Summer Holidays 2021

[elise2000]

So, who's making plans for summer holidays at the moment?

Do we think they'll be able to happen?

I'm tentatively hoping that an Easter driving trip will be possible! What are the chances do we think?

[elise2000]

normalbloke said:

Easter? Slim to none at the moment I’d suggest.

I'm hoping possible (although assuming there will be testing required to arrive there and get back, and likely still quarantine on return).

[elise2000]

Leicester Loyal said:

Looking at the Dominican Republic for end of October, but unsure if I'll book it yet, we surely should be back to normal by then?

Hope so!

[elise2000]

GT03ROB said:

It's the right answer, but there is nothing coming out from the village idiots running the show that would imply that's how they are thinking at all.

Exactly. If all the adult population is vaccinated by the summer, which if the vaccine numbers continue as they are, is possible, what’s the problem? I know the vaccine isn’t 100% effective. And that there may be new variants. But you can’t lock a country in forever...

[elise2000]

omniflow said:

At the moment it isn't known whether or not being vaccinated prevents you from spreading the virus. As long as that remains unknown, having had the vaccine will mean the square root of fk all when it comes to international travel.

But if the whole of the UK is protected to a large extent, why the panic about locking up arrivals? I understand how other countries may not want to let us in though, due the big unknown.

[elise2000]

red_slr said:

Because it shows, to me, that there is possibly a big issue down the line. The quarantine will apply to all, so Brits returning to UK too. They dont trust (and rightly so) people to self isolate on return. We flew back from Spain just before xmas. I can tell you now the majority of people on that plane did not isolate. Half the people on the plane were not wearing masks! They also had not completed their PLF but were not challenged on arrival.

I think there must be genuine concern from the govt that we could end up with new strains in the UK running riot as they dont react to the jab.

Thats my gut feeling anyway.

Surely its going to decimate the tourist industry and also have a knock on to our own tourist industry from overseas.

If they do bring this in I think it will be the biggest decision the govt have taken since lockdown 1.

All IMVHO.

I know about the issues with people not self isolating etc. We flew back in October, and like you say there were people not wearing masks etc and not having filled out the forms. Idiots.

I understand about strains not reacting to the jab, but the vaccine makers have said they can tweak it very quickly. And with every country in the world looking out for these closely, you'd hope they'd be picked up on quickly.

To me it's all about percentages. I understand the worry, I'm just not convinced we can go on forever with restrictions. I'd quite happily agree with a tougher lockdown and border restrictions for a few months while we get everyone jabbed, but beyond that point I'm not convinced. It's not just travel, it's the whole events/entertainment/hospitality industry that has been shut down. The affect on the businesses, the jobs, and the mental health/financial implications on the people in these industries is massive. Sorry, off on a tangent there...

[elise2000]

Vasco said:

I wasn't aware of any plan that would vaccinate all the adult population by the summer. Do you have a link?

If they continue vaccinating 500k ish per day, having done 6m ish already, the whole adult population would be done by June/July. Haven’t a link, but it was mentioned by a minister at some point recently that it would be theoretically possible.

[elise2000]

Road2Ruin said:

Depending on the figures, a lot of what will happen will be down to how much the varying countries need the tourist income! And that includes the UK.

Countries cannot keep going on supporting companies and individuals. As long as the pressure is off the NHS, which is the point behind the vacine, things will have to open up.

There are so many countries out there that rely on tourist income.

Exactly. I would be highly surprised if countries don't let us visit for tourism over the summer. Greece/Turkey/Croatia have already said they will be launching tourist campaigns next month. These countries rely on tourism for the majority of their income. For me, it's just whether Boris Inc makes it very very difficult for Brits to travel due to quarantine in a hotel on return. Quarantine at home is possible for many due to working from home/home comforts, but in a hotel with the added expense/lack of comfort makes it nigh on impossible. And can the Handcock please stop mentioning a "Great British Summer". I've never thought summer in the UK was great, let alone at the moment.

[elise2000]

kiethton said:

Planning a holiday now - South Africa in late December 2021, returning 2022 - would you risk booking flights (on a credit card) right now?

Yep, It's 11 months away. Well worth the risk I'd say.

[elise2000]

Jaguar steve said:

Absolutely 100%.

Nobody is being forced to travel abroad, and if they chose to do so then they are obliged by common decency and consideration toward others to accept the consequences of their choices on return rather than selfishly seeking means and methods to circumvent them.

The issue is that a lot of people, myself included, want/need to go abroad occasionally, and are happy enough to quarantine at home after. It’s the sensible/right/necessary thing to do. However being stuck in a hotel room for two weeks is another matter. It’s the idiots who travel and don’t bother to quarantine who mess it up.

[elise2000]

smifffymoto said:

omniflow said:

smifffymoto said:

You Sir,are genius.How will you explain your British passport and no proof of residency, also if you get caught making a false declaration you could spend a year in a cell, and fined up to 15000€.
Just something to demostrate how serious the French authorities are taking the border closure.
Stay away until you are invited back,it’s not fking difficult!

Well - apart from the fact that it wasn't actually a serious suggestion - you shouldn't need your passport to travel from Ireland to France.

Apologies,I lumped you in the category of “Wackadoodle” nutters. There are plenty whom come up with numerous crack pot ways to circumvent the lockdown.

On a side note,it is all forbidden to leave France without a compelling reason.

Is the fact that it’s France not enough of a compelling reason?

[elise2000]

SCEtoAUX said:

This vaccine passport is grotesquely unfair to young people.

They're the ones who have lost their jobs, they're the ones who'll be paying for it for years to come, they're the ones who are almost certainy not going to get ill if they catch COVID, they're the ones who have likely been cooped up in small flats without a garden to enjoy, yet they'll be the last ones to have two vaccines.

So a load of old people will be able to jog off on holiday, but the 20 and 30 somethings who really could use a holiday, and damned well deserve one, will be stuck in the UK.

It's just wrong, but the politicians don't care because these same young people are not their core voters.

Well said

[elise2000]

Whilst I understand that Boris and co don’t want to get peoples hopes up, some optimism would be nice!

Mid August is 5 months away. A lot can happen in a few weeks let alone nearly half a year! In 3 months we’ve vaccinated half the population for a start. By the end of July all adults should have had at least one jab.

Personally I think holidays should be possible from June (assuming no nasty surprises by then with variants or vaccines), providing people provide a negative test on return and quarantine until the result arrives. Of course this won’t negate all risk, but we can’t shut ourselves off forever (financially or mentally).

Just my thoughts anyway.

[elise2000]

Phil. said:

We’re being played..... 50% of the UK adult population have been vaccinated, more have either had CV or are already immune. The risk of CV to healthy people under 50 is minimal. Schools going back hasn’t resulted in an up turn in anything despite testing all the kids and increasing testing overall. Positive ‘cases’ are at the false positive level, meaning minimal new actual cases. The number of hospitalisations and deaths has dropped off a cliff in the past couple of weeks. The number of deaths aboard is falling rapidly despite the increases in ‘cases’ and the 3rd wave propaganda. The flu season is over for this year!

This time last year we were in the middle of the real pandemic. The average age of a CV death is still over 80 despite massive mis-labelling of CV deaths. It’s not Ebola, 99.8% of people survive catching CV. The best thing we can do, which we didn’t last year, is release everyone to mix over the summer when CV is at its weakest and further develop immunity in our society (UK and international) so we are better protected for the flu season next winter. Expose us to the variants now! Just like Florida and an increasing number of US states. Or adopt the NZ forever lockdown scenario. Such a policy only ever delays the inevitable when it comes to viruses, as the Isle of Man is finding out now.

It’s getting daft isn’t it!

Maybe once this is over we should all stay at home anyway, just in case we get run over by a bus

[elise2000]

El stovey said:

Wiltshire Lad said:

I assume most posting here are retired as the requirement to self isolate on return to the UK doesn’t seem to be a problem (& there is no way that requirement is going anywhere)....

Don’t you think it will depend on which countries people are visiting?

Or do you think people will have to isolate when returning from every country?

A huge amount of people have been working from home, and will be able to continue to, so having to quarantine isn’t really much of an issue

[elise2000]

Welshbeef said:

El stovey said:

Don’t you think it will depend on which countries people are visiting?

Or do you think people will have to isolate when returning from every country?

Given France currently has 20% South African version in its daily rates is alarming and yes.

Why do you think not?

We are an island and in theory we just like NZ and Isle of Man could become virus free. That would mean normal life within the island but leave me come back... you’ve got to isolate in hotels. Small price to pay really.

Becoming virus free is never going to happen. Maybe it could have if we completely shut the borders a year ago, but it’s too late now.

Small price to pay? Maybe. Yes if we’re talking a few months. No if we’re talking about a few years. And given the fact that vaccinations are taking an age in Europe and around the world it’s probably the latter.

Just wait and see I guess!

[elise2000]

Motoring12345 said:

Phil. said:

Shnozz said:

Phil. said:

Out of interest have France and Germany recently increased the number of people tested?

BTW my interest in France is as a possible route to my place in Spain. I spent three months there last year, only returned in early Dec. Masks were/are required when outdoors and compliance was/is high. No big deal really. Masks not required when exercising or sitting in a bar/restaurant, which are presently open, as are hairdressers etc. Didn’t think when we returned to the UK in Dec that it would be illegal to leave the UK to return. And if it wasn’t for good old Brexit Spain would be happy for us to travel now.

Hi Phil.

Surely the "Stanley Johnson loophole" would apply in your case? Appreciate that benefits few but so long as you can physically get there..

Shnozz, good to hear from you. You read my mind, I was about to post the same This is definitely an option once Spain opens its borders to non-resident brits

Are you stuck in the UK or have you managed to escape yet?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/23/c...

Nice, the tories looking out for their rich mates again.

Agreed, although if you have a home abroad visiting it to maintain/sell etc is pretty essential

[elise2000]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Phil. said:

Motoring12345 said:

Nice, the tories looking out for their rich mates again.

Yes, it is a loop hole and there are others for ‘business’ people. Just like last year when we were locked down, we couldn’t meet but the tories were allowed to shoot grouse! Oh, and run their grouse shooting business whilst others went under. The whole of the last 12 months has been about corruption for the tories. That’s one of the reasons the lockdown laws have been extended to October 21. It facilitates the corruption by circumventing the usual fiscal and contracting rules.

BTW You don’t have to own property abroad to travel under this rule, just book a few viewings on the basis you are interested in buying a rental property.

It ill also be interesting to see whether any restrictions allow travel to commission/oversee maintenance and repair works.

I would assume it does, as that's all part of potentially renting/selling a property. Can't be sold or rented unless properly maintained.

[elise2000]

ClaphamGT3 said:

elise2000 said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

Phil. said:

Motoring12345 said:

Nice, the tories looking out for their rich mates again.

Yes, it is a loop hole and there are others for ‘business’ people. Just like last year when we were locked down, we couldn’t meet but the tories were allowed to shoot grouse! Oh, and run their grouse shooting business whilst others went under. The whole of the last 12 months has been about corruption for the tories. That’s one of the reasons the lockdown laws have been extended to October 21. It facilitates the corruption by circumventing the usual fiscal and contracting rules.

BTW You don’t have to own property abroad to travel under this rule, just book a few viewings on the basis you are interested in buying a rental property.

It ill also be interesting to see whether any restrictions allow travel to commission/oversee maintenance and repair works.

I would assume it does, as that's all part of potentially renting/selling a property. Can't be sold or rented unless properly maintained.

Cool. We do genuinely want a new kitchen installing in our place, so that would justify a trip

It's certainly our strategy! (we are still in the construction phase so do really need to go!)

[elise2000]

ElectricSoup said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

elise2000 said:

ClaphamGT3 said:

Phil. said:

Motoring12345 said:

Nice, the tories looking out for their rich mates again.

Yes, it is a loop hole and there are others for ‘business’ people. Just like last year when we were locked down, we couldn’t meet but the tories were allowed to shoot grouse! Oh, and run their grouse shooting business whilst others went under. The whole of the last 12 months has been about corruption for the tories. That’s one of the reasons the lockdown laws have been extended to October 21. It facilitates the corruption by circumventing the usual fiscal and contracting rules.

BTW You don’t have to own property abroad to travel under this rule, just book a few viewings on the basis you are interested in buying a rental property.

It ill also be interesting to see whether any restrictions allow travel to commission/oversee maintenance and repair works.

I would assume it does, as that's all part of potentially renting/selling a property. Can't be sold or rented unless properly maintained.

Cool. We do genuinely want a new kitchen installing in our place, so that would justify a trip

For how many people? One person only, a couple, a family of 4?

Interesting question... Certainly a couple (brave to chose a kitchen without your other 1/2!). If childcare issues, maybe a family. Then it accidentally turns into a holiday.