a steak until.... end of September. Booked out 7 days a week.... what a joke.
Decided to give foreign travel a miss this year. Was hoping to go Italy in June. Had it booked last year but obviously it was cancelled. Have booked a holiday to the Lake District and a few days in York afterwards for later this year. Also got a small break in Norfolk at the back end of this year.
Having not gone overseas in 2020, I booked 2 weeks in Barbados with BA for September, in their January sale. This was in hope rather than expectation. If we can travel without quarantine at either end, we will probably go, bit the changing landscape and dithering over testing is painful. We need to decide by mid August, so a little time yet for things to develop.
Personally just not bothered about going abroad when I haven’t even seen this country properly for the best part of a year. My other half has seen no family for 10 months, and I’ve only seen my immediate family briefly. Haven’t seen friends as many live further away. This summer is going to be all about catching up with friends/family we’ve missed here and getting out to all the places in this country we’ve missed. Couldn’t think of much worse right now than cramming into a plane and then sitting on a beach for a week. Dull as dishwater.
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